1 p.m.

VCU students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend a Constitution Day naturalization ceremony at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St. At the ceremony, an estimated 600 individuals will take the Oath of Allegiance and become American citizens. Sanjiv Yajnik of Capital One will deliver a keynote address and VCU Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos will give remarks. Judge David J. Novak of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia will preside over the ceremony.

For more information, contact Eliana Grijalva at grijalvae@vcu.edu.

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

VCU's Minorites in Law will host a personal statement workshop as part of the law school application process. This session will cover the dos and don'ts of personal statements as well as an opportunity to learn more about George Washington University Law School. The event will be held in Virginia Room A, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. All are invited. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Nafisa at hafidhni@vcu.edu.

9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Come to the Compass to have your blood pressure measured by the Cardio-Renal Physiology Lab. Information will be available on how a healthy lifestyle can benefit blood pressure.

For more information, contact Natalie Bohmke at bohmkenj@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Sep. 20, 2023 from 11 a.m. to noon

The Central VA SOCRA Chapter together with the Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Science will host a meeting via Zoom. Alyssa Gatemen, MPH, CCRP, executive director, Clinical Trials Office, Yale Cancer Center, will discuss the development of SOP for the conduct of clinical research. SOCRA (Central Virginia Society of Clinical Research Associates) CE will be available for SOCRA members attending the meeting. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shirley Helm at shelm@vcu.edu or (804) 241-7340 or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvduytrzMiHt1muoXczkC18w8r5djLVDbl.

Wednesday, Sep. 20, 2023 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

The monthly sessions for assistant professors are organized by the Office of the Provost - Faculty Affairs. The first session, featuring four speakers, will focus on the specific components of teaching and learning, including student success. Key elements of a syllabus, addressing student needs and utilizing resources to support students, among other topics, will be covered. Although the sessions target assistant professors, any VCU faculty can register and attend the session. Register at the link provided.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/YYygbjfzrE2cYQEb6.

Wednesday, Sep. 20, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Join the Common Book program for its first speaker series event of the fall around this year's text, "Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness." In this panel, faculty comics experts from the Humanities Research Center will discuss the creation and significance of visual narrative, and answer student and audience questions on the nature and workings of comics in culture. The session will be held in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library. 901 Park Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Michaux Dempster at demptserm@vcu.edu or visit https://commonbook.vcu.edu/the-2023-common-book/events/#d.en.623393.

Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

This financial well-being session brought to you by VCU HR and Virginia Credit Union will help you crack the code to spending your hard-earned money logically and intentionally on what you value by connecting awareness with your spending habits. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://bit.ly/3P8ZC1W

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

Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Child Health Research Institute of the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU will present visiting professor Tellen Bennett, M.D. M.S., professor and vice-chair of pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Bennett will speak at the auditorium of the Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building, 1217 E. Marshall St., on how AI will impact clinical care.

For more information, contact Henry Rozycki, M.D., at hrozycki@vcu.edu or (804) 828-9602.

Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023 from 12:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Join VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs in welcoming Ambassador Sékou Berthé and Griot Cheick Hamala Diabaté. OMSA will be catering West African cuisine with live West African music and performances, short presentations and an opportunity to interact with French faculty and representatives of the Global Education Office. The event will be at SHIFT Retail Lab, 1235 W. Broad St. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Amala Thomas at thomasac4@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1929664.

Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In the coming weeks VCU Telecommunications Services will offer virtual training on the Avaya Workplace and MyE911 apps, which allows customers to extend their office number to their remote work site. The Avaya Workplace app is ideal for remote workers. Callers can reach remote workers on any device by calling their work telephone number, and when placing a call the caller party will see their work number and not their mobile number. The sessions are open to all VCU and VCU Health associates. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Wayne L. Johnson at wljohnson@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4400 or visit https://training.vcu.edu/.

Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Interested in being a TEDx Speaker? Come to the TEDxVCU Speaker Interest Meeting to in the Board Room of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., to learn more about giving a TEDx talk and how to apply. A Zoom option will be available at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/86955743809.

For more information, contact TEDxVCU at tedx@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/tedxvcu/home/.

Thursday, Sep. 21, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

VCU Medical Journal Club will host a pre-health panel via Zoom for students interested in professional health careers. VCU School of Medicine students will be joining to answer questions about the medical school application process and provide tips. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/81299756416

For more information, contact VCU Medical Journal Club at mjc.vcu@gmail.com or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/mjc/home/.

Friday, Sep. 22, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

New university faculty will be welcomed at a social in Room 1075, College of Health Professions Building, 900 E. Leigh St. The event will be hosted by VCU's Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, Faculty Affairs. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Beth Marcus at bmarcus@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7235 or visit https://forms.gle/YoLu24odLv6r3Use7.

Wednesday, Sep. 20, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join the Wilder School via Zoom for a Lunch and Learn session featuring Janice Underwood, Ph.D., director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Underwood will discuss her leadership with the national DEIA mission, including her work as Virginia's inaugural Chief Diversity Officer. The session will explore her ONE Virginia Plan and gain insights on leading the way with DEIA in Virginia's landscape. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact David Slipher at slipherd@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TjWfv72SSjCzDrlv6GUZBA.

Monday, Sep. 25, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Humanities Research Center will present a Meet VCU Authors event with SJ Sindu, Tamil author and assistant professor, VCU English. Graphic novels and comics have been growing in scope and popularity over the past 20 years. The discussion will include the Sindu's graphic novel, "Shakti," and the author's forthcoming graphic projects, the publication process at major trade presses and craft strategies for visual storytelling and how it differs from traditional prose. Register for the webinar at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rani Sisavath at sisavathr@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/sin0925.

Monday, Sep. 25, 2023 at 2 p.m.

VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will hold a graduate programs virtual informational session via Zoom. An overview of the school's flexible graduate programs will be presented and application support will be offered. Register at the following URL. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ross Losapio at losapior@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0364 or visit http://bit.ly/wildersept23.

Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

This event, sponsored by VCU's Office of the Provost, Faculty Affairs, will be a discussion via Zoom of the Gen AI and Teaching and Learning Tool. The goal is to solicit comments and feedback from VCU faculty and to generate insights regarding additional needs, given the rapid pace of changes in AI.

For more information, contact Michael Boeh at boehm@vcu.edu or visit https://faculty.provost.vcu.edu/.

Tuesday, Sep. 26, 2023 at 5 p.m.

Join staff from the da Vinci Center to learn about the Master of Product Innovation program. This cross-disciplinary program focuses on students applying knowledge in advanced product innovation, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship topics with real-life clients. Register at https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/mpi926

For more information, contact Caslin Applewhite at applewhiteec@vcu.edu or visit https://davincicenter.vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023 at 5 p.m.

Learn about the Ph.D. program in VCU's Health Services Organization and Research at a virtual informational session hosted by the university's Department of Health Administration. Meet program faculty and staff and learn about faculty, funding and more for Fall 2024 admission. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cameron Parkins at parkinsc@vcu.edu or visit https://ha.chp.vcu.edu/programs/hsor-phd-program/.

Thursday, Sep. 28, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The School of World Studies and the Humanities Research Center will present "Stonebreakers: Film Screening and Discussion With the Filmmakers" in Room 1164, T. Edward Temple Building, 901 W. Main St. In a year of uprisings and political unrest, "Stonebreakers" (2023) documents the fights around monuments in the United States and explores the shifting landscapes of the nation's historical memory. The director and cinematographer of the film will be in attendance for post-screening discussion with VCU faculty. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rohan Kalyan at rkkalyan@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvbLUtT82IwA4Bnif8ESNxl9kN8QLpEjYKJdpulpaoc96KdA/viewform?pli=1.

Friday, Sep. 29, 2023 from 9 a.m. to noon

VCU's Learning, Development and Organizational Culture will offer New Manager Orientation. New managers may self-enroll for one session in Talent@vcu at the website link. Questions: Visit https://hr.vcu.edu/new-employees/new-managers/#d.en.606935. Register before the close of the day on Friday, Sept. 22.

For more information, contact Shana Ryman at sryman@vcu.edu or visit https://rb.gy/hq94x.

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Global Education Office will present the Global Initiatives Master Class Series. Brad Farnsworth of Fox Hollow Advisory will conduct the workshop, "Is China Still an Essential Partner for American Universities?" This workshop series is offered to VCU deans, associate deans, faculty and staff to provide support, recommendations and data-informed approaches to increasing international student enrollment and partnership development. The session will be in the Compass Room, Shafer Dining Hall. Register until Friday, Sept. 29 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nicol Tinsley at nctinsley@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6463 or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfLFe5oE7n3CS7ZxvruVVVgjRev-eKhCFFIVu_glRf08kmzg/viewform?usp=sf_link.

Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

VCU HR offers a course via Zoom based on a situational leadership approach that emphasizes leader flexibility and management styles to meet the differing needs of team members. The course will be held in two parts, on Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct. 31. Attendance at both is requested to receive full credit. Part One registration: https://rb.gy/0xeiw Part Two registration: https://rb.gy/1f55a

For more information, contact Penny McFarline at mcfarlinep@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Global Education Office will present the Global Initiatives Master Class Series. Brad Farnsworth of Fox Hollow Advisory will conduct the workshop, "Is China Still an Essential Partner for American Universities?" This workshop series is offered to VCU deans, associate deans, faculty and staff to provide support, recommendations and data-informed approaches to increasing international student enrollment and partnership development. The session will be in the Compass Room, Shafer Dining Hall. Register until Friday, Sept. 29 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nicol Tinsley at nctinsley@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6463 or visit https://forms.gle/aWm6oHxUAe2tJX9s5.

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

VCU TRIO has identified the need for the campus to participate in a program dedicated to encouraging Faculty/Staff to jointly strategize as we become more mental health forward in response to student mental health struggles. We must rethink our approach as we work toward and embrace a broader culture of well-being. Join the VCU community along with facilitators Christina Broderick-Royes, LSW, and Richard Taylor Jr. for an interactive session in the theater of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shay Lumpkin at lumpkinm@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5125 or visit https://forms.gle/zLkbbB5Lu3xdMWtr7.

RecWell will host its first Intramural Badminton Tournament of the fall on Monday, Sept. 25 from 6-11 p.m. at Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St. Registration runs through Thursday, Sept. 21. Participants must purchase a $10 season pass that allows access to register for all Intramural Sports activities throughout the semester.

For more information, contact Alex Bruman at intramurals@vcu.edu or visit https://recwell.vcu.edu/play/intramural-sports/.

The Gratitude/Affirmation Wall (A Note to the Ramily) will provide the opportunity for students to express gratitude and leave notes of affirmation to the campus community. This standing wall will be available at James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., and the Health Sciences Library, 509 N. 12th St., Sept. 18-22 (Monday-Friday). On Sept 21 (Thursday), 12:30-2:30 p.m., RecWell’s Peer Health Educators will host a Gratitude and Mindfulness table, and discuss how to incorporate mindfulness tools into your everyday life.

For more information, contact Rebecca Lebedun at peerhealth@vcu.edu or visit https://recwell.vcu.edu/lead/leadership-programs/peer-health-educators/.

Let's take a look at eye safety. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 15,000 eye injuries in 2020 that caused employees to miss time from work. Did you know that proper personal protective equipment, eye protection and/or face protection is required whenever there is a chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical hazard in your work area? The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) also recommends eye protection for personnel who may be exposed to settings where infectious diseases can be acquired through ocular exposure. Those who work behind a desk are at increased risk for digital eye strain. To combat this, take breaks from looking at the screen to give your eyes a rest. Use filters or blue light/anti-reflective lens glasses to reduce glare and blue light on your eyes making it easier to see and read. If you have any questions on eye protection, such as a needs assessment, product selection, or coaching on how to use the equipment properly, contact VCU's Occupational Safety team at the following address.

For more information, contact Chad Hammack at occsafety@vcu.edu.

VCU’s Journal for Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship, Auctus, is currently accepting student submissions to its STEM, Social Sciences, Creative, Humanities, and News and Noteworthy sections. Submit your work if you are interested in being published. Students can also join AUCTUS as reviewers to gain experience reviewing work in their field. Questions: Visit https://linktr.ee/auctusvcu

For more information, contact VCU Auctus at auctus@vcu.edu or visit http://auctus.vcu.edu.

The VCU Wellbeing Lab invites you to participate in a research study on two stress reduction programs for undergraduate students. VCU investigators seek to understand how two online stress reduction programs affect students’ mood and stress-related behavior. Compensation is available. Sign up before Monday, Oct. 2.

For more information, contact Polina Beloborodova at vcu.stress.reduction@gmail.com or visit https://beloborodp.wixsite.com/stressreduction.