Resources for Newly Admitted Students

The Graduate School will host our New Graduate Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 15th. 

As in previous years, we will also collaborate with VCU Libraries to hold the GradFest Resource Fair in the afternoon. We are still finalizing some details for the event and then will communicate to new graduate students. All information will be posted on our website for students. (website link: https://graduate.vcu.edu/current-students/newly-admitted-students/)

New Graduate Assistant (fully funded) Orientation: Tuesday, 8/9, 3-4pm (hybrid)

Masters/Doctoral New Student Orientation: Wednesday, 8/17, 3-4:30pm (tentative, hybrid)

RTR Orientation for summer will be on May 15th from 5-6pm. Accepted students will receive a calendar invitation once they accept their residency offer. Please email Teachrtr@vcu.edu for any questions.

The date of the International Student Orientation (ISO) is TBD. You can find more information about ISO by visiting https://global.vcu.edu/students/started/. The date of the VCU Central Graduate Student Orientation (GSO) is also TBD.

• Review your admissions checklist based on your program level (undergraduate, transfer, graduate, etc) on this page.
• VCU Maps and Transportation – Getting around VCU and finding the best way to get to class and activities with the RamRide (aka Campus Connector).
• Records and Registration – Student accounting, financial aid, schedule of classes, and registration dates.
• VCU Portal Resources – eServices for registration, tuition information and transcripts, and academic calendars.
• Graduate School Student Resources – From mental and physical health to community connections, save this resource page.

If students are part-time (3-6 credit hours), they do not need to submit the standard state required immunizations; however, all students must submit a Tuberculosis (TB) screening form. This is published to the student online via Student Health Services Web Portal and can be filled out electronically, and it can also be found on the Student Health Services Submitting Immunization Records page. Please feel free to contact them directly for your unique requirements: (804) 828-8828.

Review what your student fee covers for University Student Health Services and review options for student insurance on this helpful resource page.

• Advising – Undergraduate students please email soeadvising@vcu.edu to talk about your next steps and academic plan. Graduate students please contact your faculty coordinator listed on your program website to build your unique academic plan.
• Student handbooks – Review the graduate program handbooks as you navigate the timing of different requirements, process components of your program, all the way through to graduation.

• VCU Graduate School Resources – A-Z list of various resources found through the central Graduate School (note that some resources may be limited to degree-seeking students).
• VCU Library- Contact your librarian and request access to the Masters or Doctoral Canvas support resource shells.
• Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (SAEO) Office – Registering and requesting support for special accommodations.
• Military Student Services – Requesting and processing military benefits and engaging with the military connected community at VCU.
• Off-Campus Student Services – Provides support in the area of off-campus issues such as locating housing, understanding transportation options, resolving landlord and/or roommate conflicts, lease reviews, budgeting and more.
• VCU Counseling Services - University Counseling provides on-campus services and crisis support for students with a focus on crisis care, group counseling, healing and growth events for students across VCU. TimelyCare Counseling Services - VCU/University Counseling Services partners with TimelyCare to deliver a virtual health and well-being platform for students. The service provides 24/7 access to virtual care at no cost to enrolled students! Students can download the TimelyCare app. Students will have access to TalkNow 24/7/365 crisis support, Telemental Health services that allow them to meet virtually with a licensed clinician for up to 12 therapy sessions, and access to unlimited Health Coaching. Services are also offered in multiple languages.
• VCU Undergraduate Student Success Resources – From A-Z, we have a team to support your success.

Video Resources for Newly Admitted Students

New Graduate Students Orientation for the VCU School of Education
Sergio Chaparro MLS, Ph.D., behavioral and social sciences research librarian at VCU, shares library resources with new School of Education graduate students as part of their orientation.

The New APA Style Manual
Sergio Chaparro MLS, Ph.D., behavioral and social sciences research librarian at VCU, shares information about the new APA Style Manual with School of Education students.

• Graduate Student Organizations – Get involved with graduate-led organizations like the Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) and the Graduate Student Association to continue building your professional network.
• Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMSA) – Engage with a community of students from across the university who are passionate about cultural knowledge building and creating activities that celebrate our VCU diversity.
• Division of Inclusive Excellence – Learning more about our initiatives to continue building inclusive communities here at VCU.

Congratulations and welcome to Virginia Commonwealth University! We're very excited you're going to be coming to the Counselor Education program. A few things as you begin this exciting journey: 

Here is a list of things you should do immediately.

1. If you need to send transcripts to the Graduate School, you can email them directly at vcu-grad@vcu.edu to inquire about how to get the process started. If the updated transcripts can be sent electronically through the national clearinghouse, you can send it to gradmail@vcu.edu If you plan to send transcripts via mail, the address is:
   
   VCU Graduate Admissions
   408 W. Franklin St
   Box 843051
   Richmond, VA 23284-3051
   
   
2. Go to our website and check out the program information available there. Please note that the handbook linked on the website is for the 22-23 academic year. Attached to this email is the program handbook that will apply to you. Please review the attached program handbook to see all of the different tracks/start time course sequences (this is how you know what classes to take, when). These start on page 16.
   
   Faculty STRONGLY advise students who have full-time employment to choose a part-time sequence. Please note that once you choose a sequence, it is important to stay on that sequence. If for some reason you need to adjust your course sequencing, please speak to your faculty advisor BEFORE making any changes.
   
   
3.  Once you have chosen your track and part-time/full-time enrollment, it is time to register! In order to register, you need to have your VCU eID number and VCU email address set-up (see below on how to do that) or check out the next steps in the Accepted Students Checklist (https://www.vcu.edu/admissions/accepted-students/graduate-checklist/). Our program does not require a tuition deposit, so you can skip that step on the checklist. You can register for classes by going here.

All 3 tracks start courses this summer and you should enroll in:

CLED 600: Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice in Counseling (required)
June 26th - July 27th - In person, M/W 4-8:30 pm

CLED 640: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling  (required)
June 26th - July 27th - In person, T/Tr 4-8:30 pm

***Optional*** 3rd course 

EDUS 660: Research Methods in Education
May 22nd - August 11, ONLINE, asynchronous

- OR -

CLED 612: Wellness Counseling
May 22nd - June 22nd - In person, T/Tr 4-8:30 pm

*If you are unable to register for a course or receive an error that prerequisites are needed for these courses, please add your name to the override list. To request a course override, click here.

For the fall, depending on part-time or full-time status you will take 2 or 4 courses. Part-time should enroll in CLED 601 and CLED 602. Full time students should enroll in CLED 601, CLED 601, CLED 650, and a track speciality course (CLED 641, CLED 620, OR CLED 613)

Again, please see the attached program handbook for the full course sequences for your reference starting on page 16. Please refer to this as your plan for your future courses and stick to the sequence as much as possible. If you are already looking ahead at electives (which don’t typically occur until your second year) you can look across campus at options that may fit your goals and interests (both inside the school of education and in other schools at VCU such as social work, rehab counseling, public policy, or women’s studies).

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I be assigned my advisor?
We are still waiting on final numbers to assign advisors, so you will be notified of your advisor by the end of April. If you have any questions, feel free to contact:

General CLED questions:

• • • Dr. Conley, Program Coordinator: ahconley@vcu.edu

Track specific questions:

• • • Dr. Dockery, School Counseling Coordinator: djdockery@vcu.edu
    • Dr. Wheeler, Couples and Family Coordinator: njwheeler@vcu.edu
    • Dr. Conley, College Counseling and Student Affairs Coordinator: ahconley@vcu.edu
      
      

How do I get my VCU eID number?
Next, obtain your VCU eID number (you may already have one). If you do not know what your eID number is currently, you can get more help here. You likely already have one if you were admitted to the program.

How do I get my VCU Email address?
This gives you access to VCU apps and other systems, so it is important to get this set up now. You can get your email address set up here.

How do I get my VCU ID Card?
In order to get your card, please go to this website for more information.

What about financial aid questions?
If you need financial aid or other student services, please visit www.ssc.vcu.edu. Here you will find a one-stop shop for all your Q&As at VCU!

What about graduate assistantships?
Once you officially accept and get a VCU email address we will add you to our listserv where we send out opportunities as we get them.  You can also frequently check the VCU website for posted positions.

How do I get textbooks for my courses?
All textbooks are listed online (or in-person) at the Virginia Commonwealth University Bookstore. A list of textbooks for courses can be found by going to www.vcu.bncollege.com and entering your course information. If you do not see books listed, keep checking. You do not have to purchase your books from the bookstore; feel free to look at amazon.com or your favorite bookstore if you wish. If you do so, make sure you are purchasing the correct edition of the textbook.

Again, we are very excited to have you join us here at VCU and are excited to have you start with us! 

Go Rams!

Congratulations! VCU School of Education Welcome Newsletter #1 - Let's Talk Funding

Congratulations on your acceptance to the VCU School of Education!

Throughout the next few months I will be sending bi-weekly updates to share resources, opportunities to engage, and much more. We are here to help you as you begin your VCU School of Education (SOE) program.

Funding Resource Share

First up, let's talk about funding opportunities and how it is done here at VCU. This is a helpful presentation about Demystifying Funding Opportunities. Here are a couple of links referenced in the presentation:

• SOE Financial Aid and Scholarships
• VCU Graduate School - Funding Opportunities
• VCU Recent Alumni Masters Opportunity (for recent VCU undergraduate alums)
• VCU Jobs site

Quick tips: Financial aid will ONLY email your VCU email account with all official correspondence. Remember to set your VCU email up to forward or check it often. If you are starting in summer and are eligible to complete the FAFSA, you will want to complete both the 21-22 and 22-23 FAFSAs.

Engage and Save the Date

• DEI Community Conversation Event: Thursday, March 17, 4:30-6pm, RSVP here to hear from Dr. DeLeon Gray on the topic of “Phones, Fashion, and Cold Hard Cash: Breaking Conventions to Support Belonging in Predominantly Black Schools”
• SOE DEI New Student Welcome Events- RSVP here for any/all sessions
  • Friday, April 22, 4:30pm-6:30pm: In-person All New Student Welcome
  • Friday, April 29, 4:30-5:30pm: Virtual BIPOC New Student Welcome
  • Friday, April 29, 5:30-6:30pm: Virtual All New Student Welcome
• Save the date: Monday, April 18, 5:30pm: How to Fund Your Education and GSW Interview Week Kickoff (RSVP information will be sent in the coming weeks)

Stay in the Loop

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube to stay up-to-date. We aim to limit how many emails we send to you, yet there are opportunities and events happening all the time that we post on our different social media channels.

Quick Reminder

If you have not already, please send respondgrad@vcu.edu an email with your acceptance of your offer. Even if your program asks you to tell them directly, the email to respondgrad@vcu.edu is required by all incoming students and must come directly from the student to officially activate your account for enrollment.

Questions? Email soeinfo@vcu.edu.

VCU School of Education Welcome Newsletter #2 - GA Interview Week and Ways to Engage

Congratulations on your acceptance to the VCU School of Education!

This is a newsletter sent to all accepted students throughout the spring semester to share resources, opportunities to engage, and much more. We are here to help you as you enroll in your first semester at the VCU School of Education (SOE). Check out Newsletter #1 for information on funding here.

Quick Tip: Find out who your advisor is and connect with them early and before summer break. Don’t know where to find this information? Email soeogs@vcu.edu to connect with our Graduate Studies office. Wondering how to register in your first semester, check out this Registration Guide.

GA Interview Week Interest Form is LIVE!

Submit this form by April 10 to be considered for an interview and register for the How to Fund Your Graduate Education to meet with a current VCU graduate student and Joslyn Bedell from the Division of Student Affairs. You will find out on Tuesday, April 19 if you have been selected to interview for one of our 20 positions across 10 different collaborating departments. Submit your interest today!

Engage with us - Events open to all

• Thursday, March 17, 4:30pm: DEI Community Conversation with Dr. DeLeon Gray. RSVP here.
• Friday, March 25, 12:30pm: SOE Spark Talk: Research Practice-Partnership - RSVP here.
• Connect with our Office of Off-Campus Housing through various events this spring. Register and review resources here.

Save the Date and RSVP

• SOE DEI New Student Welcome Events - RSVP here for any/all sessions
  • Friday, April 22, 4:30pm-6:30pm: In-person All New Student Welcome
  • Friday, April 29, 4:30-5:30pm: Virtual Underrepresented Minority New Student Welcome
  • Friday, April 29, 5:30-6:30pm: Virtual All New Student Welcome
• Save the date: Monday, April 18, 5:30pm: How to Fund Your Education and GSW Interview Week Kickoff - Interest form LIVE!

Stay in the Loop

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube to stay up-to-date. We aim to limit how many emails we send to you, yet there are opportunities and events happening all the time that we post on our different social media channels.

Quick Reminder

If you have not already, please send respondgrad@vcu.edu an email with your acceptance of your offer. Even if your program asks you to tell them directly, the email to respondgrad@vcu.edu is required by all incoming students and must come directly from the student to officially activate your account for enrollment.

Questions? Email soeinfo@vcu.edu.

Congratulations on your acceptance to the VCU School of Education!

Good afternoon!

This is a newsletter sent to all accepted students to share resources, opportunities to engage, and more. Check out Newsletter #1 and #2 on this page of the Resources for Newly Admitted Students on information from funding your graduate education to information about how to find your advisor.

Final Call: GA Interview Week Interest Form

Submit this form by this coming Sunday, April 10 to be considered for an interview and/or to register for the How to Fund Your Graduate Education where you get to meet with a current VCU Ed.D. student and staff member in the College of Business, Nick Williams, and Joslyn Bedell from the Division of Student Affairs. You will find out on Tuesday, April 19 if you have been selected to interview with one of our collaborating departments. This year we have 27 positions across 12 different VCU units. Apply today!

Accepted Student Video Resource: Costs, Payments and Experiential Education at VCU SOE

Watch this quick video to learn more about tuition, fees, paying your bill, and experiential education at VCU SOE. Since this was developed last spring, please refer to this page for the most updated tuition and fee costs. Quick links that are outlined in this video:

• Student Financial Services main page
• VCU Billing and Payments website that links on the left to installment plan information
• Explore the Research Interest Network website for cross-institutional projects you may be interested in!
• Check out our VCU Affiliate Centers and Institutes along with our Research Labs

How to Register for Classes and Academic Calendars

You have met with your advisor. You have your academic plan figured out. Now it is time to register. Check out this page on the VCU Records and Registration page to see the registration tutorial. Are you getting an error and need an override? Submit the appropriate link for an override request located at the bottom of the “Forms” page on our SOE website. Wondering when classes start? Check out the academic calendar website.

Engage with us - Events open to all

• Free MERC Zoom Seminar on Expanding Access to Advanced Coursework in K-12 on Tuesday, April 19th from 4:00 to 5:30. Register HERE! Participants will receive 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for their participation.
• Friday, March 29, 12:30-2pm: SOE Spark Talk: Use of Secondary Data Sets - RSVP here
• Saturday, June 11: Registration is OPEN for our MERREC 2022 Educators of Color Conference with the theme of “Equity, Not Equality”

Save the Date and RSVP

• SOE DEI New Student Welcome Events - RSVP here for any/all sessions
  • Friday, April 22, 4:30pm-6:30pm: In-person All New Student Welcome
  • Friday, April 29, 4:30-5:30pm: Virtual Underrepresented Minority New Student Welcome
  • Friday, April 29, 5:30-6:30pm: Virtual All New Student Welcome
• Save the date: Monday, April 18, 5:30pm: How to Fund Your Education and GSW Interview Week Kickoff - Interest form here

Stay in the Loop

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube to stay up-to-date. We aim to limit how many emails we send to you, yet there are opportunities and events happening all the time that we post on our different social media channels.

Quick reminder

If you have not already, please send respondgrad@vcu.edu an email with your acceptance of your offer. Even if your program asks you to tell them directly, the email to respondgrad@vcu.edu is required by all incoming students and must come directly from the student to officially activate your account for enrollment.

Questions? Email soeinfo@vcu.edu.

VCU School of Education May 2022 New Graduate Student Welcome Newsletter

Good afternoon new VCU School of Education graduate students,

If you are newly accepted, see past newsletters above this accordion with information on everything from funding your graduate education, how to find your advisor, to billing, installment plans (video here) and ways to make the most of your program.

Tips from our Leadership: “Engagement and building relationships are critical”

Watch this welcome video from Dr. Luciana de Oliveira, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.

Engage with us - Events open to all

• From our VA Engage Network friends: Civic Action Conversation on Workforce Development, Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30pm. Registration here.
• Developmental Disability and Child Welfare: What Do You Need to Know? From our Partnership for People with Disabilities Center and the VaLEND program, interactive discussion and panel on Tuesday, May 24 from 12-1pm. Facebook live stream here.

Summer Start Add/Drop Deadlines

If you are starting your program this summer, please see the chart and information below from Lois Clay Vogle for important summer dates.

NEW Graduate Assistant of Assessment for Residential Life and Housing

Position Description - Link to apply

The Graduate Assistant of Assessment for Residential Life and Housing is a graduate student live-off position supervised by the Assistant Director of Residential Life and Housing for Assessment. Key contributions to the department include:

• Providing significant administrative support to the Assistant Director in the implementation of assessment culture and initiatives
• Developing surveys and rubrics using Campus Labs Baseline
• Developing protocols for interviews and focus groups with students and/or staff
• Assisting with the analysis and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data as needed using various tools and software
• Developing data visualizations and reports appropriate for specific audiences
• Assisting with the development and implementation of assessment workshops and trainings for RLH staff

Time commitments are generally limited to office hours and administrative tasks, but could extend into occasional after-hours work such facilitating focus groups with students and supporting departmental initiatives.

Stay in the Loop

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube to stay up-to-date. We aim to limit how many emails we send to you, yet there are opportunities and events happening all the time that we post on our different social media channels.

Quick reminders

All official VCU information will be sent to your VCU email account (financial aid, billing, academic program information, etc). Please activate your account as soon as possible. Need help with this? See this new accepted graduate student checklist and this page about activating your VCU eID. This will get you access to your eServices account where you can see all sorts of information about your student account.

If you have not already, please send respondgrad@vcu.edu an email with your acceptance of your offer. Even if your program asks you to tell them directly, the email to respondgrad@vcu.edu is required by all incoming students and must come directly from the student to officially activate your account for enrollment.

Summer Studies 2022

• Adds and drops. Students may add or drop a class until close of business on the day after the first day of class. Students who drop a class by this date will receive a refund.
• Withdrawals. The last day to withdraw is the midpoint of the class. There are no refunds for summer withdrawals.
• Student holidays. Classes do not meet Monday, May 30; Monday, June 18; and Monday, July 4, 2022.
• Exams. Exams are given on the last scheduled day of class.

Questions? Email soeinfo@vcu.edu.