10:30 a.m.

Meet students participating in VCU’s English Language Program and engage in cultural discussions. Come out to converse with the university's international students at 912 W. Grace St. and learn about their home countries and experiences at VCU. Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided. Register on RamsConnect or at the following URL.

For more information, contact Colleen Choate at choatecl@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1633759.

12:30 p.m.

VCU's National Scholarship Office will offer an informational session about the Critical Language Scholarship and the Boren Awards. Both programs fund the study of a critical language abroad and are open to both undergraduates and graduate students in all majors. The session will be offered both in person (Room 1210, 701 W. Grace St.) and on Zoom. For more information and to register or request the recording, visit: https://forms.gle/ZJESkGbMoZh2mLiQ8

For more information, contact Meredith Sisson at mrsisson@vcu.edu or visit http://blogs.vcu.edu/natlscholar.

8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

VCU's Global Education Office welcomes students, staff and faculty for cultural conversations with peers from Japan's Shimane University. The fall 2022 series will focus on wellness. Participants can sign up for one or more sessions of the five-part series, which will meet on Thursdays 8-9 p.m., Aug. 30-Sept. 27. Meet students online now and then welcome them in person when they come for a month-long program in November. Register for the Zoom link at https://tinyurl.com/VCUCCJapanFall2022.

For more information, contact Audrey Short at aeshort@vcu.edu or visit https://global.vcu.edu/students/community/cultural_conversations/.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU's Communications Career Community (C3) will present the 2022 VCU Communications Great Ideas Fair. Keynote addresses will be made by Grant Heston on university's rebranding and Kristen Caldwell on the new VCU Magazine. Visit and learn from presentations about VCU's most exciting and effective communications strategies, tactics and projects. Meet and mingle with communications pros and peers. Refreshments will be available. Eligible for credit in Talent@VCU.The event will be in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Greg Weatherford at goweatherfor@vcu.edu or (804) 937-4722.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 at 11 a.m.

VCU's National Scholarship Office will host an informational session about the Truman Scholarship, an award for juniors planning to pursue careers in public service. The scholarship provides leadership development, an internship opportunity in Washington, D.C., and up to $30,000 for graduate studies. The session will be offered in person (Room 1210, 701 W. Grace St.) and on Zoom. For more information and to register or request the recording, visit https://forms.gle/qN7dJegvsCBeQVZKA.

For more information, contact Jeff Wing at jawing@vcu.edu or visit http://nso.vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The VCU Police Department will host a bike registration and U-Lock table in front of James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 1201 E. Marshall St. VCU students, faculty and staff can receive a free U-Lock with proof of VCU ID and learn how to register a bicycle. A limited supply of U-Locks will be provided. Follow VCU Police on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for future U-Lock giveaway dates.

For more information, contact Officer Amy Murray at crimeprevreq@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU's Department of Biomedical Engineering will host Amy Olek, Ph.D., senior scientist at the VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical Translational Research. Olek will present a seminar titled “Clinical Natural Language Processing: Improving Patient Care One Letter at a Time." The event will be both in person (Room 1313, Engineering Research Building, 401 W. Main St.) and online. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Henry Donahue, Ph.D., at hjdonahue@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mRUrEjUxRIu4-Nf0uJKNpg.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 at noon

VCU's National Scholarship Office will offer an informational session about the Goldwater Scholarship, which provides up to $7,500 in funds for sophomores and juniors interested in pursuing careers in STEM-field research. The session will be offered in person (Room 1210, 701 W. Grace St.) and on Zoom. For more information and to register or request the recording, visit https://forms.gle/1XndUwDP5ucKezeb7.

For more information, contact Jeff Wing at jawing@vcu.edu or visit http://nso.vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Remember those who have been lost to fatal overdoses. An event will be held in Monroe Park Pavilion, sponsored by VCU Rams in Recovery and Health Brigade Comprehensive Harm Reduction Program. Information on HIV and Hep C testing will be available, along with coffee and snacks.

For more information, contact John Freyer at jdfreyer@vcu.edu or visit https://recovery.vcu.edu/.

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022 from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Want to learn more about the future of medicine? Interested in publishing research? Join Medical Journal Club for its first general body meeting of the semester. The discussion will include opportunities to present research as well as special events held by the club throughout the term. Register for the Zoomlink at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jefin Jose at josej@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/4250650091?pwd=aVdISE1CZmNGRFozdm5xZ1dKNUhuQT09.

Thursday, Sep. 1, 2022 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join staff from VCU's da Vinci Center to learn about the Master of Product Innovation program. The cross-disciplinary master’s program focuses on students applying knowledge in advanced product innovation, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship topics with real-life clients. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lloyd Young at youngel3@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/mpi-info-sept1.

Thursday, Sep. 1, 2022 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Join the VCU Peer Leadership Initiative to discuss how to be an advocate for a more inclusive experience at VCU. Peer Leaders and all students are welcome to learn more about Peer Leadership at the university and discover how to use their voices as advocates for themselves and others. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jonathan Fuller at fullerjd2@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1630552.

Thursday, Sep. 1, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Kick off the new school year with some fun at this year's signature Weeks of Welcome event for transfer students. Get to know fellow transfer students and enjoy games, activities, music, food and refreshments. Giveaways are also planned. The event will be in the Rams Lounge, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Register in RamsConnect at the following URL.

For more information, contact Transfer Center at transferinfo@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1349 or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/WoW/rsvp_boot?id=1626330.

Thursday, Sep. 1, 2022 at 6 p.m.

The VCU History Department will present a screening of Ridley Scott’s 2021 film "The Last Duel" at the Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St. VCU history associate professor Leigh Ann Craig, Ph.D., will offer an introduction and discussion about historical facts and the adaptation and use of history in modern media. The screening is open to the public; tickets are $10.12 each. The event is free for all VCU students: use promo code VCUHISTORY. Registration is required. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Andrea Wight at wighta@vcu.edu or visit https://history.vcu.edu/events/event-items/history-at-the-movies-the-last-duel.html.

Saturday, Sep. 3, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New to VCU? Interested in learning more about Design Thinking? Join students and staff from VCU's da Vinci Center at a design thinking workshop to explore how you might get the most out of your college experience. No background experience is necessary, just show up at the SHIFT Retail Lab, 1235 W. Broad St.

For more information, contact Tyrone Frye at fryetl@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/design-jam-22.

Tuesday, Sep. 6, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Join faculty and staff from the VCU School of Nursing and VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation to learn about a new graduate certificate program that will make it simpler for those with an interest in innovation to develop products and solutions to challenges facing the health care industry. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lloyd Young at youngel3@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/gchc-info-sept6.

Thursday, Sep. 8, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Join Queer Coffee Hour and Rams in Recovery for a mixer in the Rams Lounge, 907 Floyd Ave. Enjoy doughnuts and fresh coffee and meet fellow LGBTQIA+ students and students in recovery. The event will be co-sponsored by VCU's Office of Minority Student Affairs and Rams in Recovery. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Beck Oh at ohrn@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/wQmoAF7Gq4WPrRQq6.

Wednesday, Sep. 14, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

VCU Alumni and its mortgage lending partner, American Pacific Mortgage, will offer a virtual workshop for first-time homebuyers for Virginia residents. Topics include understanding affordability and the advantages of purchasing a home, down payment assistance programs, impact of credit scores on qualifying, preapproval to purchase a home and finding the right home. VCU alumni are eligible for an exclusive discount on a purchase or a refinance home loan. Savings and benefits may include up to a $750 credit toward closing. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Latisha Taylor Smart at smartlt@vcu.edu or visit https://www.vcualumni.org/Calendar/Details/84807.

Thursday, Sep. 22, 2022 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU Alumni and Stephen Day, Ph.D., director of the VCU Center for Economic Education, will present a webinar on how to instill money management skills into the daily lives of your elementary-age children. They constantly observe and absorb how we manage our money, whether it’s spending, saving or giving. Teaching your kids about money early can lead to them having a healthy perspective about money. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Latisha Taylor Smart at smartlt@vcu.edu or visit https://www.vcualumni.org/Calendar/Details/84730.

The program’s relaunch includes a new website, a simplified registration process and virtual seminar options, all geared toward building more equitable and inclusive organizational climates. Offerings include an Inclusive Leadership Certificate, interactive seminars, Rammalogues sessions and mentoring opportunities. View and register for sessions at http://iexcel.vcu.edu/calendar/.

For more information, contact IExcel Education at iexcel@vcu.edu or visit http://iexcel.vcu.edu.

RecWell offers Women+ on Weights, a small-group program open to women and non-binary individuals, designed to teach participants the foundational methods of resistance training and workout design. RecWell Personal Trainers will utilize strength machines, resistance bands, cable stacks and free weights to build participants’ skill and knowledge of proper technique and progressions.

For more information, contact Tanika Santos-MacSwain at santosmacst@vcu.edu or visit https://recwell.vcu.edu/thrive/small-group-training/.

VCU Dining Services has a number of special activities planned for Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place. They include Chef Spotlight Tasting (Tuesday, Aug. 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.), Cookout (Wednesday, Aug. 31, 11 a.m.-close), Registered Dietitian DIY Herb Garden (Thursday, Sept. 1, 11 a.m.-close) and Carnival (Tuesday, Sept. 13, 5 p.m.-close). Read the full list of events and menus at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lauren Hay at dining@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1148 or visit http://vcu.campusdish.com.

Registration is open for a Makers' Training Workshop and for Makers’ Courses (Modules I, II, and III) for VCU students who seek to use the College of Engineering Makerspaces. Students must first complete orientation and general safety training through the College of Engineering before registering for advanced courses. Morning and afternoon sections are available. Read the schedule at the following URL.

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

VCU's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence will offer Just Write sessions on Fridays from 9 a.m.-noon from Sept. 9-Dec. 2. Drop in and write alongside a peer support community. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://ctle.vcu.edu/events/write/.

Creativity is not limited to the arts, but is a diverse, spontaneous fundamental life skill that sparks the imagination. It allows us to see connections, opportunities and gives us the flexibility to find solutions. Get started with Adobe Creative Cloud and become a creative thinker and innovator for the future. See the timeline of VCU’s journey to becoming a “Creative Campus” and making Adobe Creative Cloud available to faculty, staff and students at https://adobe.vcu.edu/news/.

For more information, contact Jana Avery at jcavery@vcu.edu or visit https://go.vcu.edu/adobe.

Adults who smoke menthol cigarettes and identify as Black/African American are invited to participate in a study that involves electronic cigarette use for six weeks to reduce their smoking. Participants must be willing to visit the study site, receive phone calls and respond to texts and surveys. Compensation is provided. Principal investigators are Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., Health Behavior and Policy, and Caroline Cobb, Ph.D. Psychology.

For more information, contact Caroline Cobb at cobbco@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1867 or visit http://bit.ly/rvaflavors.