Become a part of VCU’s UNCOMMON Future
More than ever, higher education is being questioned.
Faith in its promise is falling. The status quo is not working.
As the public’s expectations of higher education rapidly change, this is VCU’s opportunity to define our next era. We do so by honoring the boldness that created our university while pursuing new levels of excellence that help us impact the world in completely new ways.
VCU was built to meet this moment.
We are a modern public research university where innovation is part of who we are. Here, success is not measured by where you begin, but by how far you go, what you discover and who you become.
Our mission is to make life better… not just for some of us, but for all of us. We do that by graduating and inspiring UNCOMMON Heroes who create, discover, lead and serve.
Our mission requires focus and ambition to:
- Graduate students on time and who are in demand because they are uniquely prepared by outstanding faculty and staff.
- Ignite discovery that improves lives, saves lives and strengthens communities.
- Lead with urgency and courage to achieve the difficult things others can’t … or won’t.
VCU is not like the rest: In a world of the common, we are the UNCOMMON.
And this is our promise: to graduate, inspire and champion UNCOMMON Heroes who will build a better and healthier future for all.
Learn how UNCOMMON Heroes are born.
Our Purpose
To graduate, inspire and champion Uncommon Heroes who will build a better and healthier future for all.
How we will achieve it
Revolutionizing the student experience to graduate UNCOMMON Heroes
VCU will:
- Transform the student experience so our students thrive, graduate on time and leave prepared to elevate humanity.
- Be a destination of choice for hard-working, talented students from all backgrounds.
- Deliver engaging teaching, hands-on learning, research experiences and career preparation that expand opportunity, strengthen social mobility and prepare graduates who are in demand and ready to make life better and healthier for all of us.
Igniting discovery led by UNCOMMON Heroes
VCU will:
- Attract exceptional faculty and staff whose teaching, research, creativity, care and service improve lives, advance health and enrich communities.
- Be a destination for innovative, caring and boldly original leaders who choose to build their careers here because this is where they can do their most meaningful work.
- Foster a culture of impact, urgency, focus and collaboration so faculty and staff can pursue discovery, drive economic prosperity, strengthen communities and solve difficult challenges others can’t… or won’t.
Three prompts for everyone
- Provide bold, distinctive ideas for how VCU will “revolutionize the student experience to graduate Uncommon Heroes” and “ignite discovery led by Uncommon Heroes.”
- Identify the barriers that must be addressed in order to fully actualize how VCU will “revolutionize the student experience to graduate Uncommon Heroes” and “ignite discovery led by Uncommon Heroes.”
- What is missing from these two prompts?
Our promise – VCU will create, inspire and support UNCOMMON leaders who will build a better and healthier future for all.