1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

University Counseling Services and The Center for Human-Animal Interaction present "Paws for Stress" in the University Student Commons, Virginia Rooms A-D. Participants can play with certified therapy dogs from the Center for Human-Animal Interaction as a way to unwind from semester stress.

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

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences, the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and the VCU Postdoctoral Association present "How to Conduct Community-Based Participatory Research to Address Challenges Related to Ethnic Minorities and Their Health" with Morgan Maxwell in Tompkins-McCaw Library, Room 2-010. Attendees will learn to use community-based participatory research practices to strengthen study design and achieve positive health outcomes in minority populations. To register for this free workshop, visit the website below.

For more information, visit http://rampages.us/howtotalks.

7 p.m.

The Department of Music's Percussion Ensemble presents its fall concert in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, featuring special guest Blake Tyson, professor of percussion, University of Central Arkansas. This concert will feature the premiere of Tyson's new work, "The Surface of the Sky," written in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of de-segregation of Little Rock High School. Admission is free.

For more information, visit http://arts.vcu.edu/music/events/.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

VCU Libraries invites the community to get in the spirit of Halloween at Cabell Library and get their ghostly portraits taken in the lower-level workshop video studio. Participants can choose from six backgrounds, dress-up, and bring props and friends. Costumes are strongly encouraged. For inspiration, view photos on Flickr at http://bit.ly/CabellHalloween2014

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

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 at 11 a.m.

VCUDine hands out special treats and Pepsi products on Halloween starting at 11 a.m. in front of Shafer Court Dining Center. Also, Halloween-themed foods will be available in Market 810 all day. The VCU community is encouraged to wear costumes and join VCUDine for a fun day celebrating Halloween. Follow @VCUDine on social media for more details.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 from 11:30 a.m. to 01:30 p.m.

The School of the Arts hosts a mix and mingle with students from its campus in Doha, Qatar, who are visiting the Richmond campus for one week as part of the VCU Qatar Leadership Exchange Program. The majlis will be set up on 12th St. between Broad and Marshall streets. A majlis is considered a space to receive visitors and offer them hospitality. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Qatari culture, complete with the offerings of karak (tea), baklava and other traditional Qatari foods.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The School of World Studies and the Bishop Walter F. Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies presents a film screening of "La Santa Muerte: A Folk Saint in Texas" in the Temple Building, Room 1164. Producer Charlie Lockwood and VCU professor Andrew Chestnut will hold a question-and-answer session after the film. Admission is free and all are welcome.

For more information, visit http://wp.vcu.edu/humanities-and-sciences/wp-content/uploads/sites/4656/2017/10/La-Santa-Muerte_Sullivan-Poster_Poster-v2-1.pdf.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 at 1 p.m.

The Department of Craft and Material Studies presents Fountainhead Fellow Jeanne Medina at The Depot.

For more information, visit http://arts.vcu.edu/craft.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs celebrates the kick-off of American Indian Heritage Month with food, dancing and a drum circle performance in the University Student Commons, Room 215, OMSA Office.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

VCUarts co-sponsors Qatar Day, an annual event featuring art and design projects from the VCUarts campus in Doha, Quatar, outside of the University Student Commons. Attendees will learn more about aspects of Qatari and Arab culture, such as henna, Arabic calligraphy, traditional Qatari clothing and the VCUarts Qatar campus.

For more information, visit http://arts.vcu.edu/calendar/event/vcuarts-qatar-day.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU Libraries offers an "Advance Your Research" webinar, "Citation Management Tools," which will include an introduction to Mendeley and Zotero. Participants will learn how to choose the best citation management tool for their research. A recording will be available on YouTube.

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

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The Global Education Office invites all members of the university community to its monthly Global Café in the University Student Commons, Virginia Rooms A-D. Attendees will experience a variety of cuisines and cultures from around the world. This student-centered program is designed to increase awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity at VCU, and attendees will have the opportunity to meet students from across the globe. Each café has a different theme and refreshments are always served. Everyone is welcome at this free event.

For more information, visit http://www.global.vcu.edu/students/community/globalcafe/.

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The Translational Partnership for Mental Health jointly hosts a case study event with the Wellness Resource Center and Department of Rehabilitation Counseling in BioTech One, Founders Conference Room. The event will examine a case study about an individual struggling with opioid addiction. To register, visit the website below. The case study will be emailed to attendees after registration.

For more information, visit http://go.vcu.edu/_kcw.

Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Center on Health Disparities invites the VCU community to lunch and learn the "EssentiaALZ of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia" in the Larrick Student Center, Jackson Ward Conference Room. Attendees will discover certification, training and support services offered by the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Richmond. Lunch will be provided. R.S.V.P.s are appreciated by emailing the contact below.

For more information, visit http://healthdisparities.vcu.edu/.

Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

VCU Libraries presents workshops on navigating the intricacies of scholarly publication at Cabell Library. During the workshops, participants will learn to recognize and adapt to the changing publishing landscape, evaluate potential journals for publication and identify and avoid predatory publishers. To register, visit the website below.

For more information, visit http://vcu.libcal.com/event/3575364.

Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Langston Center for Quality, Safety and Innovation hosts the VCU Health teams in the Langston Quality Scholars Program presenting their quality improvement projects in the School of Nursing, Room 1011. The VCU community is welcome to attend all or any portion of the event as schedules permit. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be provided. To register, visit the website below.

For more information, visit http://go.vcu.edu/2017qiposters .

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Public Relations Student Society of America at VCU hosts an open mic event on the Compass free to all VCU students and faculty/staff. All acts are welcome. Free cookies and hot chocolate will be provided. To sign up, visit the website below.

For more information, visit https://wixsite.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=dc0c9d1ad99c090b301fb6592&id=e6dba5273a&e=381a2e3a73.

To accommodate the growing RamRide ridership and improve route efficiency, the Campus Connector Express route will be discontinued at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The former Express bus will be incorporated back into the Campus Connector route, for a total of five buses servicing passengers during the weekday business hours, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1. To track RamRide in real time, use the VCU Mobile RamRide app or visit vcu.transloc.com

For more information, visit http://parking.vcu.edu.

Human Resources provides eligible VCU faculty and staff with seasonal flu shots on a first-come, first-served basis beginning in October. For dates and locations, visit the website below. To receive the vaccine, employees must participate in the State Health Benefits program and show their health plan card. Note that employees who intend to use the shots to obtain "Do Right" credit for the Aetna Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) must obtain written confirmation of the flu shot from Walgreens when they receive their shot.

For more information, visit http://www.hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/employee-health/flu-vaccination-clinics.

VCU Rec Sports OAP offers a climbing weekend from Nov. 4-5, in one of the most famous climbing areas in North America. Participants will enjoy a beautiful weekend climbing, away from the city. OAP leaders will teach participants basic climbing techniques, equipment usage and belaying techniques in a safe and trusting environment. The cost is $44 for students or $50 for members and includes food, transportation, equipment and guides. Register by Tuesday, Oct. 31.

For more information, visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=bd3579fa-042f-456a-bc9e-2e0d8363d129&semesterId=8224abd5-d5e6-4bc0-b993-c350f6ee9f71.

Applications for Alternative Spring Break at VCU's are now open. ASB represents the opportunity to take a "not so average" spring break. Apply for a chance to volunteer on one of eleven trips all over the country plus one international site during VCU's spring break 2018. The application can be found at the URL below through November 3.

For more information, visit https://rampages.us/asbatvcu/.

The VCU community is invited to view CVs and leave feedback on the most recent candidate for the position of Vice President for Inclusive Excellence at: https://inclusive.vcu.edu/about-us/candidates/. A valid VCU eID and password are required to view the materials and leave comments.

For more information, visit https://inclusive.vcu.edu/about-us/candidates/.

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs sponsors a fall cultural excursion to the Great American Indian Exposition, also known as the Richmond Pow-Wow, on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Richmond International Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave. The pow-wow features the best in Native American arts, crafts, food, dance, drumming and education. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Nov. 1. Transportation will be provided and admission is covered.

The Office of Faculty Affairs offers four grants to fund VCU faculty participation in the Faculty Success Program during the spring 2018 semester and five grants for the summer 2018 FSP program. The grants provide up to $3,450 per person to offset the costs of the program. Applications are due by Tuesday, Nov. 14. An informational PDF is available at the website below.

For more information, visit https://provost.vcu.edu/engage/calendar/fsp-grant-deadline.html.

A redline version and a clean version of the draft revised "Intellectual Property" policy are now open for university comment through Thursday, Nov. 9. The drafts 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.

Many breast cancer survivors have difficulty taking their hormonal medication as recommended and we would like to find out why. If you are a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed at least 2 years ago, you stopped taking your hormonal medication before the 5 year end date, and English is your first language, we would like to invite you to be a participant in a 1.5 hour focus group. Compensation will be offered. VCU IRB Approval No. HM20009228.