1 p.m. to 1:45 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 a virtual informational session to learn about undergraduate certificates at the da Vinci Center. Certificates will be explained and programs in product innovation and venture creation will be discussed, as well as classes in human-centered design and how they fit into individual academic plans. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mary-Chris Escobar at escobarmc@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/Undergrad-Info-Sept-25.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU Libraries challenges students to create the front cover for a comic book about a specific incident of art suppression or censorship. A grand prize of $1,000 is being offered. Come by the library table in the lobby of James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., to learn how you can enter, talk with the contest manager and celebrate National Comic Book Day.

For more information, contact Ryan Pander at rbpander@vcu.edu.

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Come stomp, hop and kick to the dabke at an Arab folk dance workshop with Samar Abushkheidem in Room 1102, Academic Learning Commons, MCALC, 1000 Floyd Ave. The event will be hosted by VCU's School of World Studies, Middle East and Islamic Studies Minor. Henna and more will be featured.

For more information, contact Mayda Topoushian, Ph.D., at mtopoushian@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A rotating cast of Dogs on Call therapy dogs will be at the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center (MMEC), 1201 E. Marshall St., ready to meet and greet passersby. Show your support for the Dogs on Call teams by purchasing a $5 lunch (hot dog or smoked carrot, chips and a drink), a Dogs on Call shirt for $12 or an official Dogs on Call coffee mug for $10. In the event of rain, everything will move indoors to the MMEC lobby.

For more information, contact Karl Dorn at karl.dorn@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-2532 or visit https://chai.vcu.edu/.

Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Giveaways, games and resources to support mental well-being will be featured at a mental health fair hosted by University Counseling Services and RecWell. The fair will be held in the Commons Plaza by the Ram Horns.

For more information, contact Mia Liadis at peerhealth@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024 at noon

Join Inclusive Excellence facilitators to learn about the structural roots of social identities, focusing on group membership, individual agency and strategies for relating to one another in context. Sessions via Zoom will be offered at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 25 and at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jackson Bartlett at inclusive@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsf--rpjIjGtURxauyCVIDQ74mVO1iHUFq#/registration.

Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

PennyAppeal will hold a Pack-A-Bag event in Room 2128, Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave., to make care kits for the local homeless population and earn service hours. Keep up to date at the group's Instagram (@pennyappealatvcu) or RamsConnect page.

For more information, contact PennyAppeal at officialpennyappealatvcu@gmail.com.

Thursday, Sep. 26, 2024 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Association of Black Social Workers will hold its first meeting of the fall semester in Room 3201, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave., to discuss the organization's history, values and goals.

For more information, contact Sebastian Berger at bergersm@vcu.edu.

Friday, Sep. 27, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join You First at VCU in celebrating National Teacher's Month by packaging goodie bags for a local Richmond school. The event will be in Room 1100, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. (MCALC). Materials needed to pack the goodie bags and to write thank-you notes to show our appreciation will be furnished. Register on RamsConnect with the following URL.

For more information, contact Linda Le at lel7@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1935313.

Monday, Sep. 30, 2024 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

It’s almost autumn and pumpkin spice season is upon us. As you think about switching up your coffee for the season, join VCU HR and Employee Health for a virtual session and learn about the history, overview and heart considerations of all things coffee. Register in Talent@VCU or at https://tinyurl.com/ykkb3akf

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or visit https://ramstrong.vcu.edu/events/upcoming-events-for-employees/.

Monday, Sep. 30, 2024 from noon to 1:15 p.m.

Join the Office of the Provost - Faculty Affairs for the September Monthly Session for Faculty, titled "Job Crafting." While we are familiar with what is expected of us as faculty, we rarely have conversations about how to strategically develop our careers in higher education. This interactive session will provide an opportunity to hear from colleagues and think about how to use "job crafting." Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Michelle Murray at mmurray2@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/4SnoMm3LgrBMyexLA.

Monday, Sep. 30, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

During this open forum, faculty will have an opportunity to provide input and insights on the final report submitted by the Assessing Teaching Effectiveness Committee. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK6QK__cU4_pIRCgcylET-aadTHXgyAAXmmEQzcgcIOs8-yQ/viewform A Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

For more information, contact Susan Coombes at scoombes@vcu.edu or visit https://faculty.provost.vcu.edu/task-forces--committees/assessing-teaching-effectiveness-committee/.

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Help cultivate community as VCU's Division of Inclusive Excellence hosts an open house on the second floor at 912 W. Grace St. All are welcome, including students and campus partners. Light desserts and refreshments will be available. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tre Straughter at inclusive@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaYgc800HEEBYVzP3U9Hth4uPXuBBs5Xz8JfTGWuJ2xzK_gg/viewform.

Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Alpha Kappa Psi's Pie A Brother fundraiser will be held on the east lawn, Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave. One pie will be $3 and two pies will be $5.

For more information, contact Rachael Rennie at rennierv@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 at 1 p.m.

Join VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (Suite 215, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.) for a conversation led by Professor Anita Nadal on why the term AfroLatina was created and what it’s responding to. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jair Lecky at leckyjj@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1934963.

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 at 10 a.m.

Fat Bear Week celebrates the brown bears of Katmai National Park in southwestern Alaska as they feast on salmon to gain enough weight to survive winter hibernation. After a single-elimination tournament in which the public can vote on their favorite bear, one furry friend will be dubbed "Fat Bear!" Come by the Health and Wellness Library in the Gateway Building, 1200 E. Marshall St., Oct. 2-8 (Wednesday through Tuesday) to relax and watch a live stream of the Alaskan brown bears and cast your own vote on who you think will be the champion.

For more information, contact Jackson Wright at wrightjc4@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2432 or visit https://vcu.libcal.com/event/13169368.

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 from 11 a.m. to noon

With the introduction of Harmonize to your teaching toolkit, you'll unlock a world of possibilities that will transform how you and your students engage meaningfully in the online environment. Whether you're looking to foster dynamic discussions, amplify student engagement or streamline communications, Harmonize brings your educational aspirations to life. Register for the webinar at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cairo Jones at jonesc34@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdu-tqT4vHdaFviJ0WZb7fQd4rk4vFbw7.

Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There's a pervasive myth that eating disorders affect only young white women when, in reality, these afflictions are not bound by gender, ethnicity, race, geography, culture or socioeconomic class. Join author and MFA candidate Josh Galarza and Assistant Professor of Psychology Annie Haynos, Ph.D., as they share their work on the manifestations of disordered eating and the pathways to recovery. The session will be in Room 202, STEM Building, 817 W. Franklin St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Alexis Finc at alfinc@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/3Tm6hHZ.

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Join Bryn Mawr assistant professor Paul Joseph López Oro for a discussion on AfroLatinidad as a cultural identity that describes people of Latin American or Latin American descent who are also of African ancestry. The talk will be in person, in the theater of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., and virtual. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Anita Nadal at elcentro@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfuGtrzMvHNd7kQNv3hnTY17U-JspD5W8?_x_zm_rtaid=LupcY0OYTd2o87geiFwjmg.1726245577736.d4ce7489a3e9a20f78929b3acefd2191&_x_zm_rhtaid=143#/registration.

Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Hispanic Coalition of Healthcare Academics will host a presentation by Cynthia Lebron, Ph.D., MPH, assistant professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, and president of the American Public Health Association Latino Caucus for Public Health. Lebron will explore critical aspects of maternal and child health among Latinas. The session will be in the auditorium of the Kontos Medical Sciences Building, 1217 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/13156669.

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 from 9 a.m. to noon

VCU's Office of the University Ombudsperson will sponsor the 11th annual National Conflict Resolution Day event. "Roadmap to Peace" is this year's national theme. The purpose of the event is to promote and encourage peaceful conflict management and resolution practices throughout the three campuses. The event, at the Court End Ballroom, Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St., will feature a keynote address from nationally known conflict resolution practitioners, strategies for managing conflict and an interactive dialogue with those in attendance. RSVP at the following link.

For more information, contact Michele Murray at mmurray2@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Tq5ccHJYhHy6cDHY6BezOSPPN0Whp3jQ3sS1fGAgO78.

Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Join students from VCU's Peace Corps Prep program to meet with local Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and learn about their service experience. Food and drinks will be available. The session will be in the first floor of West Grace North, 830 W. Grace St.

For more information, contact Kelly Richard at richardkj@vcu.edu or (919) 816-5318 or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1935006.

How likely is it that you will take out a loan within the next 12 months? Click here to respond: https://vcubusiness.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4YskRo30vVV3GvA

For more information, contact Jodie Ferguson at jlferguson@vcu.edu.

RecWell’s fall personal training packages are available to VCU students and RecWell members. Participants will be guided through an exercise program customized to meet their specific needs and goals by a certified personal trainer, a dedicated fitness professional who is committed to supporting client progress. RecWell offers one-on-one and buddy training packages of three, six, 12 or 18 hour-long sessions. All new clients are required to complete the introductory package of three 60-minute sessions. Register at the following URL.

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

RecWell offers private group exercise classes for student organizations and VCU departments. Classes are led by RecWell group exercise instructors. Classes can be held in one of RecWell’s spaces, or instructors can come to the client’s location, either in-person or virtually.

For more information, contact Nadine Madison at groupexprgm@vcu.edu or visit https://recwell.vcu.edu/play/group-exercise/.

VCUarts program for eighth-10th grade students, Investigation Now, is back for the fall. This four-week program encompasses a wide range of contemporary art concepts and artmaking techniques taught by VCU Art Education students. Registration opens Friday, Oct. 11, The registration fee is $90 (food and materials will be provided). The program will take place on Fridays from 5-8 p.m., beginning Friday, Nov. 1 and ending Friday, Nov. 22. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lia New at artedcadc@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/art-education/investigation-now/.

We are a VCU research team conducting research about safe spaces at VCU from the perspective of first-generation and AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) students. We are recruiting students who identify as first-generation and/or AAPI students to participate in a remote interview (via Zoom). The interview will require 30-60 minutes of your time. The online interview will be recorded so that researchers can keep track of what you've said. Neither your name nor any other identifying information will be associated with the recording. Only the research team will be able to review the recordings. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. If you are willing and are eligible to participate, you will receive a $25 egift card in compensation for your time and effort. Would you be willing to participate in the study pending your eligibility? If yes, please click on the following link for a screening survey that will ask for your contact email. If you meet criteria for the study we will follow up with you to schedule the interview.

For more information, contact Teresa Doherty at mtdohert@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8658 or visit https://vcubusiness.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_296wkRHc3rb9Axg.

The VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation invites faculty to participate in a survey about the challenges and experiences that faculty face when applying for National Science Foundation funding. Your feedback will help create better support strategies for securing NSF funding. The survey, at the following URL, takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and closes Monday, Sept. 30.

For more information, contact Mary Strawderman at strawdermamm@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/mykjBv83HuNNL2Zm7.

Students enrolled in HSEP-302 Emergency Planning and Incident Management are conducting an informal survey to better understand the perceived natural or man-made disasters or incidents at VCU. The survey consists of four questions and focuses on the James Branch Cabell Library. The survey can be taken at the following URL.

For more information, contact Frank Molina-Valenzuela at molinavalefa@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/7qLHKYVauQ82iWDdA.

Adobe has announced the discontinuation of cloud-based file syncing services taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 1 for all Enterprise/Federated customers (including VCU). VCU end-users need to backup/migrate any data and files stored within Adobe’s Cloud storage platform to their local computer, USB storage and/or Google Drive storage. A complete backup/migration guide can be found at https://go.vcu.edu/adobe/backup

For more information, contact Instructional Computing Services at adobe@vcu.edu or visit https://adobe.vcu.edu/security/file-sync/.

Individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who identify as Black or African American are invited to participate in a research study examining the effect of acute and chronic stress on cardiovascular and inflammation responses to an acute mental challenge. Raffle drawings for financial compensation will be conducted. This study will take place 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 Jeremy Via at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

This study is seeking individuals between the ages of 18 and 55 years who have PTSD or symptoms of PTSD. The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of heat (infrared sauna) and cold (cold water immersion) therapy on PTSD symptoms with specific focus on blood vessel function. This study will be conducted at 500 Academic Centre on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. For more information, contact Ryan Garten at rsgarten@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Ryan Garten, Ph.D., at rsgarten@vcu.edu.

The Equity in Cardiovascular Health Outcomes (EqCHO) Lab at VCU is conducting a study on the stress experiences of young Black women. We would like to use the information gained from this study to develop a stress reduction program to improve cardiovascular health among young African American women. Resources will be provided on stress and health management. The study will take place over two consecutive weeks. Compensation is available. To check your eligibility and to sign up, visit: https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=KYP34XPP8J7A8JJX

For more information, contact Anika Hines at eqcholab@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5030 or visit https://eqcho.lab.vcu.edu/.