12 p.m.

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/RfgF9XVgxuCVtvwu6.

9 a.m.

Celebrating health, community and connection all week long at the VCU Health Hub, 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A. Harvest Thursday, Gather gather together in gratitude. Wear your country outfit and iine dance from 11-11:45 a.m. and paint some pots for your plants.

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

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/.

Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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 Workgroup. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/86507914411 Register at the following URL.

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

Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's Division of Community Engagement 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 the session to explore the database. Sessions will be held every Friday from noon-1 p.m. The Zoom link is https://vcu.zoom.us/j/81793039272?jst=2 (Note that there will be no session held on Friday, Oct. 24.)

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

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/.

Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Join VCU HR and Bill Giesen with Fidelity and learn how much savings is needed for retirement. You will also learn strategies that can help you save more today and tips for preserving and growing your savings in retirement. This session is a quick overview with time for your questions, all in 30 minutes or less. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://bit.ly/4gErEPd

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or visit https://ramstrong.vcu.edu/events/upcoming-events-for-employees/.

Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 from 10 a.m. to noon

Both classes run from 10 a.m. to noon and are free. The course is designed to teach community members how to render aid to themselves and others during a bleeding emergency. The Monday, Oct. 13 course will be at Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave., Room 216. The Wednesday, Oct. 15 course will be in Oliver Hall, 1015 W. Main St., Education Wing, Room 2124. Registration is free and can be completed by selecting the course on the Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education (CTCCE) training calendar. Register at the following URL with course codes needed. Oct. 13 course code is Rams1. The Oct. 15 course code is Rams2.

For more information, contact Matthew Majid at majidm@vcu.edu or visit https://reg.abcsignup.com/view/cal4a.aspx?ek=&ref=&aa=0&sid1=0&sid2=0&as=82&wp=443&tz=0&ms=0&nav=0&cc=0&cat1=0&cat2=0&cat3=0&aid=CTCCE&rf=&pn=0.

Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will host a Discovery Dialogues seminar via Zoom presented by Hannah Stadtler, Clinical and Translational Sciences doctoral student. Questions: Visit https://cctr.vcu.edu/ The Wright Center's Discovery Dialogues Series is a regular event that bridges the divide between science, health research and the community. The events are open to all and the research is presented in lay-friendly language. Register 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/kF4VqRo_QTa0uTZDrpSs9Q.

Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

Join the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs for an evening of storytelling, cultural sharing and (of course) delicious food, featuring E-Loteria. The event will have E-Loteria’s culinary team sharing their family journey, culinary roots and cultural traditions from Zacatecas, Mexico. Through storytelling, photos and conversation, participants will learn how food carries memory and meaning across generations. Students will have the opportunity to savor flavors, with a tasting experience featuring sample-sized portions of authentic dishes prepared by E-Loteria, reflect on their own “food memories” and connect in community. The event, to be in the Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., is open to all VCU students, faculty and staff. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact David Brown at omsa@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6672 or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1941325.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Join Equality VCU for a community social event to welcome returning faculty and staff. Enjoy light appetizers and a raffle fundraiser supporting Equality Virginia, an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights across the Commonwealth. Appetizers will be provided, plan to purchase your own beverage. The event will be at And Dim Sum, 305 Brook Road. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ron Jones at equality@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/3VzCyfo.

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Join VCU Libraries for an evening with Bryant Terry, the James Beard Award-winning chef, food activist and author of "Black Food." Terry’s remarks will touch on African American cuisine and its evolution through migration, identity and resilience. The talk will be in the lecture hall of James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ryan Larson at rbpander@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2025-2026/2025-fall-lecture-.html.

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

VCU HR is facilitating a SMART Goals and You workshop. The course clarifies what SMART goals are, how to use them for both performance and career development and includes practical application. Workshops will be offered in October and November. Register in Talent@VCU or at the following URL.

For more information, contact Penelope McFarline at mcfarlinep@vcu.edu or visit http://bit.ly/4m0vbbm.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and the Department of Biostatistics will present a lunch research seminar via Zoom. Roy Sabo, Ph.D., professor, Biostatistics, will discuss how to appropriately interpret and report p-values in the context of hypothesis testing. He will also highlight several misconceptions around their use. Questions: https://cctr.vcu.edu/ Register 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/NSKhGdGJQX22RQ1w-P8d3w.

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.

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 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.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 at 7 p.m.

First Love Church will host a worship service oprn to all at Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave., Room 101.

For more information, contact Yasmin John at johnye@vcu.edu or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/times-of-refreshing-worship-night-tickets-1708556441309?aff=oddtdtcreator.

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.

The 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available for completion at the following URL. Completing the FAFSA is key to determining eligibility for federal, state and institutional need-based financial assistance. VCU’s priority filing date is Feb. 1, 2026. Contact the Student Financial Management Center at the following email address if you have any questions.

For more information, contact Student Financial Management Center at sfmc@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1550 or visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

VCU Human Resources is offering four free flu shot clinics for VCU employees from mid-September to mid-October. Appointments can be made through the HR appointment scheduler, but walk-ins are welcome. Visit the following website for times, locations and other details. Stay strong and healthy.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/worklife-at-vcu/flu-clinics/.

VCU has transitioned to a new career site and recruitment management system for all recruitment and hiring of faculty, staff, postdoc and hourly/wage positions. Contact your HR Professional for any recruitment-related needs.

For more information, contact VCU Human Resources at vcujobs@vcu.edu.

VCU HR offers a total rewards calculator to help employees understand the full value of university employment. To access the total rewards calculator, sign in to eServices, click the Employees tab and select Total Rewards Estimator.

For more information, contact VCU Human Resources at benefits@vcu.edu.

Catch up on all the latest updates, events and stories 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.

This month Collaboration Services is covering posts for August and September. Important changes and several quality-of-life changes across Drive, the Docs Editors and more are highlighted. See the posts at the following URL.

For more information, contact Doctor Gee at drgee@vcu.edu or visit https://blogs.vcu.edu/drgee/2025/10/08/google-updates-recap-october-2025/.

Applications are now open for the 2026 VCU Leadership Development Program, a transformative experience for current and emerging leaders at VCU and VCU Health. The nine-month program focuses on leadership growth, collaboration and real-world impact. Apply at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ron Jones at jonesre22@vcu.edu or visit https://gehli.vcu.edu/trainings-and-institutes/vcu-leadership-development-program-vcul/.

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, Ph.D, at alexandra.lempke@vcuhealth.org or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=EE4CW7XX7F7YPW4H.

The Translational Research on Eating and Affect (TREAT) Lab is recruiting adolescents and young adults assigned female at birth (aged 12 to 25 years) for a brain imaging study to understand risky decision-making in individuals who have concerns about their body shape/weight, or overeat, purge, use laxatives, diet severely or exercise excessively. We are also investigating these processes in individuals without a psychological disorder. There will be compensation for participation.

For more information, contact Kelsey Hagan, Ph.D., PI, at treatlab@vcuhealth.org or (804) 827-4174 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=48YEAYT8MK33E8EJ.

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/.

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 using the link below. Check for 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.