As we wrap up the semester, I’m excited to share good news.
Recently Virginia Commonwealth University announced that we have risen to 47 in the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s rankings of public research universities. We’ve exceeded our goal to be in the top 50!
This NSF ranking is a testament to VCU’s commitment to research for the public good. Thanks to my faculty colleagues, our research enterprise has grown exponentially – we’ve risen 18 spots in the rankings and increased sponsored research funding by 71 percent in just the past five years.
That’s an amazingly quick rise, and I’m very grateful and proud of this achievement and of all the faculty members, students, and staff whose focused work and dedication made it possible.
As a public research university, our role is to advance discovery, creativity, and innovation in the areas that need us the most as we endeavor to improve the quality of life everywhere.
The ranking caps a stellar year of achievements – really, VCU’s best year yet in many ways. From record-breaking freshman enrollment, research funding and fundraising, to recognition as one of the nation’s 20 most innovative public universities, to opening new mission-critical spaces, VCU is modeling what a public research university should be for the students and patients we serve.
This year’s milestones demonstrate that our unique mission – to be a high-access and high-excellence university – is one that works. I can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.