10 a.m.

In this interactive Zoom workshop, participants will scrutinize examples of strong, successful personal statements as well as less successful ones. Learn 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/.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The VCU Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) is the graduate/professional branch of the VCU Student Government Association. It consists of an executive board, senate, judiciary, and university committee representatives. These members represent the graduate/professional student body at all levels of administration while also enacting initiatives and addressing issues to improve the student experience. The meeting will be in the lobby of the Hunton Student Center, 1110 E. Broad St.

For more information, contact gpss@vcu.edu at gpss@vcu.edu.

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Join the Humanities Research Center for its first event in Humanities Week. Scott Muir of the National Humanities Alliance will discuss how innovative applied humanities programs make the pragmatic value of humanities knowledge and skills clearer than ever. The event will be in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. 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/humanities-week/applied-humanities-solving-problems-and-equipping-for-careers.html.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Get ready for graduation at Grad Fair. Shop regalia, announcements and class rings, plus take your first cap and gown portrait on site. Visit Barnes & Noble @ VCU Medical Center on Oct. 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Barnes & Noble @ VCU on the Monroe Park Campus on Oct. 21-22, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Representatives will be available to answer questions.

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

9 a.m.

SleuthCPS, in partnership with the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Central Virginia Node (CCI CVN), will host the Industrial Control System Forensics Workshop (IFC 2025), open to all undergraduate and graduate students in Virginia. Participants will complete four days of expert-led online training in ICS forensics, followed by a week-long Capture-the-Flag challenge to apply their skills to realistic cyber-physical threat scenarios.

For more information, contact Sharmic Bartelle at bartelles@vcu.edu or visit https://cci-cvn.org/industrial-control-system-forensics-workshop/.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 at noon

The VCU Writing Center will present the Global Education Office and English Language Program Series Workshop: Personal Statement. In this interactive Zoom workshop, look at examples of strong, successful personal statements, as well as less successful ones, and pick up 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, Oct. 21, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.

Join this panel if you are interested in learning more about getting the Qualified Mental Health Professional Certification. Join the session at the following URL.

For more information, contact Araba Andrews at andrewsab2@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/ouDirLQPSIuBIfxocqI6rg.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 at 5 p.m.

A Graduate Certificate in Learning Sciences is only 12 credits, pairs well with other Certificate and Masters programs and will help you transform the way you approach education. The certificate is ideal for current graduate students, K-20 instructors and instructional designers. It is entirely online and can be completed in as few as two semesters. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Maryanna Stufflebeem at stufflebeemmd@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.soe.vcu.edu/register/LearningScienceFall25.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

VCU School of Social Works will sponsor an informational session for a study abroad trip to Cape Town and Johannesburg, South Africa, that examines LGBTQIA+ intersectional experiences of post colonial South Africa. The trip will be March 6-16, 2026. At the session, students will have the opportunity to learn about the course and ask questions. The session will be in the Academic Learning Commons (MCALC), Room 3100, 1000 Floyd Ave. Apply for the program by Dec. 1 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Maurice Gattis, Ph.D., at gattism@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.studioabroad.com/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=11568.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 at 10 a.m.

Faculty members are invited to an in-person workshop to learn from VCU tenured faculty who have leveraged their community engagement into successful promotion and tenure. Mentorship opportunities are available. The event will be at the Scott House, 909 W. Franklin St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Challen Wellington at wellingtonc@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/kMLFxdTqoLv8R1Tm9.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join Jennifer Reid, Ph.D., Evaluation Director and Senior Consultant, Center for Public Policy, for an overview of Virginia’s human trafficking policies and procedures, along with an introduction to the Office for Victims of Crime Minors Trafficking Grant, a partnership with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. This initiative sheds light on two often overlooked areas: boys amd human trafficking and youth and labor trafficking. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL. Registration is required.

For more information, contact David Slipher at slipherd@vcu.edu or visit https://wilder.vcu.edu/news-and-events/event-posts/october-2025-lunch-and-learn.html.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 at 2 p.m.

The Gaither Junior Fellows Program offers graduating seniors and recent graduates the opportunity to provide high-level research at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Seniors, as well as juniors, are encouraged to join the session, which will be available in person and via Zoom. Those attending in person should come to 701 W. Grace St. (the Honors College), Room 1210. Zoom links will be sent to all participants the morning of the informational session. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jeff Wing at jawing@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaRxLpEn95qGRqVmFcJlDjA4Tea7FuBtYUzxclz8nNas1FCA/viewform.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 at 3 p.m.

This online workshop led by McNair Staff explores how to use AI tools responsibly and intentionally by addressing the risks of relying on AI for unverified information. 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/.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.

The American Chemical Society will host its Model Kit Night at T. Edward Temple Building, Room 3309, 901 W. Main St. Take part in a competitive tournament in which participants race to build molecular models — and the winner takes all. It’s a hands-on event that tests chemistry knowledge, teamwork and speed.

For more information, contact Anshu Rajakumar at rajakumara@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Master's and undergraduate students of any major who want to work in counseling for substance use and recovery are invited to this virtual session to learn more about the credentials for Certified Substance Abuse Counselor and Peer Recovery Specialist. The speaker will be Lauren de Treville Powell, M.Ed., PRS, of Rams in Recovery. The event is sponsored by the School of Social Work, Rams in Recovery, the Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health and associated state agencies. RSVP: forms.gle/A13aKyYB8znyCKWJ8

For more information, contact Sarah Burton-Everette at severette2@vcu.edu or visit https://vcussw.info/CSAC.

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 at noon

This interactive Zoom workshop is a guide to finding, reading, evaluating and incorporating academic sources into your work. 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/.

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Join the Humanities Research Center for a lecture with Wendy Chun, Ph.D., professor in the School of Communication and director of the Digital Democracies Institute at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada. Chun will explore how fundamental concepts and axioms within critical theory and natural language processing intersect. The event will be in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ellie Musgrave at musgraveec@vcu.edu or visit https://humanitiescenter.vcu.edu/events/humanities-week/humanities-and-ai-large-language-models-and-the-returns-of-critical-theory.html.

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

You First at VCU will host a night market at Rams Horn Plaza. Come for an evening of arts, cultures, student organizations and campus resources. Enjoy free mehndi (henna) designs, live screen printing featuring a lotus design and raffle prizes.

For more information, contact Zisu Liao at liaoz@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

PennyAppeal at VCU will host a Winter Apparel event in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., Virginia Rooms A-B. Follow the organization on Instagram (@pennyappealatvcu) or RamsConnect.

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

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Health Professions Organization will host the event in the SGA Senate Chambers, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Health Professions Organization members will help those who attend to polish their professional profile and guide in networking through LinkedIn.

For more information, contact Dylan Abaidoo at abaidooda@vcu.edu.

Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Come to Auctus' October GBM to learn how to have your research, art and creative works published in VCU's undergraduate journal. Learn how to join the editorial team and work with peers and faculty to review and edit submissions. The meeting will be in the Honors College, 701 W. Grace St., Room 1303. Join the group's RamsConnect at the following URL to receive Auctus updates.

For more information, contact Auctus at auctus@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/auctus/club_signup.

Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Join RecWell Aquatics for a log rolling clinic. Participants will practice balancing and staying atop the log in the pool's shallow end. Enjoy friendly competition and get a fun workout. Registration is open through the start of the clinic. Beginners are welcome; the intensity level is medium. The class will be at the Cary Street Gym Aquatic Center, 101 S. Linden St. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mat Scott at aquatics@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recwell.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=273c61cc-6561-4f46-b99d-c5c80a0a4062.

Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and the Health Sciences Library will present a lunch research seminar via Zoom. Kelsey Hagan, Ph.D., assistant professor, Psychiatry, will discuss the NIH’s Loan Repayment Program, who is eligible and how to write a competitive application for the program. Questions: Visit https://cctr.vcu.edu/ Register for the Zoom link 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/eogUyXlaTZCMJsqmnJ9f0g.

Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The VCU Graduate and Professional Student Senate is the graduate/professional branch of the VCU Student Government Association. It consists of an executive board, senate, judiciary and university committee representatives. These members represent the graduate/professional student body at all levels of administration while also enacting initiatives and addressing issues to improve the student experience at VCU. See the Zoom link at the following URL. The group will also meet Thursday, Nov. 20.

For more information, contact gpss@vcu.edu at gpss@vcu.edu or visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87023235868?pwd=z5RwpczdW14ZRstuBnfWVfhnYtk8oJ.1.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

VCU Student Health will host a free flu shot clinic in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., Rooms A and B. The event will feature free ice cream and a raffle for prizes.

For more information, contact Tisha Smith at smithls@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0562.

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Red Cross Club will host CPR and First Aid Training in the Multipurpose Room (1303), Honors College, 701 W. Grace St. The event will be free for official Red Cross Club members on a first-come, first-served basis. Not a member yet? Sign up for the event first, then officially join Volunteer Connection afterward to complete your membership. Questions: See Instagram @redcrossatvcu Sign up at the following URL.

For more information, contact Aashka Patel at redcrossatvcu@gmail.com or visit https://forms.gle/JBwwaw8yqunHagTZ7 .

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 at noon

VCU and VCU Health invite you to celebrate National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 20, with two events that highlight the contributions of faculty, staff and students advancing rural health through research, programming, clinical practice and service. See more details at the link below and Register here: https://forms.gle/oD2zkNzxHMZTQehg9

For more information, contact Challen Wellington at wellingtonc@vcu.edu or visit https://community.vcu.edu/dce-news-events/events/.

This is an open call for all faculty/staff/students and Richmond community members interested in reading for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. The award honors an exceptional debut novel published during the preceding calendar year. Entries are currently being received for the 2026 award and your help is needed to begin reading and reviewing submissions. This is a unique volunteer opportunity to get your hands on new and exciting books and to contribute your voice to the judging process. Questions: Email cabellfn@vcu.edu

For more information, contact Hana Rehman at cabellfn@vcu.edu or visit https://firstnovelist.vcu.edu/.

Are you interviewing for or have you accepted an off-campus spring internship that is unpaid and/or based in Virginia? Are you concerned about costs? Check out VCU's Internship Funding Program at the following URL and apply by Sunday, Nov. 2 at 11:59 p.m.

For more information, contact Jeanette Hickl at jwhickl@vcu.edu or visit https://careers.vcu.edu/resources/internshipfundingprogram.

Want to learn more about what VCU's student government representatives are doing? Subscribe to SGA's new monthly newsletter by contacting the following email address.

For more information, contact Student Government Association at sga@vcu.edu.

Are you interested in becoming more involved on campus? Join SGA's Caucuses. For more information about the Documentary Filmmaking and SGA History Preservation Caucus, contact Natalie Bowen at bowennm@vcu.edu For information about the Disability and Accessibility Advocacy Caucus, contact Shady Habib at habibss@vcu.edu

For more information, contact Student Government Association at sga@vcu.edu.

VCU's Department of Art Education presents Investigation Now, an eight-week program encompassing a range of contemporary art concepts and artmaking techniques for children 13-16 years old. Fall and Spring sessions will function as a two-part series following a cohesive theme. Throughout these sessions, students are encouraged to consider how and why artists make work and to relate those ideas to their artistic processes. The registration fee for all eight weeks is $180. Food and materials will be provided. The program takes place on Fridays from 5-8 p.m.; programming will be broken up into two sections beginning in late Fall and picking back up after Winter holidays. Sessions will be at the Franklin Terrace Building, 812-814 W. Franklin St. Class size is 20 students. An application for scholarships can be found in the registration form. Questions? View the group's Instagram or under the FAQ page at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jazmine Jackson at artedcadc@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/art-education/investigation-now/.

Have you ever wanted to be royalty? This is your opportunity to develop professionally and personally, build lasting friendships and potentially win a monetary award for you and the student organization you choose to represent. Apply at the following URL by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.

For more information, contact Keir Sumpter at sumpterc@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4iaA-9RtDCXw4Y8D6IDO-dKWymeb7rQsDiFOTy0fF6jjFpw/viewform.

Psi Chi at VCU is the VCU chapter of the international psychology honor society, which is currently accepting new members. The online application will be open until Friday, Oct. 24 for the Fall 2025 application window. Psychology minors are welcome to apply as well. Visit the following URL for information on eligibility, benefits and the link to the application.

For more information, contact Shreya Patel (Outreach Coordinator) at patelss14@vcu.edu or visit https://psychology.vcu.edu/undergraduate/student-groups/psi-chi/.

Black women ages 18-35 who have no experience with resistance exercise (e.g., lifting weights, resistance bands, body weight exercises) are invited to share their perspectives about resistance exercise and their desired features of a mobile app aimed to help guide and track their exercise regimens. Women will be invited to complete a one-time interview plus two surveys at a local library of their choice. Compensation is available. Check your eligibility at the following URL.

For more information, contact Chloe Jones, Ph.D., Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at jonesc53@vcu.edu or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=CJCT4ELK87PHXKK3.

Redefining BMI is a research study at the VCU School of Public Health. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive one of two programs to help manage their weight by making changes to eating and physical activity. Both programs involve attending virtual group-based sessions led by a trained lifestyle coach over the course of 12 months. This study also asks participants to attend in-person data collection visits before beginning the program, and then again at four, eight and 12 months

For more information, contact Redefining BMI study at bmiproject@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5362 or visit https://www.redefiningbmi.com/.

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.

This study is inviting individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who identify as cisgender heterosexual for the control group.

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