1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Join Transformative Learning for an hour of storytelling and connection as students and faculty come together to reflect on their most powerful learning experiences this semester. Using fun conversation prompts, share moments of growth, challenge and transformation — because best lessons often come from one other. The session, in the Academic Learning Commons, Room 4100, 1000 Floyd Ave., is open to faculty, staff and students. No public speaking required. Just come ready to share, listen, and reflect.

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

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This workshop will cover final gradebook configuration, submitting final grades and configuring Incomplete sections. Please use VCU eID and password to enter Zoom meeting. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/2324828315?omn=83636800541 Register at https://training.vcu.edu/course.aspx?processFlag=2&itemID=18497

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

5 p.m.

Learn how to articulate your own, unique ideas in the style of your discipline. 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/.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Come join PennyAppeal as the group hosts a CPR and First Aid Basic Training session in the Honors College Multipurpose Room, Room 1303, 701 W. Grace St. Can't make it? Join the group's Instagram (@pennyappealatvcu) or RamsConnect to keep up to date on future events.

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

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On behalf of the board of directors for the Virginia Victim Assistance Network (VVAN https://vanetwork.org) and the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Criminal Justice Department, an invitation is extended to participate in one training session (space dependent) for the 2025 Victim Advocate Essentials Training Conference hosted in partnership with the Wilder School through Friday, May 2. Training will take place in the theater of the University Student Commons, University Student Commons SGA Senate Room and Academic Learning Commons (Room 2100) throughout the week. Register at the following URL

For more information, contact Brad Lehmann, Ph.D., at lehmannrb@vcu.edu or (804) 827-7312 or visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DA9AB28ABF4C25-56531677-vvan.

Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2025 from 11 a.m. to noon

As the semester draws to a close, take a moment to pause, reflect, and recharge with Transformative Learning. In this interactive session, you’ll create a personal map to visually capture your semester’s biggest takeaways including what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown and what you’re taking with you. Through guided reflection and small group discussions, you’ll leave with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose for what’s ahead. The session will be in the Academic Learning Commons, Room 4100, 1000 Floyd Ave.

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

Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 1 p.m.

The Staff Senate’s Accessibility and Inclusion Working Group will host a virtual ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) 101 Lunch and Learn session featuring Katy Washington, chief accessibility officer, and Hunter Lacy, ADA specialist. Those who attend will have the opportunity to get answers directly from the ADA Office about the ADA process, requesting accommodations and available resources. Also, managers and supervisors can learn how they can support their teams and foster an inclusive work environment. Questions: Visit https://staffsenate.vcu.edu/committees/accessibility--inclusion/ Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Abigail Zaremba at apzaremba@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/1yIRk3IJRSmj2hOQODEikw.

Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 2:50 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Want to help a graduate student with their thesis? Come see free theater at the Newdick Stage at Shafer Street Playhouse, 221 N. Shafer St. Throw dodgeballs at the actors onstage and watch as they try to improvise a musical. Be the hero. Be the monster. Be the dodgeball.

For more information, contact Timothy McPherson at mcphersont@vcu.edu or visit https://www.instagram.com/dodgeballsanddragons?igsh=MW12MWcwcG5udWppZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Join the VCU Division of Community Engagement and AI Ready RVA for an interactive webinar on how to responsibly harness AI to support community work, meet local needs and navigate tech challenges. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shari Garmise at garmiseso@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/WpSE7N2jvTTtpX4c7.

Friday, May 30, 2025 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU Career Services will host its next VCU Career Champions training session on the Monroe Park Campus. The purpose of this program is to give faculty and staff helpful tools, theories and resources to draw upon when supporting students through their career development, experiential learning and job search process. All who participate will be recognized as a VCU Career Champion and will receive a certification sticker, digital badge and icon for email signature. Space is limited to 60 participants. Questions: Visit https://careers.vcu.edu/resources/faculty-and-staff/career-champions/ Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Samara Reynolds at sreynolds4@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/AQkgFvTDwNFZeQea7.

As the semester winds down, students (and fellow colleagues) are invited to share words of gratitude with VCU professors. Faculty members work hard to make a positive impact - let them know you’ve noticed. Expressing kindness not only brightens someone’s day, it’s good for you too. Spread a little joy and send your VCU profs some well-deserved props through this link: https://forms.gle/Y5mnwDQQc95fe7CQA

For more information, contact Jordyn Richardson at ctle@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/tPTR59PSesF7Xmca6.

Are you ready to reimagine how students learn and thrive in your classroom? Join a community of passionate educators exploring innovative, hands-on-strategies that spark curiosity and deepen engagement across disciplines and beyond traditional boundaries. Service-Learning at VCU invites faculty from all disciplines to apply to participate in a new Faculty Learning Community focused on “Reimagining the Classroom With Service-Learning.” This opportunity is open to all faculty — tenured, tenure-track, term or adjunct — with any level of experience in experiential learning. Staff or administrators who also teach are welcome to participate. Apply at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shanza A. Isom, Director of Engaged Transformative Learning at isomsa@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/oe8ks6s5zuvTnYGj6.

The You First at VCU First-Generation Student Success and Research Center will host the 2025 Summer Faculty and Staff Institute for First-Generation and Asian American Pacific Islander Student Success. The institute will be held Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at West Grace North, Room 1030J, 830 W. Grace St., and will feature group activities, guest speakers, discussion topics and time for reflection. Participants will receive a $500 professional development award and an official Credly badge. Register at https://forms.gle/mKNmMwvF4aLfcfjq5

For more information, contact Elizabeth Bambacus at bambacuses@vcu.edu or visit https://youfirst.vcu.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty-and-staff-development/faculty-programming-for-inclusive-teaching-for-faculty-and-staff/summer-faculty-institute-for-first-gen-and-aapi-student-success/.

Are you a staff member looking to increase your supervision skills while mentoring student employees? VCU Career Services and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships invite you to enhance your leadership abilities through the Transforming Federal Work-Study Internship Program. This initiative transforms select on-campus jobs into internships, allowing you to provide meaningful, career-building experiences for students. Elevate your role as a supervisor and help bridge the gap between students’ financial needs and access to high-impact opportunities. Learn more and submit your application by Friday, May 2 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Valerie Sutton at careers@vcu.edu or visit https://careers.vcu.edu/resources/vcu-transforming-federal-work-study-internship-program.

VCU's School of Social Work presents six new elective courses, built by practicing LCSWs, as part of the Social Work Mental Health minor (SWMH, 18 credits), open to all VCU undergraduate students. Starting in Fall 2025 with two introductory course offerings on the treatment of serious mental illness and trauma, the Social Work Mental Health Minor will prepare students for careers in crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, case management and services coordination, medicine and social work. See the flyer at https://tinyurl.com/4ucnktkx for additional information.

For more information, contact Cassie DeSena Jacobs at jacobsc2@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/17rIFu3XTBWZJPjRjX5kk_V1APevKGnZ0WelQD61OBWg/edit?usp=sharing.

One in four college women and 7 percent of college men experience sexual assault, while 21 percent face dating violence. Although colleges are required to address these issues, many programs fail to engage students effectively. I’m Adrienne Baldwin-White, Ph.D., and I’ve created “Once Upon a Party,” a text-based, choose-your-own-adventure game designed to spark critical thinking about gender-based violence. In this game, you’ll navigate real-world situations that could lead to sexual or dating violence by responding to friends' text messages. Join my study to help test the game’s impact and get a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards. Click the following URL to participate.

For more information, contact Adrienne Baldwin-White, Ph.D., at baldwinwhia@vcu.edu or visit https://vcuportal.questionpro.com/t/AXMyuZ5Ir0.

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 inviting individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who identify as LGBTQ. We are also inviting individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who identify as cis-gender heterosexual for the control group. The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of chronic psychosocial stress and vascular inflammation to an acute mental challenge. This study will be conducted 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.