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

Join VCU's Transfer Center for Transfer Tuesdays in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Come to this open study session to work on whatever you need to and meet other transfer students. These sessions will continue throughout the spring semester.

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

12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Design Thinking is all about collaboration and problem-solving. A virtual session, which emphasizes problem-solving and adaptability, will be hosted by the SHIFT Retail Lab. Earn an “Introduction to Design Thinking” credential via a credly badge that you can post on your LinkedIn. This online workshop is free and open to all VCU students and community members. Register at the following URL to secure your spot.

For more information, contact Manjari Kumarappan at kumarappanma@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/Design-Thinking-2-18.

12 p.m.

Join us for an informational webinar hosted by the VCU School of Business to discover how the MDA Weekend Program can elevate your career. Learn about our interactive curriculum, 16-month hybrid weekend schedule, the cohort experience and the application process. No registration required, join via Zoom at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rachel Kaeser at rekaeser@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/83701755133.

12 p.m.

VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will partner with the Black Education Association to host a Black 'n' Black Mixer. This is an opportunity during Black History Month for students, faculty and staff to come together, mingle and make connections. Enjoy catered food. Games will be played and prizes will be raffled off. Attendance at OMSA events is open to all students, faculty and staff. The event will be in the University Student Commons, Suite 215, OMSA office, 907 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jair Lecky at leckyjj@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1936805.

7:30 p.m.

The Hub New Music chamber ensemble will perform at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. Called “contemporary chamber trailblazers” by the Boston Globe, Hub New Music is a “prime mover of piping-hot 21st century repertoire” (Washington Post). Individual tickets are available for $12. Discounts offered for current VCU Music faculty/staff and VCU students. Tickets are available now at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jessica Casey at music@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/event/hub-chamber-ensemble-2/.

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Diane Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will present a grantwriting session via Zoom. Pamela Dillon, Pharm D., research liaison for the center, will discuss strategies for developing and refining competitive research questions. Questions: https://cctr.vcu.edu Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Pamela Dillon at pmdillon@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/M2jz_zxqQnmixZDdJ9Qe6Q.

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join international crime and ethics expert Jay Albanese, Ph.D., for a virtual discussion on global corruption and steps to tackle a growing problem. Albanese will outline strategies from more than three decades of global crime-fighting research, along with new approaches to cultivate ethics in criminal justice. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact David Slipher at slipherd@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8iq5BG1UQDS8VKIxldYU6Q#/registration.

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Are you a faculty/staff member who has or wants to teach a service-learning course? Are you a current service-learning course instructor or an academic administrator interested in learning about the changes happening with service-learning at VCU? If yes to any of these, this informational session is for you. Click on the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shanza Isom at isomsa@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/83659305841.

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Join SCAN (Save the Children Action Network) in the organization's Have a Heart for Kids campaign. Enjoy treats in the Academic Learning Commons, Room 2107, 907 Floyd Ave., and decorate Valentine's postcards to let lawmakers know that you care for kids.

For more information, contact SCAN at scanatvcu@gmail.com.

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 at noon

Did you know that in 20 minutes or less you can become financially confident and earn money? Join this session hosted by VCU HR and Virginia Credit Union and learn what Banzai is all about and how to use it to your advantage. Build your financial literacy and life literacy skills. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://tinyurl.com/yp8p3acz

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

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 at noon

VCU's Division of Community Engagement is launching a Community Engaged Research Series. The professional development sessions are designed for faculty and staff looking to enhance their skills in community engagement, focusing on building stronger, more inclusive relationships between institutions and the communities they serve. Participants will explore key strategies and best practices for effective outreach, partnerships and community-engaged research. Emily Zimmerman, Ph.D., will speak virtually about "Building and Maintaining Trust with Community Partners and Collaborators." The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/86306523704 Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lorielle Bouldin at bouldinln@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFGTS3pD7Qtn7j2Jg6-MAFi0ADp_evxbuMcKifCMhDCOjaQQ/viewform?usp=sharing.

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Join VCU's Transfer Center for a Transfer Chat with the VCU Financial Success Center in Room 216, Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave. Come learn about the complimentary personal and professional financial education they provide to the VCU community.

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

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Beauty Shop is now open. The Hotties welcome all Black women and femmes to an evening of community, self-care and self-love. Join Girls Need Love, RecWell and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs in conversation and create an affirmation mirror. The event will be in the OMSA office, 907 Floyd Ave., Suite 215.

For more information, contact Kiari Cole at coleka@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Literature and fine art come together at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' African American Read-In. See and hear figures from the greater Richmond community deliver prose and poetry readings throughout the galleries. This display of storytelling pairs works by African American artists and authors. The National African American Read-In is sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English and endorsed by the International Literacy Association. The event will be in the Cochrane Atrium, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.

For more information, contact VMFA at info@vmfa.museum.

Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.

Are you a student interested in becoming a service-learning teaching assistant? Are you a faculty/staff member who has or wants to have a service-learning teaching student in your course? Are you just interested in learning more about service-learning? Join service-learning at VCU for an informal discussion on all things service-learning teaching assistants. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/86859673274 Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shanza Isom at isomsa@vcu.edu or visit https://academics.provost.vcu.edu/transformative-learning/service-learning/.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Discover the Master of Product Innovation program at VCU. Join da Vinci Center staff to virtually explore this cross-disciplinary master’s degree which offers participants the opportunity to tackle real-world challenges in product innovation, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact da Vinci Center at davincicenter@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/MPI-Info-02-25.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Department of African American Studies' annual Black History in the Making Ceremony will be held in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, 922 Park Ave. The ceremony celebrates the academic excellence of Black students across the university.

For more information, contact Christian Thompson at thompsonc19@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This event seeks to participate in the broader national debates and discussions on campus expression and free speech policies. Timothy Zick, J.D., William & Mary Law School, has written on a variety of constitutional issues, with a special focus on the First Amendment, and is the author of many university press books on the subject. Zick will briefly introduce the topic and then answer questions from the audience. He will give his talk in the Academic learning Commons, Room 1100, 1000 Floyd Ave. The event is open to all VCU campus community members, including students and faculty from all departments. The event has been organized by VCU's Department of History's Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee.

For more information, contact Antonio Espinoza Ruiz, Ph.D., at gaespinoza@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Christopher Brooks, Ph.D., and Alvin Schexnider, Ph.D., will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Black faculty in higher education today. This event will focus on the importance of diversity in academia, the unique experiences of Black faculty members and the future of inclusion and equity in academic institutions. The session will be in the Academic Learning Commons, Room 1100, 1000 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tre Straughter at inclusive@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5yeMyv_se85kjzeURx3-InYnmwB-3AxfSP5EYlC2eogziYw/viewform.

Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join VCU's Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at the 18th Annual HIGHER Ground Conference and engage in a leadership journey. Those who attend will embark on alumni engagement and establish new connections through various interactive workshops, intentional engagement and many motivating conversations. Through dynamic sessions, networking and interactive learning, participants will actively engage in activities promoting graceful leadership. The event will be at the Richmond Marriott Downtown, 500 E. Broad St. Register by Friday, Feb. 21 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nancy Calkins at calkinsn@vcu.edu or visit https://gehli.vcu.edu/higher-ground-conference/2025-conference/.

How are those first exams going? Schedule an appointment to meet with an academic coach from the Campus Learning Center to discuss your academic progress and formalize a plan for success. The center specializes in time management, study strategies and goal setting. Get started by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/BJiLBh9FVNkRREm98

For more information, contact Bridget Prince at bprince@vcu.edu or visit https://clc.vcu.edu/academic-coaching/.

VCU Libraries, in support of open and affordable course materials, announces that a new round of VIVA Open Course Grants are open for applications. These $5,000 to $50,000 grants empower Virginia faculty with the resources and time they need to redesign courses by swapping expensive course materials for open, no-cost or library options. Apply by Wednesday, March 5 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2025-news/viva-grants.html.

Nominations are being accepted for the 2025 Dorris Douglas Budd Award. Established in 1981, the award honors the legacy of Dorris Douglas Budd, a dedicated staff member who served VCU for 30 years and inspired excellence in all those around her. The award recognizes a full-time administrative support staff member at VCU or VCU Health who demonstrates exemplary performance and enhances the mission and image of our institution. Nominations may be submitted until March 7 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at rewrdrec@vcu.edu or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/employee-recognition/awards/dorris-douglas-budd-award/ .

Nominations are being accepted for the 2025 Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME). The VCU and VCU Health System communities are invited to nominate a faculty member, staff member, academic or administrative leader or organization, or a student or student organization. Submit nominations by Monday, March 3 using this link: https://forms.gle/z1pGNGMH9UWJqxts5

For more information, contact VCU Inclusive at inclusive@vcu.edu or visit https://president.vcu.edu/nominations/pacme/.

A VCU research team is conducting a survey about safe spaces at VCU from the perspective of first-generation and AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) students. Students are being recruited who identify as first-generation and/or AAPI students to participate in a voluntary remote interview (via Zoom). The interview will require 30-60 minutes. Eligible participants will receive a $25 e-gift card. Click on the following URL for a screening survey.

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.

This study is seeking children and adolescents (ages 6-17) with current heel pain (Sever’s disease) or who are currently healthy without musculoskeletal injuries for participation. The purpose of this research study is to assess muscles, tendons and skeletal development of young patients with and without heel pain. This study will require one 45-minute study visit at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (parking validated) and will include an electronic questionnaire about health and sport participation, foot, ankle and calf ultrasound imaging assessment and ankle x-ray assessment (heel pain participants only). Participants will be paid $50 for completing this study. Principal Investigator: Alexandra Lempke, Ph.D., ATC

For more information, contact Gina Chan at gina.chan@vcuhealth.org.

This study is seeking individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 years who have PTSD or symptoms of PTSD. The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of cold water immersion 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. Principle Investigator: Ryan Garten, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences.

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