Academic Affairs

The Office of the Provost provides the foundation for the academic success of all VCU students.

Under the leadership of the provost, Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., and the interim senior vice provost for academic affairs, Andrew Arroyo, Ed.D., the office fosters the development (and growth) of the university’s academic programs, emphasizing high-quality teaching and learning experiences and supporting deans, faculty and students as they pursue their scholarly goals.

It also ensures the integrity, rigor and transparency of academic programs and provides leadership to critical areas tied to student success, and serves as the university’s liaison to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Academic culture

Offering more than 215 degree and certificate programs, VCU is a premier urban, public research university with a genuine commitment to student success and community service.

One of just a handful of universities to receive both a “Very High Research Activity” status and a “Community Engaged” designation from the Carnegie Foundation, VCU also boasts nine programs in the U.S. News and World Report’s top 10, as well as the region’s top-rated medical center.

Likewise, the university’s emphasis on discovery and innovation creates an entrepreneurial spirit on campus, embodied by our tagline, “Make it real.” This mindset saw VCU awarded more than $270 million in sponsored research funding and over 150 patents in the last year alone.

In addition to its contributions to the city of Richmond, VCU's Qatar campus offers undergraduate and graduate-level degrees, helping to advance the social, economic and environmental development of that region.

VCU’s character, however, extends far beyond just our numbers. One of the most diverse campuses in the country, the unique backgrounds of our faculty, staff and students create a vibrant, supportive atmosphere both in and out of the classroom.