Office of the Provost

The purpose of this message is to address the topic of office hours. It is designed to complement VCU’s protocols on course modalities, which are posted to this blog and located in chapter 2 of the Academic Affairs Handbook.

The purpose of this message is to address the question of course modalities. Multiple stakeholders, including VCU Faculty Senate leadership, have asked academic affairs to issue clear and specific guidance on this topic.

Four VCU students and recent alums earned 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, receiving multi‑year funding to advance STEM research. Their selection highlights VCU’s growing national research prominence and strong institutional support for student scholarship.

Photo credit: Erin Borges On June 17, the VCU Academic Internships Office (AIO) gathered partners from across VCU for an open conversation about what it takes to host an intern on campus and the impact that successful experiential learning opportunities on campus have on students.  The key question driving the morning was practical: how can […]

This story was originally reported and written by Grant Heston with VCU News. Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed executive vice president and provost at Virginia Commonwealth University after serving in the role on an interim basis since December 2025. The Board of Visitors will officially consider the appointment at its meeting later this […]

For the first time, Virginia Commonwealth University will host the annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research this month, the nation’s largest conference spotlighting excellence in undergraduate research. More than 4,000 students nationwide will present projects at the flagship event.

Faculty, staff and industry experts recently gathered to help shape VCU’s AI future at the Convergence AI Accelerator Workshop. The event explored AI applications across business, data science, education and healthcare. The workshop highlighted the potential for AI to transform multiple sectors while maintaining an ethical and responsible approach. 

Guidance covering VCU’s requirements for faculty office hours, outlining expectations for modality, frequency, accessibility, and oversight to ensure students receive consistent, equitable opportunities for support across all courses.

VCU faculty must ensure all digital course materials meet DOJ accessibility standards by April 24, 2026. This article includes details and resources to support compliance efforts.

The December 2025 Monthly Academic Report spotlights VCU’s Board of Visitors approving new Promotion & Tenure policies, a milestone shaped by extensive faculty input. Provost Beverly Warren reflects on faculty resilience, COACHE survey learnings, and her return “home” to VCU, while celebrating NIRA and inaugural EPIA award recipients. Additional highlights include Olivia Landry’s new book, Steven Lindauer’s retirement, pedestrian safety initiatives, AI Ready RVA partnership, global engagement programs, and upcoming faculty learning opportunities.