12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Are you a first-generation student, faculty or staff member? Stop by the You First at VCU table at the Compass to share a word that best represents your strengths or what makes you proud about being first-generation. This video will be shared during First-Gen Week (Nov 6-10).

For more information, contact Elizabeth Bambacus at bambacuses@vcu.edu.

2:30 p.m.

Join the Transfer Center for a scavenger hunt on campus to celebrate National Transfer Student Week. Solve clues with other transfer students while crisscrossing campus. RSVP at https://cglink.me/2dV/r1930202

For more information, contact Elizabeth Heck at ebheck@vcu.edu or visit https://transfer.vcu.edu/.

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Are you an Asian American Pacific Islander student preparing to apply for grad school but don’t know where to start? Join the You First AAPI Student Success Coach for a three-session series on all you need to know about the graduate school application process. The session will be held in Room 1104, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Julie Nguyen at nguyenjq7@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/atVfi2KYdCF6cn7bA.

4:30 p.m.

Learn to meet the needs of your audience with strong, logical, structurally sound writing. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Trey Burnart Hall at hallbr@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

National Conflict Resolution Day is the signature event of VCU's Office of the Provost led by the University Ombudsperson. The goal of the day is to "promote awareness of mediation, arbitration, conciliation and other creative, peaceful means of resolving conflict." This event, open to faculty, staff and students, will be held in Court End Ballroom A, Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact William King at weking@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/qVuBqnHrQdMPCxCv5.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 at 1 p.m.

The VCU Writing Center will present the Personal Statement Workshop on Zoom. The Zoom link is hosted on our events page at the following URL. In this interactive Zoom workshop, we will look at examples of strong, successful personal statements, as well as less successful ones, and give you the tools you need to write your best statement. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Trey Burnart Hall at hallbr@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Join VCU's Transfer Center for its inaugural Transfer Tuesday in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Come to this open study session to work on whatever you need to and meet other transfer students. These hours will continue on Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m. for the remainder of the fall semester. RSVP at https://cglink.me/2dV/r1930204

For more information, contact Elizabeth Heck at ebheck@vcu.edu or visit https://transfer.vcu.edu/.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from noon to 2 p.m.

Join VCU's Transfer Center for a snack break to celebrate National Transfer Student Week. RSVP at https://cglink.me/2dV/r1930203

For more information, contact Elizabeth Heck at ebheck@vcu.edu or visit https://transfer.vcu.edu/.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Are you interested in working with other students across different disciplines? Are you fascinated by creating solutions to complex problems? Have you always wanted to start a business or nonprofit? Attend an informational session to learn about undergraduate certificates at the da Vinci Center. Register at https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/1017

For more information, contact Caslin Applewhite at applewhiteec@vcu.edu or visit https://davincicenter.vcu.edu/news--events/undergrad-info-sessions/.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Discover the world of Spit for Science at a community event at the Fireplace Lounge in West Grace Street Student Housing – South, 835 W. Grace St. Engage in games, win prizes and get a slice of pizza.

For more information, contact Rebecca Smith at smithr22@vcu.edu or visit https://spit4science.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Bangladesh Student Organization will hold a fundraiser at Chipotle, 810 W. Grace St. Show the BSO's flyer (on instagram: BSOATVCU) at the register or use the code ZG22288 to order online.

For more information, contact Lamia Haque at haquelt@vcu.edu or (804) 998-8769.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Christopher Moschella, who focuses on providing cybersecurity services, internal audits, information technology audits, SOC audits and Sarbanes-Oxley assistance for Keiter, will speak at a meeting of the VCU Blockchain club in Room B2165, Snead Hall, 301 W. Main St. Moschella will give a technical introduction to Bitcoin and blockchain for students.

For more information, contact Francesca Bercasio at bercasiof@vcu.edu or visit https://linktr.ee/vcublockchain.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 at 5 p.m.

VCU History and the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia will present a discussion of the history behind Americans self-identifying as "democrats" and how the American Revolution elevated to new heights the idea of “the people” as supreme ruler. The event, free and open to the public, will be in Room, 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Andrea Wight at wighta@vcu.edu or visit https://history.vcu.edu/events/event-items/the-revolutionary-invention-of-the-american-democrat.html.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at 11 a.m.

Stop by the Richmond Public Library table in the lobby of James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., to sign up for a library card and learn more about public library services. When signing up for a card, bring a state or federal issued ID and a document with your current address. With your card you can access our physical and digital public library collections including books, audiobooks, movies, music, newspapers and magazines.

For more information, contact Ryan Pander at rbpander@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2023-2024/study-well-fall-2023.html.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

VCU's RTR Teacher Residency program will host a virtual event via Zoom. Have a passion for children? Want a high-impact career as a teacher? Want to champion social justice? Fuel dreams? Dedicate your life to making a difference while getting a fully paid degree or certificate? RTR is for you. RTR is a teacher residency program that equips passionate future teachers with the tools to teach for change. Learn how to become a teacher in high-needs and hard-to-staff schools by joining us for this information. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/7040429011 This program will also be presented Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Sabrina Evans at evanssl4@vcu.edu or visit http://teachrtr.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Corey Van Landingham, winner of the 2023 Levis Reading Prize for "Love Letter to Who Owns the Heavens" will read from her book in the third-floor lecture hall. Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. This event is organized by the VCU Department of English and VCU Libraries and will also be made available via Zoom. The reading is free and open to the public but registration is required. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Thom Didato at tndidato@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/levisnight.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.

VCU Massey Cancer Center will present Massey Dialogues: Seek You, a discussion about the VCU Common Book and loneliness as a public health issue (featuring coffee and light breakfast from Panera). The session will be held at Goodwin Research Library, 401 College St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sam Burns at burnss3@vcu.edu or visit https://web.cvent.com/event/46418992-9bd1-4b3d-9429-522fca68a6c9/summary.

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

RecWell’s Mindful Ambassador Program aims to identify students, faculty and staff who are interested in creating a mindful revolution and healthier campus community. Workshop participants will learn about various types of meditation, belly breathing, mindful posture and special considerations for leading meditation with others. Those who complete the workshop will receive additional resources to lead meditation in the community along with a campus leadership sticker. Register at the following URL. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/88586909255

For more information, contact Starr Robinson at robinsonsn@vcu.edu or visit https://training.vcu.edu/course.aspx?processFlag=2&itemID=18192.

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

VCU Votes, a political science class that encourages youth voting, will present Get Prepared to Vote in Room 1030J, West Grace Street Student Housing – North, 830 W. Grace St. The election training session is geared for students. Drop in, have pizza and enter to win a gift card to Starbucks.

For more information, contact Grace St.Germain at stgermage@vcu.edu.

Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Surrealist blues poet and community organizer aja monet will perform selections from her debut album, "when the poems do what they do," recorded with a roster of musicians including Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Samora Pinderhughes and Lonnie Holley. Centered around themes of Black resistance and joy, her performances channel the legacy of jazz and blues greats and the revolutionary spirit of poets such as Audre Lorde, June Jordan and Sonia Sanchez. The event will be at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Natalie Hale at halene@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/events/icalive-ajamonet/.

Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.

VCU Health Pauley Heart Center will host the university's participation in the Richmond Heart Walk at Innsbrook, 4951 Lake Brook Drive, Glen Allen. Visit the VCU/VCU Health page at the following URL to donate, form or join a team.

For more information, contact Michelle Gossip at michelle.gossip@vcuhealth.org or visit https://www2.heart.org/site/TR?company_id=416106&fr_id=9033&pg=company.

Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

VCU's Bangladesh Student Organization will hold a Fall Mela in the ballroom of the University Student Commons. 907 Floyd Ave., with cultural food, music, games and performances. Dress code is cultural attire or semiformal.

For more information, contact Lamia Haque at haquelt@vcu.edu or (804) 998-8769.

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Join Technology Services for the annual VCU Tech Fair at the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.) and Oct. 25 (Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St.). The fair will feature lots of cool stuff and lots of cool tech. The free event is for all students, faculty and staff. Staff will be present to answer questions, showcase technologies and share how each department supports the VCU community. Enjoy hands-on demonstrations from vendors, free bag lunches and free giveaways.

For more information, contact Technology Services at tsengage@vcu.edu or visit https://techfair.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at 12:30 p.m.

VCU's Department of Craft/Material Studies will present a visiting artist lecture by Zak Foster at the Bowe Street Parking Deck, Room 535, 609 Bowe St. Raised in rural North Carolina and now living in Brooklyn, New York, Foster is a community-taught artist whose work draws on Southern textile traditions and repurposed fabrics. He is especially drawn to preserving the stories of quilts and specializes in memory quilts and burial quilts.

For more information, contact Emmy Garcia at garciaem2@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/event/zak-foster-visiting-artist-lecture/.

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023 at 6 p.m.

Are you a Black student who is contemplating getting into the mental health field? Are you considering a career in mental health with a focus on serving Black populations? Join AYA Research Team for the first of our "Black in Mental Health: There's a Career in That" panel series. Learn from the experience of a panel of current graduate and professional trainees in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, education and counseling. The panel will be held in Room 202, STEM building, 817 W. Franklin St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shawn Jones, Ph.D., at scjones4@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/Ewi8DpsW3Sb4rvEZA.

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 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/.

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

VCU TRIO has identified the need for the campus to participate in a program dedicated to encouraging faculty and 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 Commons Theater, 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.

Monday, Nov. 6, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

RecWell will host its late fall Intramural Ping Pong Tournament at Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St. Registration runs through Thursday, Nov. 2. Participants must purchase a $10 season pass 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/.

RecWell’s Intramural fall season continues with 5v5 Basketball and 5v5 Indoor Soccer Leagues. Games will be played Oct. 22-Dec. 8. Registration runs through Thursday, Oct. 19. 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/.

Leila Griffin, BOV undergraduate representative for the 2023-2024 academic year at VCU, says she seeks input from the university's undergraduate student community to identify and implement effective solutions. Reach her via the following email address or URL.

For more information, contact Leila Griffin at griffinla3@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/ijX8qpwUVYAroho9A.

VCUdine has a number of special events at in Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place. Among them are Weekly Burger Rotations (11 a.m.-close); Monday Night Football (Mondays: 5 p.m.-close); National Hispanic Heritage Month (Oct. 5 and 6: 11 a.m.-close); Wellness Wednesday (Oct. 18 and Oct. 25: Noon-2 p.m.); and World Food Day (Oct. 16: 11 a.m. -close). Questions: Follow @VCU_Dining.

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

The Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St., will open at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. The facility will be closed from 5:45-9 a.m. for planned maintenance that requires the water to be shut off to the entire facility. The MCV Campus Recreation Center will be open during this time.

For more information, contact Amanda Simmons at alsimmons@vcu.edu or visit http://recwell.vcu.edu.

Hello, Hellooo, Helloooooo can you hear me? Good, because October is National Protect Your Hearing Month. According to the CDC there are 22 million U.S. workers exposed to hazardous noise levels at work each year. Repeated exposure to sounds that are 85 decibels or higher can cause permanent hearing loss and are associated with other problems including ringing in the ears, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Some examples of noises that are 85 decibels and over include Blenders, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, leaf blowers and music playing devices. Permanent hearing damage occurs at a faster for every five decibels over 85, based on hours of exposure. If you find yourself is a noisy situation, make every attempt to eliminate your noise exposure. If you cannot decrease the volume or exposure, use hearing protection, such as ear plugs or ear muffs. Remember-noise canceling headphones are not considered hearing protection.

For more information, contact Chad Hammack at srm.vcu.edu.

The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will offer the opportunity to sit in on graduate program courses taught by its faculty. The session will offer a glimpse into what it will be like to join its academic community as a graduate student. Class sessions are offered throughout the fall, in virtual and in-person formats. Register at the following URL.

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

Undergraduate team members will assist with education and outreach and work in teams to develop research questions and analyze Spit for Science data. Undergraduates from all majors and at all class levels are welcome to apply. Enrollment will be for three credits (A-F grading system). The priority application deadline is Monday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.

For more information, contact Amy Adkins at adkinsae@vcu.edu or visit https://spit4science.vcu.edu/.

We are inviting male and female participants with elevated blood pressure between the ages of 18-45 years to participate in a study to examine how the time of day that you eat affects your blood pressure, blood vessel function and kidney function. This study involves a screening visit to determine eligibility; two single day interventions where you will eat a meal that we provide in the morning or late at night; and two visits to our laboratory. The study involves collection of blood, saliva and urine samples, in addition to blood pressure, blood vessel and body composition assessments. The study is conducted at VCU Kinesiology and Health Sciences Building on the Monroe Park Campus. Participants will be compensated for their time completing the study. Questions: Email Natalie Bohmke at the following email address or Danielle Kirkman at dlkirkman@vcu.edu.

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

Are you a Black woman between the ages of 18-39? Do you plan to conceive within six to 12 months? The Equity in Cardiovascular Health Outcomes (EqCHO) Lab invites you to participate in a study aimed at creating a tailored program to reduce stress and improve blood pressure disorders during pregnancy. To check your eligibility and to sign up, visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=M3CCHYWRR9PNJXDL.

For more information, contact Anika L. Hines at EqCHOLab@vcuhealth.org or (804) 828-5030 or visit http://facebook.com/eqcholabvcu.

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. The deadline to sign up has been extended to Saturday, Oct. 21.

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