5 p.m.

The VCU Writing Center Book Club will meet in Room 205, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. The book club provides a safe and stress-free space to meet other students who love reading and talking about books. This first meeting will feature a discussion about the books the club will read in the fall, such as "Eight Perfect Murders" by Peter Swanson and "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" by Toshikazu Kawagucgi.

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

7 p.m.

Ornithologist and wildlife ecology professor at Clemson University J. Drew Lanham, Ph.D., will deliver VCU Libraries’ 2023 Social Justice Lecture. Lanham writes and speaks about the implicit and overt racism people of color often face when engaging with their natural surroundings. He bridges the arts and sciences to create a new model of conservation and care for nature that includes space for diverse perspectives. Register at the following URL.

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

Friday, Sep. 29, 2023 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

National Hazing Prevention Week is this week and to bring awareness to the dangers of hazing, faculty, staff and students are invited to a lunch (bring your own) and learn session to discuss "HAZING," a documentary by Byron Hurt. The session will be in the Alumni Boardroom, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Register at https://stophazing.org/hazing-film-viewing-registration/

For more information, contact Rachael Tully at tullyrj@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/event_details?uid=038392c77d2282f71fd44a962e4fae7c.

Friday, Sep. 29, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join faculty teaching courses in the ConnectED general education program for collaboration and discussion of assignment design and alignment with this year's learning goals of Quantitative Literacy and Global/Cultural responsiveness. All general education faculty are invited to participate and share ideas about teaching and student learning in the ConnectED program. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/85211437175

For more information, contact General Education Assessment Committee at assessmentge@vcu.edu or visit https://connected.vcu.edu/faculty/connected-assessment/.

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The VCU Office of Trademarks and Licensing will host a vendor fair in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Students, faculty and staff are invited to meet with licensed vendors who can help produce VCU-branded products for departmental use, student groups, giveaways, promotions and more. Refreshments will be provided while supplies last.

For more information, contact Eric Hart at hartet@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

VCU volleyball invites VCU faculty, staff and students to enjoy the on-court Beer Garden (21+) at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St., during its Ramtoberfest Series. Tickets are free for VCU faculty, staff and students. Present your valid VCU ID at the ticket office upon arrival. Additional tickets can be purchased on site for friends and family members.

For more information, contact Sarah Frasier at frasiers2@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 from noon to 1:15 p.m.

As part of the Conversations About Inclusion Series, the Office of the Provost, Faculty Affairs, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence is co-sponsoring an online series with the Office of the Provost, Academic Affairs and Division of Student Affairs to offer Session 2: Strategies for Enabling Inclusion in the Classroom: Being Mindful of Race, Ability, Class and Gender. Register at the following URL.

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

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

RecWell invites students and RecWell members to test their strength in the Fall 2023 Ram Power Challenge. Certified personal trainers will help participants learn the basics of the squat, bench press and deadlift. Two chances will be given to participants to test their strength on each lift. The event will be held at Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St. Register by Wednesday, Oct. 4.

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

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Learn more about the purpose and value of VCU career communities in an interactive hybrid session. The communities are inclusive and innovative opportunities to enhance staff career development. Attend in-person or via Zoom. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Beverly Walker at bwalker@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.csod.com/ui/lms-learning-details/app/event/e6e9a8aa-58a0-408c-b079-cef7d3c673a3.

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 from 11 a.m. to noon

This workshop will provide an overview of the functionality of the Canvas LMS within in the VCU environment. Register at: https://training.vcu.edu/course.aspx?processFlag=2&itemID=18239 The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/232482831

For more information, contact Jon Reed at reedjj@vcu.edu or visit http://learningsystems.vcu.edu.

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In this Humanities Research Center Speaker Series event, Karma Chávez will discuss her book "The Borders of AIDS," which explores the ways that HIV/AIDS became a justification to erect national and cultural borders during the early years of the pandemic. She will also connect lessons learned from the AIDS crisis to contemporary manifestations in the times of COVID-19. The event will be in the theater of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. A reception and networking event will follow. The event will be co-sponsored by the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies. Reserve a spot at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rani Sisavath at sisavathr@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/cha1005.

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Join P.R.I.S.M. (Programs That Reimagine Identity, Sexuality and Membership) and VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs for a panel discussion on navigating LGBTQIA+ identity and Latine heritage. Topics will include family dynamics, dating and exploring identity. Tortas, pupusas and more will be available. Read about the panelists on the Instagram page at @vcuomsa. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Beck Oh at ohrn@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1929486.

Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will host a Discovery Dialogues seminar via Zoom presented by Ana Diallo, Ph.D., assistant professor, Family and Community Health Nursing. Register at https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrd-mvpzovGNE6Mxh1kbCDuqgWzrd-56-V

For more information, contact Pamela Dillon, Pharm.D., research liaison, at pmdillon@vcu.edu or visit http://www.cctr.vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.

VCU's Massey Cancer Center will host a conversation about readers' experiences with the VCU Common Book, “Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness.” The event will be moderated by Tremayne D. Robertson, director for diversity, equity and inclusion, VCU Massey Cancer Center. Light refreshments and raffle giveaways will be available. The book is included with free registration but does not need to be finished to participate. The event will be held at the Goodwin Research Laboratory - Thalhimer Conference Room, 401 College St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Marianne Johnson at johnsonm41@vcu.edu or visit https://cvent.me/9OnAgA.

Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 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.

Enterprise Marketing and Communications has completed its major update to VCU’s brand standards website (brand.vcu.edu). A comprehensive and unified brand identity is critical as we create an authentic, aspirational and distinctive enterprise VCU brand. Within the refreshed site, you will find a comprehensive guide to all things UNCOMMON, including robust visual identity standards, a new downloads section with marks and brand elements, detailed instructions on how to incorporate the UNCOMMON brand platform into all of your communications and more.

For more information, contact Brand Marketing at identity@vcu.edu.

RecWell’s Fall 2023 personal training packages are available to VCU students and RecWell members. Participants are guided through an exercise program customized to meet their specific needs and goals by a certified personal trainer. One-on-one and Buddy training packages of three, six, 12, or 18-hour-long sessions will be offered. All new clients are required to complete the three-session introductory package.

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

EVR is a research-focused discovery tool that enables collaboration across all disciplines. Hosting searchable profiles for individual researchers associated with VCU, the primary goal of EVR is to offer faculty and researchers a polished and accurate web presence. EVR brings together, in one site, publicly available information on the people, departments and activities that collectively make up research and scholarship in all disciplines. Discover EVR at the following URL.

For more information, contact Emily Komornik at komornikea@vcu.edu or visit http://evr.vcu.edu.

Join VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center at the #KidneyWalk on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. in Virginia Beach. Each step taken and each dollar raised supports kidney disease patients, care partners and friends in the kidney community nationwide.

For more information, contact Caroline Ward at caroline.ward@vcuhealth.org or visit https://www.kidneywalk.org/virginia/vcuhealthhumelee.

VCU's Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St., will present the first institutional exhibition by comedic performer Morgan Bassichis through Jan. 7, 2024. The artist brings together performance, video and text-based works created both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic that mark time, loss, desire, disappointment and joy through playful musical gestures.

For more information, contact Natalie Hale at halene@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/exhibitions/morgan-bassichis-more-little-ditties/.

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.

This study is inviting individuals between the ages of 20 and 24 with poor sleep quality. The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiovascular responses and vascular inflammation. This study will be conducted at 500 Academic Centre on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. Principal Investigator: Lee Franco, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences.

For more information, contact The Healthy Heart Lab at healthyheart@vcu.edu.