Here’s what’s new at VCU for 2026-27

For the roughly 4,500 new students joining Virginia Commonwealth University this fall, just about everything is new - from roommates to classes to where to find the best cup of coffee. But a large university is always changing, so for the entire VCU community, here are some updates as the school year begins.

A menu of new dining options

Sean Campbell, student CEO of Saxbys, hands out free merch at the Saxbys grand opening. (Photo courtesy of Saxbys)

VCU Dine is introducing three dining venues to its lineup.

• Saxbys, located in Snead Hall (School of Business) at 301 W. Main St., held a grand opening Aug. 25. It offers coffee, specialty drinks, pastries, sandwiches and all-day breakfast, but Saxbys is more than a traditional cafe - it's completely student-run and is led by a student CEO. Based in Philadelphia, Saxbys operates more than two dozen cafes in colleges nationwide, and it describes itself as "an education company disguised as a coffee company." Its Experiential Learning Platform lets students get hands-on experience running a business, and students of any major can apply for paid, credit-bearing leadership roles - a new student CEO is selected each semester. Saxbys takes the place of Bleecker St in Snead Hall, but Bleecker fans can still get their favorites at the Bleecker St. station of Market 810 inside Shafer Court Dining Center.
• On the other side of Monroe Park, Mamá Luisa has replaced Twisted Taco inside Laurel and Grace Place at 805 W. Grace St. Mamá Luisa, which has roots as a local food truck, offers Latin fusion cuisine, including Cuban sandwiches and empanadas.
• For lighter fare, starting in October, shoppers will be able to purchase smoothies, smoothie bowls and cold brew at Blenz Bowls, which will be located inside Ram City Market at 912 W. Grace St.

Putting safety in action

This year VCU is continuing to add pedestrian safety features on both campuses to keep the community safe. (Kevin Morley, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU's Monroe Park and MCV campuses are two of Richmond's busiest pedestrian areas, and the university is continuously looking to enhance safety. In recent years, VCU has worked closely with the city of Richmond's Department of Public Works to plan, fund and implement a set of pedestrian safety features to calm traffic speeds near the academic and medical campuses.

As the school year begins, several new or ongoing pedestrian safety projects may be visible, such as new speed tables on the MCV Campus on Sherwood Avenue (by the Virginia Treatment Center for Children) as well as Marshall Street between 12th and 13th streets; red-light camera enforcement at Belvidere and West Cary streets on the Monroe Park Campus; and new audible crosswalk signals on Leigh Street near the MCV Campus.

There also are new signs hanging along VCU's main pedestrian thoroughfare, RAMSWay. This route, which travels past key locations on both campuses, is well-lit and is monitored routinely by VCU Police.

Read more about the latest pedestrian safety improvements and tips.

Credit where credit is due

The Office of Prior Learning helps adult learners receive academic credit for real-life experience. (File photo)Q

VCU emphasizes experiential learning, and undergraduates must fulfill an experiential learning requirement to graduate (VCU REAL). But what about an adult learner's experience before enrolling at VCU?

The new Office of Prior Learning was established to help adult learners translate their job or volunteer experiences into credit, which can accelerate their path to earning a degree. The office serves as a central hub for VCU, coordinating and administering credit for prior learning, developing policies and assessments suited to each major, advising students, training faculty as assessors and ensuring credit is awarded consistently.

Changes to the MCV Campus

Preparation for two major construction projects - a new VCU School of Dentistry building and a proposed VCU Health inpatient tower - means a number of changes are underway or planned on the MCV Campus this year.

The Hunton Student Center, which closed in May, is being renovated to temporarily house the Health Sciences Library, which is expected to close in spring 2027 and be fully operational in the Hunton space by summer 2027.

The Jonah L. Larrick Student Center is slated for demolition, which means the MCV Campus Recreation Center will close in December so that it can move to the space currently occupied by the MCV Campus Bookstore at 610 N. 10th St., with a planned opening of summer 2027. For the spring semester, students are encouraged to use the Cary Street Gym on the Monroe Park Campus.

More details about timelines and where various resources and offices within these buildings are moving can be found in this VCU News story, as well as an FAQ on the VCU Master Plan website.

Window into the pantry

Real-time photos show what's in stock at Little Ram Pantries around campus.

Launched in 2021, Little Ram Pantries provide free food and essentials for any VCU student who needs it. Pantry items typically include shelf-stable snacks, grab-and-go items, canned goods and personal hygiene products.

Little Ram Pantries located across the Monroe Park and MCV campuses recently received a technology upgrade, allowing VCU students to view real-time photos of the pantries' contents before visiting. The cameras only show the interior of the pantries and are triggered to take photos only when the doors are closed, meaning no people are ever shown in the photos.

Two new leaders to know

Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D. (File photo)

Arturo Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., is not technically new to VCU - he was dean of the School of Medicine and, this past December, became VCU's interim executive vice president and provost. But he assumed that role permanently in late April after a national search.

Saavedra, a physician-scientist and academic leader, specializes in the diagnosis and care of complex medical dermatology and is considered one of the national experts in the care, management and immunopathology of Graft-versus-host disease. He came to VCU from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he was the Kenneth E. Greer Endowed Professor and chair in dermatology and the president and interim chief executive officer for the University Physicians' Group. Saavedra is an editor of Fitzpatrick's "Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology," one of the most widely read dermatology atlases for diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions.

Brad Warren. (File photo)

In mid-September, Brad Warren will join VCU as the dean of VCU Libraries and university librarian. He most recently served as the inaugural dean of libraries at Augusta University in Georgia, which, like VCU, has two main libraries on two campuses, one of which is a health sciences library.

At Augusta, Warren led the renovation of the health sciences library as well as the design, creation and execution of a new strategic plan. Warren is widely published and, this spring, completed his term as president of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

The newest academic offerings

This fall, VCU is introducing many new academic programs, from undergraduate majors and minors to graduate degrees and certificates. Students also can enroll in nine new accelerated programs, which offer a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. New degrees and certificates include:

• B.S. in Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering
• M.S.N. in Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Marketing
• Graduate Certificate in Applied AI
• Graduate Certificate in Applied Vocational Rehabilitation
• Graduate Certificate in Disability and Rehabilitation Services

To learn more about the programs above and see lists of new minors, concentrations, accelerated programs and dual-degree programs, read this VCU News story.

Cary Street Gym ups its game

A pair of state-of-the-art massage chairs serve as the centerpiece of the new Well-Being Lounge in the Cary Street Gym. (RecWell)

Nearly 24,000 students, faculty, staff and community members visited Cary Street Gym in 2025-26, and gym patrons this year will be able to enjoy two significant upgrades.

At the end of April, RecWell unveiled the Well-Being Lounge, which boasts a pair of Fujiiryoki Cyber Relax Performance massage chairs. There are up to 40 half-hour appointment slots per day, free for anyone with a RecWell membership.

Gym members will also be able to relax (or exercise) in the renovated aquatic center, which is expected to open in mid-September. The renovations aim to improve the comfort, safety and overall environment and include replacing the HVAC system, draining and replastering the pools, resurfacing the pool deck, removing the slide, replacing the starting platforms and installing a new lighting system.

Empowering student health

This year, University Student Health Services is continuing and expanding a wellness visit pilot program it started in 2025-26 to encourage VCU students to see a doctor on a regular basis.

A 2026 national survey found that almost half of 18- to 29-year-olds haven't had an annual wellness visit in the last year. The VCU wellness appointments ensure that routine screenings are current while giving students time to discuss nutrition, exercise and more outside a typical urgent care setting.

This year, the USHS team aims to enhance the program by working to auto-enroll students with certain chronic conditions, setting up group wellness visits with educational and hands-on components, and exploring opportunities for after-hours virtual follow-ups.

To schedule an appointment, students can call 804-828-8828 or visit the Student Health Web Portal.

Maximizing mobility across campus

RamsLink shuttles, which will receive VCU branding in coming weeks, provide paratransit service across both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. (Photo courtesy of VCU Parking and Transportation)

In August, VCU Parking and Transportation launched RamsLink, a paratransit service that expands accessibility by providing point-to-point rides across both campuses. Users must register in advance and qualify if they have permanent, long-term or short-term disabilities.

The service is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Using the Pingo app, users can schedule rides as one-offs or recurring, with the option to schedule several at a time.

Sparking curiosity in the Commons

Students of all majors and interests are welcome to stop by the new da Vinci Café (Photo courtesy of da Vinci Center)

A colorful new spot will draw the eye of anyone passing through the Commons first floor. The da Vinci Café, tucked into the theater concession stand space, invites students to learn about the da Vinci Center for Innovation, Shift Retail Lab and design thinking. But it's also for playing, whether for testing featured Shelfie products or using a 3D photo booth that is in the works. The da Vinci Café is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bringing civility back to the discussion

The Virginia Government Simulation program, which had nearly 100 participants last year, puts students in the role of state legislators as they research positions, elect party leadership, propose laws and debate legislation - all inside the state Capitol's House of Delegates chamber. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Talking with people of opposing viewpoints has become increasingly difficult in recent years - something VCU alum and bestselling author David Baldacci and his wife, Michelle, hope to change. Launching in September thanks to a joint $13 million gift the Baldaccis made to VCU and the Library of Virginia, the Baldacci Institute for Civil Discourse aims to strengthen democratic values, nurture civic collaboration, promote a civil exchange of ideas and empower citizens throughout VCU, Richmond and beyond.

The institute will offer experiential learning opportunities, curriculum development, and forums and events, as well as places to connect. It will also continue two signature programs - the Virginia Government Simulation and the Democracy in Dialogue series - that were part of the former Institute for Democratic Empowerment and Pluralism, an earlier iteration of the Baldacci Institute.

The institute's kickoff event, A Conversation with David Brooks, will be held Sept. 28.