1 p.m.

Demystify the Major Declaration essay by breaking it down into manageable chunks and discuss how to avoid procrastinating until the last minute. 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.

The VCU Writing Center will present the Global Education Office and English Language Program Series Workshop: Modern Language Association (MLA) and Avoiding Plagiarism. Learn tips and tools to make the citation process more manageable. 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/.

4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Antonio Espinoza, Ph.D., VCU History, will interview Andrew Chesnut, Ph.D., Bishop Walter F. Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies of the School of World Studies, on the unique papacy of a polyglot American cardinal who holds dual citizenship and brings two decades of mission work in Peru to his stewardship of 1.4 billion Catholics. A Q&A between Espinoza and Chesnut, and also with the audience, will illuminate the major opportunities and challenges for Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) "Pope Bob," the first American pontiff. The event will be in the theater of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Alexis Finc at alfinc@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/471nkpI.

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Join You First peer mentors for an afternoon of painting tote bags. All first-generation college students are automatically part of the You First Center, and those who attend do not need to be participating in the mentoring program. All are welcome. The event will be in Hibbs Hall, Room 327, 900 Park Ave. Register at the followoing URL.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Bambacus at bambacuses@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1940505.

7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The VCU School of Social Work presents BSW Clinical Skills Labs in-person (Academic Learning Commons, MCALC, Room 3100, 1000 Floyd Ave.) on Tuesday, Oct. 7 and virtually on Thursday, Oct. 9 from 7-8 p.m. This workshop is open to undergraduate students interested in practicing their approach to a hypothetical client with real life-issues as a clinical social worker, based on a real case from an LCSW. Students from related disciplines or interest in clinical work are welcome. The event will be facilitated by Cassie DeSena-Jacobs, D.S.W., LCSW, director of mental health initiatives and assistant professor in teaching for the School of Social Work. Food will be provided in-person, and participants may enter a raffle to win BSW giveaways. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Zay Diamond-Tapper at bsw@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/P63MaihW9vHFrJgy5.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Come join SCAN for the organization's second GBM. The meeting will be in the Academic Learning Commons (MCALC), Room 1100, 1000 Floyd Ave. Those who attend will learn about voter registration and play Jeopardy. Food will also be provided.

For more information, contact Save the Children Action Network at VCU at scanatvcu@gmail.com.

9 a.m.

Celebrating health, community and connection all week long at the VCU Health Hub, 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A. Throwback Tuesday. Celebrate your roots and honor history. Wear your throwback outfit, line dance from 11-11:45 a.m. and play trivia.

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

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Psi Chi at VCU, a branch of the international psychology honor society, will host a psychology graduate student panel. The panel consists of students from a wide range Master's and Ph.D. programs within and outside of VCU. Get all your questions about graduate school answered, from finding and applying to a program to setting yourself up for success. Nonmembers of any major or minor are welcome. Pizza will be provided. The event will be in the STEM Building, 817 W. Franklin St., Room 110. Register on ramsconnect at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shreya Patel (Psi Chi Outreach Coordinator) at patelss14@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/psichi/rsvp_boot?id=1941412.

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Pace Center will host a volunteer event in collaboration with Belmont Food Pantry Wednesdays through Fridays. Meet at Pace (700 W. Franklin St.) to ride to Belmont Community Resource Services to volunteer at their food pantry. The pantry is outdoors, so volunteers should dress accordingly. Those who take part must be available until 1 p.m. because the pantry is a 20-minute drive from VCU. The Pace Center can provide transportation.

For more information, contact the Rev. Russ Kerr at kerrr@vcu.edu or (804) 658-4064 or visit https://www.thepacecenter.com/.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 at noon

Join Kimberly Battle, Ph.D., RN, FNP-BC, and Ana Diallo, Ph.D., MPH, RN, for a session hosted by the Division of Community Engagement on the Mobile Health and Wellness Program to discuss the process of community engagement in establishing a partnership for community scholarship. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Challen Wellington at wellingtonc@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/JytoP1bQmxPqf5W39.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

VCU Badminton Club x aKDPhi will collaborate in a badminton tournament for breast cancer awareness. Play some doubles matches, participate in fun games like trivia and enter a raffle for a gift basket. A hundred percent of the proceeds go toward breast cancer awareness, so register, wear pink and offer support. Questions: Contact the following email address or vcustudent.baddyclub@gmail.com or DM on Instagram @vcubadmintonclub Matches will be played at the Cary Street Gym, 101 S. Linden St., Court 2.

For more information, contact VCU Badminton Club at vcustudent.baddyclub@gmail.com.

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

Members of the VCU Humphrey Fellowship Program will offer 2025–26 Home Country Presentations in Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave., Room 303. Fellows will discuss their home countries, professional experiences and goals for their year at VCU. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Heather Ashton at ashtonhr@vcu.edu or (804) 426-8141 or visit https://humphrey.vcu.edu/events/.

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

Mindful Mornings at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center is a free weekend program that pairs mindfulness practices with the goal of fostering well-being and a deeper connection to the natural world. In this month’s Mindful Morning exercise, breath becomes the brush. This session invites you to tap into biophilia — the inherent human need to connect with the living world — with a guided drawing session synced with breathwork. Through slow, rhythmic mark-making, participants will explore how repetition and breath can transform into visual meditations, creating sketches that breathe and move with the rhythm of the environment. The program will begin in the ICA’s Abby Moore Cafe, 601 W. Broad St.

For more information, contact Michael Lease at leasemk@vcu.edu or (804) 200-8859 or visit https://icavcu.org/events/mindful-mornings-draw-your-breath/.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

VCUDine’s Fall Food Truck Festival will be outside Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place. This is a swipe-only event for dining plan holders, with swipe sales from 2:30-8:30 p.m. Trucks will be open 3-9 p.m. or while supplies last. Follow @VCU_Dining on Instagram for details. It’s not too late to enroll in a dining plan! Visit vcu.campusdish.com to sign up. (Also, on Tuesday the RamsExpress stop at James Branch Cabell Library will be closed for the festival. During this time, RamsXpress riders will use a temporary stop at Floyd and Cherry streets. Signage will be posted to alert riders of these changes.)

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

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

VCU da Vinci Center and School of Social Work presents Design Thinking for Mental Health and Well-Being virtually. Want to make a difference in mental health while building valuable skills? Join students and changemakers to imagine new products, services and programs that strengthen mental health and well-being. Free virtual workshop open to all VCU students and community members. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU da Vinci Center at davincicenter@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/Design-Thinking-Oct14.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Pre-Health and Sciences Advising will present a virtual workshop on How to Ask for References. The discussion will include the steps of the process, best practices and timelines. All Pre-Health and Sciences students are welcome to attend. RSVP using the following form, where you will also find the workshop Zoom link.

For more information, contact Pre-Health & Sciences Advising at prehealthadv@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/6vMEGENrnLoMuMiu7.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at 6 p.m.

College of Humanities and Sciences and VCU Arts are co-hosting the Wilton House Lecture Series featuring VCU History alum William Strollo, History 2008. Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence is a collaborative exhibition between the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive and the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum. This exhibition centers the experiences of Black craftspeople, illuminating their journey toward autonomy. The lecture will be at Wilton House Museum, 215 S. Wilton Road. Use promo code: SupportVCU to receive a free ticket to the event. Tickets can be found at https://app.theauxilia.com/registrationEvent/14b18e7f-a159-43e1-b699-7cb09958a71b

For more information, contact Ashley Jones at jonesa61@vcu.edu or visit https://app.theauxilia.com/Event/fighting_for_freedom_black_craftspeople_and_the_p.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 from 9 a.m. to noon

VCU's Office of the University Ombudsperson will sponsor the 12th annual Conflict Resolution Day event. "Navigating Difficult Situations in a Moving Landscape" is this year's national theme. The event will feature a keynote address from nationally known conflict resolution practitioners, strategies for managing conflict and an interactive dialogue with those in attendance. Register at the following URL by today, Thursday, Oct. 9.

For more information, contact Michele Murray at mmurray2@vcu.edu or visit https://ombudsperson.vcu.edu/events/national-conflict-resolution-day/.

Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 at noon

The VCU Graduate School, in partnership with Career Services, will host the upcoming Graduate Student Career Immersion Week, taking place Oct. 20-24 and culminating with the Fall Internship and Career Fair on Oct. 29. This week-long series of events is designed to equip graduate students with the tools, connections and confidence necessary to launch the next stage of their careers. All events are posted in RamsConnect for more information and to register.

For more information, contact Hali Massey at gradprofdev@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/GradSchool/club_signup.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gather with VCU's IT community to harvest a bushel of technology tips and tricks. VCU's Tech Fair will be held Tuesday, Oct. 21 (Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St.) and Wednesday, Oct. 22 (University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.) This free event is open to all students, faculty and staff. No registration is required. Stock up on swag and goodies. Tech Fair visitors will be eligible to enter a raffle for a mini projector. Questions: Visit the following URL.

For more information, contact Hannah Steighner at hwpsteighner@vcu.edu or visit http://techfair.vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 from 10 a.m. to noon

VCU's Division of Community Engagement in the Office of the Provost invites faculty to an in-person workshop at the Scott House, Room 301, 909 W. Franklin St. Lunch will be provided. Learn from VCU faculty who have transformed their community engagement into scholarship and take part in small group discussions to explore strategies for your own work. Register at the following URL.

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

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, Nov. 14, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU's Division of Community Engagement in the Office of Provost invites students, faculty, staff and community members to the 2025 Connect Conference, where community voices, scholarship and innovation come together to build connections. Participants will learn skills and principles of community engagement, see partnerships in action and engage in design activities to support future collaborations that meet community needs. The session will be held in the University Student Commons, Commonwealth Ballroom, 907 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shari Garmise at garmiseso@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/z3TfbFwBu6HRDqJE6.

Students are encouraged to go to eServices to begin checking to see if their professors have submitted a Midterm grade for one or more classes. Log on to Student eServices at http://www.eservices.vcu.edu. If you have received a Midterm grade indicating unsatisfactory academic progress, see your instructor or academic adviser. 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.

Are you interested in meeting university students in another country and learning more about their culture, customs and ideas? Join VCU’s Cultural Conversations Program online and connect with students at the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo in Cancun, Mexico. This program is designed to help students develop intercultural communication skills, increase confidence through small group conversations and learn more about the culture and customs of Mexico. Sessions will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 3, Nov. 12 and Nov. 19. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact English Language Program Office at geo-elp@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2551 or visit https://forms.gle/XHWEd4FggBb3DdwB6.

VCU's new shuttle service, RamsXpress, services James Branch Cabell Library at the corner of Cathedral Place and Floyd Avenue, and Jonah L. 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.

Come to Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place, this month for a number of special events. They include Oktoberfest (through Friday, Oct. 10: 11 a.m.–close); National Pierogi Day (Wednesday, Oct. 8: 11 a.m.–while supplies last); Cake Decorating Pop-Up (Friday, Oct. 10: noon–2 p.m.); Food Truck Festival (Tuesday, Oct. 14: 3-9 p.m.); National Mushroom Day (Wednesday, Oct. 15: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.); VCU Votes Station Takeover (Thursday, Oct. 16: 11 a.m.–close); Butter Chicken Day with Chef Monica Saigal (Tuesday, Oct. 21: 11 a.m.–close); Trivia Night in the West Wing (Thursday, Oct. 23: 5:30–7 p.m.); Fall Festival (Thursday, Oct. 30: 3–6 p.m.); Halloween (Friday, Oct. 31: 11 a.m.–close). For more information, 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/.

Abstract submissions are now open for the 11th annual Heart Health in Women Symposium, hosted by the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center. All career levels are eligible, including basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological or implementation science impacting women’s cardiovascular health. The best trainee abstract will receive a monetary travel award. The registration fee will be awived for abstract presenters. Submit abstracts by Jan. 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. at the following URL.

For more information, contact Moriah Bellissimo at moriah.bellissimomyers@vcuhealth.org or (336) 953-9707 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=WXPPNCFJ8EHHTDHY.

One-time survey to assess health behaviors and performance among adults enrolled in an upcoming endurance race. See the survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact Alexandra Lempke at alexandra.lempke@vcuhealth.org or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=EE4CW7XX7F7YPW4H.

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 www.RedefiningBMI.com to learn more and take a quick 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/about.html.

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.