[{"id":1312,"date":"2026-04-22T14:23:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1312"},"modified":"2026-04-22T14:23:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:23:51","slug":"arturo-saavedra-named-vcus-executive-vice-president-and-provost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/22\/arturo-saavedra-named-vcus-executive-vice-president-and-provost\/","title":{"rendered":"Arturo Saavedra named VCU\u2019s executive vice president and provost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>This story was originally reported and written by Grant Heston with <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/\">VCU News.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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 week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His appointment is the conclusion of a national search and places a widely respected academic and health sciences leader in one of the university\u2019s most important positions at a time when VCU is building momentum in student success, research growth and cross-university collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cArt has brought innovation, integrity, a clear commitment to our complex mission, and a collaborative spirit to the important work of VCU\u2019s chief academic officer role,\u201d said VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D. \u201cHe has created alignment across units while keeping our focus where it belongs: on the success of students at all levels, faculty excellence, our commitment to VCU\u2019s mission, research growth that will strengthen Virginia and opportunities for Virginians and strengthening VCU\u2019s connectivity throughout the university and its many affiliated entities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saavedra\u2019s appointment reflects the confidence VCU\u2019s leadership has in his ability to help guide an institution that is both highly ambitious and deeply committed to public service. VCU\u2019s public mission \u2014 and the complexity that comes with it \u2014 depends on extraordinary people who are deeply committed to learning and teaching, adapting to current and future generations of learners, discovery of the unknown and creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI am honored to serve as executive vice president and provost in a permanent capacity and thank President Rao and the Board of Visitors for their confidence,\u201d Saavedra said. \u201cVCU\u2019s strength comes from its people and its mission, and I am committed to supporting faculty excellence, student success and the continued evolution of the university in ways that are bold, distinctive and mission-driven. I look forward to working with colleagues across VCU to build on the strong momentum already underway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As executive vice president and provost, Saavedra will help lead academic planning and priorities, with responsibility for advancing student success, faculty achievement, innovation in teaching and research and collaboration across disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere was widespread agreement that Art is the right person at just the right time to serve as the leader of a faculty that is among the most innovative, dynamic, and caring in the country; a faculty committed to the challenging work of a university that is as committed to research, creativity, solving problems and saving lives as it is shaping the next generation of leaders in their fields,\u201d Rao said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Previously, Saavedra served as dean of the VCU School of Medicine and executive vice president for medical affairs beginning in 2023. In those roles, he helped lead one of the university\u2019s most complex and high-impact academic units while also contributing to the broader direction of the institution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saavedra\u2019s background makes him particularly well suited for this role at VCU, where the connections among education, discovery and patient care are central to the university\u2019s identity and impact. He brings experience as a physician-scientist, an academic leader and a senior administrator who understands the scale, complexity and opportunity of a major public research university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1874,"featured_media":1168,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,7,5],"tags":[171,102,149,150],"class_list":["post-1312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-affairs","category-faculty-affairs","category-provost","tag-academic-affairs","tag-faculty-affairs","tag-provost-office","tag-vcu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1874"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1312"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1312\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1304,"date":"2026-04-21T15:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1304"},"modified":"2026-04-21T15:24:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:24:19","slug":"four-things-about-ptr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/21\/four-things-about-ptr\/","title":{"rendered":"Before the April 24 deadline: Four things to know about post-tenure review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Four things to know about post-tenure review\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/19gpLtrTUc0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear colleagues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you likely know, VCU is seeking feedback on updates to our post-tenure review policy. I encourage everyone to take part in the open comment period, which is underway. Please visit <a href=\"https:\/\/faculty.provost.vcu.edu\/ptr\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/faculty.provost.vcu.edu\/ptr\/\">the post tenure review policy webpage<\/a> to learn more and be sure to share your thoughts by the April 24 deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This topic has raised strong feelings among some faculty \u2014 in part because of disagreement with aspects of the proposal, and in part because of misinformation about what is being proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That is why it is important to share what this policy is, what it is not, and how your input can help strengthen it. Here are four things to know about post-tenure review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>First, this is not the elimination of tenure or academic freedom. <\/strong>Tenure and academic freedom are essential to VCU. They are central to our success in teaching, research and service, and to the impact we have on our students, patients and communities. That will not change: tenure and academic freedom must be protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Second, VCU already has a post-tenure review policy. <\/strong>VCU has had a post-tenure review policy since 1997, as have all other public Virginia institutions. What is being discussed now is an update to a policy that has not been revised in 13 years. The goal is to better align VCU with other public R1 universities and ensure we have a modern framework that supports faculty development while protecting the important principles of tenure and academic freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Third, the proposed policy would make the review process clearer, faster and more defined. <\/strong>It would change what triggers post-tenure review, shorten the maximum length of the improvement plan from two years to one, and require that the plan include clear, measurable and achievable goals for the faculty member. It would also establish a more defined timeline for review and clarify who determines whether the improvement plan has been successfully completed. There are two milestones in the process at which a faculty member can appeal, and there is the opportunity at each step of the process for the faculty member to provide a response. In short, the goal is a process that is more current, more consistent and clear, and easier to understand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fourth, this policy draft has already changed significantly because of faculty input, and it can be strengthened with further feedback. <\/strong>Based on feedback from the Faculty Senate in early March, the draft of the post tenure review policy was significantly revised, with more than 60% of the policy changed. That matters because it shows this process is not closed. Feedback has informed the policy to date, and responses from the open comment period will result in additional revisions. I strongly encourage you to <a href=\"https:\/\/faculty.provost.vcu.edu\/ptr\/\">read the proposed policy and share your input<\/a> during the open comment period, which began on April 6 and ends on April 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for your dedication to VCU and for participating in this process. Your voice matters, and it will help make this policy stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Art<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.<br>Interim Executive Vice President and Provost<br>Virginia Commonwealth University<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear colleagues: As you likely know, VCU is seeking feedback on updates to our post-tenure review policy. I encourage everyone to take part in the open comment period, which is underway. Please visit the post tenure review policy webpage to learn more and be sure to share your thoughts by the April 24 deadline. This [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2410,"featured_media":1214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,5,339],"tags":[386,368,372,385,370,384,314],"class_list":["post-1304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-affairs","category-provost","category-provost-messages","tag-academic-freedom","tag-feedback","tag-open-comment-period","tag-policy-updates","tag-post-tenure-review","tag-post-tenure-review-policy","tag-spring-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2410"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1304\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1297,"date":"2026-04-21T12:28:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1297"},"modified":"2026-04-22T09:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:22:12","slug":"vcu-showcases-leadership-in-undergraduate-research-with-ncur-in-richmond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/21\/vcu-showcases-leadership-in-undergraduate-research-with-ncur-in-richmond\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU showcases leadership in undergraduate research with NCUR in Richmond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>More than 5,000 undergraduate researchers gathered in Richmond for the conference, creating a national stage for the exchange of ideas, student scholarship and interdisciplinary discovery.<\/em><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"VCU students shine at the National Undergraduate Research Conference\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lY3X0cEREdw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virginia Commonwealth University played a central role this spring as Richmond hosted the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), the largest undergraduate research conference in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VCU showed up strong at NCUR, with 487 student presenters sharing work across disciplines spanning science, engineering, health, humanities and the arts. The breadth of student participation reflected the university\u2019s growing emphasis on undergraduate research as a high-impact educational experience that connects classroom learning with real-world inquiry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/vcu-students-at-national-conference-on-undergraduate-research\"><strong>Meet seven VCU students who presented at NCUR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><em>\u201cIt means a lot to be able to share my work with people from all over the country. It\u2019s also really exciting it\u2019s at VCU this year, which makes it even more accessible for students like me. I think it really will help with my own personal development and to help me be able to feel like I am sharing my work professionally and hopefully opening doors to my future.\u201d <\/em><em><br><\/em><em>&#8211; Molly Goecker, Senior, Honors College Biology<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond presentations, NCUR served as a convening point for deeper conversations about the future of research, innovation and education. A highlight of the conference was VCU\u2019s leadership panel, <strong>\u201c<\/strong>Beyond the Podium: Confluence of Science and Arts in the Age of AI,<strong>\u201d<\/strong> which brought together university leaders to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education and how institutions can prepare students to engage with emerging tools responsibly and effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Panelists included <a href=\"https:\/\/provost.vcu.edu\/about\/meet-the-provost\/\"><strong>Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, VCU interim provost and executive vice president; <a href=\"https:\/\/research.vcu.edu\/about\/vp-for-research-and-innovation\/\"><strong>P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong>, vice president for research and innovation; <a href=\"https:\/\/arts.vcu.edu\/directory\/carmenita-higginbotham\/\"><strong>Carmenita Higginbotham, Ph.D<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong>, dean of the School of the Arts and special assistant to the provost; and <a href=\"https:\/\/directory.business.vcu.edu\/profile.php?urn=mgupta2\"><strong>Manu Gupta, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, who moderated the discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe will always need people who are trained well,\u201d Saavedra noted. \u201cWe will always need a community that rises up and sees the full picture. There\u2019s nothing to be scared about and everything to be excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The scale of NCUR underscored the importance of undergraduate research as a national priority across higher ed, while VCU\u2019s role as host and sponsor highlighted its commitment to expanding access to meaningful research experiences. As part of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/academics.provost.vcu.edu\/assessment-accreditation-and-compliance\/accreditation\/institutional-accreditation\/quality-enhancement-plan\/\">Every Ram is a Researcher\u201d<\/a> initiative, one out of every three VCU students is currently engaged in research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NCUR reinforced VCU as a Carnegie R1 institution and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vcu.edu\/research\/\">Top 50 public research university <\/a>(National Science Foundation), with more than $550 million in sponsored research funding in FY 2025 supporting discovery and innovation across disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For VCU students, NCUR offered not only a platform to present their work, but an opportunity to engage with a national community of scholars, exchange ideas across institutions and see firsthand how research can shape future academic and professional pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.exposure.co\/students-find-inspiration-during-renowned-research-conferences-visit-to-richmond\">https:\/\/vcu.exposure.co\/students-find-inspiration-during-renowned-research-conferences-visit-to-richmond<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/vcu-students-at-national-conference-on-undergraduate-research\">https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/vcu-students-at-national-conference-on-undergraduate-research<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More than 5,000 undergraduate researchers gathered in Richmond for the conference, creating a national stage for the exchange of ideas, student scholarship and interdisciplinary discovery. Virginia Commonwealth University played a central role this spring as Richmond hosted the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), the largest undergraduate research conference in the country. VCU showed up [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2240,"featured_media":1298,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[118],"class_list":["post-1297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-success","tag-student-success"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2240"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1298"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1292,"date":"2026-04-21T11:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1292"},"modified":"2026-04-17T13:14:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:14:31","slug":"2026-commencement-invitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/21\/2026-commencement-invitation\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 VCU Commencement celebration and invitation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Dear faculty colleagues,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we reach the final stretch of our academic year, we would first like to thank you for your dedication to our students. The heart of this university isn\u2019t the brick and mortar; it\u2019s the late-night grading sessions, the extended office hours, and all the extra efforts and sacrifices you make to help our students succeed. Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the finish line in mind, we are reaching out to remind you that all faculty are invited to attend Virginia Commonwealth University&#8217;s Commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10 a.m., at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. With school and college commencements, final exams, and a multitude of other deadlines, we recognize that time is even more valuable at the end of the semester. Your presence helps provide closure for our students, celebrates your shared victories, and shows the strength of our VCU community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please RSVP by using this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/6Q4f2YjSSYSXs2AJA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">form<\/a>. For any questions you may have, please email <a href=\"mailto:UNIVevents@vcu.edu\">UNIVevents@vcu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you again for all that you do for our students and this university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With gratitude,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.<\/strong><br>Interim executive vice president and provost<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kathleen Moritz Rudasill, Ph.D.<\/strong><br>Senior vice provost for faculty affairs<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Andrew T. Arroyo, Ed.D.<\/strong><br>Senior vice provost for academic affairs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All faculty are invited to attend Virginia Commonwealth University&#8217;s Commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 10 a.m., at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Your presence helps provide closure for our students, celebrates your shared victories, and shows the strength of our VCU community.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1874,"featured_media":1293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,5],"tags":[310,379,381,383,380,382,111],"class_list":["post-1292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-affairs","category-provost","tag-310","tag-commencement","tag-faculty-invitation","tag-graduation","tag-vcu-commencement","tag-vcu-community","tag-vcu-faculty"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1874"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1307,"date":"2026-04-21T08:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1307"},"modified":"2026-04-22T09:15:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:15:20","slug":"scott-named-ace-fellow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/21\/scott-named-ace-fellow\/","title":{"rendered":"Scott named an American Council on Education Fellow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>The American Council on Education (ACE) has selected <a href=\"https:\/\/semss.vcu.edu\/about\/senior-leadership-team\/dr-hernan-bucheli\/\"><strong>Krista Scott, Ed.D.<\/strong><\/a>, associate vice president for strategic enrollment management special programs, as an ACE Fellow for academic year 2026-2027. Following nominations by VCU senior administration and a rigorous application process, Scott will join a class of 31 Fellows in the program developed to identify and prepare faculty and staff for senior positions in college and university administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scott previously served VCU as interim associate vice president for summer studies and special programs, as well as associate dean for enrollment and student success. Scott earned a doctorate in education from the Ohio State University, and an M.Ed., B.S. and B.A. from the University of Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have always believed that education is a fundamental right and a catalyst for transformative change, and this ACE Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to observe how diverse institutions navigate an ever-evolving environment,\u201d Scott said. \u201cI am deeply appreciative of the support to pursue this opportunity am honored to represent VCU in this cohort. I look forward to a year of intensive learning and growth, and am excited to bring bringing back new insights to further our commitment to excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Established in 1965, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acenet.edu\/Programs-Services\/Pages\/ACE-Fellows-Program.aspx#section-3\"><strong>ACE Fellows Program<\/strong><\/a> is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in American higher education through its distinctive and intensive, nominator-driven, cohort-based mentorship model. Over 2,500 higher education leaders have participated in the ACE Fellows Program over the decades, with close to 150 Fellows currently serving as presidents and provosts, and many more serving as senior administrators and deans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Dr. Krista Scott\u2019s selection as an ACE Fellow is a well-deserved recognition of her exceptional strategic leadership, institutional vision, and deep commitment to student success,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/semss.vcu.edu\/about\/senior-leadership-team\/dr-hernan-bucheli\/\"><strong>Hernan Bucheli, Ed.D.<\/strong><\/a>, vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success.\u201cAt a time when higher education requires leaders who can think boldly, act collaboratively, and guide organizations through change, Krista stands out as exactly that kind of leader,\u201d Bucheli added. \u201cWe are proud of this recognition and confident that her ACE Fellowship experience will further strengthen the impact of her leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ACE Fellows Program combines retreats, interactive learning opportunities, visits to campuses and other higher education-related organizations, and placement at another higher education institution to condense years of job experience and skills development into a single year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the placement, ACE Fellows observe and work with the president and other senior officers at their host institution, attend decision-making meetings, and focus on issues of interest.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the conclusion of the fellowship year, Fellows return to their home institution with new knowledge and skills that contribute to capacity-building efforts, along with a network of colleagues across the country and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About ACE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The American Council on Education is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future, galvanizing our members to make change and collaborating across the sector to design solutions for today\u2019s challenges, serve the needs of a diverse student population, and shape effective public policy. As the major coordinating body for the nation\u2019s colleges and universities, our strength lies in our diverse membership of about 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in America and abroad. ACE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities. For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on X, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Please join us in congratulating Krista Scott, VCU associate vice president for strategic enrollment management special programs, who was selected as a 2026\u201327 ACE Fellow. The fellowship will deepen her leadership experience through mentorship, campus placements, and national networking, strengthening her future impact at VCU and in higher education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1874,"featured_media":1308,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[388,391,389,337,387,314],"class_list":["post-1307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-provost","tag-ace","tag-ace-fellowship","tag-american-council-on-education","tag-excellence","tag-krista-scott","tag-spring-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1874"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1307\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1301,"date":"2026-04-20T14:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1301"},"modified":"2026-04-20T15:43:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T19:43:09","slug":"understanding-wicked-problems-a-conversation-with-daniel-gutierrez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/20\/understanding-wicked-problems-a-conversation-with-daniel-gutierrez\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Wicked Problems: A conversation with Daniel Gutierrez"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>What is a \u201cwicked problem?\u201d&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wicked problems are these big societal problems that shift as you try to solve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, let\u2019s imagine a community responding to a growing mental health crisis. Schools are overwhelmed, ERs are full and families want help. So the first move makes sense \u2014 you expand services. But Clinicians start saying, \u201cWe\u2019re treating downstream what\u2019s being created upstream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So the problem lens widens. Now we\u2019re talking about housing instability, economic stress, loneliness and community violence. And that is the wickedness of it. The problem changes as you engage it. The causes are interconnected, the boundaries of the problem keep moving, and even defining what the problem is dependent on where you stand in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The causes are interconnected; stakeholders see them differently. There\u2019s no clear endpoint and no single right answer. A wicked problem is a problem that doesn\u2019t stay still long enough to be solved\u2014it changes as you engage it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What does it take to solve wicked problems?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wicked problems demand transdisciplinary approaches because they exist between systems. Any piece of reality that is fundamentally interconnected and constantly changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wicked problems are dynamic. If you take a single-discipline approach to the problem, you may not even notice how it is changing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In your experience, what are some wicked problems that illustrate these complexities?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We see this clearly in areas like youth mental health, substance use and chronic loneliness. Teaching coping skills and offering therapy, helps the individual,&nbsp; but only to a point. If that same young person is dealing with housing instability, under-resourced schools, or constant online comparisons, the conditions shaping their distress remain active. So the response expands. Invest in schools, support families, build community programs. That helps too, but more slowly, and now the problem starts to shift. Is this a mental health issue, an education issue, or an economic issue? Who is responsible for responding?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As each part of the system is addressed, new pressures show up elsewhere. Expanding access to care increases demand and strains providers. School-based supports help students but stretch educators beyond their roles. Social interventions take time, while families are asking for immediate relief. Each intervention improves something while complicating something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an area that the <a href=\"https:\/\/academics.provost.vcu.edu\/vcu-convergence\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/academics.provost.vcu.edu\/vcu-convergence\/\">VCU Convergence<\/a> Mental Health group is addressing, and under the leadership of Dr. Patrick Mullen we are engaging schools and community groups to best define the work that needs to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a \u201cwicked problem?\u201d&nbsp; Wicked problems are these big societal problems that shift as you try to solve them. For example, let\u2019s imagine a community responding to a growing mental health crisis. Schools are overwhelmed, ERs are full and families want help. So the first move makes sense \u2014 you expand services. But Clinicians [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2240,"featured_media":1302,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[346],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convergence"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2240"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1301"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1301\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1276,"date":"2026-04-09T14:02:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1276"},"modified":"2026-04-10T14:29:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T18:29:41","slug":"newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/09\/newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"Office of the Provost Prospectus Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>April 2026 Issue<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"468\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/saavedra-1024x468.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1277 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/saavedra-1024x468.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/saavedra-300x137.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/saavedra-768x351.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/saavedra.png 1240w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/468;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This month, as we host the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359f7cx04219\"><strong>National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 the largest of its kind \u2014 we shine a national spotlight on what sets our university apart: a deep commitment to undergraduate research that drives real-world impact. With more than 400 VCU students presenting alongside faculty and peer mentors, NCUR reflects not just the scale of our work, but the outcomes it delivers \u2014 graduates ready to lead, innovate and solve meaningful problems from day one. In fact, almost a third of our students are&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359f7dx04219\">actively engaged in research<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At VCU, undergraduate research and internships are proven catalysts for upward mobility. By pairing discovery with hands-on experience, students build critical skills, expand networks and apply their knowledge to strengthen communities and advance society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This momentum is accelerated by&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x35a001x04219\">VCU Convergence<\/a><\/strong>. Through transdisciplinary collaboration, these talented faculty researchers create community-driven, people-first solutions. Their collaborations fuel classroom and hands-on opportunities for students to help to solve the most complex challenges of our time. VCU Convergence is catalyzing ideas into impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Art Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.<br>Interim executive vice president and provost<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research and impacts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"VCU Convergence Health Outcomes: Closing health gaps\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jP4BtP50fgQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>VCU Convergence Health Outcomes: Closing health gaps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Join us as we highlight how VCU is addressing critical gaps in<strong>\u00a0health outcomes<\/strong>\u00a0through\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x35a002x04219\">VCU Convergence<\/a><\/strong>. This video features faculty leaders from the Health Outcomes group who are working across disciplines to transform research, care and community impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Watch the video<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ncur-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1278 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ncur-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ncur-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ncur-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ncur-1536x1023.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ncur.jpeg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/682;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>VCU to host the nation\u2019s largest undergraduate research conference<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For the first time, Virginia Commonwealth University will host the annual&nbsp;<strong>National Conference on Undergraduate Research&nbsp;<\/strong>this month, the nation\u2019s largest conference spotlighting excellence in undergraduate research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From April 13-15, more than 4,000 undergraduate student presenters from across the country will converge at the Greater Richmond Convention Center to showcase their scholarship and creative projects. VCU will have more than 400 students presenting at the conference, representing all of VCU\u2019s schools and colleges that serve undergraduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Read full article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/dayofservice-1024x771.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1279 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/dayofservice-1024x771.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/dayofservice-300x226.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/dayofservice-768x578.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/dayofservice-1536x1156.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/dayofservice.jpeg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/771;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Students, alumni, faculty and staff offer a hand to community leaders and organizations as part of VCU\u2019s Day of Service<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Virginia Commonwealth University held its inaugural Day of Service last month, where students, alumni, faculty and staff from VCU worked alongside local community organizations and neighborhood leaders across the Richmond metro area for the day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nearly 100 volunteers from VCU<\/strong>&nbsp;took part in the Day of Service, assisting a total of 11 community organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Volunteer work from the Day of Service included: tree maintenance at a southside Richmond playground, a cemetery cleanup in northside, removal of invasive vines and weeds at a monastery, meal preparation for a community kitchen, beautification at an RPS elementary school and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VCU\u2019s Day of Service is hosted by the&nbsp;<strong>Division of Community Engagement<\/strong>&nbsp;in the Office of the Provost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Learn more about this event<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"728\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/townhalls-1024x728.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1280 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/townhalls-1024x728.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/townhalls-300x213.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/townhalls-768x546.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/townhalls-1536x1092.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/townhalls.jpeg 1659w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/728;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interim Provost Saavedra connects with campus at Town Halls<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Last week, the Office of the Provost hosted two campus-wide town halls on the Monroe Park and MCV campuses, where interim executive vice president and provost Saavedra fielded candid questions from faculty and staff on topics ranging from university finances to graduate student support to the future of academic programs. The discussions also focused on big-picture shifts, including how\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x35a004x04219\">VCU Convergence<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is reshaping collaboration across disciplines, how research can better translate into real-world impact, and how the university is addressing key topics like graduate stipends, faculty growth, and student success. If you were unable to attend either town hall and would like to share your thoughts, fill out our feedback form below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359e3ax04219\">Submit feedback<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/AIreadyrva-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1282 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/AIreadyrva-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/AIreadyrva-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/AIreadyrva-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/AIreadyrva-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/AIreadyrva.jpeg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>AI Ready RVA: Power of Possibility Conference highlights VCU and Virginia\u2019s leadership in human-centered AI<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the&nbsp;<strong>AI Ready RVA \u201cPower of Possibility\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;conference, Virginia Commonwealth University highlighted its growing role in shaping a more AI-ready Richmond through education, research and community partnership. The event brought together leaders across industry, government and academia to focus on practical, human-centered AI and the region\u2019s collective momentum toward real-world impact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to focus on progress, and we\u2019re going to think about how AI can and should be leveraged for the public good. That vision is already taking shape at VCU.\u201d \u2013 Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., MBA., interim executive vice president and provost<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359e3bx04219\">Read full article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/convergenceai-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1283 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/convergenceai-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/convergenceai-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/convergenceai-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/convergenceai-1536x1023.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/convergenceai.jpeg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/682;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>AI, meet collaboration: How VCU is leading AI through transdisciplinary collaboration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At the recent\u00a0<strong>VCU Convergence AI Accelerator Workshop,<\/strong>\u00a0faculty, staff and industry partners came together to explore how AI can harness the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration to solve complex challenges. This growing momentum positions VCU at the forefront of responsible, real-world AI adoption, where human creativity and emerging technology work hand in hand \u2014 not just adapting to the future of AI \u2014 but helping define it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359e3cx04219\">Read full article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>\u201cThe evolution of AI demands that we focus more on just the technology. We must ensure that AI is responsible, fair and trustworthy, or, as we like to call it, responsible use of AI. Serving as a national authority in several academic disciplines, VCU is strategically positioned within Virginia\u2019s rapidly expanding data center landscape to become a leader in this field, advocating for the responsible use of AI for the public good.\u201d<\/strong> <strong>\u2013 Milos Manic, Ph.D., professor of computer science and VCU Convergence AI faculty lead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"524\" height=\"464\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/manic.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1284 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/manic.png 524w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/manic-300x266.png 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 524px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 524\/464;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ugeducation-1024x575.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1287 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ugeducation-1024x575.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ugeducation-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ugeducation-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ugeducation-1536x863.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/ugeducation.jpeg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/575;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>VCU Undergraduate Education Course (Re)Design Workshop &amp; Expo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Wed., May 13 | 10 a.m. &#8211; 2:30 p.m.\u00a0<br>VCU University Student Commons<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join colleagues to collaborate and reimagine VCU undergraduate education, one course at a time. This event is open to all faculty and staff instructors teaching undergraduate courses. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.<strong>\u00a0RSVP by Fri., April 10\u00a0<\/strong>to ensure organizers can properly plan for your sessions! Session facilitators will follow up with registrants. For more information, contact\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359e3dx04219\">svpacadaffrs@vcu.edu<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">RSVP<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/03\/220906_021_km-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"VCU sign with abstract light squiggles\" class=\"wp-image-1248 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/03\/220906_021_km-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/03\/220906_021_km-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/03\/220906_021_km-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/03\/220906_021_km-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/03\/220906_021_km-2048x1363.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/682;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">VCU Letters in front of the Eugene P. and Lois E. Trani Center for Life Sciences<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>VCU Convergence seeking proposals to spark transdisciplinary collaboration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>VCU invites faculty to apply for VCU Convergence planning grants supporting transdisciplinary collaboration across colleges, schools and campuses. Teams of at least three faculty can receive up to $10,000 to develop research partnerships, interdisciplinary curricula or experiential learning opportunities for students. Projects will run July 2026\u2013June 2027 addressing complex societal challenges across five Convergence themes:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Health Outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Human Factors of Artificial Intelligence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neuroscience (including Neurodegeneration)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mental Health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sustainability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359e3fx04219\">Read full article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2024\/02\/VCU-Compass-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"aerial view of the compass on MPC\" class=\"wp-image-228 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2024\/02\/VCU-Compass-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2024\/02\/VCU-Compass-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2024\/02\/VCU-Compass-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2024\/02\/VCU-Compass-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2024\/02\/VCU-Compass-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Seeking faculty comments on university post tenure review policy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The university\u2019s draft post tenure review policy is open for public comment until\u00a0<strong>April 24th.<\/strong>\u00a0Please provide your feedback and share the link with your faculty colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x359e40x04219\">Share your feedback<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/digitalaccess-1024x682.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1288 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/digitalaccess-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/digitalaccess-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/digitalaccess-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/digitalaccess-1536x1023.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/digitalaccess.jpeg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/682;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Digital accessibility: A quick guide for VCU faculty<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Incorporating digital accessibility in course instruction is not just a best practice for inclusive learning \u2014 it\u2019s the law. We all share a responsibility to students so that all digital course materials, including Canvas pages, documents, videos, audio, emails, and third-party tools, are optimized for accessibility.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve developed a quick guide that outlines key strategies, resources, tools and an ongoing action plan checklist to help ensure all VCU curricula meets federal WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard by&nbsp;<strong>April 24, 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x35a005x04219\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/civic-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1289 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/civic-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/civic-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/civic-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/civic.jpeg 1280w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/768;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Launching a new Civic Engagement Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>2025\u201327 VCU Civic Engagement Plan<\/strong>&nbsp;is now finalized, outlining the university\u2019s goals for strengthening civic engagement over the next two academic years. The plan highlights several priorities, including the creation of a university-level Civic Engagement Committee, new infrastructure to expand engagement opportunities and initiatives that foster dialogue across differences within the VCU community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, these efforts aim to ensure that civic engagement remains a visible, integrated and enduring part of the VCU experience. View the full plan and its&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x35a006x04219\">one\u2011page summary<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;and share them widely with colleagues and partners.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/massmail.vcu.edu\/trk\/click?ref=z173r7sgll_0-33e96_0_0x35a007x04219\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This month, as we host the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) \u2014 the largest of its kind \u2014 we shine a national spotlight on what sets our university apart: a deep commitment to undergraduate research that drives real-world impact. With more than 400 VCU students presenting alongside faculty and peer mentors, NCUR reflects not just the scale of our work, but the outcomes it delivers \u2014 graduates ready to lead, innovate and solve meaningful problems from day one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1874,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[373,5],"tags":[376,378,326,375,374,167,377,306],"class_list":["post-1276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletter","category-provost","tag-april-2026","tag-campus-news","tag-events","tag-newsletter","tag-prospectus","tag-provost","tag-research-impacts","tag-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1874"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1276\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1274,"date":"2026-04-07T12:14:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T16:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1274"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:14:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T16:14:10","slug":"post-tenure-review-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/07\/post-tenure-review-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeking faculty comments for post tenure review policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Dear faculty colleagues,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The open comment period for the updated post tenure review policy is now open and will close on <strong>April 24, 2026<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please provide your feedback on <a href=\"https:\/\/vcu.public.doctract.com\/doctract\/documentportal\/08DE90B760CC829F1E1CF788DED94588\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the draft policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Office of the Provost<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear faculty colleagues,&nbsp; The open comment period for the updated post tenure review policy is now open and will close on April 24, 2026.\u00a0 Please provide your feedback on the draft policy. Thank you, Office of the Provost<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1874,"featured_media":1248,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[310,371,168,102,368,372,369,370,150],"class_list":["post-1274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-affairs","tag-310","tag-draft-policy","tag-faculty","tag-faculty-affairs","tag-feedback","tag-open-comment-period","tag-policy","tag-post-tenure-review","tag-vcu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1874"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1274"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1274\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1263,"date":"2026-04-06T09:58:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1263"},"modified":"2026-04-06T11:23:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T15:23:25","slug":"ai-ready-rva-and-vcu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/06\/ai-ready-rva-and-vcu\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Ready RVA: Power of Possibility Conference highlights VCU and Virginia\u2019s leadership in human-centered AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept for Richmond \u2014 it is already reshaping how the region works, learns and grows. VCU is transforming AI readiness into real-world impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That shift was on full display at the AI Ready RVA Conference and Expo, \u201cPower of Possibility,\u201d at the Science Museum of Virginia on Apr. 1.&nbsp; More than 500 attendees gathered around a shared goal: positioning Richmond \u2014 and the Commonwealth of Virginia \u2014 as a leading, AI-ready hub grounded in human-centered innovation. As a presenting sponsor and key contributor, Virginia Commonwealth University helped define the tone and trajectory of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just moments after a live stream of the Artemis II moon launch set an aspirational tone of exploration and discovery, the conversation turned from space to society. That same spirit of curiosity and ambition is increasingly shaping how institutions like VCU approach artificial intelligence: not just as a tool, but as a frontier for human-centered progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VCU interim executive vice president and provost Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., then shared opening remarks on AI as not just a technological achievement, but also a human inflection point. This moment, he shared, will shape how institutions serve communities, how work evolves and how global challenges are solved. He emphasized that the future of AI will not be built in silos, but through collaboration across disciplines, sectors and lived experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to focus on progress, and we&#8217;re going to think about how AI can and should be leveraged for the public good. That vision is already taking shape at VCU.&#8221; &#8211; Arturo Saavedrea, M.D., Ph.D., MBA., Interim executive vice president and provost<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"636\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-9.55.55-AM-1024x636.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1268 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/636;aspect-ratio:1.6094362781786067;width:670px;height:auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-9.55.55-AM-1024x636.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-9.55.55-AM-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-9.55.55-AM-768x477.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-9.55.55-AM-1536x954.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1060\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-9.55.55-AM-2048x1273.png 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Through initiatives like <a href=\"https:\/\/aiguidebook.vcu.edu\/VCU-Convergence-AI\/\"><strong>VCU Convergence AI<\/strong><\/a>, the university is advancing an interdisciplinary model that unites health, engineering, the arts, business, public policy and more. In this model, AI is not treated as a standalone field, but as a connective force that accelerates discovery and applications, locally and globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Across the conference, the focus orbited execution over hype. Panels and discussions explored how AI is being implemented today, from workforce development and healthcare innovation to ethical governance and community impact. The message was clear: meaningful progress in AI depends on building systems that are not only powerful, but responsible, inclusive and scalable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That perspective was reinforced during a panel featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/egr.vcu.edu\/directory\/milos.manic\/\"><strong>Milos Manic, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, professor of engineering and VCU Convergence AI faculty lead, who joined regional leaders to explore how innovation must be paired with ethical design and human-centered thinking. His insights reflected a growing consensus: advancing AI requires not only technical expertise, but public trust and societal benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where both Richmond and Virginia are distinguishing themselves. Rather than waiting for innovation to happen elsewhere, the region is actively shaping its own future. Through partnerships among universities, industry, government and community organizations, the commonwealth is positioning itself as a national model for responsible, human-focused AI development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within that ecosystem, VCU is signaling a shift from exploration to action. As an anchor institution, the university is developing the talent, research and cross-sector partnerships needed to translate AI into tangible outcomes \u2014 improving health, strengthening communities and expanding economic opportunity. By aligning academic innovation with public needs, VCU is helping ensure that AI serves not just advancement, but humanity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept for Richmond \u2014 it is already reshaping how the region works, learns and grows. VCU is transforming AI readiness into real-world impact. That shift was on full display at the AI Ready RVA Conference and Expo, \u201cPower of Possibility,\u201d at the Science Museum of Virginia on Apr. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2240,"featured_media":1267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[346],"tags":[310,25,299,360,156,347],"class_list":["post-1263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convergence","tag-310","tag-ai","tag-ai-ready-rva-partnership","tag-arturo-saavedra","tag-collaboration","tag-vcu-convergence"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2240"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1263\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1264,"date":"2026-04-06T09:49:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/?p=1264"},"modified":"2026-04-06T09:51:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T13:51:38","slug":"ncur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/2026\/04\/06\/ncur\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU to host National Conference on Undergraduate Research this month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>More than 4,000 students nationwide will present projects at the flagship event.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the first time, Virginia Commonwealth University will host the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/ncur.secure-platform.com\/2026\/\">National Conference on Undergraduate Research<\/a> this month, the nation\u2019s largest conference spotlighting excellence in undergraduate research.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From April 13-15, more than 4,000 undergraduate student presenters from across the country will converge at the Greater Richmond Convention Center to showcase their scholarship and creative projects. VCU will have more than 400 students presenting at the conference, representing all of VCU\u2019s schools and colleges that serve undergraduates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith our <a href=\"https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/2024\/02\/new-vcu-initiative--every-rams-a-researcher\">Every Ram\u2019s a Researcher<\/a> initiative in full swing, it is truly an opportune moment for VCU to host the National Conference on Undergraduate Research,\u201d said Herbert Hill, Ed.D., assistant vice provost of undergraduate research and creative inquiry. \u201cVCU continues to expand access to transformative, research-supportive learning experiences that prepare our graduates to address complex questions and challenges in a global society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Established in 2011, NCUR is the flagship conference for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cur.org\/\">Council on Undergraduate Research<\/a>. The host location and university changes each year, and VCU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/provost.vcu.edu\/\">Office of the Provost <\/a>is the primary sponsor this year. NCUR will be held during VCU\u2019s annual <a href=\"https:\/\/researchweeks.vcu.edu\/\">Research Weeks<\/a>, which celebrates the discoveries and breakthroughs of the university&#8217;s research enterprise throughout the month of April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Student projects span across disciplines \u2013 from STEM to the arts and humanities \u2013 and will primarily be featured through a series of poster sessions over NCUR\u2019s three-day program The presentation portion of the conference will allow students to engage with peers about their work, and NCUR helps them establish connections with faculty from VCU and beyond.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>India Cox, a <a href=\"https:\/\/honors.vcu.edu\/\">VCU Honors College<\/a> junior majoring in psychology in VCU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/chs.vcu.edu\/\">College of Humanities and Sciences<\/a>, said she is \u201dabsolutely ecstatic\u201d to present her project \u2013 \u201cFrom Custody to Care: Understanding Mental Health and Recidivism in the Criminal Justice System.\u201d \u2013 which points to the career she wants to pursue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe entire purpose of presenting this project is to draw attention to the overall impact the justice system has on all of us,\u201d Cox said. \u201cI\u2019ve never presented orally, only by poster, so I\u2019m excited to engage with an audience and hear feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She added that the ability to pursue deep research as an undergraduate has shaped her perspective on learning and growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEvery time I conduct research, I\u2019m amazed by the information I find, and I feel it\u2019s part of my purpose to share what I learn out to the world,\u201d Cox said. \u201cWhen doing a research project, I always come in very anxious about the way things are going to fall into place and how I\u2019m going to connect the dots with what I\u2019m given. However, these projects never fail to flow in the direction that\u2019s most impactful, and many times it falls together completely on its own. I\u2019m just there to combine the data, which I think is really the beauty of research.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe answers to any of our questions are already there,\u201d Cox said. \u201cSomeone just has to care enough to find them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than one-third of all VCU students are engaged in research. Mary Boyes, an Honors College faculty member and NCUR faculty mentor, said watching her students conceive, conduct and eventually present their projects is a special experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just so impressive to see the variety and depth of our students\u2019 research and creative projects,\u201d said Boyes, who is serving as a mentor to 52 research and creative projects at NCUR this year. \u201cHaving the opportunity to mentor these amazing students is one of my favorite parts of being a professor.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the first time, Virginia Commonwealth University will host the annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research this month, the nation\u2019s largest conference spotlighting excellence in undergraduate research. More than 4,000 students nationwide will present projects at the flagship event.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2255,"featured_media":1265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[310,366,34,364,367,336,365,150],"class_list":["post-1264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-affairs","tag-310","tag-council-on-undergraduate-research","tag-every-rams-a-researcher","tag-national-conference-on-undergraduate-research","tag-research-enterprise","tag-scholarship","tag-undergraduate-research","tag-vcu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2255"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]