Professional development
The VCU Graduate School Professional Development Office provides a full range of training opportunities, research and grant-related workshops, well-being, and career support, as well as other events curated to empower and support graduate students as they pursue their academic and professional goals. Through our programming, we aim to ensure that all VCU graduate students are equipped with the necessary foundational skills to succeed as transformative and innovative leaders in their respective career spaces. Our mission is to prepare graduate students for academic and professional success.
Contact us
For more information about professional development, contact gradprofdev@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1654.
Request Professional Development
- Graduate program leaders and student organization leaders can request professional development (PD) sessions from the VCU Graduate School's Office of Professional Development (OPD).
- Explore Our Content: Review the PD Guide to see currently available topics. Don't see what you need? You can request custom content not listed in the guide.
- How to Apply: Ready to schedule a session? Submit your request using the PD Request Form.
Lunch and Learn Series: The Office of Professional Development (OPD) hosts its virtual Lunch and Learn series every Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Designed to bridge academic work with professional and personal growth, these convenient sessions center around our three core pillars: Career Pathways, Well-Being and Balance, and Scholarship and Impact.
On-Demand Courses: These self-paced, online courses are designed to help graduate students bridge the gap between academic study and professional career skills. Available for self-registration via Canvas, these flexible modules fit easily into a busy academic schedule, allowing you to build critical career competencies at your own pace. Upon completing a course or series of courses, you will earn a verifiable digital badge to showcase your new skills on LinkedIn, your resume, or professional portfolios.
Just Write Series: These in-person sessions, held once a month in Cabell Library, provide a quiet space to write with other students. At noon, enjoy a workshop while you enjoy lunch (provided for you), covering topics related to research and writing. All sessions take place on Fridays from 11 AM - 2 PM. The Writing Center also provides 1:1 consultations from 11 AM -12 PM and 1-2 PM.
Fall 2026 Sessions:
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- Friday, September 18: Registration coming soon
- Friday, October 16: Registration coming soon
- Friday, November 20: Registration coming soon
The Three Minute Thesis Competition, the Graduate Research Symposium, and Graduate School Research Talks are research presentation opportunities sponsored by the Graduate School that provide students with opportunities to share their research with the broader VCU community. Students are encouraged to use these university-wide events to gain experiences with sharing their research, presenting, and public speaking.
CIRTL at VCU: VCU is a member of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL), a network of research universities committed to preparing outstanding future faculty with the ultimate goal of improving undergraduate education across all disciplines. This network offers benefits for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.
Accelerate to Industry (A2i+): VCU is a member of the national Accelerate to Industry program developed out of NC State. This network provides VCU graduate students with access to frequent webinars related to job search strategies. In addition to this national network, VCU's Graduate School develops and curates its own offerings around developing professional skills for entering into industry upon completion of your graduate degree that lead to the A2i+ Badge. For more information on the A2i+ Badge, see our A2i+ Canvas community.
Throughout the year, the Graduate School provides ongoing support and resources for students serving as Graduate Teaching Assistants. This includes an orientation at the beginning of the fall semester which partners with the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity and Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity to ensure all graduate students serving in a teaching capacity understand their roles and responsibilities. Additional workshops on inclusive teaching, best practices, and critical reflection occur throughout the year. Students can register for these free sessions through the Graduate School Rams Connect page.
The Graduate Student Travel Grant program provides funds to support students presenting their research or academic work at conferences, summits, etc.
- To meet growing demand for well-trained qualitative researchers, both nationally and internationally, the VCU Graduate Credential of Completion in Qualitative Research recognizes doctoral students who pursue an advanced course of study in qualitative research methods.
- The GCCQR requires that VCU doctoral students in good standing complete 12 hours of coursework in qualitative research methods, including a 3-credit introductory course and 9 credits of an advanced course. This is a great opportunity for doctoral students who plan to do a qualitative or mixed-methods dissertation.