Newly admitted students
We're thrilled you are joining the RAMily!
Once you've received your offer of admission, please refer to the graduate student checklist for a list of important next steps.
You'll also want to connect with us on social media for the latest news, announcements, and special events for VCU graduate students.
New student orientation
The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association sponsor an orientation to introduce new graduate students to VCU and the city of Richmond. Departments also conduct individual orientation sessions with representatives available to talk with students and answer questions.
UNdeniable impact
The Graduate School will host an in-person Spring orientation on Thursday, January 8th, 2026.
Register here via RamsConnect
New graduate student orientation was held on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Departmental orientation sessions
Schools and departments are currently scheduling Fall 2025 orientations. Dates/times are being updated upon receipt from schools/departments.
Brandcenter
College of Engineering
Launchpad: Engineering Graduate Student Orientation
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Engineering West Hall, Lobby: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Lunch with Current Grad Students: 11:30 am
Contact: gradengr@vcu.edu
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 103: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: Dean Krusienski, djkrusienski@vcu.edu
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 103: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: Dean Krusienski, djkrusienski@vcu.edu
Department of Chemical & Life Science Engineering
Date and time: TBA
Date and time: TBA
Location: TBA
Contact: Tom Roper, tdroper@vcu.edu
Contact: Tom Roper, tdroper@vcu.edu
Department of Computer Science
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 101: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: Kosta Damevski, csgradadvise@vcu.edu
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 101: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: Kosta Damevski, csgradadvise@vcu.edu
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 104: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: Yan Zhou, yzhou7@vcu.edu
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 104: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: Yan Zhou, yzhou7@vcu.edu
Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 104: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
An online orientation will also be available. Those details are coming.
Contact: Karla Mossi, kmmossi@vcu.edu
Friday, August 15, 2025
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Engineering West Hall, Room 104: 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
An online orientation will also be available. Those details are coming.
Contact: Karla Mossi, kmmossi@vcu.edu
Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering
Date and time: TBA
Location: TBA
Contact: Tom Roper, tdroper@vcu.edu
College of Health Professions
College of Health Professions - College-Wide Summer New Student Event
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:30 am - 1:00 pm (approximately, exact time TBD)
College of Health Professions, 900 E. Leigh St.
Contact: chpstudent@vcu.edu
Department of Gerontology
Gerontology Orientation
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Via Zoom only
MHA Orientation
Monday, August 11 - Saturday, August 16, and Monday, August 18
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
College of Health Professions, 900 E. Leigh St.
Contact: Cameron Parkins, parkinsc@vcu.edu
MSHA Orientation
Thursday, August 11-Saturday, August 16
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Via Zoom (only) - links will be sent by mid-July
Contact: Cameron Parkins, parkinsc@vcu.edu
Department of Health Related Sciences - Ph.D. Program
Date & time: TBD
Location: TBD
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Thursday, August 14, 2025
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
College of Health Professions, Room 6003: 900 E. Leigh Street
Contact: Melissa Jamerson, hrickomj@vcu.edu
Department of Occupational Therapy
Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
College of Health Professions, Room 1075: 900 E. Leigh St.
Contact: Tara Hemmen, hemment@vcu.edu
Department of Physical Therapy
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
College of Health Professions, Room 1075: 900 E. Leigh St.
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
College of Health Professions, Room 4003: 900 E. Leigh St.
Friday, June 6, 2025, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
College of Health Professions, Room 1075: 900 E. Leigh St.
Contact: Lexie Lewis, lewisls4@vcu.edu
Department of Rehabilitation Counseling
Thursday, August 14, 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
College of Health Professions, Room 5000: 900 E. Leigh St.
RSVP Required
Department of Patient Counseling
Monday, June 2 through Friday, June 6, 2025
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
College of Health Professions, Room 7019: 900 E. Leigh St.
College of Humanities and Sciences
School of Life Sciences and Sustainability
M.S. Biology
Monday, August 18, 2025
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Trani Life Sciences Building 116
Contact: dmjohnson@vcu.edu
Contact: dmjohnson@vcu.edu
MS Bioinformatics program
Monday April 18, 2025
3:00 pm - 4:30pm
Grace E Harris Hall room 3112
Contact: aajohnson@vcu.edu
Department of Chemistry
Monday, August 11, 2025
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Faculty research talks, TA training, and other activities: August 12 through 18, 2025
Temple Building, 901 West Main Street
Contact: sndhakal@vcu.edu
Department of English
Graduate Programs Orientation
Thursday-Friday, August 14-15, 2025
10:00 am -4:00 am
Department and grad programs meetings, GTA training, and other activities
Hibbs Hall, Third Floor, 900 Park Ave.
Contact: tndidato@vcu.edu
Department of Forensic Science
Graduate Student Orientation (In-person)
Tuesday, August 18, 2025
9:00 am-2:00 pm
Contact: Jo Murphy, fos@vcu.edu
Department of History
Monday, August 18, 2025
Time (TBC): 5:00PM for new GTA’s / 6:00 PM for all new students
Location: 811 S. Cathedral Place, Room 102, Conference room
Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and Systems Modeling and Analysis PhD Program
Graduate Student Orientation
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - Friday, August 15, 2025
Time: TBD
Location: Harris Hall (4th floor), Room TBD, 1015 Floyd Ave.
Contact: hrogrosky@vcu.edu
Department of Media, Art, and Text
Graduate Programs Orientation
Thursday-Friday, August 14-15, 2025
10:00 am -4:00 pm
Department and grad programs meetings, GTA training, and other activities
Hibbs Hall, Third Floor, 900 Park Ave.
Contact: tndidato@vcu.edu
Robertson School of Mass Communication
Master's Students Orientation
Friday, June 6, 2025
Noon to 1 p.m.
Online at https://vcu.zoom.us/my/robertsonschool
Contact: garabelliva@vcu.edu
Department of Psychology
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Program Orientation (August 11-15, 2025)
STEM Building, 817 West Franklin Street
Contact: tsimmsjones@vcu.edu
Department of Sociology
New Graduate Student Orientation
M.S., Digital Sociology Concentration, Accelerated
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
11:00 pm - 3:00 pm
In Person, Founders Hall, Large Conference Room, and a Zoom link will be provided to students
New Teaching Assistant Training (Department of Sociology)
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
In Person, Founders Hall, Large Conference Room, and a Zoom link will be provided to students
daVinci Center for Innovation
MPI Orientation
Friday, August 15, 2025
12pm - 2pm.
Virtual, Zoom link will be provided
*Additional events for new daVinci students will be happening between August 12-16, but this is the required program orientation session.
Global Education Office
International Student Orientation
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
9:00 am -12:00 pm
VCU STEM Building, 817 West Franklin Street
Global Education Office (GEO) Open House
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Global Education Office
Contact: global@vcu.edu
Contact: global@vcu.edu
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs
Monday, August 11, 2025
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Raleigh Building, Room B001: 1001 W Franklin St
Contact: Matthew Smith, msmith43@vcu.edu
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Raleigh Building, Room B001: 1001 W Franklin St
Contact: Matthew Smith, msmith43@vcu.edu
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Contact: Matthew Smith, msmith43@vcu.edu
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Contact: Matthew Smith, msmith43@vcu.edu
School of Dentistry
Advanced Education MSD Programs (Endo/Peds/Perio/Ortho/OMFS)
Monday, June 30, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
School of Dentistry, Perkinson 3121
Contact: lysekk@vcu.edu
Monday, June 30, 2025
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
School of Dentistry, Perkinson 3121
Contact: lysekk@vcu.edu
School of Education
New Graduate Student Orientation
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Hybrid
Academic Learning Commons
Contact: Krystal Andrews andrewske2@vcu.edu
Ed.D. in Leadership Orientation
Wednesday, May 7 through Friday, May 30, 2025
Synchronous
soe.vcu.edu/academics/leadership/leadership-edd
First-year Ed.D. Residency
Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: TBD
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: TBD
Contact: Beth Bukoski, Ed.D. bukoskibe@vcu.edu
soe.vcu.edu/academics/leadership/leadership-edd
M.Ed. and Certificate
Virtual Orientation Schedule (4:00–5:00 PM):
- Monday, July 21, 2025
Educational Leadership: Leadership Studies, M.Ed. - Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Educational Leadership: Higher Education Administration, M.Ed. - Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Educational Leadership: Culturally Responsive Leadership, M.Ed.
Culturally Responsive Leadership, Graduate Certificate - Thursday, July 24, 2025
Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision, M.Ed.
School of Business
Graduate Studies Kick-Off
Evening MBA, Specialized Master's and Certificate Students
Thursday, August 14, 2025
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Atrium
Contact: gsib@vcu.edu or 804-828-4622
Evening MBA, Specialized Master's and Certificate Students
Thursday, August 14, 2025
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Atrium
Contact: gsib@vcu.edu or 804-828-4622
Executive MBA Class of 2027
Thursday, August 21, 2025
8:00 am
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Room B3189
Contact: emba@vcu.edu
Thursday, August 21, 2025
8:00 am
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Room B3189
Contact: emba@vcu.edu
Master of Decision Analytics Weekend Program Class of 2026
Friday, August 22, 2025
8:00 am
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Room B3186
Contact: dapt@vcu.edu
Friday, August 22, 2025
8:00 am
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Room B3186
Contact: dapt@vcu.edu
Ph.D. in Business
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Room B3187
Contact: gsib@vcu.edu or 804-828-4622
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St., Room B3187
Contact: gsib@vcu.edu or 804-828-4622
Center for Sport Leadership
Monday, August 18, 2025
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Sports Medicine Building, 1300 West Broad Street, Parlors
Contact: thompsonmt3@vcu.edu
School of Social Work
On-Campus MSW Orientation
Friday, August 15, 2025
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Academic Learning Commons, first floor: 1000 Floyd Ave
Contact - Julie Pence, pencejm@vcu.edu
Academic Learning Commons, first floor: 1000 Floyd Ave
Contact - Julie Pence, pencejm@vcu.edu
School of Nursing
Graduate Nursing Student Orientation
Friday, August 15, 2025
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
School of Nursing, 1100 East Leigh Street
Contact - Tim Westberg, twestberg@vcu.edu
Friday, August 15, 2025
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
School of Nursing, 1100 East Leigh Street
Contact - Tim Westberg, twestberg@vcu.edu
School of Medicine
Dean’s Office, School of Medicine (PhD, MS, and Certificate Graduate Programs)
Thursday, August 14, 2025
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Sanger Hall, Room 2-020: 1101 East Marshall St.
Contact: mary.rosenthal@vcuhealth.org
Addiction Studies New Student Orientation
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:00 am - 10:15 am
Contact: meloos@vcu.edu
Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal Orientation Phase I:
Overview and Intro to PhD Programs
Thursday, August 14, 2025
2:00 - 4:00 pm
MMRB, Room 1013: 1220 East Broad St.
Contact: mary.rosenthal@vcuhealth.org
Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Portal Orientation Phase II:
Meet the Mentors
Friday, August 15, 2025
9:30 am – 2:30 pm
MMRB, Room 1013: 1220 East Broad St.
Contact: mary.rosenthal@vcuhealth.org
Division of Medical Physics
Medical Physics New Student Orientation
Friday, August 15, 2025
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
MMEC, Room 4-201: 1201 E Marshall Street
Contact: Lori.Cates@vcuhealth.org
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Date and time: TBD
Location: TBD
Department of Radiation Oncology
Neuroscience PhD Program Orientation
Friday, August 15, 2025
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Hunton Student Center, 2nd Floor Lounge: 1110 East Broad Street
Contact: andrew.ottens@vcuhealth.org
School of Pharmacy
Graduate Student Orientation
Thursday, August 14, 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Lunch and snacks provided
School of Pharmacy, 410 N. 12th Street
Contact: Geri Youngblood, glyoungblood@vcu.edu or pharmgrad@vcu.edu
Thursday, August 14, 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Lunch and snacks provided
School of Pharmacy, 410 N. 12th Street
Contact: Geri Youngblood, glyoungblood@vcu.edu or pharmgrad@vcu.edu
School of Public Health
New SOPH Graduate Student Orientation
Monday, August 11, 2025
9:00 am - 1:00 pm (additional, department-specific orientation details below)
One Capitol Square, 12th floor | 830 East Main Street
Lunch provided
Contact: soph@vcu.edu
Department of Biostatistics
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Time: TBD
One Capitol Square, 7th floor | 830 East Main Street
Contact: Kate Huck, Education Coordinator: huckk@vcu.edu
Master of Public Health
Monday, August 11, 2025
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
One Capitol Square, 12th floor | 830 East Main Street
Department of Epidemiology
Thursday, August 14, 2025
One Capitol Square, 830 East Main Street
Contact: alim28@vcu.edu
Department of Health Policy
Thursday, August 14, 2025
One Capitol Square, 830 East Main Street
Lunch provided
Contact: nlochansky@vcu.edu
Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Thursday, August 14, 2025
One Capitol Square, 830 East Main Street
Lunch provided
Contact: nlochansky@vcu.edu
School of the Arts
VCUarts Graduate Student Welcome Reception
Friday, August 15, 2025
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Murry N. DePillars Building lobby, 1000 W. Broad St
Contact: artsgrad@vcu.edu
This welcome reception is for all incoming and continuing graduate students in the School of the Arts
Friday, August 15, 2025
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Murry N. DePillars Building lobby, 1000 W. Broad St
Contact: artsgrad@vcu.edu
This welcome reception is for all incoming and continuing graduate students in the School of the Arts
Department of Art Education
Friday, August 15, 2025
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Franklin Terrace, 812 W. Franklin St. Room 301
Contact: Dr. Yiwen Wei, weiy2@vcu.edu
Friday, August 15, 2025
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Franklin Terrace, 812 W. Franklin St. Room 301
Contact: Dr. Yiwen Wei, weiy2@vcu.edu
Department of Art History
Monday, August 18, 2025
Monday, August 18, 2025
Department of Interior Design
Monday, July 7, 2025
9:00 am - 2:45 pm
Pollak Building, 4th floor, room #411: 325 N. Harrison
Contact: Kristin Carleton, carletonkr@vcu.edu
Monday, July 7, 2025
9:00 am - 2:45 pm
Pollak Building, 4th floor, room #411: 325 N. Harrison
Contact: Kristin Carleton, carletonkr@vcu.edu
Department of Painting + Printmaking
Friday, August 15, 2025
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Murry DePillars Building, 1000 West Broad St, Room
Friday, August 15, 2025
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Murry DePillars Building, 1000 West Broad St, Room