12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Come to the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., to have your blood pressure measured by the Cardio-Renal Physiology Lab. Also, learn how a healthy lifestyle can benefit blood pressure.

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

3:30 p.m.

Alumna Mirta Martin, Ph.D., president of Ferrum College, started her journey as a Cuban immigrant who grew up in Havana. Join her in Room 112, STEM Building, 817 W. Franklin St., to learn how her background helped her to stand out in higher education and why she believes diversity is a superpower.

For more information, contact Arda Athman at athmana3@vcu.edu or (703) 608-1156.

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Lessons in Leadership, a program of VCU's Office of Student Leadership and Engaged Learning, highlights key but often overlooked leaders by exploring their stories and seeing what we can learn from them today. Join us in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month to learn more about composer Aaron Copland, his legacy as an American composer and his life as a queer man in the early 20th century. The session will be presented in-person (Room 1030J, West Grace Street Student Housing – North, 830 W. Grace St.) and via Zoom. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jonathan Fuller at fullerjd2@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1928767.

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

VCU's Global Education Office welcomes students, staff and faculty to Cultural Conversations with participants from La Salle University in Oaxaca, Mexico. This fall online series will focus on news and images starting Thursday, Oct. 12 in Spanish and/or English, depending on participant interests and levels. Participants can sign up for one or more sessions of the three-part series, which will meet on Thursdays, 5-6 p.m., Oct. 12, 19 and 26. Register at the following URL.

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

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

All are invited to the VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program Home Country Presentations in the SGA Alumni Boardroom, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., to learn more about the 2023-2024 cohort of Humphrey Fellows. During the presentation, each Fellow will provide a 20-minute overview of their country, professional role and interests in public health, followed by an interactive Q&A session. To join by Zoom, register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Heather Ashton at ashtonhr@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZRf3ZOgmQA-jG2xfOLegDQ#/registration.

Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

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/.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU Military Student Services will host a free wills clinic sponsored by the Greater Richmond Bar Association. Volunteer lawyers will assist with preparing power of attorney documents, medical advance directives and basic wills. Participants must be at least 18 years of age, be a Virginia resident with a current photo ID and cannot own a business. Email the following address to request the forms that are needed to register for the event. The clinic will be in Room 3122, Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Stephen Ross at stross@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

This 30-minute virtual exercise class. brought to you by VCU HR and VCU RecWell, will not only give you an excellent abdominal and low back workout, but will also challenge your other major muscle groups. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://bit.ly/48v0N3s

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

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Join architect Zena Howard for an exploration of individual and shared experiences at the intersection of urban design, art, history, anthropology and public policy. Zena Howard, FAIA, LEED AP, is principal and managing director with the architecture and design firm Perkins & Will. Howard's career has been defined by visionary, complex and culturally significant projects, such as the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The talk will be in the Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact David Slipher at slipherd@vcu.edu or visit https://wilder.vcu.edu/news-and-events/gulak-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/GmdU7aCM51iXitHs6.

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 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.

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 at 7 p.m.

VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Richmond Notre Dame Alumni Club will present the Hesburgh Lecture Series featuring O. Carter Snead, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame, for "What It Means to be Human: The Case of End of Life Decision-Making," at Fifth Street Baptist Church, 2800 Third Ave. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rachel Pierce at piercer2@vcu.edu or (804) 628-9154 or visit https://web.cvent.com/event/9b7b884c-4765-4faa-99f5-e0ef79fc5a37/summary.

Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

VCU's Division of Community Engagement will host Connect 2023, its annual community engagement conference, in the Richmond Salons, VCU Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. The conference is free to attend but registration is required. Connect Community Engagement Conference is an annual gathering of community members, community organizations, VCU faculty, staff, students and alums and other community and regional stakeholders who come together for a day of learning, networking and skill development. The program includes both speaker sessions and hands-on, skill-building and networking activities. Questions: Visit https://community.vcu.edu/events/connect-conference/ Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shari Garmise at garmiseso@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/VTuRcFooxjyK3iyB7.

VCU's December Commencement exercises will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St. Faculty participating in the ceremony will wear academic apparel. Regalia must be ordered at your respective campus by Monday, Nov. 20. For ordering information, visit the following link.

For more information, contact University Events at UNIVevents@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=smDbY9Z-rUGsCcRdJUchBTfzBlTY8bZLoO0XDMPP9dtUOFNKTU9TUjU5RDY1N1U0WEdXVlM2S01JQy4u.

Oct. 16-20 (Monday-Friday) is National Transfer Student Week. Join VCU's Transfer Center for a week of events and activities, especially for transfer students. RSVP at https://vcu.campusgroups.com/events?topic_tags=12806398 All events are listed in RamsConnect with the tag "Nat'l Transfer Student Week."

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

Natural beauty abounds at Rice Rivers Center, VCU’s campus in Charles City. But it’s more than just a pretty space – it’s a site for critical earth science research. During Earth Science Week, you can support Rice Rivers Center and cutting-edge science that leads to a more sustainable planet. Your gift means more VCU students can train at the river campus in wildlife conservation, wetlands restoration, climate science and more. You help today's students become tomorrow's innovators.

For more information, contact Jenna Hart at jbhart@vcu.edu or visit https://igniter.vcu.edu/o/virginia-commonwealth-university/i/central-igniter/s/rice.

A draft version of the new Research Space Allocation policy is open for public comment until Thursday, Oct. 19. Go to https://policy.vcu.edu and click on "Policies Open for Public Comment" to comment on the draft policies.

For more information, contact Jason Block at blockj2@vcu.edu.

The Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and VCU Libraries offer a self-paced course on National Center for Biotechnology Information databases Gene, BLAST, Variation tools, GEO and GDC. These databases are central to bioinformatic, genomic, basic science and clinical research projects. Enrollment is open; the course can be completed at any time. Upon completion of the six course modules, you receive a certificate. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Carrillo at emcarrillo@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2070 or visit https://virginiacommonwealth.instructure.com/enroll/9LX44P.

Human Resources will present "Retiring With the VCU Optional Retirement Plan." These sessions are open to VCU faculty and VCU University and Academic Professionals, not VCU Health System employees. Register for an upcoming session at https://bit.ly/3xuwHLZ. For more information, create a service request at https://go.vcu.edu/hrsupport or call (804) 827-1723.

For more information, contact VCU Human Resources, Benefits Administration at benefits@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/a-z-list-of-benefits/retirement/planning-resources/.

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.

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 signup deadline has been extended to Sunday, Oct. 15.

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