Special Interest

AI/Data Science Club AI Club

Mission

What we do

We host interactive workshops, guest speaker sessions, and hands-on coding activities where members work through real problems and projects. As an AI and Data Science focused club, we incorporate both areas into everything we do, helping students understand how these technologies connect and are used in everyday applications. Our focus is on learning by doing, building, experimenting, and collaborating to gain real world experience and confidence.

Competitions & conferences

At competitions and conferences, we focus on learning, networking, and applying our skills. Our goal is to give members real world exposure to AI and data science while helping them grow and build connections.

How to join

Filling out the google form: https://forms.gle/KrgFYhRwS2Kx2a2c8

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RamJets

Design/Competition

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics RamJets

Mission

What we do

The club engages students through hands-on projects, including designing and building aircraft for competitions. Weekly meetings cover current aerospace developments, fundamental concepts, and the history of the field. We partner with professionals in the aerospace industry and academia to provide VCU students and faculty with insights into current research, technical topics, and career development through guest speakers, networking opportunities, and facility tours.

Competitions & conferences

A significant aspect of the student branch is preparing for the annual AIAA Design/Build/Fly competition, where teams design, build, and test an unmanned aircraft in response to real-world mission requirements. Members also have opportunities to attend AIAA conferences, where they connect with industry professionals, learn about emerging technologies, and explore internships and career paths

How to join

Those interested in the club are encouraged to attend one of our weekly meetings or join the RamJets discord to learn how to get involved.

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American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

National Society

American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE

Mission

What we do

General Body Meetings – Chapter-wide meetings providing updates, promoting events, and fostering community. Social Hours – Informal gatherings where students, faculty, and alumni build relationships outside the classroom. Internship & Co-op Student Panels – Students share insights and advice on securing internships and co-ops. Industry Panel – Local professionals and alumni discuss career paths, job search tips, and transitioning to industry. Environmental Ethics and Sustainability Series – Canoe trips, river walks, and cleanups encourage sustainability and environmental responsibility. Mentorship Game Nights and Study Halls – Peer-led study sessions and games connect upperclassmen and underclassmen. Chem-E Jeopardy Game Nights – Interactive trivia reinforces chemical engineering knowledge and prepares members for competitions. K–12 Outreach Events – Members volunteer at STEM nights and host school groups to promote chemical engineering and STEM education.

Competitions & conferences

National Conference in the Fall Semester, Regional Conference in Spring Semester

How to join

Join on Ramsconnect

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American Nuclear Society (ANS)

National Society

American Nuclear Society ANS

Mission

What we do

Most of our meetings have visitors from varying companies in industry and national labs to talk about the work they and their organization do, along with employment opportunities for students and graduates. Social events are held at the end of the semester.

Competitions & conferences

Some members attend the annual ANS Student Conference, where students present their research and get the opportunity to meet professionals and other students from across the nation.

How to join

Signing up via Ramsconnect will ensure you get emails about upcoming meetings.

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American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

National Society

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers ASHRAE

Mission

What we do

Bi-weekly GBM and tours

Competitions & conferences

ASHRAE sponsors these competitions to encourage students to become involved in a profession that is crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for our Earth – the design of energy-efficient HVAC systems. ASHRAE will recognize the outstanding student design projects at the 2027 ASHRAE Winter Meeting scheduled for January in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. The student design competition guidelines provide enough background information to enable the teams to design or select the HVAC system for the given building, or to design a sustainable building implementing an integrated building design process (the architectural and building design for sustainability, and its supporting mechanical and electrical systems) for the given program. The Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design competition's aim is to encourage students to extend their knowledge beyond the core mechanical systems.

How to join

Following on Instagram and attending events

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Design/Competition

American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASME

Mission

What we do

General Body Meetings – Meetings with all organization members for updates, networking, and fun activities. Guest Speaker Events – Industry professionals presenting to organization members, often to prepare students for Career Fairs. SpeedCAD Event – Fun challenge held prior to the SolidWorks exam in the Fall semester designed to prepare students that wish to earn a SolidWorks certification. Sporting Events – Annual Dodgeball and Kickball Tournaments hosted by ASME at VCU before exam seasons in the Fall and Spring as a pre-exam stress reliever for all Engineering Student Organizations. IAM3D Competition – ASME Global competition where we compete with other teams from across the country.

Competitions & conferences

Every year we compete in ASME’s IAM3D Challenge, which is a global competition that tasks our members with designing a 3-D printed vehicle, giving our organization hands-on modeling experience. Students who contribute to the team’s project will have the opportunity for fully-funded travel.

How to join

Come to General Body Meetings! Meeting times and locations will be announced through Discord and Instagram.

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Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

Special Interest

Biomedical Engineering Society BMES

Mission

What we do

We have general body meetings where our members come together to talk about BME and partake in activities related to BME. Our mentorship program is a program where our members are paired together to create mentor-mentee relationships that the mentees can gain insight from their mentors while also being a part of mentorship events. We host panels that include our faculty, employers, alumni, and more to inform our members about their experiences and give insight.

Competitions & conferences

Annual national conference in April

How to join

You can come to meetings and join the GroupMe and RamsConnect group!

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Special Interest

Biomedical Graduate Student Council BGSC

Mission

What we do

We host socials, activities, game nights, career development events, and more!

Competitions & conferences

How to join

You can join on RamsConnect

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Girls Who Code (GWC)

National Society

Girls Who Code at VCU GWC

Mission

What we do

Crafting, Professional Development, Technical Workshop, Technical Competitions, Trivia, Mental Health/Relaxation

Competitions & conferences

How to join

Perspective members can join on Ramsconnect, Discord, or on the Girls Who Code HQ website.

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Design/Competition

HyperLabs

Mission

What we do

Workshops: We organize and host hands-on workshops in: 3D Modeling/Printing, Laser Cutting, Soldering, Arduino, & ROS Research & Competition: Give students a place to learn in a more academically guided setting through HyperRobotics VIP. Our team has many active projects and we showcase our work at conferences and compete in competitions. Public Relations & Fundraising: Our Fundraising Team establishes and secures enough funding to host our workshops, build our robots for competitions, and build research projects for conferences. Our PR Team advertises our brand and works through marketing efforts.

Competitions & conferences

IMPRIMIS: An autonomous robotic vehicle designed for the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC). Currently being developed to compete in Michigan at the Summer 2027 Competition. Universal Robot Controller(URC): Designing a wearable glove and sleeve that integrates positional, force, and muscle sensors to record the wearer's movements. These movements can then be translated in ROS to control any robotic project. HyperKestrel Cam: Developing a low-energy motion-activated camera system to monitor and learn about the parental behavior of the American Kestrel. This is a Collaborative Project with the Bird Lab at the VCU Rice Rivers Center.

How to join

Membership is open to all undergraduates, graduates, and alumni at VCU. No restrictions for a student's major, grade level, or GPA. No Club Dues, Minimum Event Requirements, etc. To make sure you are in the know: Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/446XTbkdSE Follow the Instagram Add the HyperLabs Events Google Calendar Join the HyperLabs Ramsconnect

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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

National Society

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) IEEE

Mission

What we do

Monthly GBMs, soldering workshops, informational panels, career building opportunities, and employer events!

Competitions & conferences

Robotics competitions, electronics competitions, future conference possibilities.

How to join

IEEE Student Membership / Attendance | Then join the IEEE Discord!

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Linux User Group of VCU

Special Interest

Linux User Group of VCU LUG

Mission

What we do

LUG hosts workshops, speaker events, LAN parties, and board game nights.

Competitions & conferences

How to join

Discord and/or RamsConnect

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National Society

National Society of Black Engineers NSBE

Mission

What we do

The National Society of Black Engineers chapter actively hosts events that support academic success, professional growth, and community building. Current activities include weekly study halls, general body meetings (GBMs), career and conference prep sessions, and campus engagement events like SOVO fairs and alumni nights. These events align with NSBE’s broader mission of providing academic support, leadership development, networking, and career opportunities for engineering students.

Competitions & conferences

How to join

Prospective members can join through Ramsconnect, joining the GroupMe, and paying chapter membership dues.

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Phi Sigma Rho

Fraternity/Sorority

Phi Sigma Rho PSR

Mission

What we do

Current organization activities vary each semester, but typically consist of service, sisterhood, philanthropy, and programing events!

Competitions & conferences

How to join

New members can join our organization through our recruitment week events. Recruitment falls between the third and fourth week of each Fall and Spring semester. For more information about recruitment, feel free to reach out!

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Design/Competition

Ram Racing

Mission

What we do

Finishing an internal combustion engine car to go to competition this year, and designing the next generation vehicle for future competitions. We also engage in other events that captivate members.

Competitions & conferences

An intercollegiate engineering competition where student teams design, fabricate, and compete with small, formula-style race cars. Teams are judged on both static events (Engineering Design, Cost & Manufacturing, and Business Presentation) and dynamic events (Acceleration, Skid-pad, Autocross, and Endurance). The competition emphasizes real-world application, challenging students to defend their engineering decisions to industry professionals while demonstrating vehicle performance, reliability, and manufacturing feasibility in a professional, multidisciplinary motorsport environment.

How to join

Join the discord, https://discord.gg/qzbqg7YTAb or come to a General Body Meeting and get more information.

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Ram Rocketry

Design/Competition

Ram Rocketry

Mission

What we do

Ram Rocketry provides the mentorship and supplies for students to earn Tripoli Rocketry Association certifications. Additionally, Ram Rocketry competes annually in the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC).

Competitions & conferences

IREC is the largest intercollegiate rocketry competition in the world. Ram Rocketry has typically competed in the 10k COTS category, but aims to compete in the higher prestige 30K COTS category for the 2026-2027 year. The competition entails a year-long build process of both the rocket itself and the payload(s). Ram Rocketry is divided into three subteams, which all work towards designing, modeling, building, and testing the competition rocket. IREC is equal parts competition and conference, with half of the competition involving a lengthy conference section where teams discuss innovations & design decisions made in order to fit the competition requirements, in addition to a technical report that is published in AIAA.

How to join

Show up to a GBM, join the RamsConnect and, the Discord

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Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

National Society

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers SHPE

Mission

What we do

We host a variety of events throughout the academic year, including General Body Meetings, professional development workshops, study sessions, and exclusive company mixers. We also balance our professional growth with social activities and networking events to build a strong, supportive Familia within the College of Engineering.

Competitions & conferences

Our members participate in the SHPE National Conference and Regional Leadership Development Conference, which offer unparalleled networking opportunities with thousands of professionals and the largest Hispanic career fair in the country. These events feature engineering design competitions, hackathons, and technical poster sessions for members to showcase their work. Locally, we host and participate in "Día de Ciencias" (Science Day) to promote STEM education and provide mentorship within the local Hispanic high school community.

How to join

Prospective members are encouraged to attend any events or meetings to get started. All updates regarding meeting locations and upcoming mixers are shared via our Discord server, Instagram, and RamsConnect. Links are in the linktree!

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Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

National Society

Society of Women Engineers SWE

Mission

What we do

Throughout the typical academic year, SWE at VCU hosts a wide range of opportunities, including networking events, workshops, mentorship programs, and opportunities to attend the national SWE conference, as well as other outreach activities.

Competitions & conferences

The annual SWE conference is a three-day flagship event by the Society of Women Engineers which offers opportunities to engage in networking, gain career insights, and connect with industry leaders on innovation. Participants can attend interactive workshops on leadership and engineering subjects, cultivating relationships and empowering women.

How to join

To be considered an active member, you must attend at least 2 GBMs, 2 Events, and pay dues.

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Tau Beta Pi (TBP)

Fraternity/Sorority

Tau Beta Pi TBP

Mission

What we do

We currently do GBMS which are mostly information sessions to help the students keep track of what is happening with the Org currently. We also do social nights where students can come out and play games or hang out with other students. We also have a special Pi Day event that is celebrated by all TBP Chapters. Events tend to vary but we are currently hosting a Pi Day Jeopardy and who can recite the most digits of Pi contest.

Competitions & conferences

The two major conferences for TBP are a regional conference and a National Convention.

How to join

Join the discord: https://discord.gg/JQ8TWX5JfR

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Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity (Theta Tau)

Fraternity/Sorority

Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity Theta Tau

Mission

What we do

We specialize in events centered around the four pillars of Theta Tau, brotherhood, professional development, and service of our community. We strive to facilitate events that provide members a leg up in engineering disciplines that every individual should strive to uphold. We host events such as Formals, STEM education for elementary schools students, movie nights, resume reviews, volunteer opportunities, alumni connections and much more.

Competitions & conferences

The Atlantic Regional Conference of Theta Tau is a recurring, semester-based event for the co-ed professional engineering fraternity's Atlantic region, focusing on personal/professional development, networking, and fellowship. It features guest speakers, workshops, and networking, such as the Oct 2025 event hosted by Kappa Gamma Chapter at VCU.

How to join

PNMs can begin participating in our organization by attending our semesterly Rush at the start of every semester. There they will get to know us in a variety of activities hosted by our members. At the events they will sign up for an interview which will be the deciding factor if the member reflects the organization's values and interests. If they are accepted as a PNM, they will be awarded a bid to become a PNM of our chapter.

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Women in Nuclear (WIN)

National Society

Women in Nuclear WIN

Mission

What we do

Guest speakers and social events to increase awareness about MNE at VCU.

Competitions & conferences

How to join

Attend a meeting or follow on instagram.

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