Monthly Academic Report (Oct. 2024)
Message from the Provost
Dear Colleagues,
I often say that there’s never been a better time to be part of VCU, as we continue our ascent and establish ourselves as an institution that matters for the future.
The latest rankings released by the U.S. News & World Report affirm this, moving VCU up seven spots to tie for No. 69 among top public universities. In U.S. News’ 2025 Best Colleges rankings, VCU moved up six spots to No. 136 in the publication’s overall rankings of nearly 1,500 national universities. This builds on our momentum from last fall when VCU climbed 23 spots over the previous year’s rankings.
Simply stated: this is the result of faculty achievement and would be impossible without you.
The accomplishments of dedicated faculty members across VCU’s campuses drive our university forward with life-changing research and pedagogical innovation. Our uncommon focus on excellence, impact, and access is defining what it means to be an R1 research institution in the 21st century. And our curricular innovation is future-proofing our students, preparing them to succeed in a changing world of rapidly-evolving technology.
Great universities don’t simply fall from the sky. They are created with intention, hard work, and collaboration. VCU’s enrollment is up for the second year in a row, and our student retention and completion numbers are trending upward. Sponsored research funding numbers continue to break records. And VCU’s overall ranking has never been higher. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of the university and students that we serve together.
Best regards,
Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D.
Provost and senior vice president for academic affairs
Celebrating VCU Faculty
- Dewey Taylor, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics in the College of Humanities and Sciences, has been recognized by the Association for Women in Mathematics for the worldwide reach of her mentorship activities. Taylor will be presented with the 2025 M. Gweneth Humphreys Award on Jan. 8 in Seattle.
- Caddie Alford, Ph.D., an associate professor of rhetoric and writing in the Department of English in the College of Humanities and Sciences, has released a new book, “Entitled Opinions: Doxa After Digitality,” which explores how opinions inform and are shaped by social media through analyzing algorithms, infrastructure, digital illiteracy, virality and activism.
- Robert Balster, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the School of Medicine, has been honored with an award in his name. The College on Problems of Drug Dependence, the leading U.S. society on drug abuse research, recently announced the naming of the Robert Balster Mentorship Award. The award will recognize excellence in developing and supporting researchers in the field of drug dependence.
- Two VCU faculty – Oswaldo Moreno, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology, and Anita Nadal, a teaching assistant professor of Spanish, in the College of Humanities and Sciences – recently celebrated the launch of their joint initiative, El Centro. Part of VCU’s Division of Inclusive Excellence, El Centro will develop and support scholarly, community and cultural activities that center and nourish VCU students, faculty and staff and the greater Richmond Latino/e communities.
- A start-up company co-founded by Jason Reed, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Physics in the College of Humanities and Sciences, has received a prestigious state grant that will accelerate its work in advancing DNA analysis. The company, Evizia, was awarded $800,000 by Virginia Catalyst, also known as the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corp. The grant will allow the company to expedite research and development and work with researchers across the state, including at VCU.
Leadership Update
Following a national search, Manu Gupta, Ph.D. has been appointed vice provost and dean of the Graduate School at VCU, effective immediately. Dr. Gupta served as the unit’s interim dean for nearly two years.The Board of Visitors approved the appointment at their September meeting. Read the announcement.
Research Funding Opportunities
Four VCU research funds are now accepting proposals: the VCU Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Fund, the VCU Breakthroughs Fund, the VCU Momentum Fund and the VCU Quest Fund. For a detailed description of each fund’s purpose, eligibility requirements, proposal details, deadlines and the application process, visit onevcuresearch.vcu.edu/funding.
Initiative Updates
- VCU’s Rice Rivers Center will enter its next phase at the beginning of 2025. This was among the final recommendations of last year’s One VCU Academic Repositioning Task Force and will position the Charles City County facility to be a resource for the entire university. Read the announcement.
- The Office of the Provost issued a statement last month reaffirming VCU’s commitment to academic freedom and diverse viewpoints in learning.
- The fall programs and courses offered through VCU Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) are available in the most recent catalog for university students and staff and business and community partners. The digital edition of the catalog is located on the CPE website. The Spring 2025 catalog will be available in November.
- VCU’s Land Acknowledgement Statement has been approved by the Board of Visitors.The statement, which is now available on the VCU website, reads:
Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional lands of the Powhatan Chiefdom and the Monacan Nation, their ancestors, and future generations.
We recognize that our university and health system were built on their homelands and this acknowledgement demonstrates our commitment to contribute to the work of truth and reconciliation, to educate ourselves about Indigenous cultures, and to make visible Virginia’s Indigenous histories and untold stories. By recognizing Virginia Native peoples’ relationships to these lands, we affirm their ongoing presence on these lands, and their rights to self-determination. Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System commit to learning the history of this land, and to expanding and cultivating meaningful relationships with the 11 Virginia Native tribes: 7 federally-recognized nations, Chickahominy, Chickahominy-Eastern Division, Monacan, Nansemond Tribe, Pamunkey, Rappahannock, and Upper Mattaponi; and 4 state-recognized nations: Cheroenhaka (Nottoway), Mattaponi, Nottoway, and Patawomeck. We also recognize and commit to expanding and cultivating meaningful relationships with the Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan language speaking peoples of Virginia.
- VCU Libraries has launched the VCU Pressbooks platform for publishing open textbooks and other open educational resources. This initiative is part of a broader program of support for the use of open educational resources (OER). Learn more on the VCU Libraries Blog.
- VCU Libraries (VCUL) reminds faculty that the 25-foot screen on the facade of Cabell Library is programmed with art exhibits year-round. VCUL is always open to partnerships with on-campus and community groups and will work with faculty on class projects. Check out what’s on the Cabell Screen this week at go.vcu.edu/cabellscreen. For more information, contact Sue Robinson.
Quest 2028 Data Point
Did you know that Census 2 is right around the corner? Census is a snapshot of institutional data, which means data is frozen at set dates for federal mandatory reporting. Census 2 occurs every October and reflects official reporting for the following data domains: enrollment, course, admissions, and human resources. This translates into exciting news for VCU faculty and staff who are eager to see updates on retention and graduation rates, demographics, college and school trends, and other important numbers that help us all understand how we are progressing toward our goals. Census 2 will occur on Wednesday, October 16, and IRDS will update its dashboards, including the public Data Digest over the following couple of weeks. Get ready to dive into new data toward the end of the month!
To get a better idea of when the Census occurs throughout the year and when specific data domains are updated, check out VCU’s Census Snapshot.
To learn more about how this dashboard and other IRDS resources can support your work, email [email protected].
Upcoming Events
Provost’s Lecture Series
Science for Energy: Dr. Harriet Kung, acting director of the Office of Science in the U.S. Department of Energy and deputy director for science programs. This lecture is part of the 2024 Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment Annual Symposium. For more information, visit https://provost.vcu.edu/lecture-series/
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
VCU Engineering Research Building
401 W. Cary Str., Room 1313
Faculty Affairs
To learn more about, and register for, these events, please visit the Faculty Affairs events web page.
Assessing Teaching Effectiveness Forum: During this open forum, faculty will have an opportunity to provide input and insights on the final report submitted by the Assessing Teaching Effectiveness Committee.
Monday, September 30, 2024 – 9:00-10:00 am
Monthly Session for Faculty: Job Crafting
Monday, September 30, 2024 – noon-1:15 p.m.
Monthly Session for Faculty: Fostering Critical Thinking in These Challenging Times: Engaging Multiple Perspectives and Dialogue
Monday, October 7, 2024 – noon-1:15 p.m.
Conversations About Inclusion Series: Harnessing Humor: Inclusive Approaches for Increasing Engagement
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – 10:00-11:15 a.m.
National Conflict Resolution Day: Roadmap to Peace
Thursday, October 17, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.-noon
Department Chairs Monthly Forum: VCU to Participate in COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey through Harvard
Monday, October 21, 2024 – 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Academic Affairs and Academic Technologies
Check the VCU TelegRam regularly to learn more about technology training opportunities.
Overview of Harmonize:
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 – 11:00 a.m. to noon
For more information, contact Cairo Jones at [email protected] or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdu-tqT4vHdaFviJ0WZb7fQd4rk4vFbw7.
Overview of Peerceptiv:
Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Elevate Your Canvas Course With DesignPlus:
Monday, October 21, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
VCU Libraries
Faculty interested in reserving seats for a class or other group, please contact Sue Robinson at [email protected]. To learn more about, and register for, these events, please visit the VCU Libraries events web page.
Civil Discourse Election Forum: How Might the 2024 Presidential Election Affect U.S. Foreign Policy?
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – 7:30 p.m.
2024 Social Justice Lecture: Rumors of Theft: Navigating election integrity discourse online
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 – 7:00 p.m.
Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) offers a variety of programs for students throughout the university this month. For more information, visit students.vcu.edu.
Family Weekend (Oct 18-20): Family Weekend is an opportunity for families to come together to connect, have fun, become more familiar with VCU, engage with faculty and staff, spend time with their students, and explore the Richmond community! Family Weekend features exciting free and paid events that showcase the best of our university and great city!
DSA Campus Wide Programming for October:
- Latine Heritage Month (September 15 thru October 15): The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) has partnered with campus colleagues to celebrate Latine Heritage Month. The programming schedule is featured on the Division of Student Affairs homepage.
- LGBTQIA+ History Month: (October 1-31): The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) collaborates with campus partners to plan LGBTQIA+ History Month. Check out the Division of Student Affairs homepage in early October for the full schedule of events and programs.
- Voter Registration Education In October: Colleagues from across campus are working with students who are a part of the non-partisan VCU Votes group that has goals to increase voter registration, education, & turnout . You will see programming and events during National Voter Education Week, October 7-11. Additionally, Vote Early day is on October 29 and the group plans to ensure students are aware.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October): The team in Survivor Support Services within University Counseling Services has events planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
- Tinder Talk: An educational conversation about social media dating platforms. October 17 from 4p-6p in the SGA Senate Chambers
- Last Drop: A film about the warning signs of domestic abuse. October 22 from 5p-7p in the Commons Theater.
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Categories Academic Affairs, Faculty Affairs, Monthly Academic Update