12 a.m.

Today is the university’s first Giving Day. Your gift, no matter the amount, will help change the lives of our students, patients, faculty members and the communities VCU serves. Plus, the area of impact with the most faculty, staff or team member gifts made online today wins $1,000 in bonus funds. Let’s show the world how VCU can unite for 24 hours of change. Make your gift today at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mike Andrews at andrewsmp@vcu.edu or visit http://givingday.vcu.edu.

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

RamBikes will host a commuter basics workshop at 1106 W. Broad St. (near the intersection of Broad and Harrison streets) for anyone who would like to commute by bike but isn't sure how to get started. The event will include a review of safety aspects of riding in traffic as well as what gear can increase visibility. The workshop will also cover routine maintenance and some key checks to make before each ride. No experience is necessary. A ride at a park will be offered For those who bring a bike.

For more information, contact Carter Barker at rambikes@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2453 or visit https://bikes.vcu.edu/events/.

6:30 p.m.

VCU Night will be celebrated at the Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., when the Flying Squirrels play the Bowie Bay Sox. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.; the first pitch will be at 6:35 p.m. A special discount admission ticket for Ram fans will be available at the following URL. Scheduled special guests include basketball coach Mike Rhoades, Darius Theus, Corey Douglas, Levi Stockard, Vince Williams and Rodney the Ram. Enjoy fireworks following the game.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Bass at eebass@vcu.edu or visit https://fevo.me/3JX63PS.

7 p.m.

Join the Department of Philosophy for a talk by Jessica Flanigan, Ph.D., the Richard L. Morrill Chair in Ethics and Democratic Values at the University of Richmond, where she teaches Leadership Ethics, Ethical Decision Making in Healthcare, and Critical Thinking. The talk will be in Room 1107, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Donald Smith at dpsmith@vcu.edu.

9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Learn proper dining etiquette to help prepare for your professional dinner and networking events. The event will be lead by Carlton Goode, Lead Faculty for Men of Color Freshmen Retention Training Initiative. The session will be held at the Pace Center, 700 W. Franklin St.

For more information, contact Russ Kerr at community@thepacecenter.com.

Friday, Apr. 29, 2022 from noon to 12:45 p.m.

VCU's Online MBA program, ranked 40th nationally by Fortune (highest among schools in Virginia), is accepting applications for Fall 2022. Learn why this synchronous two-year cohort format is a great choice for working professionals; current students have an average work experience of 10 years and the graduation rate is over 90 percent. Register for the webinar at https://business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options/online-mba/#sob-events-1759437.

For more information, contact Robert Clarkson at rmclarkson@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1597 or visit https://business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options/online-mba/.

Monday, May 2, 2022 at 1 p.m.

Take a break from the news, social media or telework responsibilities to find a moment of quiet reflection in the middle of your day with meditation. Join VCU Human Resources and VCU's Department of Recreation and Well-Being (RecWell) for this mindful well-being session. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://bit.ly/3Mw1ldy.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022 from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Learn about WW’s most personalized program ever that can help you drop the pounds you want while eating what you love and living your life fully. It’s based on your body, your goals and the foods you love, meaning that no two plans are the same. Participate in a live virtual WW workshop lead by a WW coach and submit questions over chat for a live wellness Q&A. Register in Talent@VCU or at https://bit.ly/36SwzfV.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

VCU Human Resources will host a panel discussion via Zoom on career development with a focus on diversity, inclusion and equity. The panel will include four members from a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences, including race, ethnicity, gender and job families. Panelists will discuss their own career paths, challenges they have overcome, how they utilized mentors and support systems and how they utilized Great Place HR Programs and tools. Register via Talent@VCU.

For more information, contact Beverly Walker at bwalker@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.csod.com/samldefault.aspx?returnUrl=%252fDeepLink%252fProcessRedirect.aspx%253fmodule%253dlodetails%2526lo%253d506314aa-4e54-4bc4-9ff0-3bcbfd45a296.

Friday, May 6, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Each year, students from the Wilder School’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program present their ideas for a better community in the annual Plan-Off! competition. Students compete by pitching their solution to a real-world planning, public policy or management problem before a panel of judges. Students have five minutes to present their plans, which will advance through a series of rounds until a champion is named. The event, in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., is free and open to the public. RSVP at the following URL by April 29.

For more information, contact David Slipher at slipherd@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/planoff.

Graduation season is in full swing and VCU's Office of Alumni Relations will host Grad Bash, Alumni 101 and the Ring Ceremony the week of May 7-14. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Allison Toney at aktoney@vcu.edu or visit https://www.vcualumni.org/students/grad-week/.

The VCU Integrity and Compliance Office invites members of the university community to subscribe to its new blog. Visit the following URL and follow the links on the right to the blog. In this month's post, learn about things that can't be said when interviewing candidates for a job and what happened to an employee who shared confidential information about a fellow employee.

For more information, contact Kim McQuillen at mcquillenka@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2028 or visit https://acs.vcu.edu/integrity-and-compliance-office/.

VCU Continuing and Professional Education offers learning options for the VCU community and members of the public. Choose from Aikido, automation and controls, bookkeeping, computer skills, craft beer, cultural competency and languages, customer service, data analysis, digital marketing, digital reporting, early childhood guidance, event planning, Excel, Google Analytics, infant mental health, paralegal studies, play therapy, podcasting, social media, storytelling, supervisory and leadership, test prep, WordPress and world drumming.

For more information, contact VCU Continuing and Professional Education at ocpe@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1322 or visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/courses/.

Are you about to graduate from VCU? Did you graduate from VCU within the last 10 years? Applications are open to join the Recent Graduate Council. The council is a group of recent graduates from the past 10 years who connect with one another and the university. VCU's Office of Alumni Relations is seeking leaders to help shape programming and services to engage the recent graduate community. Apply at the following URL by April 30.

For more information, contact Allison Toney at aktoney@vcu.edu or visit https://www.support.vcu.edu/event/recentgradcouncil.

Individuals who smoke tobacco cigarettes daily are needed to participate in a research study that requires multiple laboratory visits. Compensation may be available. Visit the following URL or call the following telephone number. This study will be conducted at VCU. The principal investigator is Alison Breland, Ph.D., Department of Psychology.

For more information, contact Alison Breland at abbrelan@vcu.edu or (804) 827-3562 or visit http://cstp.vcu.edu/studies.

You are invited to participate in an online study if you are: age 18 or older, smoke menthol cigarettes, identify as Black/African American and willing to complete a 30-minute online survey about tobacco flavor regulations. Learn more at the following URL or call the following telephone number. Principal investigators are Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., VCU Department of Health Behavior and Policy, and Caroline Cobb, Ph.D., VCU Department of Psychology.

For more information, contact Caroline Cobb at cobbco@vcu.edu or (804) 827-3562 or visit http://www.bit.ly/rvaheat.

Youssef Roman, Pharm.D., Ph.D., of VCU's School of Pharmacy is conducting an epidemiological study to assess the prevalence and causes of heart diseases in Filipino Americans. This study is for those who consider themselves Filipino with both biological parents of Filipino heritage. The study is funded by VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research.

For more information, contact Youssef Roman at romany2@vcu.edu or (804) 628-8384 or visit https://forms.gle/jR9s1jgKncieSKxQ7.