11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sociologists for Women in Society collects new or gently used books, canned goods and nonperishable food items for families in need on the Compass.

For more information, visit http://wp.vcu.edu/humanities-and-sciences/wp-content/uploads/sites/4656/2017/12/SWS-Christmas-Lauren-Payton.pdf.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The Department of English presents its Faculty Forum featuring Mimi Winick, Ph.D., in Hibbs Hall, Room 308. Late Victorian British readers and writers saw scholarship as a way to preserve or modernize religion and search for meaningfulness in new terms. JG Frazer's "GOLDEN BOUGH" and H. Rider Haggard's novel, "SHE," combine scholarly aesthetics and fantastic conventions to move readers from skepticism to credulity about an extraordinary reality of "wonderful facts." All are welcome and encouraged to bring lunch.

For more information, visit https://english.vcu.edu/about/english-faculty-forum/.

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, Richmond Salons I-II. 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. 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.

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

6 p.m.

VCU Women's Basketball hosts Old Dominion University in the E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a VCU Fandana.

For more information, visit http://www.vcuathletics.com.

7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Rams in Recovery presents the "You Did What?! Recovery Speaker Series" in the Academic Learning Commons, Room 1107, which pairs a current student with an alum to share recovery journeys.

For more information, visit http://www.thewell.vcu.edu/recovery-support/events--meetings/.

7:30 p.m.

VCU Music presents a concert by the VCU Women's Choir and Vocal Chamber Ensembles in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall. Tickets are $10 general admission and free for VCU students with ID.

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

Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

The Department of Psychiatry presents Grand Rounds with Eric J. Engstrom, Ph.D., Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany, speaking on the topic of "Reassessing Emil Kraepelin (1856 - 1926): Reflections on an Historical Research Project" in Sanger Hall, Room 1-044. All faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend this presentation.

Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 at 3 p.m.

Chili's at VCU hosts the official Men's Basketball watch party as they take on Seton Hall. Fans can catch the HAVOC on each of Chilis' nine TVs and take advantage of game-day specials including the $5 black and gold burger. Attendees are encouraged to wear VCU gear for free giveaways and prizes. Limited free parking will be available to Chili's customers across the street in the JL Lot. Follow VCUDine on Facebook for details.

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

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

VCU Libraries hosts National Book Award finalist Nancy MacLean, author of "Democracy in Chains," delivering a lecture on the Virginia-specific roots of the radical political right in Cabell Library, Lecture Hall, Room 303. Behind today's headlines of billionaires taking over government is a secretive political establishment with long, deep and troubling roots. MacLean's talk will be followed by a question-and-answer session, book-signing and reception. MacLean is the William H. Chafe Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University.

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

Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 from noon to 6 p.m.

In the spirit of holiday giving, VCU Police hosts a blood drive with the American Red Cross at VCU Police Headquarters, 224 E. Broad St. Participants must sign up for a donation time prior to arriving. To donate, visit the website below and enter zip code 23219, select "VCU Police Department" from the list of open drives and select a time to donate. Students, faculty and staff members from both campuses are welcome.

For more information, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/rcbmobile/drive/chooseDonationTime.jsp.

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.

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.

For those needing a ride back home for winter break, RamAway provides free transportation for faculty, staff and students during designated holidays and semester breaks to and/or from the Richmond International Airport, Greyhound Bus Station and Amtrack at Main Street Station and Staples Mill Road. RamAway is currently accepting reservations until Friday, Dec. 8, for rides through Wednesday, Dec. 20. To reserve a ride, visit the website below.

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

VCU Recreational Sports continues to offer female and male only swims on Friday evenings from 7-9 p.m. next semester to better reach the needs of the VCU community. These swims will be held at the MCV Recreation and Aquatics Center and will alternate throughout the semester, with the first nights being held on Friday, Jan. 26, for females and Friday, Feb. 2, for males.

For more information, visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/aquatics/special-swim-times/.

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.

Men and women who smoke cigarettes between the ages of 18-25 are invited to participate in a research study that requires five, 3 hour, laboratory visits. Compensation is provided. CALL (804) 828-1867 Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm or visit http://wp.vcu.edu/cobbco/current-studies/ for more information This study will be conducted at Thurston House on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. Principal Investigator: Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., Department of Health Behavior & Policy

For more information, visit http://wp.vcu.edu/cobbco/current-studies/.

We are inviting 3-6 month-old babies with no developmental delays or health problems to participate in “Tummy Time and Learning” project. By conducting 2 studies under this project, we want to understand if babies can learn a task while playing on their tummy and how parents can encourage tummy time in their baby’s routine. Researchers visit 2 days consecutively or 3 weeks apart based on which study your baby is eligible. We will video record your baby’s skills in a novel play gym and toy play.

For more information, visit https://sahp.vcu.edu/departments/pt/research/research-labs/motor-development-lab/.