Undergraduate Student News

Yas Drawns (left) works with Darius Williams, a peer academic coach. Peer Academic Coaching, which is part of the Campus Learning Center, pairs students trained as academic coaches with freshmen for individual or ongoing sessions. (Tom Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Peer Academic Coaching lets VCU freshmen learn from the wisdom of fellow students

Oct. 5, 2023

Campus Learning Center’s new program targets first-semester connections that promote academic and personal success.

When she was little, Isabel Dingus loved to rearrange her room. Today, she uses research into ancient cultures to inspire her interior design pursuits. (Tom Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Meet-a-Ram: Isabel Dingus, an interior designer who studies how space reflects cultural identities

Oct. 3, 2023

Dingus, a scholarship recipient from the International Furnishings and Design Association, is majoring in anthropology and interior design, finding inspiration in ancient design as she creates her own spaces.

Biomedical engineering student Karah Moore has been a member of the lab of Rebecca Heise, Ph.D., for the past three years, researching cellular activity in diseased lungs. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU awarded $3 million from the NIH to continue research training of students underrepresented in the sciences

Sept. 21, 2023

Two renewed grants, which support undergraduate and graduate students in pursuing biomedical and behavioral research, highlight VCU’s national standing.

Anita Nadal, an assistant professor of Spanish in the School of World Studies, and her students served as volunteers at the naturalization ceremony at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Sept. 18. (Photo by Brian McNeill, Enterprise Marketing and Communications).

VCU service-learning students offer bilingual support and gain perspective in Becoming Citizens

Sept. 20, 2023

Citizenship class at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture helps forge a path to this year’s ceremony at the Siegel Center.

VCU welcomed thousands of new students at the start of the academic year, from first-year undergradates to professional students.

Welcome to the Ramily

Sept. 13, 2023

Get to know a few of this year’s roughly 8,000 new students who add to VCU’s diverse and expansive community.

Gina Chan took a course this summer at the American College of Greece, which was founded in 1875 and is the oldest American-accredited college in Europe. (Contributed photo)

For VCU psychology major, studying abroad was time well-spent – and money well-saved

Sept. 12, 2023

To wrap up her three-year degree, Gina Chan studied in Greece with a Gilman Scholarship facilitated by VCU’s Global Education Office.

Madison Cruz, a biology major, is working at VCU Health as a patient care technician, helping patients and getting hands-on experience. (Tom Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

With talent ranging from the lab to the stage, VCU senior sees a future in medicine and mental health advocacy

Sept. 5, 2023

Madison Cruz has mixed research, patient care, volunteer work and even the Miss Virginia pageant in her undergraduate experience.

More than 10,000 students will take up to 70 courses each semester in VCU’s new STEM building on Franklin Street, starting this fall. (Photo by Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications.)

Take a video tour of VCU’s new STEM building on Franklin Street

Sept. 1, 2023

The College of Humanities and Sciences’ building dedicated to STEM will serve more than 10,000 students in up to 70 courses each semester.

“I would say to anybody who's thinking about [studying abroad] that they should look into it as soon as possible and start looking into scholarships and talk to the advisers, because they will make it happen,” Frances Burson said. (Contributed photo)

VCU senior found a French connection at study abroad fair

Aug. 30, 2023

Public relations major Frances Burson spent a month in Lyon this summer learning about international human rights through a different cultural lens.

Ailita Whalen participated in the Eastern Africa Development and Democracy program as a teaching assistant. (Contributed photo)

Busy trip to East Africa finally brings study abroad dream to fruition for VCU undergrad

Aug. 24, 2023

As a teaching assistant for the program on development and democracy, international studies major Ailita Whalen helped lead fellow students to five countries.