Virginia Commonwealth University President Michael Rao today announced a seven million dollar Health Innovation Consortium to help bring student and faculty innovations from the lab to the market place. But it is only part of the university’s mission.
In his state of the University Address, President Michael Rao talked about one of the Health System’s primary mission.
“A lot of people have no place to turn. We are going to fix that.”
He talked about the university’s largest physical expansion ever at 10th, 11th and Leigh.
“We are going to make it as easy as it can possibly be to get into VCU and to get out of VCU, healthy”
He said the student graduation rate is highest ever, this year’s freshman class will be a majority-minority for the first time.
“Since 2016, we have had the highest percent increase of minority faculty in our history.”
He also said college is still the best place to fulfill the American dream for all people.
“A bachelor’s degree increases life earnings by nearly 70%.”
He says with 31 thousand students and 47 thousand faculty and staff, it adds four billion a year to the local economy.