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 Fall orientation on Thursday, August 13th, 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 2026 orientations. Dates/times are being updated upon receipt from schools/departments.
Friday, August 14, 2026
Engineering West Hall, Room 103, 601 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: Dean Krusienski, djkrusienski@vcu.edu
Contact: Kosta Damevski, csgradadvise@vcu.edu
Contact: Yan Zhou, yzhou7@vcu.edu
An online orientation will also be available. Those details are coming.
Contact: Karla Mossi, kmmossi@vcu.edu
Tuesday, August 11th, 2026
Monday, August 10 to Tuesday, August 18, 2026
All day
Contact: sndhakal@vcu.edu
chemistry.vcu.edu
Department of English Graduate Programs Orientation
Thursday, August 13 and Friday August, 14, 2026
Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave, Richmond, VA 23284
All day
Contact: tndidato@vcu.edu
english.vcu.edu
Department of Forensic Science Graduate Student Orientation (In-Person)
Monday, August 17, 2026
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Harris Hall, Room 2108, 1015 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23220
Contact: Jo Murphy, fos@vcu.edu
Department of Media, Art, and Text Graduate Programs Orientation
Thursday, August 13 to Friday, August 14, 2026
Harris Hall / Valentine House, All day
Contact: tndidato@vcu.edu
matx.vcu.edu
Environmental Studies
Monday, August 17 2026
3:00 - 5:00 pm ()
Trani Life Sciences Building
Contact: Lesley Bulluck, lpbulluck@vcu.edu
Robertson School of Mass Communication — Master's Orientation
Friday, June 5, 2026
12:00 pm (Noon)
Online: https://vcu.zoom.us/my/robertsonschool
Contact: garabelliva@vcu.edu
robertson.vcu.edu
Robertson School of Mass Communication — Certificate in Media and Leadership Orientation
Friday, June 5, 2026
12:00 pm (Noon)
Online: https://vcu.zoom.us/my/robertsonschool
Contact: garabelliva@vcu.edu
robertson.vcu.edu
Department of Psychology
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
STEM Building, 817 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220
Contact: Dr. Tiyacca Simms-Jones, tsimmsjones@vcu.edu
psychology.vcu.edu
Environmental Studies
Monday, August 17, 2026
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Trani Life Sciences Building
Contact: Lesley Bulluck, lpbulluck@vcu.edu
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Ph.D.) + Physics (M.S.)
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
701 W. Grace St., Room 2306
Contact: Daeha Joung, joungd2@vcu.edu
International Student Orientation — ISO (Global Education Office)
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
STEM Building, 817 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220
Contact: global@vcu.edu
Registration link
Wilder School (Virtual)
Monday, August 10, 2026
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Zoom (link shared upon RSVP)
Contact: Matt Smith, msmith43@vcu.edu
Wilder School (In-Person)
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
1001 W. Franklin St., Raleigh Building, Room 0001 (Lower Level)
Contact: Matt Smith, msmith43@vcu.edu
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
2:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Academic Learning Commons, Rooms 2100 & 2104
Contact: Tomika Ferguson, tlferguson2@vcu.edu
Thursday, June 4 to Friday, June 5, 2026
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Zoom: https://vcu.zoom.us/j/83983292135
Contact: Mariah Taghavie-Moghadam, taghaviemoghm@vcu.edu
Counselor Education
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Oliver Hall
Contact: Abigail Conley, ahconley@vcu.edu
Business (Kick-Off)
Thursday, August 13, 2026
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Snead Hall Atrium, 301 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: gsib@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4622
Business (Executive MBA)
Thursday, August 27, 2026, 8:00 am
Snead Hall, Room B3187/B3189, 301 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: emba@vcu.edu
Decision Analytics Weekend
Friday, August 28, 2026, 8:00 am
Snead Hall, Room B3147, 301 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: dapt@vcu.edu
Business (Ph.D.)
Friday, August 14, 2026, 9:00 am
Snead Hall, Room B3187/B3189, 301 W Main St, Richmond, VA 23284
Contact: gsib@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4622\
Sport Leadership
Monday, August 17 to Tuesday, August 18, 2026
8:30 am / 9:00 am
Sport Medicine Building Parlors
Contact: Carrie LeCrom, cwlecrom@vcu.edu
Social Work (On Campus MSW)
Friday, August 14, 2026
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Academic Learning Commons, Rooms 1107, 1201, and 1st Floor Lobby
Contact: sswadvising@vcu.edu
Friday, August 14, 2026
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
School of Nursing Bldg., 1100 E. Leigh St., Younger Auditorium (1st Floor)
Contact: Tim Westberg, westbergt@vcu.edu
Genetic Counseling (MSGCO)
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Sanger Hall, Room 11-079
Contact: Tahnee Causey, tcausey@vcu.edu
Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTR) — Ph.D.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
1200 E. Clay St., 1st Floor Conference Room
Contact: Jenny Rew, jcheatham@vcu.edu
Human Genetics (M.S. and Ph.D.)
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sanger Hall, Room 11-079
Contact: Dan Bullard, bullarddc@vcu.edu
Medical Physics
Friday, August 14, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 1201 E. Marshall St., Room 5-101
Contact: Lori Cates, lori.cates@vcuhealth.org
Friday, August 14, 2026
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Health Policy
Friday, August 14, 2026
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
One Capitol Square, 9th Floor, 830 E. Main Street
Contact: Nerice Lochansky, nlochansky@vcu.edu
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Monday, August 17, 2026
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
One Capitol Square, 4th Floor, 830 E. Main Street
Contact: Dina Garcia, dgarcia4@vcu.edu
Public Health — SOPH New Graduate Orientation
Monday, August 17, 2026
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
One Capitol Square, 12th Floor, 830 E. Main Street
Contact: Brooke Nissim-Sabat, nissimsabab@vcu.edu
Public Health — New Online Programs (M.S. Biostatistics and MPH)
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Virtual — Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YWJyhxdHQ1S68wZhJ_fE3Q
Contact: Katherine Peterman, petermankb@vcu.edu; Kate Huck, huckk@vcu.edu
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Monday, August 17, 2026
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
One Capitol Square, 12th Floor, 830 E. Main Street
Contact: Katherine Peterman, petermankb@vcu.edu
Biostatistics
Friday, August 14, 2026
Ph.D.: 10:00 am – 11:00 am | M.S.: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
One Capitol Square, 7th Floor, 830 E. Main Street
Contact: Kate Huck, huckk@vcu.edu
Art Education
Friday, August 14, 2026
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Franklin Terrace, Room 301, 812 West Franklin St.
Contact: rpatton@vcu.edu
Art History
Monday, August 17, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Buford House, Room 202, 922 W. Franklin St.
Contact: Catherine Roach, croach2@vcu.edu
Craft/Material Studies
Friday, August 14, 2026
10:00 am – 1:30 pm
Location: TBD
Contact: Susie Ganch, seganch@vcu.edu
Kinetic Imaging
Friday, August 14, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Murry DePillars Fine Arts Building, Room 0105
Contact: Shawné Michaelain Holloway, holloways3@vcu.edu
Painting + Printmaking (PAPR)
Friday, August 14, 2026
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Murry DePillars Fine Arts Building, Room 301
Contact: Holly Morrison, hjmorrison@vcu.edu