Tuesday, May 16, 2017 from noon to 1:15 p.m.

Human Resources presents "How to Retire with the Virginia Retirement System" for VCU employees in the HR Training Building, Room 115. This session is open to VCU employees only, not VCU Health System employees.

For more information, visit https://training.vcu.edu/course_detail.asp?ID=15514.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 from 10 a.m. to noon

The Safe Zone Program, sponsored by University Counseling Services, presents a two-hour Safe Zone Workshop in the University Student Commons. The purpose of Safe Zone is to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues and their importance to everyone and to make VCU a more welcoming and inclusive environment. Advance registration is required - use the keyword "diversity" to see all current offerings at training.vcu.edu and to register.

For more information, visit https://students.vcu.edu/counseling/safe-zone/.

Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The Friends of VCU Libraries presents Richmond Times-Dispatch food and cooking columnist Clare Schapiro, author of "Stories and Recipes from Clare's Kitchen," at a tasting luncheon of recipes from her cookbook in Cabell Library, Lecture Room 303. Free and open to all current Friends of VCU Libraries members. New friends may join for a reduced rate in advance or at the door.

For more information, visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2016-17/clare-schapiro-event.html.

Friday, Jun. 9, 2017 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Office of Continuing and Professional Education holds a reception and celebration at The Depot to share in the end of the VCU M.I.S. in Interdisciplinary Art Program (1994-2017). Program alumni are encouraged to submit entries for the Alumni Exhibition.

Grading for spring 2017 has begun. Grade sheets are available on faculty eServices. Grades are due by noon on Tuesday, May 16, at which time grading will be turned off. Faculty may only access grade sheets for courses to which they have been assigned in the Class Schedule. If you do not see one of your grade sheets, contact your department's course scheduling representative.

This spring, the United States Postal Service instructed VCU to discontinue the use of "P.O." preceding university mailbox numbers. This change pertains to VCU and VCU Health addresses using the zip codes 23284 and 23298. Please begin to use up existing stationery inventory and place new stationery orders through the VCU contracted stationery partner, B&B Printing: identity.vcu.edu/stationery. The online stationery templates have been modified to encompass this change.

For more information, visit http://identity.vcu.edu/stationery.

Open enrollment for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s health coverage and flexible spending plans takes place from May 1 – May 15. Eligible university faculty and classified staff may enroll in flexible spending accounts and/or make changes to health coverage elections for the plan year that begins July 1, 2017. No action is required to maintain current health coverage elections for the upcoming plan year, but enrollment is required to begin or continue participation in flexible spending. COVA Care and COVA HealthAware participants can qualify for premium rewards for the upcoming plan year by completing a new or updated health assessment. This year’s open enrollment uses paper election forms only; online elections are not available. See information, resources, and tools at www.hr.vcu.edu/open-enrollment

For more information, visit http://www.hr.vcu.edu/open-enrollment/.

The Office of Faculty Affairs offers up to five grants to fund VCU faculty participation in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, Faculty Success Program, during the fall 2017 semester. The goal of this program is to enrich both the professional and personal lives of full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty by helping them increase research productivity and time management skills.

For more information, visit http://provost.vcu.edu/engage/calendar/application-deadline-faculty-success-program.html.

The Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU hosts the final three Radical Listening sessions before opening in Oct. 2017 on Thursday, May 11, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library, Main Branch, Gellman Room, 101 E. Franklin St.; Thursday, May 18, from 5:30-7 p.m. at The Depot; and Monday, May 22, from 5:30-7 p.m. at The Depot. Participants will learn about plans for the ICA and be able to engage in conversation around what the institution can do to be a convener and catalyst for VCU, Richmond and beyond. There will be food and giveaways. R.S.V.P. by visiting the website below.

For more information, visit http://ica.vcu.edu/about/radical.

Researchers in the OPT for health lab at VCU want to learn more about the relationship between anxiety, health, and mood. You may be eligible to participate in this research study if you: - Are between the ages of 18-35 and - Are able to safely participate in physical activity and - Experience symptoms of anxiety Participants in this research study will be compensated for their time. Visit www.optforhealth.org/research/studies to learn more and see if you are eligible.

For more information, visit http://optforhealth.org/research/studies/.

A revised Alcohol and Other Drugs policy is now open for university comment through Friday, May 19. The draft policy can be found at https://policy.vcu.edu/policies-open-for-public-comment

For more information, visit https://policy.vcu.edu/policies-open-for-public-comment.