Virginia Commonwealth University

"VCU" redirects here. For other uses, see VCU (disambiguation).

Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University Emblem
Established	1838
Type	Public university
Endowment	US$ 280.7 million[1]
President	Michael Rao
Provost	Beverly Warren
Rector	Anne J.G. Rhodes[2]
Academic staff	2,963[3]
Admin. staff	18,657[3]
Students	32,303[3]
Undergraduates	23,483[3]
Postgraduates	8,820[3]
Location	Richmond, Virginia, United States 37°32′48″N 77°27′12″W / 37.5466151°N 77.4532558°W / 37.5466151; -77.4532558Coordinates: 37°32′48″N 77°27′12″W / 37.5466151°N 77.4532558°W / 37.5466151; -77.4532558
Campus	Urban 143 acres (580,000 m2)[3]
Colors	Black and Gold[4]
Athletics	NCAA Division I, CAA, 16 varsity teams
Nickname	Rams
Mascot	Rodney the Ram
Website	www.vcu.edu
All enrollment figures are as of Fall 2010

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968.^[5] It has over 32,000 students and is classified as having very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.^[3][6]

VCU's athletic teams compete in Division I of the NCAA and are collectively known as the VCU Rams. They are members of the Colonial Athletic Association.

History

Main article: History of Virginia Commonwealth University

Though officially created with the merger of the Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) and Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in 1968, VCU's history stretches back to 1838 when the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College opened in Richmond. In 1854, the Richmond Department of Medicine broke away from Hampden-Sydney College and became an independent institution known as the Medical College of Virginia. Richmond Professional Institute traces its roots back to 1917, when it began as the Richmond School of Social Work. VCU claims 1838 as its founding date on its official seal and on promotional materials.^[7]

In 1838, the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College opened in Richmond. In 1844, it moved into its first permanent home, the Egyptian Building. In 1854, the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College received an independent charter from the Virginia General Assembly and became the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). A few years later in 1860, MCV conveyed all its property to the Commonwealth of Virginia and becomes a state institution in exchange for $30,000.

In 1893, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, later University College of Medicine, was established by Hunter Holmes McGuire just three blocks away from MCV. In 1912, McGuire Hall opened as the new home of the University College of Medicine. The following year, MCV and UCM merged through the efforts of George Ben Johnston and Stuart McGuire. MCV acquired the Memorial Hospital as a result of the merger. In 1917, the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health was established, and in 1925, it became the Richmond division of the College of William and Mary. In 1939, this division became the Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary" (RPI). In 1947, the MCV Foundation was incorporated, and in 1962 RPI separated from William and Mary to become an independent state institution. Then in 1968, state legislation (Wayne Commission Report) merged MCV and RPI to become Virginia Commonwealth University. At the time, MCV retained the right to use its name.

By 2006, VCU grew to become the most populated university in Virginia and the state's first to have 30,000 students.^[8] In May 2008, a controversy ensued after an anonymous email led to an investigation that discovered VCU ^[9][10] awarded an undergraduate degree to former Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe (currently serving as Police Chief in Charlotte, North Carolina) improperly after he enrolled to receive just 6 credits from the University, with the bulk of his credits taken through the online University of Phoenix and the FBI Academy.^[11][12][13] VCU officials announced they had taken personnel actions in response to the improper degree but did not indicate what actions were taken or who was held responsible.^[14] In the wake of the internal investigation, five high-ranking administrative officials resigned,^[15][16] some vocally in protest of the investigation itself due to threats made against the tenure status of one professor if she did not cooperate and other high-pressure tactics.^[17][18] The University submitted a report^[19] about the improperly awarded degree and the subsequent investigation to its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which at its annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 8-9, concluded that VCU "had taken adequate steps to ensure that this was indeed a one-time phenomenon."^[20]

In 2010, VCU received a $20 million National Institutes of Health grant to join a nationwide consortium of research institutions working to turn laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients.^[21]The Clinical and Translational Science Award made VCU the only academic health center in Virginia to join the prestigious CTSA network. In 2011, The Carnegie Foundation elevated Virginia Commonwealth University to “Very High Research Activity," with other 255 million in sponsored research.^[22]

Expansion at VCU

Main article: VCU expansion

VCU 2020

In February, 2006 VCU adopted a strategic plan known as "VCU 2020."^[23] The plan included concepts for about $1 billion in new academic, medical, recreation, student housing and parking facilities on VCU's Monroe Park and MCV Campuses.^[24] Among its major goals was the creation of a collegiate community promoting student engagement and the campus environment.^[25]

VCU Quest for Distinction

On May 20, 2011 the VCU Board of Visitors approved a new strategic plan, "VCU Quest for Distinction." ^[26] According to the Executive Summary, "Our proposed plan, VCU Quest for Distinction, provides a strategic framework for capitalizing on the outstanding assets that form the VCU experience — a commitment to educational quality, an environment that embraces diversity, an evolving research program with substantial increases in extramural funding, preeminent programs an engaged community, and a growing alumni base."^[27]

Campuses

Virginia Commonwealth University has two main campuses in Richmond, Virginia, a branch campus in Education City, Qatar along with numerous regional facilities. The Monroe Park campus, located west of Downtown Richmond, along with the Medical College of Virginia campus, in the urban center, make for the main campus of VCU.

Monroe Park Campus

Snead Hall, Monroe Park campus

Named after the city park, the Monroe Park Campus took its name in June 2004, replacing the former name, the Academic Campus of VCU. The Monroe Park campus houses most of VCU's general education facilities, and is situated on the eastern end of the Fan district, a historic, late 19th century neighborhood adjacent to downtown Richmond. The campus itself begins along the actual Monroe Park alongside North Belvidere Steet and continues westword to Harrison Street. Prior to the merger of the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia, the campus was the home to the entire Richmond Professional Institute. Today, the campus has a mixture of modern and vintage buildings, with over 40 buildings built before 1900.

Along with housing most education facilities, the campus houses several residence halls, including Brandt, Rhoads, Johnson and the Gladding Residence Center.

The Monroe Park campus also houses the Stuart C. Siegel Center, the main basketball arena for the men's and women's basketball teams. Named after cigarett magnate Major Lewis Ginter, a developer of the city's Ginter Park neighborhood, the The Ginter House is also part of the Monroe Park campus. VCU's well-renowned School of the Arts is situated on the campus, housed in the Pollak Building, named after Theresa Pollak, whom founded the School of the Arts, while it was the Richmond Professional Institute. Along with Arts, the School of Engineering is housed on the campus, which contains its classes within the Snead and Engineering East Halls. The two are 260,000-square-foot (24,000 m²) converted building.

MCV Campus

VCU Molecular Medicine Research Building (MMRB), MCV campus

The Medical College of Virginia Campus is home to the VCU Medical Center. This includes the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Allied Health, Nursing, a recently established School of Public Health, and the MCV Hospitals, which is the major component of the VCU Health System. The Campus is also home to the Massey Cancer Center (an NCI-designated Cancer Center). The MCV Campus is an integral part of Richmond in the old Court End district. The neighborhood is located adjacent to the city's business and financial district near the state capitol. MCV campus includes Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.

VCUQatar

VCUQatar (VCUQ) is VCU School of the Arts' branch campus located in Education City, Qatar. VCUQ was established in 1998 and was the first university to open its doors in Education City.^[28] VCUQ provides students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design or Painting and Printmaking and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Design Studies.^[29] In addition to smart classrooms, the VCUQ campus is primarily composed of studios and workspaces for its art programs, an international gallery and a library. The campus also contains things needed for daily student life such as a café, prayer rooms, a student lounge, and a central hall which can be used for a variety of events.^[30] Through its programs, VCUQatar's mission is to "develop the individual capacity to lead innovations in the creative and cultural professions in Qatar and the region."^[31]

VCU Satellite and Research Locations

• Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park - A VCU and private company research park. The Park is home to over 66 life science companies, research institutes and state/federal labs.^[32] It houses research for the VCU Medical Center and VCU Life Sciences.^[33]
• Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences - Located on 494 acres along the James River, the primary focus of research at the site is on the science and policy of large rivers and their fringing riparian and wetland landscapes.^[34]
• VCU Medical Center at Stony Point^[35]
• VCU School of Medicine Inova Campus^[36]
• VCU School of Pharmacy Inova Campus^[37]
• VCU School of Social Work - Northern Virginia^[38]

Libraries

James Branch Cabell Library, Monroe Park Campus

The VCU Libraries is the third largest research library in Virginia. The libraries hold more than 2.1 million print volumes, 51,000 journals, 308,000 electronic books, 3.26 million microforms, and 76,000 audiovisual pieces. Collection strengths include the arts, behavioral sciences, business, chemistry, clinical medicine, education, health and life sciences, public affairs, and social work. The VCU Libraries hosts two million visitors each year.

The James Branch Cabell Library supports the Monroe Park Campus. It houses one of the largest book art collections in the Southeast and the fifth largest graphic novel and comic book collections in the United States.^[39] The library has collections that include rare and specialized collections that serve as repositories for the papers of numerous Virginia writers, artists, and social activists. Areas of particular note are the Archives of the New Dominion, a collection of historical materials from Virginia's under-documented communities, and the archives of the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award.

The Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences on the MCV Campus has the largest medical collection in the state, with extensive journal collections dating back to the nineteenth century. Special collections maintain the papers of health care practitioners and the history of health care in Virginia. Its Medical Artifacts Collection has over 6,000 instruments and equipment related to the history of health care in Virginia over the last 150 years.

The VCU Libraries offers electronic access to some of its unique collections, including papers, images, and sound files relating to civil rights, Richmond architecture, civil war medicine, comic-book and cartooning arts, medical artifacts, and the history of VCU. The VCU Libraries is a repository for federal and state publications and maps.

Housing

Brandt Hall, Monroe Park Campus

Main article: Housing at Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU's current residential hall capacity is 4,829 students but will have a capacity of 5,820 students by 2013.^[40][41] Because of the prominent location within the city of Richmond, many upperclassmen students live in student apartments located around the campus, specifically in The Fan, Oregon Hill, or the Carver neighborhood and are still able to walk or bike to their classes.^[42]

Shafer Court Dining Center, Monroe Park campus

Dining

Dining Services at VCU is contracted to ARAMARK Higher Education. Undergraduate students living in a university residence hall (not students living in university apartments), are required to choose a residential dining plan. VCU Dining Services offers block plans at 200-, 250- and 300- meal levels with additional Dining Dollars added. Block plans allow a specific number of meals to be used over an entire semester. All unused block meal swipes and dining credits are forfeited at the end of each semester. These unlimited-serving meals are served in the Shafer Court Dining Center and the Larrick Dining Center. A wide variety of foods are offered for every type of diet, including vegetarian options, vegan foods, and low-fat foods. Fruits and vegetables are fresh daily. Dining Dollars allow students the opportunity to purchase tax-free meals at any VCU retail restaurant. Commuter students and students living off campus have the option of purchasing a nonresidential dining plan.^[43]

Security

VCU's police force is one of the top five largest campus police forces in the country, consisting of 82 police officers and 200 security personel.^[44][45] VCU also provides a free Security Escort service to students and faculty to assist them in reaching their destination and have stationed 326 Emergency Reporting Telephone Systems in various areas throughout campus.^[46]

Academics

Enrollment by college in 2010^[47]

School	Enrollment
College of Humanities and Sciences	15,687
School of Business	3,836
School of the Arts	3,108
School of Education	2,035
School of Engineering	1,574
School of Medicine	1,290
School of Allied Health Professions	1,100
School of Nursing	975
School of Social Work	855
School of Pharmacy	609
School of Dentistry	509
Life Sciences	382
School of the Arts - Qatar	276

Schools and departments

• College of Humanities & Sciences^[48]
  • School of Mass Communications^[49]
  • School of World Studies^[50]
  • L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs^[51]
• School of Allied Health Professions^[52]
• School of the Arts^[53]
• School of Business^[54]
• School of Dentistry^[55]
• School of Education^[56]
• School of Engineering^[57]
• School of Medicine^[58]
• School of Nursing^[59]
• School of Pharmacy^[60]
• School of Social Work^[61]
• VCU Life Sciences^[62]

Programs

VCU offers Baccalaureate, Master's and Doctoral degrees, as well as Professional and Certificate courses.^[63]

Over 40 of VCU's programs are unique to Virginia, such as the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness major in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, as well as the Real Estate and Urban Land Development degree in VCU's School of Business. The university also offers a wide range of study options with more than 170 certificate, undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral degrees in the arts, sciences and humanities in fifteen different schools of discipline.

In addition to its undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as its honors program, VCU now hosts the Illustration Academy.

The university's medical campus provides students with several opportunities for postgraduate study at VCU. This has led to the development of "guaranteed admission programs", where under select incoming undergraduates are guaranteed a spot in a variety of professional schools so long as a high academic standard is maintained throughout their undergraduate studies. Schools with such a program include medicine, physical therapy, dentistry, pharmacy and others.

An accelerated program in the School of Education offers a combined undergraduate, teaching certificate and master's degree in five years. In addition, VCU added in 2011 an urban teaching program, Richmond Teacher Residency, leading to a Master of Teaching (M.T.) degree. This clinical residency is a partnership between VCU, The Center for Teacher Leadership at the VCU School of Education and Richmond City Public Schools.

VCU also has international agreements with 14 universities in 11 countries.^[64] These include China (Fudan University, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Australia (Curtin University of Technology), Israel (Hadassah Medical Center), United Kingdom (University of the West of England, Harris Manchester College, Oxford), India (Indian Institute of Technology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research), Italy (University of Messina), Spain (University of Córdoba), South Africa (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Brazil (University of São Paulo), Mexico (University of Guadalajara), and Russia (St. Petersburg State University).

The da Vinci Center "Octagon", Monroe Park campus

VCU da Vinci Center

VCU schools of the Arts, Business, and Engineering have collaborated to create the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation in Product Design and Development. Student teams from these schools take on a product development or design challenge posed by one of the Center's industry partners. Such cross-disciplinary educational opportunities prepare students for management roles in the global, technology-driven workplace of the 21st century.^[65]

Rankings

University rankings (overall)
National
Forbes[66]	567
U.S. News & World Report[67]	170
Washington Monthly[68]	200
Global
ARWU[69]	151-200
QS[70]	451-500

According to the 2012 US News & Report, VCU is classified as a Tier 1 University with an overall National University rank of #170 and holds a rank of #94 among all public colleges and universities in the country.^[71]

The Academic Ranking of World Universities conducted in 2005 by the Institute of Higher Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranks VCU in the top 100 universities in North & Latin America and one of the top 200 universities in the world.^[72]

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) is ranked the #1 public university school of arts and design in the country (#4 among public & private institutions) by U.S. News & World Report (2009). VCUarts is the only public university arts and design school in the country to ever be ranked this high in overall ranking. The VCU Brandcenter, the School of Mass Communication's graduate program in advertising, has also been ranked 1^st in the nation by Creativity Magazine and as one of the top 60 design schools in the world by BusinessWeek.^[73]

The Fine Arts Building, Monroe Park Campus.

VCU's Masters of Science in Health Administration program was ranked second by Modern Healthcare. The University's Health System earned national Magnet nursing designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and has twice been named one of the Solucient Top 100 Hospitals in the U.S. by Solucient Corporation. In research the school has been ranked as a top American university by Lombardi Program on Measuring University Performance and a top 100 university by the National Science Foundation. VCU Engineering, started in 1996 has seen tremendous growth and completely new facilities. William F. Goodwin, Chairman of the VCU School of Engineering Foundation Board of Trustees, has set an ambitious objective for the engineering program. He's aiming for "25 in 25"- a top 25 engineering-school rank within 25 years.^[74] The School of Business ranks in the top five percent of business schools worldwide due to its AACSB International-accredited status.^[75] The VCU SportsCenter is a graduate program offering a Master's Degree in Sports Leadership. David Maraghy co-founded and served as Executive Director of the program until 2002. It is currently directed by Nathan Tomasini. One of the program's elite events is known as Villa 7 which began as a forum where athletic directors could share ideas and meet with the country's elite assistant basketball coaches.^[76]

Student body

Seventy-seven percent of first-year students live in college housing, while 22% of all undergraduates live in college housing.^[77]

The student body consists of 59% female students and 41% male students.^[78] Out-of-state students have increased to 14% as of the fall of 2008, with 86% of students from Virginia.^[3] Demographically, the student body is 56% white, 17% African American, 10% Asian, 5% Hispanic, 4% International, <1% Native American, 12% Unknown.^[3]

Virginia Commonwealth University 2010 Admissions Statistics [79]
Applicants	14,086
Acceptance Rate	66%
First Year Students	88% in state, 12% out of state
High School GPA	3.22-3.85
Average SAT (1600)	1010-1220
Freshman Class Size	3,615
Undergraduate Student-Faculty Ratio	18:1
Freshman Retention Rate	82.4%

Student organizations

VCU has numerous student organizations, including the Black Awakening Choir which won first place in the 2005 Baptist Student Union National Choir Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. Also, 2007 is the first year that STRUT has become an official organization at VCU. STRUT is an annual fashion show that has grown into a week long celebration on campus. In addition, VCU boasts a well-established net of ethnic and cultural organizations such as the African Student Union (ASU), Afghani Student Association (ASA), Ethiopian students Union (ESU),Latino Student Association, Queer Action and the Vietnamese Student Association, among many others. Similarly, VCU offers a variety of religious organizations, such as Aletheia Campus Organization, Muslim Students' Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Catholic Campus Ministry, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship house, BSU, Hillel @ VCU, Sikh Student Association and Lotus Buddhist Group. VCU also offers many different special interest organizations such as the (S.H.H.O.) Student Hip-Hop Organization, which allows students to network with VCU's thriving hip-hop community and to utilize hip-hop as a tool for creating unity within this vibrant culture on campus. Also offered at VCU is Blk Ice Ent.,the only Hip Hop Dance Group currently performing at VCU (Ebony Quest was the original). The group of young dancers perform at a variety of VCU functions and work along side many of the most prestigious organizations on campus. Blk Ice dancers also work with youth in the community teaching Hip Hop technique and choreography.

There are two student government associations at VCU, one for each campus.^[80] According to the Monroe Park Campus SGA Web site, it "serves as the unifying voice for all students to members of Virginia Commonwealth University administration, faculty, staff, and the Board of Visitors as well as to the City of Richmond." It is the stated goal of the SGA "to represent the concerns and interests of all students to the various groups that have an influence on student life", and it "oversees more than 200 student organizations."^[81]

VCU is also home to the largest French Film Festival in the United States.^[82] Founded in 1993, the total participation in 2008 has grown to more than 21,000 entries for the 25 films.^[82]

Student media

Rowdy Rams (far back) spelling out "VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH!"

• The Commonwealth Times - VCU's independent newspaper^[83]
• Ink Magazine-a VCU student run magazine; discussing campus news, contemporary issues, art, fashion, and culture
• Rams Review - VCU's student-run sports media outlet^[84]
• WVCW - VCU's Radio Station^[85]
• Amendment and Poictesme - VCU's Literary Journals^[86][87]

"Rowdy Rams"

VCU's student basketball fans are known as the Rowdy Rams. The Rowdies have enjoyed one of the best home court winning percentages in men's basketball partially due to their loud and intimidating presence. Students can also donate 25 dollars to the Rowdy Rams Organization to receive early admission to all Men's basketball games and discounts at the local restaurants. This initiative helps fund other VCU Ram's sports while establishing a relationship between the devout student fans and the VCU basketball team.^[88]

Greek system

Virginia Commonwealth University hosts 35 international fraternities and sororities across four governing councils with almost 1200 students.^[89] VCU's fraternity and sorority community has grown particularly rapidly in the last few years. Plans for a Greek row on Grace Street in the VCU 2020 Masterplan is just one of the many steps VCU is taking to create a stronger fraternity and sorority experience.^[90]

List of VCU's Fraternity and Sorority Chapters^[91]

Interfraternity Council[92]	College Panhellenic Council[93]	Multicultural Greek Council[94]	National Pan-Hellenic Council[95]
Alpha Epsilon Pi - Epsilon Pi Chapter	Alpha Epsilon Phi - Beta Theta	alpha Kappa Delta Phi - VCU Colony	Alpha Phi Alpha - Theta Rho Chapter
Alpha Kappa Lambda - Beta Nu Chapter	Alpha Gamma Delta - Theta Nu	Delta Phi Omega - Kappa Chapter	Delta Sigma Theta - Eta Tau Chapter
Delta Chi - Virginia Commonwealth	Alpha Omicron Pi - Rho Beta	Kappa Phi Gamma - VCU Colony	Iota Phi Theta - Delta Delta Chapter
Phi Kappa Psi - VCU Colony	Alpha Sigma Alpha - Epsilon Gamma	Lambda Phi Epsilon - VCU Colony	Kappa Alpha Psi - Eta Xi Chapter
Phi Kappa Sigma - Delta Upsilon Chapter	Phi Mu - Lambda Gamma	Lambda Theta Alpha - VCU Interest Group	Omega Psi Phi - Phi Delta
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia - Rho Omega Colony	Phi Sigma Rho - Omega	Lambda Upsilon Lambda - Alpha Psi Chapter	Phi Beta Sigma - Delta Upsilon Chapter
Phi Sigma Kappa	Phi Sigma Sigma - Gamma Sigma	Sigma Beta Rho - Lambda Chapter	Zeta Phi Beta - Eta Theta Chapter
Pi Kappa Alpha - Lambda Chi	Sigma Sigma Sigma - Epsilon Sigma	Sigma Lambda Upsilon - Alpha Zeta Chapter
Pi Lambda Phi - Omega Rho	Zeta Tau Alpha - VCU Colony	Theta Nu Xi - Alpha Kappa Chapter
Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Virginia Chi
Sigma Phi Epsilon - Virginia Beta SEC
Theta Chi - Theta Xi
Triangle Fraternity - VCU Colony

People

Faculty

Faculty members include analytical chemist Dr. John B. Fenn, who in 2002 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to the field of mass spectrometry, and Religious Studies professor Amina Wadud, who caused controversy in 2005 by leading an Islamic prayer service of men and women.

VCU Student Commons, Monroe Park Campus

In the medical field, VCU has had four professors elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences' Institute of Medicine, most recently Steven Woolf in 2001.^[96] Historically, notable faculty members include Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard, M.D., for whom Brown-Séquard syndrome is named. Hunter McGuire, M.D., was the Confederate surgeon for General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson before he founded the "University College of Medicine", which later merged with Medical College of Virginia where he became the Chairman of Surgery. The Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center is named in his honor.

Jennifer Johnson's (Professor of Sociology) work at the Department of Defense in the area of Social Network Analysis won her the 2006 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award, which is the highest-ranking civilian service award given by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dr. Johnson was also awarded the 2004 Analyst of the Quarter by the Joint Warfare Analysis Center for her work on the Social Network Analysis Methodology Team. Also Gevork Minaskanian, cofounder of Aderis Pharmaceuticals, developers of Rotigotine, a dopamine agonist for treatment of Parkinson's disease, teaches at VCU.

The VCU Counseling Psychology Graduate Program was ranked 3^rd in the nation in the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index in 2007.^[97] The VCU Public Administration program in the L. Douglas Wilder School for Government and Public Affairs was ranked 9th in the nation by the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index in 2007.^[98]

Alumni

Main article: List of Virginia Commonwealth University alumni

VCU has 138,399 alumni.^[99][100]

Athletics

Main article: VCU Rams

Having competed at the NCAA Division I level for little more than 30 years, Virginia Commonwealth University has built a rather notable list of athletic accomplishments. Priding itself on sponsorship of a broad-based program of intercollegiate athletics, VCU has won in excess of 30 conference championships, participated in numerous NCAA post-season championship events, and fostered an impressive number of All-Americans---both academic and athletic.^[101] VCU currently sponsors sixteen varsity teams in NCAA Division I play through the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Rivals include Old Dominion University,^[102] University of Richmond ("Black and Blue Classic"),^[103] and George Mason University.^[104]

VCU Rams Men's Basketball

The interior of the Verizon Wireless Arena within the Siegel Center, home court of the VCU basketball teams

Main article: VCU Rams men's basketball

VCU men's basketball is the most popular sport on campus.^{[citation needed]} VCU is well known for their run to the Final Four in the 2011 NCAA tournament. The team has won a total of 7 conference championships with the most recent coming in 2009. The VCU Rams currently play at the Stuart C. Siegel Center where they hold the 11th highest Home Court winning percentage in Division I basketball with a winning percentage of .8462^[105]

The Rams are currently coached by Shaka Smart.

In the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, VCU qualified as an at-large bid, having to play in the newly formatted tournament's "First Four" against USC. The decision to allow VCU to participate in the tournament was widely criticized among pundits and the media.^[106] VCU defeated USC 59-46 in the "First Four" play-in game. VCU then went on to upset Georgetown University 74-56 in the round of 64. The 11th-seeded VCU Rams then upset 3rd-seeded Purdue University 94-76 to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. In the sweet sixteen, VCU defeated 10th-seeded Florida State University 72-71 on a last second bucket in overtime to advance to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history. VCU beat the #1 seeded University of Kansas in the Southwest Regional final by a score of 71-61. It was the Rams' first trip to the Final Four. Against Butler University in the Final 4, VCU lost 70-62. The 2010–11 VCU Rams men's basketball team finished 6th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll at the end of the season.^[107] This was the highest ranking in VCU's history and the highest ranking of any team from the CAA.^[108]

VCU Rams Women's Basketball

Former WNBA player and Notre Dame's all-time leading scorer Beth Cunningham coaches the VCU Rams women's team.

The VCU Rams Women's team enjoyed the most successful season in their history in the 2008-2009 season. The team finished the season with a mark of 26-7 overall and a 15-3 conference record. Notably the team was a perfect 16-0 at home. After finishing second in their conference the team headed to their first ever NCAA tournament game as the 10th seed, where the #7 seeded Rutgers eliminated them 57-51 on their home court.^[109] In the 2009-2010 season Cunningham led the Rams to the NIT Sweet Sixteen where they were eliminated by the Syracuse.

Other VCU athletic teams

Further information: VCU Rams baseball, VCU Rams men's soccer, and VCU Rams women's soccer

VCU Men's tennis is one of the school's most successful programs. The team is coached by Paul Kostin who is one of five Division I coaches to reach the 900-victory mark. The Men's tennis team holds 12 CAA Championships, 17 NCAA tournament appearances, and 17 years of finishing in the top 25 rankings in the country.^[110] In 2000, VCU men's tennis had its most successful season, finishing runner up to Stanford in the NCAA Finals Championship match. The team finished with a #9 ranking in the country.^[111]

Under leadership from Paul Kostin, VCU's women's tennis team has 2 CAA championships, 9 NCAA appearances, and 6 years in the top 25. In 2006 the women's team enjoyed their most successful season by making it to the NCAA sweet sixteen and an overall ranking of 12 in the country.^[112]

VCU Baseball has won a total of 3 CAA Championships and has been to a total of 8 NCAA Regionals. VCU Baseball's head coach is Paul Keyes, and games are played at The Diamond (Richmond, Virginia).

Other intercollegiate sports include Men and Women's Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Men and Women's Soccer (played at Sports Backers Stadium), Men and Women's Track and Field, and Volleyball.

Club teams

Further information: VCU Rams men's ice hockey and VCU Rams men's rugby

VCU also has many student run club teams. These sports not sponsored by the university include coed & allgirl cheerleading, baseball, softball, men's^[113] and women's^[114] rugby union, ice hockey,^[115] ultimate,^[116] men's and women's lacrosse, and cycling. Previous club sports have also included rowing, wrestling, and tennis.

VCU also has a Muggle Quidditch team. The VCU Wizengamot have been a club for three years and have competed in two International Quidditch Association Quidditch World Cups. They are currently ranked 45th in the World.

Football

Main article: VCU Rams football

The previous university president, Eugene P. Trani, has been quoted as saying that he will not allow football to come to VCU under his watch due to the extra incurred cost. However, with Trani's retirement VCU officials are revisiting the possibility of starting a football program, with a renewed interest due to a new President in Michael Rao. ^[117] As of Spring 2011, VCU now has a Club Football team.^[118]

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Board of Visitors - VCU Office of the President
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "2010-2011 VCU Fact Card". January, 2011. http://www.vcu.edu/cie/pdfs/factcard201011.pdf. Retrieved March 07, 2011. 
4. ^ Official VCU colors – VCU Identity Manual
5. ^ History – About VCU » Virginia Commonwealth University
6. ^ Carnegie Classifications | Institution Profile
7. ^ "History". Virginia Commonwealth University. http://www.vcu.edu/about/history.php. Retrieved July 28, 2011. 
8. ^ VCU state’s largest four-year public institution – VCU News Center
9. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
10. ^ http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17461
11. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
12. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
13. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
14. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
15. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
16. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
17. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
18. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
19. ^ DRAFT
20. ^ Richmond, VA - VCU Basketball, News, Business, Virginia Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Weather Reports | Richmond Times-Dispatch
21. ^ http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/Carnegie_Foundation_Upgrades_VCU_to_Research_University_Very
22. ^ http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/Carnegie_Foundation_Upgrades_VCU_to_Research_University_Very
23. ^ VCU Center for Institutional Effectiveness. "VCU 2020 Strategic Plan." Updated 2010-1-15.
24. ^ "VCU master site plan sets vision for major research institution and collegiate community". http://www.news.vcu.edu/news.aspx?v=detail&nid=102. 
25. ^ VCU - Facilities Management
26. ^ VCU Office of the Provost. "Virginia Commonwealth University Quest for Distinction." Updated 2011-9-12.
27. ^ VCU Office of the Provost. "VCU Quest for Distinction: Success. Discovery. Impact." Updated 2011-8-25.
28. ^ Education City - VCUQatar - Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
29. ^ Inside VCUQatar - VCUQatar - Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
30. ^ The Campus - VCUQatar - Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
31. ^ Vision & Mission - VCUQatar - Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar
32. ^ http://vabiotech.com/about/about-the-park/
33. ^ http://vabiotech.com/community/virginia-commonwealth-university/
34. ^ http://www.vcu.edu/rice/about/
35. ^ http://www.vcuhealth.org/?id=154&sid=1
36. ^ http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/inova/
37. ^ http://www.pharmacy.vcu.edu/inova/
38. ^ http://www.socialwork.vcu.edu/msw/nova.html
39. ^ Office of University Advancement – Comic books
40. ^ Compare Halls | Residential Life and Housing | VCU Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Services
41. ^ http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-news/2011/aug/26/tdmet01-vcu-approves-contract-for-what-may-be-last-ar-1264731/
42. ^ Virginia Commonwealth University – Places to live
43. ^ VCU Office of Undergraduate Admissions – Dining
44. ^ VCUarts | Inside VCUarts
45. ^ http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/John_Venuti_Named_VCU_Police_Chief John Venuti Named VCU Police Chief – VCU News Center
46. ^ VCU Police Department: Academic Security Page
47. ^ VCU Center for Institutional Effectiveness – VCU Fact Book
48. ^ VCU College of Humanities & Sciences
49. ^ VCU School of Mass Communications
50. ^ VCU School of World Studies
51. ^ VCU :: L Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
52. ^ VCU School of Allied Health Professions
53. ^ VCU School of the Arts
54. ^ VCU School of Business
55. ^ VCU School of Dentistry
56. ^ VCU School of Education
57. ^ VCU School of Engineering
58. ^ VCU School of Medicine
59. ^ VCU School of Nursing
60. ^ VCU School of Pharmacy
61. ^ VCU School of Social Work
62. ^ VCU Life Sciences
63. ^ A complete degree inventory is available from the Web site of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
64. ^ http://www.international.vcu.edu/partnerships/universities/index.html
65. ^ VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation
66. ^ "America's Best Colleges". Forbes. 2011. http://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/. Retrieved October 6, 2011. 
67. ^ "National Universities Rankings". America's Best Colleges 2012. U.S. News & World Report. September 13, 2011. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges. Retrieved September 25, 2011. 
68. ^ "The Washington Monthly National University Rankings". The Washington Monthly. 2011. http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2011/national_university_rank.php. Retrieved August 30, 2011. 
69. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities: Global". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2011. http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2011.html. Retrieved August 30, 2011. 
70. ^ "QS World University Rankings". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2011. http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011. 
71. ^ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/virginia-commonwealth-university-3735
72. ^ Academic Ranking of World Universities Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Retrieved on 2007-05-04
73. ^ Adcenter Named Top Design School by Businessweek Retrieved on 2007-11-18
74. ^ VCU Engineering | In the News
75. ^ VCU - School of Business
76. ^ Villa 7 history – Center for Sport Leadership at VCU
77. ^ College Search - Virginia Commonwealth University - VCU - Housing & Campus Life
78. ^ College Search - Virginia Commonwealth University - VCU - At a Glance
79. ^ {{cite web | title = Virginia Commonwealth University | url = http://www.ugrad.vcu.edu/admissions101/freshman/freshman.html | http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/vcu-3735 | publisher = Virginia Commonwealth University | year = 2010
80. ^ Vcu - Sga
81. ^ Vcu Sga
82. ^ ^{a b} http://www.frenchfilm.vcu.edu/history.html
83. ^ The Commonwealth Times | VCU's Independent Newspaper
84. ^ Rams Review
85. ^ WVCW « VCU's Student Run Radio Station
86. ^ Poictesme: VCU's Literary Journal
87. ^ amendment
88. ^ Office of University Advancement – Student Ram Athletic Fund
89. ^ Virginia Commonwealth University, Fraternity and Sorority Life - History
90. ^ Greek housing could find home on Grace Street | The Commonwealth Times
91. ^ Virginia Commonwealth University, Fraternity and Sorority Life
92. ^ http://www.ifcvcu.com/index.php
93. ^ Virginia Commonwealth University, CPC
94. ^ Virginia Commonwealth University, MGC
95. ^ Virginia Commonwealth University, NPHC
96. ^ VCU News Center – VCU professor recognized by institute of medicine
97. ^ The Chronicle of Higher Education. January 12, 2007
98. ^ Chronicle Facts & Figures: Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index
99. ^ http://www.vcu.edu/about/stats.php
100. ^ http://www.vcu-mcvalumni.org/connect/onlinedirectory.html
101. ^ http://www.vcuathletics.com/history.php
102. ^ VCU/ODU: The Rivalry Is Just Different…
103. ^ VCU vs. UR | Richmond.com
104. ^ Rivalry, title at stake as Mason visits VCU
105. ^ RPIRatings.com
106. ^ Jay Bilas Calls Selections Of UAB, VCU "Indefensible" | SportsGrid
107. ^ http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/poll/2
108. ^ http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/20110405bzx9gm
109. ^ http://www.vcuathletics.com/wbb/0809stats/teamcume.htm
110. ^ http://www.vcuathletics.com/mte_coaches.php
111. ^ http://www.vcuathletics.com/mte/mte_history.php
112. ^ http://www.vcuathletics.com/wte/wte_history.php
113. ^ Untitled Document
114. ^ Ram Rugby
115. ^ VCU Ice Hockey
116. ^ VCU Ultimate: Beware of the biscuits
117. ^ Football at VCU? | Articles/Archives | Style Weekly
118. ^ http://clubfootballatvcu.com/

External links

• Official website