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 VCU's da Vinci Center. The session will also include the center's programs in product innovation and venture creation, as well as classes in human-centered design and how they fit into individual academic plans. Questions: Mary Chris Escobar at escobarmc@vcu.edu or the following email address.

For more information, contact Caslin Applewhite at applewhiteec@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/Undergrad-Info-Dec-9.

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Purchase a 2025 Dogs on Call calendar and show your support for the therapy dog teams who visit patients and staff at VCU Health and students at VCU. Additional sale contingent upon stock: Friday, Dec. 13, VCU Health Stony Point Lobby, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Purchases can also be made online and mailed to you at www.support.vcu.edu/event/CHAI_Calendar

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

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will host a Discovery Dialogues seminar to be presented by Katarzyna Tyc, Ph.D., assistant professor, biostatistics, via Zoom. Questions: Visit http://www.cctr.vcu.edu. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Pamela Dillon, Pharm.D., research liaison, at pmdillon@vcu,edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMucO6opjwiGd1zm957h7SgqsPvN4wZ003p.

2 p.m.

Learn the basics of AI and how to craft a prompt. Develop effective strategies for understanding Large Language Models. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

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

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at 11 a.m.

Learn how to articulate your own, unique ideas in the style of your discipline. Register at the following URL.

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

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 from 11 a.m. to noon

This workshop will cover entering final grades, configuring Incomplete sections and getting your Spring 2025 courses ready. The event is sponsored by Academic Affairs and Technology Services. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/82451912323

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

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

Join VCU HR and RecWell and take a break from the noise to find a quiet reflection in the middle of your day with this virtual guided meditation. This meditation is suitable for all levels of practice. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://bit.ly/3zZj8Jz

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/worklife-at-vcu/employee-events/.

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.

How can you best be an advocate for yourself to obtain information and resources necessary to meet your developing career goals? This session is designed particularly for junior faculty, but all faculty, house staff, senior graduate students and postdocs are welcome. The workshop is the first in a series designed to support early career faculty. Topics have been selected based on a 2024 needs assessment of early career faculty. This series is presented by the School of Medicine and will be held in the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center (MMEC), Room 3-101, 1201 E. Marshall St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ashli Harris at Ashli.Phillips@vcuhealth.org or visit https://vcuhealth.libcal.com/event/13527195.

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 at 2 p.m.

Learn how to use 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/.

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Have a passion for children? Want a high-impact career? Want to champion social justice? Fuel dreams? Dedicate your life to making a difference while getting a fully paid degree? RTR is for you. RTR is a teacher residency program in the VCU School of Education that equips passionate future teachers with the tools to teach for change. Learn more at this virtual informational session. Register at https://tinyurl.com/RTRInfoSession2425

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

Friday, Dec. 13, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join the internal research funding program team to discuss upcoming funding opportunities. The team will answer any questions regarding the four recently released funding opportunities: VCU Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Fund; VCU Breakthroughs Fund, VCU Momentum Fund and VCU Quest Fund. Join directly at the following Zoom link.

For more information, contact OVPRI funds team at ovprifunds@vcu.edu or visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89365296981.

Wednesday, Apr. 23, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The VCU Graduate School. in collaboration with the Graduate School Association. invites faculty and staff to serve as judges for the 28th Annual Graduate Research Symposium. The event will be in the University Student Commons. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Brown at embbrown@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/nZPBa6AQA5Ca8pJW8.

Monday, Apr. 28, 2025 at 9 a.m.

The Virginia Executive Institute is now accepting applications. This program offers a forum for current and emerging leaders to connect with a network of state executives dedicated to strengthening their leadership skills and driving positive change for Virginia's future. Questions: Visit https://pmg.vcu.edu/professional-development/vei/

For more information, contact Mandy Fowler at afowler3@vcu.edu or visit http://GEHLI.vcu.edu.

VCU's Division of Community Engagement offers $25,000 in funding through the Thriving Communities Research Pilot Grant Program. Apply by March 14, 2025 to support community-engaged research that fosters equitable partnerships and addresses societal inequities. Learn more and access the RFP (request for proposal) at https://community.vcu.edu/faculty/thriving-communities-pilot-grant/

For more information, contact Division of Community Engagement at dcegrantsinfo@vcu.edu or visit https://community.vcu.edu/faculty/thriving-communities-pilot-grant/.

VCU Libraries is accepting early reservations for class seating for “Building a Home for Change: The Obama Presidential Center,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 at James Branch Cabell Library. First-come, first-served: VCU Libraries will provide reserved seating blocked for selected classes for this annual lecture. Contact the events office today at VCU Libraries Events Office, rbpander@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0593.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2024-news/continuing-legacy-of-the-obama-presidency-focus-of-2025-black-history-month-lecture-.html.

Join VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs to be a planning member for one of the various Cultural Achievement Ceremonies for the university's Spring 2025 graduations. Tasks include finding speakers, designing the ceremony space, researching regalia and planning receptions. RSVP by Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jair Lecky at leckyjj@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/a7QzWE3UGS5rcoqm6.

Human Resources presents "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. Questions: Create a service request at https://go.vcu.edu/hrsupport.

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/.

The ability to create and edit Google Sites is no longer available. The Google Sites service will be fully decommissioned as of December 2024. University-related sites and course-related sites should be moved or created in the appropriate university systems. Personal sites should be created on non-university hosted platforms.

For more information, contact Dr. Gee at drgee@vcu.edu or visit https://collaborate.vcu.edu/apps/sites/.

Are you a VCU or VCU Health professional eager to elevate your leadership skills? Learn more about VCU and join the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute in its immersive program designed to enhance your leadership capabilities through assessments, mentorship, team projects and direct interaction with university and state leaders. Deepen your understanding of higher education challenges while expanding your network and connecting with senior leaders across VCU. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ron Jones at jonesre22@vcu.edu or visit https://gehli.vcu.edu/programs/vcu-leadership-development-program/.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Voya will become the record keeper for all VRS Defined Contribution Plans, replacing MissionSquare Retirement. Voya, a health, wealth and investment company, will manage four plans: Hybrid Retirement Plan (Defined Contribution component), Hybrid Cash Match Plan 401(a), Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and Virginia Cash Match 401(a). Refer to the transition newsletter mailed to your home address the week of Oct. 21.

For more information, contact VCU Human Resources, Benefits Administration at benefits@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/benefits/all-benefits/retirement/#d.en.735497.

Raise a puppy and change a life. Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, has puppies seeking volunteer puppy raisers or short-term sitters. Missing your dog at home? Want the puppy love but not ready for the long-term commitment? Not ready to pay for tuition and vet bills? Raise a Guiding Eyes puppy at VCU for up to 18 months, providing the pup with the socialization, house manners and basic obedience needed for guide dog training. Can’t commit? Puppy sitters are also needed.

For more information, contact Alexis Long at longa11@vcu.edu or visit https://www.guidingeyes.org/puppy-raising/.

VCU's Engaged Transformative Learning is now accepting nominations and applications for Service-learning Teaching Assistants (SLTAs) for spring 2025. SLTAs are exceptional undergraduate students who are nominated by a VCU service-learning instructor to assist them with a service-learning course. If you are an instructor for a service-learning course this fall and would like more information on SLTAs, contact servelearn@vcu.edu Questions: https://academics.provost.vcu.edu/transformative-learning/service-learning/ See the nomination form at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shanza Isom, Director of Engaged Transformative Learning, at isomsa@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfd1ziPIj_7y9gUAV9s6l6nYZDTJQo0DsJxzAYysBwTvq9ktg/viewform.

Did you know VCU offers a choir for every student? Whether you're a seasoned singer or just love music, there’s a place for you in VCU's choirs. Make friends, find your voice and experience a semester of music-making. Enroll in Commonwealth Singers (APPM358, CRN30105) Choral Arts Society (APPM359, CRN30106) or Vox Concordia (APPM378 CRN30122).

For more information, contact Christopher Hansen, Ph.D., Director of Choral Activities, at hansenc3@vcu.edu or (910) 280-4865 or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/music/ensembles/vocal-ensemble/.

RecWell facilities will operate on winter break hours Friday, Dec. 13-Saturday, Jan. 11. The Outing Rental Center and Cary Street Gym climbing wall will be closed during this time. All facilities will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24-Wednesday, Jan. 1. See full details at the following URL.

For more information, contact Scott Steiner at steiners@vcu.edu or visit https://recwell.vcu.edu/facilities-and-hours/.

Registration is now open for The University Band (APPM 357). University Band is open to all VCU students. The theme for the spring semester is "Music of the Stage and Screen," which will feature music from Broadway musicals, movie scores, video games and more. University Band meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-3:50 p.m. The band performs one concert per semester.

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

VCU School of Nursing is looking for participants ages 0-25 to participate in a Long COVID study. Have you or your child experienced lingering health symptoms or behavior changes since having COVID or a virus? Participants will be paid for their time. Sign up for the study at the following URL.

For more information, contact Amy Rider at recoverkidsva@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/RECOVERkids.