11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VCUDine invites students, faculty and staff to a special holiday lunch available at both Shafer Court Dining Center on the Monroe Park Campus and Jonah's on the MCV Campus. As always, faculty and staff may show their VCU ID for 10% off the door price at Shafer Court Dining Center ($10.99 with discount). Follow @VCUDine on social media or visit the website below for details and a complete menu.

For more information, visit http://vcu.campusdish.com.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Cabell Library present the next lunchtime research seminar, "NIH Clinical Trials 2018: New Definition, New Policies," in Cabell Library, Room 250. Alanda Perry Jones, CCTR, will review a summary of the NIH-mandated changes to clinical trials policies, provide case studies to demonstrate the expanded clinical trial definition and provide resources for researchers. Participants may bring lunch; drinks will be provided.

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Tompkins-McCaw Library present their next lunch research seminar, "Recipe for Success: Effectively Using Web of Science," in Tompkins-McCaw Library, Room 2-010. Erica Brody, research and education librarian, Tompkins-McCaw Library, will discuss how to effectively and efficiently use Web of Science to support research. Participants may bring lunch; drinks will be provided. To register, use the contact information below.

For more information, visit http://www.cctr.vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 from noon to 1 p.m.

The VCU Community Health Education Center hosts 30-minute mindfulness meditation sessions every Wednesday and Friday at noon and 12:30 p.m. at the center, VCU Medical Center, Gateway Building, Ground Floor. The sessions are led by Georgianne Ginder, VCU Department of Arts in Healthcare. The last sessions before the new year will be Wednesday, Dec. 13, and Friday, Dec. 15. Space is limited. To register, use the contact information below and specify which session you would like to attend.

For more information, visit http://wp.vcu.edu/chec/.

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 from noon to 1:15 p.m.

Human Resources presents "How to Retire with the Virginia Retirement System" for VCU employees in the Larrick Student Center, Jackson Ward Conference Room B. 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=15985.

Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Division for Inclusive Excellence offers the first Building Inclusive Communities (BIC) workshop of 2018 from Jan. 8-9, in the University Student Commons, Richmond Salons. Registration is open. BIC supports the university community in creating an engaged, diverse and inclusive campus environment. Workshop goals include understanding historically marginalized and privileged group dynamics; learning to identify and avoid behavioral traps that contribute to cycles of inequity; and creating a personal plan for changing inequitable behaviors and practices. Seating is limited and advanced registration is required. To register, visit training.vcu.edu and use the keyword "diversity" or visit the website below.

For more information, visit http://www.inclusive.vcu.edu/initiatives/building-inclusive-communities/.

Friday, Jan. 12, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU invites students, faculty, librarians, scientists, writers and researchers to the Virginia satellite session of the international conference OpenCon on Friday, Jan. 12, at Cabell Library. OpenCon Virginia will bring together students, researchers, educators, librarians, and others who want to learn how to create a more open system of information in research and education. The program will include keynotes, lightning talks, and breakouts on topics of open data, reproducibility and open education.

For more information, visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2017-18/opencon-.html.

Annual deferral limits for the VCU 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (TDA) and the VRS 457 Deferred Compensation Plan will increase to $18,500 in 2018. Participants eligible for the age 50+ catch-up may contribute up to an additional $6,000 to either or both plans in 2018. No employee action is required due to these changes, however employees wishing to change deferral amounts may do so using instructions at the website below.

For more information, visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/.

Grading for fall 2017 has begun. Grade sheets are available on faculty eServices. Grades are due by noon on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 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.

VCUDine locations will operate under adjusted hours during the week of Monday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 17. VCUDine will also hold adjusted hours during winter break from Monday, Dec. 18, through Sunday, Jan. 7. The final day to use a fall 2017 dining plan is Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 10:30 a.m. To purchase a new dining plan for spring 2018, visit the website below. For a complete list of hours, visit the website below or follow @VCU_Dining on social media.

For more information, visit http://vcu.campusdish.com.

VCU Rec Sports OAP offers Wilderness First Responder Training (WFR), a hands-on, in-depth, 72-hour course involving a comprehensive look at response and sssessment, musculoskeletal injuries, environmental emergencies, survival skills, soft tissue injuries and medical emergencies. The WFR certification is good for two years and this course includes CPR. The course fee is $525. Register by Tuesday, Jan. 2.

For more information, visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=71afb779-deb8-425a-b707-c71d32242fa4&semesterId=8224abd5-d5e6-4bc0-b993-c350f6ee9f71.

Are you a woman in menopause experiencing anxiety? Would you like to talk about your experiences? Researchers at the VCU School of Nursing are interested in learning more about women’s health in menopause. Participation in this qualitative study would involve a face to face interview (approximately 1 hour) to discuss your personal experience with anxiety in menopause. The interview will be audio recorded and will take place at a location convenient to you. You will receive a gift card to a local business for participation in the study. For more information, please contact Ellie Bremer, MSN, RN, FNP-C, at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing, bremeres@vcu.edu. VCU IRB APPROVAL NO: HM20010855.

A revised Research Misconduct policy is now open for university comment through Monday, Dec. 18. 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.