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/.

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 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Join the School of Social Work and Cassie DeSena-Jacobs, DSW, for an opportunity to practice social work skills outside the classroom and internships. During this hour, Bachelor of Social Work students will engage in case studies, role playing and activities to develop clinical social work skills that are applicable in real-world settings. Food will be provided, and participants may enter a raffle to win a copy of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders." The session will be held in the Academic Learning Commons (MCALC), Room 1102, 1000 Floyd Ave. Register at https://forms.gle/SPR5fWTiopTQfD5f8 See the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cassie DeSena-Jacobs at jacobsc2@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/81941266404.

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.

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/.

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.

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/.

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 students are asked to share their experiences with on-campus offices and organizations that offer services or resources to students. VCU staff member Jess Hoy, M.S.W., is conducting a research survey that can be completed online and takes about 10 minutes. Students are not required to have ever used a VCU resource to participate. Students who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle to win one of five $25 gift cards to the VCU bookstore. See the survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jess Hoy at hoyj2@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctIBpT8H0TVLHzE4sq66PB1aEx8HCkKwtNtbG8odN3VY0qIA/viewform.

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/.

Spring dining plan enrollment is now open. Find the plan that fits your needs at vcu.campusdish.com/DiningPlans. This month's special events at Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place, include a finals cram cart (Dec. 9-13). For more events, visit the following URL or follow @VCU_Dining on social media.

For more information, contact Margaret Massie at dining@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1148 or visit https://vcu.campusdish.com/.

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.