12 p.m.

VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation will host monthly office hours for Veeva SiteVault and Veeva eTMF to allow researchers and their study teams an opportunity to ask questions on navigating and using these systems. The Zoom link each month is available on OVPRI's Veeva web page.

For more information, contact Lauren Wallace at kanigherl@vcu.edu or visit https://research.vcu.edu/human-research/regulatory-affairs/veeva/.

4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Weeks of Welcome will present the Ram Spirit Walk at Monroe Park. This annual tradition, dating back to 2009, welcomes the Class of 2028 with a parade immediately following the New Student Convocation. Incoming students will be greeted by fellow students, student organizations, faculty and staff. The first 1,000 students to arrive will receive free T-shirts.

For more information, contact Jesse Scott at scottje4@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/wow/rsvp_boot?id=1933128.

5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Weeks of Welcome will present the Block Party: Ram Rodeo Roundup at the plaza of the University Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Meet new friends and kick off your college experience a live DJ, epic inflatables and free dinner for the first 2,000 students.

For more information, contact Jesse Scott at scottje4@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/wow/rsvp_boot?id=1933169.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Are you registered to vote? If not, meet the Ladies of the Eta Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on the first day of classes to be registered on the spot. Chapter members will be in the lobby of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., ready to help register voters and answer questions.

For more information, contact Sanaa Banks at etatauchapter@gmail.com.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 from 11:30 a.m. to noon

VCU Academic Technologies will host three live, online 30-minute overviews of Canvas for students during Weeks of Welcome. Students will learn how to login and navigate Canvas to complete class assignments, projects and more. Sessions will be held Wednesday, Aug. 21 from 11:30 a.m.-noon; Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 2-2:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 11:30 a.m.-noon. Register in VCU RamsConnect at https://vcu.campusgroups.com/Tech/CanvasTraining/

For more information, contact Jana Avery at jcavery@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/tech/vcu-academic-technologies/.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.

Weeks of Welcome will present the Black and Gold Wednesdays Kick Off at the Compass at James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Aaron J. Hart, Ed.D, VCU vice president for student affairs, will hand out Black and Gold Wednesdays gear. Grab some fresh VCU swag and connect with fellow Rams.

For more information, contact Jesse Scott at scottje4@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/wow/rsvp_boot?id=1933174.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 at noon

This virtual session will feature a discussion about what students are not told about graduate studies. It will cover finding a good advisor, securing funding and more. This session is designed to help demystify those challenges and point you in the right direction and is intended for first-generation graduate students. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Brown at embbrown@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1933287.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Are you an upperclassmen interested in going to graduate school? Would you like support from a current VCU graduate student to help understand the ins and outs of graduate school? This virtual session will outline the benefits of mentorship, graduate school, as well as how to apply. Click on the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Brown at embbrown@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/89249487601.

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Google Assignments tool in the Canvas LMS makes it easy to create and distribute assignments to your students. Use originality reports and submission feedback to prevent plagiarism and enable your students to do their best work. Simplify grading and leaving feedback through predefined rubrics and your comment bank, which carry over between courses. Register for the online session at the following URL.

For more information, contact Dr. Gee at drgee@vcu.edu or visit https://go.vcu.edu/gogoogle.

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Weeks of Welcome will present the RecWell Rodeo at the Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St. Play games, win prizes, check out the grand opening of the gym's new climbing wall, talk to members of VCU's sports clubs and get to know the RecWell team. This event is free and open to all VCU students. Free Bev's Homemade Ice Cream will be available while supplies last.

For more information, contact Jesse Scott at scottje4@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/wow/rsvp_boot?id=1933178.

Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.

Learn more about equitable access to pharmacy services in the United States at the next Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation seminar with speaker Rachel Wittenauer, Ph.D., a recent graduate of the University of Washington. The seminar will be shown in Room 545, Robert Blackwell Smith Building, 410 N. 12th St. Free CE credit will be offered. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sydney Weber at cppi@vcu.edu or visit https://cppi.pharmacy.vcu.edu/seminars/seminar-series/august-cppi-seminar.html.

Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 from 10 a.m. to noon

Join VCU Payroll Services in celebration of National Payroll Week 2024 for an interactive networking event. Payroll Services will host a carnival with games, prizes and other surprises in the EE Parking Lot - Human Resources Building Monroe Park. National Payroll Week coincides with the week of Labor Day and highlights the achievements and partnerships between America’s employees, payroll professionals and various government programs and agencies.

For more information, contact Veronica B. King at vbking@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1807 or visit https://www.nationalpayrollweek.com/.

Friday, Sep. 6, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.

The goal of this series, open to faculty, staff and students over the next few months, is to create a sense of belonging through sharing stories and active listening and build and strengthen relationships and connections. Sessions will be held in Room 6-101, James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center, 1201 E. Marshall St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ashli Phillips at ashli.phillips@vcuhealth.org or visit https://vcuhealth.libcal.com/event/12733769.

University Band (APPM 357) is open to all VCU students and faculty. The band meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2-2:50 p.m. The band performs one concert each semester.

For more information, contact Duane Coston at costonpd@vcu.edu or (804) 240-7974.

VCU's Division of Inclusive Excellence is accepting applications for the Inclusive Excellence Student Fellows program. This program aims to empower students to actively contribute to campus-wide inclusion initiatives, enhance their leadership skills and promote inclusive excellence throughout the university and the broader Richmond community. Apply at the following URL by Friday, Aug. 30.

For more information, contact Brooke Berry at inclusive@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/RHjUPUqH7oMCDDKr6.

Calling Federal Work Study eligible students: VCU's School of Education is hiring for two roles: Multilingual Ambassador Program (https://app.joinhandshake.com/emp/jobs/9054318) and Creative Team (https://app.joinhandshake.com/emp/jobs/9110271). Apply to the MAP team if you speak or write in Spanish or Arabic and want to support future multilingual students through events and tutoring. Apply to the Creative Team if you can create graphics, photos or videos.

For more information, contact Jenna Lenhardt at jlenhardt@vcu.edu or (804) 827-6847 or visit https://soe.vcu.edu/academics/teacher-pathway-initiatives/multilingual-ambassador-program/.

RecWell offers adult beginner swim lessons, intended for older teens and adults who are comfortable in the water but wish to learn basic skills such as floating, treading water and coordination for swimming strokes. Lessons will primarily be taught in shallow water, but participants will practice supporting themselves in deeper water throughout the class. Session 1 runs Tuesday, Sept. 3-Thursday, Sept. 26 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-6:55 p.m. Register at the following URL by noon on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

For more information, contact Mat Scott at aquatics@vcu.edu or visit https://recwell.vcu.edu/play/aquatics/adult-swim-programs/.

Join RecWell’s Outdoor Adventure Program for Weeks of Welcome themed afternoon trips. All trips leave from the Outing Rental Center and run 3-7 p.m. Registration closes two days ahead of each trip. Trips include: Whitewater Raft Wranglin’ - Rafting and Open House (Tuesday, Aug. 20), River Tube Stampede (Wednesday, Aug. 21), Frontier Freeze Ice Cream Bike Ride (Tuesday, Aug. 27), Whispering Winds Mindfulness Stand-Up Paddleboarding (Wednesday, Aug. 28) and RVA Rock Climbing Rodeo (Thursday, Aug. 29). Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Emily Philpott at outdoors@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recwell.vcu.edu/program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=c7170552-f6b2-4ea1-92f0-686ea7f7cc32.

RecWell’s Outdoor Adventure Program offers Belay Clinics at the Cary Street Gym Climbing Wall, 101 S. Linden St., every Wednesday, 5-6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 21-Wednesday, Dec. 4. Learning to belay allows participants to climb with a partner and is a fundamental skill for all rock climbers. OAP staff will teach current best practices for belaying and answer any and all questions about climbing in the Cary Street Gym. Registration opens the day before the clinic. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sam Albert at outdoors@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recwell.vcu.edu/program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=cd4e0a05-814b-415e-9ef8-43e49fe1f7fb.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, 7-9 p.m., RecWell’s Outdoor Adventure Program will host the grand opening of the new Cary Street Gym climbing wall, 101 S. Linden St., with climbing activities and a few surprises. Participate in OAP’s first-ever climbing endurance competition. From Aug. 22 to Friday, Sept. 6 climbers will compete against one another to see how much vertical feet they can climb within 13 days. Top participants will earn prizes. Stop by the climbing wall desk to register and pick up a scorecard. All levels of experience welcome.

For more information, contact Sam Albert at outdoors@vcu.edu or visit https://recwell.vcu.edu/play/outdoor-adventure/climbing-and-bouldering/.

Join VCU's Choral Arts and perform one of the greatest choral works ever written. No audition is needed — all are welcome. Sign up with APPM359 CRN29766 and let’s make music together.

For more information, contact Christopher Hansen, Ph.D., director of choral activities at hansenc3@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/music/ensembles/vocal-ensemble/.

This month, VCU Collaboration Services is bringing news of new and improved update notifications in Google Sheets, a new Google Meet LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) integration in Canvas, continued improvements to appointment schedules in Google Calendar and more. Read the blog at the following URL.

For more information, contact Doctor Gee at drgee@vcu.edu or visit https://blogs.vcu.edu/drgee/2024/08/12/google-updates-recap-august-2024/.

Generative AI tools offer exciting possibilities for our learning, work and personal lives. VCU has licensed Microsoft Copilot, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot for all faculty, staff and students to use for free. For more information about using generative AI tools and logging into Copilot, review the VCU AI Guidelines page at the following URL.

For more information, contact Hannah Steighner, VCU Technology Services, at hwpsteighner@vcu.edu or visit https://go.vcu.edu/ai.

VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is hiring a part-time research assistant for a study on immigration. Dedicated, organized and detail-oriented graduate students are invited to apply for this two-year position. The pay is $18-23 per hour. Apply at the following URL.

For more information, contact Saltanat Liebert at sliebert@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/5991?c=vcu.

Don’t miss VCUDine’s Weeks of Welcome events at Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place. Events include free Soft Serve Day (Monday, Aug. 19: 2 p.m.-while supplies last); free Kona Ice (Tuesday, Aug. 20: noon-while supplies last); Wellness Wednesday (Aug. 21: noon-1:30 p.m.); Back-to-School Cookout (Thursday, Aug. 22: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.); Cuban Sandwich Day (Friday, Aug, 23: 10:30 a.m.-close) and Brunch (Saturday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Aug. 25: open-close). Details and events, follow @VCU_Dining on Instagram.

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

T-shirts featuring the student illustration from the 2024 Friends of the Library design contest are available to order online. Designed by student Tess Versprille, the shirts will be sold for a limited time during August, so order early. Proceeds will benefit VCU Libraries.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://vculdesign2024.ccbrands.com/.

As the fall semester begins, students who are registered with the Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity office should remember to request their academic accommodation letter and share this with faculty. While there is not a deadline for sharing your letter, accommodations do not apply retroactively, so it is important to communicate with faculty about your accommodations before you need to use them.

For more information, contact Brandi D. Levingston, Ph.D., at saeo@vcu.edu or visit http://saeo.vcu.edu.