By Brian McNeill

This fall semester, Virginia Commonwealth University has reimagined University College, bringing together Interdisciplinary Studies, Life Design, Transformative Learning, Shift Retail Lab and the da Vinci Center for Innovation to create a bold, inclusive space where real-world experience, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration are central to the student experience.

“At VCU, we believe every student deserves an education that’s as bold and dynamic as they are. University College brings together the best of what we do – interdisciplinary learning, hands-on experience and creative exploration — and makes it available to everyone,” said Beverly J. Warren, Ed.D., Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “This is VCU at its best, helping students turn ideas into action and build lives of purpose and impact.”

This new college, said interim Dean Andrew Arroyo, Ed.D., will prepare learners from all backgrounds to lead and thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Arroyo, who is also senior vice provost for academic affairs and a professor of educational leadership in the School of Education, recently spoke with VCU News about University College and how it will serve all undergraduate and graduate students at VCU, regardless of major or academic home.

Why was a college like this a priority for VCU?

VCU launched the original University College in 2006 as the university’s front door, a place designed to serve all students. Nearly 20 years later, the world our students are entering is more complex, and higher education must adapt. The new University College builds on that original mission but with a sharper focus: to prepare learners from every background to thrive through interdisciplinary and experience-based learning. It’s a way for VCU to stay at the forefront of higher education.

What sort of programs and departments will be located within this new college?

Our academic programs include the Bachelor’s and Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies, which give students the freedom to design their own academic path. We’ve also added the Master of Product Innovation, as well as a variety of certificates, minors and courses. I’m particularly excited about our prior learning assessment option, which allows learners to obtain credit for real-world experience through portfolio creation.

University College also offers VCU-wide experiential learning that connects academics with real-world impact:

•  Transformative Learning engages students in high-impact learning like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) and service-learning.
• The da Vinci Center blends design, business and technology, giving students space to turn ideas into market-ready solutions.
• The Shift Retail Lab offers a storefront where students can launch and test products with real customers.
• Life Design helps students imagine not just their careers, but the lives they want to build after graduation.

On the academic side, our faculty and staff are also amplifying the work of Convergence Labs, collaborative initiatives that bring together faculty, staff, students and community partners to take on pressing challenges in new ways.

Together, these programs create an ecosystem where students don’t just learn – they prototype the future.

In what ways will this new University College set VCU apart from other universities?

Many universities have programs in interdisciplinary studies, experiential learning or innovation, but it’s rare to see all three combined into one college the way we’ve done at University College.

At VCU, these opportunities aren’t just add-ons – they’re at the center of the student experience. From a student designing their own degree to another testing a venture idea at the Shift Retail Lab, or a faculty-led Vertically Integrated Project solving problems with community partners, University College makes collaboration and innovation part of daily life. That’s what sets us apart and positions VCU as a national leader in reimagining higher education.

What’s the most important thing you’d want the VCU community to know about the new University College?

University College is for everyone. We are a central partner to enhance the VCU academic experience, working alongside every school, college and unit. Whether you’re a student designing your own major, a faculty member looking to collaborate across disciplines or a staff member supporting student growth, this college is a hub for creativity, connection and transformation. Our goal is simple: to help learners turn ideas into action and passions into purpose.