1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

You think the multiverse is complex? Try the world of money. Feeling overwhelmed by your VCU bill? Wondering how you can pay it? Join the Student Financial Management Center and the Office of First and Second Year Experiences for a Financial Wellness Workshop where we'll break down your expenses and help you create a clear, manageable plan for paying for college. We're here to support you every step of the way so you can focus on your studies with confidence. Register on RamsConnect to join virtually or join in person in the SGA Senate Chambers, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., and grab a slice of free pizza. Questions? Contact fyesye@vcu.edu. Limit on in-person attendance to 60, no limit to those attending virtually.

For more information, contact Jonathan Fuller at fullerjd2@vcu.edu.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Celebrate coming back to campus with VCU's English Department. Representatives of the department will be in the Compass (Hibbs facing) handing out free books and VCU English swag. Any and all students, staff and faculty are welcome to come browse and learn about the department's upcoming events and department offerings.

For more information, contact Alicia Bonilla at bonillaab@vcu.edu.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Join the Humanities Research Center for a Meet VCU Authors talk with Andrew Crislip, chair of the Department of History at VCU and author of “Ascetic Passions: Emotions in Early Christian Egypt.” Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ellie Musgrave at musgraveec@vcu.edu or (301) 213-8664 or visit https://humanitiescenter.vcu.edu/events/meet-vcu-authors/what-does-a-religion-feel-like-thoughts-on-emotion-in-early-christianity.html.

5 p.m.

VCU's Student Alumni Council will host an ice cream social in the Richmond Salons III, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Discover the opportunities and experiences the council offers, make new friends, ask questions and learn how to become involved. (Dairy-free options will be available.) RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Breydon Horton at hortonb2@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/studentalumnicouncil/rsvp_boot?id=1938835.

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join the Black Alumni Council in the Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., for food, fun and an opportunity to mix and mingle with other students and alumni as the fall semester begins. Learn more about what the Black Alumni Council Mentoring Circle program has to offer and register on the spot for the 2025-2026 cohort. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sharron McDaniel at mcdanielst@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1939526.

6 p.m.

Jewish VCU will host a barbecue at 1003 Grove Ave. Meet new friends, catch up with old ones and connect with the Jewish community on campus. Expect great music, delicious food and the kind of energy you can only find at the start of the year.

For more information, contact Menachem Lessoff at rabbi@vcu.edu or (804) 404-3637 or visit https://jewishvcu.org/.

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 at 1 p.m.

The Weeks of Welcome workshop will feature examples of strong, successful personal statements, as well as less successful ones, to give you the tools you need to write your best statement. 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, Aug. 26, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The event, hosted by Ivy Bell, VCU Health Hub’s certified community health worker, will be at 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A. The Hub Club is a wellness group which offers participants the opportunity to share stories, listen to music, practice mindfulness and build connections. Hub Club is held every second and fourth Tuesday.

For more information, contact VCU Health Hub at vcuhealthhub@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

VCU School of Medicine ACCESS Global Health Program will present Mark Shrime, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., FACS, a surgeon and former chief medical officer of Mercy Ships, editor-in-chief of BMH Global Health and lecturer in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University. The presentation will be in the auditorium of the James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin Medical Education Center (MMEC), 1201 E Marshall St.

For more information, contact ACCESS Program at accessprogram@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 from noon to 3 p.m.

Come to the VCU Link Fest: Rodney-Con Takeover in the Compass for food, fun and future connections. Grab free food and swag, enjoy all the Rodney-Con vibes and learn how VCU Link can help you build real-life connections with VCU alumni. Whether you're looking to increase your network, explore careers or just want to score some free Chick-fil-A — this is your moment. Sign up at the following URL. Questions: Email Link@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Sharron McDaniel at mcdanielst@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/VCUAlumni/rsvp_boot?id=1939172.

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

VCU Academic Technologies will host a 30-minute overview via Zoom of Canvas for students during Weeks of Welcome. Students will learn how to log in and navigate Canvas to complete class assignments, projects and more. Register for live, online training at the following URL in VCU RamsConnect. Also, be sure to visit the Academic Technologies Group in RamsConnect for student technology resources and more.

For more information, contact Jana Avery at jcavery@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/Tech/CanvasTraining/.

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 at 2 p.m.

Discuss the services provided by the Writing Center and learn to break your writing process down into manageable chunks. 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/.

Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Calling all transfer heroes. Whether you're arriving from a community college or another university galaxy, VCU Transfer Con is the ultimate welcome event at which you are the main character. Come for a jam-packed event filled with games, power-up stations (food and drink) and an opportunity to connect with fellow transfer crusaders. So gear up and get ready to unlock your full Ram potential. This is your origin story - make it legendary. The event will be in the University Student Commons Richmond Salons III and IV, 907 Floyd Ave. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Transfer Center at transferinfo@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1349 or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1939592.

Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 at 6 p.m.

The Graduate School invites graduate students to attend VCU Night at the Richmond Flying Squirrels game at the Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. Students can register for their free ticket on RamsConnect at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Brown at embbrown@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1939227.

Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 at 6:05 p.m.

Rep VCU as the Flying Squirrels take on the Akron RubberDucks at The Diamond, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. After the game, enjoy fireworks from inside the fences. Take advantage of this special ticket offer exclusively for the Ramily. Get your discounted tickets at the following URL. The event is sponsored by VCU's Office of Alumni Relations.

For more information, contact Sarah Ramkey at ramkeysm@vcu.edu or visit https://www.gofevo.com/event/Vcualumni7.

Sunday, Sep. 7, 2025 from 10 a.m. to noon

The Graduate School invites graduate students to take a walking tour of Richmond's Jackson Ward community with local historian Gary Flowers. Students can register for this event on RamsConnect at the following URL.

For more information, contact Erin Brown at embbrown@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1939116.

Monday, Sep. 8, 2025 at 5 p.m.

Join VCU's School of Education for a virtual informational session on the Educational Leadership M.Ed. – Higher Education Administration concentration. Discover how you can turn your passion for equity, innovation and student success into a transformative leadership career. Whether you're aiming to become a college administrator, student affairs professional or shape educational access through nonprofit work, this program equips you with the skills to lead with purpose and impact. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Brandon Norris at norrisbs@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.soe.vcu.edu/register/HEADFall25.

Did you know VCU students, faculty and staff are eligible for a free U.S. passport-style photograph at VCU GEO? VCU's Global Education Office (912 W. Grace St. fourth floor) offers this service the first Tuesday of the month from 1-3 p.m. and the third Wednesday of the month from 9-11 a.m. Sign up for a 15-minute time slot at the following URL. Sign-ups are first-come, first-served.

For more information, contact Alex Heyden at levya@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5794 or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejLHsHb1Q3lapB5hNPwQiMxVs8-YfY1IWQ5OPVp5zVVmGscQ/viewform?usp=sf_link.

RecWell’s Weightlifting 101 is a beginner-friendly class for individuals looking to build strength and confidence in the gym. Experienced and welcoming instructors will teach the fundamentals of weightlifting, including proper form, technique and safety measures to ensure a fun and injury-free workout. Classes will be Tuesday, Aug. 26 through Thursday, Oct. 2, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Registration closes Monday, Aug. 25. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Abbas Sherazi at fitness@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recwell.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=ee81b025-a172-4470-b8c9-199992eca3cf.

Come to Weeks of Welcome events at Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place. Events include Coffee With Commuters (Monday, Aug. 25 and Tuesday, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m.-noon); Ice Cream Social (Wednesday, Aug. 27 from 4-6 p.m.); Trivia Night (Thursday, Aug. 28 from 5:30-8 p.m.); Pop-Up (Tuesday, Sept. 2: noon- while supplies last); Wellness Wednesday (Sept. 3, from noon-1:30 p.m.); Carnival Night (Wednesday, Sept. 3: 5 p.m.-close). For details and more events, follow @VCU_Dining on Instagram.

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

Registration is open for fall Makers' Training Workshops and for Makers’ Course for VCU students who seek to use the College of Engineering Makerspaces. These hands-on sessions help to build experience that can support academic work and students who complete the course earn digital badges. VCU College of Engineering or VCU da Vinci Center of Innovation students may qualify for a discount. See the full schedule at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shelly Schuetz at ssschuetz@vcu.edu or visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/professional-development-engineering/makerspace.html.

VCU's new shuttle service, RamsXpress, services Cabell Library at the corner of Cathedral Place and Floyd Avenue, and Larrick Student Center at the corner of North Ninth and Turpin streets. The shuttle runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and allows the VCU community to travel between campuses – within 10 to 15 minutes – by offering direct, point-to-point service. These stops are not duplicative of current GRTC service locations.

For more information, contact Olivia Truban at parking@vcu.edu.

VCU's Global Education Office now offers a student-centered intercultural agility training through the Student Global Zone Training. Participants will gain a basic understanding of intercultural agility and communication skills by considering how their own cultural experiences and values impact their intercultural agility practices. Students will grapple with real-world scenarios that illustrate intercultural agility in action and identify opportunities for future intercultural engagement at VCU and in the community. Upon completion of this one-hour training, participants will attain a micro-credential digital badge. To request this workshop for your class, student organization meeting, or program, fill out the interest form at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kelly Richard at richardkj@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK5v2Hv5V68BPAO2iKmryQxKUxJIoSmUasCaxSZGgqtOfIpg/viewform.

The Disability Advocacy and Accessibility Caucus (DAAC) is a group through the VCU Student Government Association focused on a variety of initiatives to improve accessibility and the culture around disabilities at VCU. This includes evaluating campus infrastructure for accessibility, creating a paratransit service, improving visibility through art installations and creating training modules for students, faculty and student organizations on best practices of accessibility. Join the group and learn more at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shady Habib at habibss@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/zmfsn6D8ReZk4Jxv7.

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.

For more information, contact Karen Gorgey at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

This research study is inviting individuals between the ages of 20 and 24 with poor sleep quality. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiovascular responses and vascular inflammation. 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 The KHS Healthy Heart Lab at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Garrett Oehlert at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

Researchers at the VCU School of Public Health are testing a new research study program to help improve health and well-being among emerging adult women. You may be eligible for this study if you are a woman between the ages of 18 and 25 with a body mass index (BMI) between 25-50 kg/m2. Visit the following URL to learn more and take a quick survey to determine if you may be eligible.

For more information, contact Morgan Beasley at morgan.meyer@vcuhealth.org or visit http://www.RedefiningBMI.com.

This study is seeking postmenopausal females to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise training 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.