Office of the Provost

Last week, President Rao delivered the annual State of the University address. Amidst all of the inspiring stories and accomplishments, I was struck by two key themes: interdisciplinarity and impact. As a nationally-ranked, public research university, we are asking our students to consider how they will help solve some of our most challenging societal problems; these are problems like healthier communities, a stronger economy, a more resilient environment, a safer society, faster cures and smarter and more ethical technologies. Perhaps the only thing that these challenges have in common is that they cannot simply be solved through a single focus.

Dear VCU Community, It is my honor to welcome you back to campus for VCU’s Spring 2026 semester as your interim provost.

Explore VCU’s November Academic Report featuring major updates to Promotion and Tenure policies, faculty honors, student success highlights, and new learning opportunities. See how faculty voice is shaping institutional change and advancing excellence across teaching, scholarship, and service.

VCU Community Engagement: new $5K Data Dissemination Grants, Reading Buddies launch, CERSC cohort, and Health Hub progress—translating faculty research into community impact.

VCU faculty are invited to two open sessions to explore COACHE survey results and next steps. Learn how faculty feedback is shaping institutional priorities, guiding new initiatives, and informing strategic planning across campuses.

Faculty voices are shaping the future of VCU. The COACHE survey results, analyzed by Harvard, offer powerful insights into what’s working and where we can grow. We’re committed to transparency, collaboration, and meaningful action—learn how we’re using this feedback to build a stronger academic community.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s October 2025 Academic Report highlights transformative faculty-led initiatives, national recognition for online learning, and groundbreaking research in health, psychology, and violence prevention. With record-breaking COACHE survey engagement, VCU is advancing interdisciplinary collaboration, inclusive scholarship, and mentorship across career stages.

VCU’s Convergence Labs initiative launches a university-wide effort to foster interdisciplinary research, experiential learning, and community impact. With three enterprise themes—AI, Neurosciences, and Health Outcomes—this signature program reflects VCU’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and preparing students for the future of work. Led by nationally recognized faculty and supported by hundreds of contributors across campus, Convergence Labs marks a bold shift in how higher education structures discovery and engagement.

VCU’s Division of Community Engagement highlights a season of co-created scholarship, youth development, and civic partnerships. From planning grants to pickleball, this post explores how academic inquiry and community wisdom are building something powerful—together.

VCU celebrates the 2025 NIRA and EPIA honorees — faculty whose scholarship, teaching, and mentorship are shaping lives, advancing knowledge, and strengthening the university’s impact locally and globally.