11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Join a dedicated writing group. Whether you’re working on a manuscript, grant proposal or other scholarly project, this group provides fellowship, accountability and focused writing time. Sessions are held every Friday from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. via Zoom, hosted by the Division of Community Engagement in collaboration with the Council for Community Engagement Research Work Group. Register at the following URL or join at this Zoom link: https://vcu.zoom.us/j/86507914411

For more information, contact Challen Wellington at wellingtonc@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/dKNsb9AYcVqS7kMa8.

12 p.m.

VCU's Division of Community Engagement in the Office of the Provost will host weekly open consultations for faculty, staff and partners to receive guidance and explore how to make the most of Collaboratory: VCU's Database for Community and Civic Engagement Activities and Partnerships in their work. Bring your questions or simply join us to explore the database. Sessions will be held every Friday from 12–1 p.m. Note that there will be no session held on Friday, Oc. 24. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/81793039272?jst=2

For more information, contact Shari Garmise at garmiseso@vcu.edu or visit https://community.vcu.edu/community/collaboratory/.

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Feedback Friday is a dynamic roundtable at which your voice shapes the future of student entrepreneurship. Bring your curiosity, questions and your vote for people’s choice award. From ready-to-buy items to concepts in need of refinement, SHIFT is where ideas evolve with real-world feedback. The event is open to all. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shift Retail Lab at shiftretail@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/Feedback-Fri-Oct-17.

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Experience Shabbat with a twist. Join Hillel at VCU, 918 W. Grace St., for a Thai-inspired Shabbat dinner. Experience vibrant flavors, meaningful traditions and good company. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sheri Rodman at rodmansb@vcu.edu or visit https://www.hillelatvcu.org/calendar.

Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 at 4 p.m.

The women's volleyball team will play George Mason at the Siegel Center.

For more information, contact Tavian Elliott at elliottt2@vcu.edu.

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Showcase your dance moves with the Dancing Stars. Auditions for the dance group will be Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 in the T. Edward Temple Building, Room 1165, 901 W. Main St.

For more information, contact Jianna John at johnj5@vcu.edu.

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Crushing Medical Debt Club will host Dodgeball Game Night at Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St. Tickets are $5 per player and free parking is provided. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Christopher Jones at jonesc15@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1941601.

Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 at 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/.

Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Are you interested in drug discovery? Drug development? Drug delivery? You are invited to a poster session showcasing research in the School of Pharmacy. Learn about Pharmaceutical Sciences and take part in a raffle for some swag. The event will be in the University Student Commons, Richmond Salons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Mary Kate Brogan at broganm2@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7701.

Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 from noon 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.

Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 at 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/.

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 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The College Panhellenic Council with Fraternity and Sorority Life will host a session at which students interested in joining a sorority through spring formal recruitment can learn about the five active chapters on campus. The session will be in the theater of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Keila Vanda at vandake@vcu.edu.

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.

Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 from noon to 2 p.m.

The VCU Office of Alumni Relations invites soon-to-be grads for a Countdown-to-Commencement celebration in the Commons Plaza, 907 Floyd Ave. Enjoy great vibes, food and music, plus giveaways, head shots and a resource fair to help you prepare for your next chapter. Save your spot today.

For more information, contact Sarah Ramkey, director of alumni and student engagement at ramkeysm@vcu.edu or visit https://give.vcu.edu/schools/VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity/events/50-days-till-the-tassel-turns?utm_source=vcua&utm_medium=events&utm_campaign=oar-telegram-fy25.

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

Join the Humanities Research Center for two final Humanities Week events of 2025: walking tours in collaboration with The Valentine. The "Murals of Jackson Ward" walking tour (325 N. Second St.) will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. and the "Women of the Gilded Age" walking tour (211 E. Franklin St.) will run from 2 p.m. to 3:30.p.m. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ellie Musgrave at musgraveec@vcu.edu or visit https://humanitiescenter.vcu.edu/events/humanities-week/walking-tours-with-the-valentine-museum.html.

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.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 from 7 a.m. to noon

VCU's Office of Admissions and the university's Student Admissions Ambassadors are seeking student volunteers for its fall open house, one of the office's biggest events for prospective students to learn about VCU's academics and student life. Volunteers will be needed from 7 a.m.-noon. Participation will include welcoming guests and guiding them to the Siegel Center, answering questions and directing and escorting guests to various academic informational sessions around campus. Volunteers should be able to navigate the campus with little or no help, be engaging and have a basic knowledge of the university. To volunteer, complete the Google Form at the following URL by Wednesday, Oct. 22.

For more information, contact Kevin-Allen Harris at harriskv2@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/JkpHwx85d8tbvkpq6.

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 from noon to 5 p.m.

Come to the 2025 History and Health Symposium to explore how access to childbearing health care and resources is related to improving health outcomes and addressing health disparities. Michelle Debbink, M.D., Ph.D., will give the keynote lecture, "Moving Beyond 'Disparities' to Improve Childbearing Health Care: Community-Driven, Data-Informed Change." The symposium, co-hosted by the Office of Health Initiatives and the Humanities Research Center, will be at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, 428 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Logan Vetrovec at ohiconnect@vcu.edu or visit https://healthinitiatives.vcu.edu/history-and-health-program/annual-symposium/.

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/.

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 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.

Students are encouraged to go to eServices to begin checking to learn if their professors have submitted a Midterm grade for one or more classes. Log on to Student eServices at the following URL. If you have received a Midterm grade indicating unsatisfactory academic progress, see your instructor or academic advisor. The last day to withdraw from classes or opt into Pass/Fail in the full semester is Friday, Oct. 31.

For more information, contact Office of the University Registrar at rar@vcu.edu or visit http://www.eservices.vcu.edu.

Students from VCU's Center for Sport Leadership want to know how their fellow students spend their free time in the Richmond area — hobbies, clubs, sports, anything. Your anonymous survey answers will help complete a Sports Marketing Final Project and plan events that fit student life. Take the two-minute survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact Xaviar Goodman at goodmanx@vcu.edu or (301) 602-8380 or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQX-9hKqjaoDHWOcEV4J1FzuGv96Vaz5eWNIsRQGudS7WlJQ/viewform.

Have you had a learning experience that changed the way you think, learn or engage with others? Transformative Learning wants to feature you. We’re highlighting VCU students who have participated in experiential learning opportunities. such as like service-learning, internships, research, study abroad or leadership programs. Submit your experience at the following URL.

For more information, contact Antonio Harris at harrisad6@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/RPjeiDHJHTx2CjV79.

Catch up on all the latest updates and initiatives from VCU’s community engagement initiatives. Explore upcoming opportunities for faculty, staff, students and community partners, discover inspiring collaborations and find ways to become involved. Read the newsletter at the following URL.

For more information, contact Alliannah Hamilton at hamiltonae@vcu.edu or visit https://mailchi.mp/vcu/vcu-community-engagement-october-2025-newsletter.

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 take a survey to determine if you may be eligible.

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.

In conjunction with Cancer Awareness Month, CTAI invites survivors to share their journeys to help raise awareness and empower others. Contact the following email address if you’d like to be featured.

For more information, contact Aya Elhassani at elhassania@vcu.edu.