12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Strategic Enrollment Management presents this year's final "First-Gen Fridays" in the Honors College, Multipurpose Room, for students, faculty and staff who will be or were the first in their family to graduate from college. The topic this month is "First-Gen Stories." Pizza will be provided.

For more information, visit https://nsfp.vcu.edu/studentevents/first-gen-fridays/.

12 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.

VCU Biostatistics sponsors a seminar by Professor Victor Lachos from the University of Connecticut, in One Capitol Square, 3rd Floor, Room 305, 830 E. Main St. The talk is titled, "Heavy-Tailed Longitudinal Regression Models for Censored Data: A Robust Parametric Approach."

4:30 p.m.

VCU Music presents a Guest Artist Recital by Dr. Andrew Bliss, assistant professor of percussion and director of percussion studies at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, in the W.E. Singleton Center's Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall. Bliss is a percussionist, conductor, professor and contemporary music collaborator. Free admission.

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

Thursday, Apr. 12, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

VCU Alumni presents Class Giving Week at the Larrick Student Center, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. April 12-13, and at the Tompkins-McCaw Library, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 12. Students can learn how they can commemorate the Class of 2018 and give students following in their footsteps the best chance of success.

For more information, visit http://www.vcualumni.org/classgive/.

Sunday, Apr. 15, 2018 from noon to 2 p.m.

VCU Global Brigades hosts the Global Brigades Kickoff Event in West Grace Street Student Housing-South, Room 1004A. Students will learn about Global Brigades as a whole, specific chapters and opportunities volunteering abroad.

Monday, Apr. 16, 2018 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Green Unity hosts a mixer on the green roof of the Pollak Building, followed by a screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" in Pollak, Room 321. This is the kickoff event for VCU Earth Week 2018.

Monday, Apr. 16, 2018 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Amnesty International @ VCU and the Black Minds Matter Project host a free self-care event at The Depot, 814 W. Broad St. Learn tips to de-stress before finals. Activities will include DIY self-care stations, a photo booth, free food and presentations from local organizations like NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia and Virginia Anti-Violence Project.

Monday, Apr. 16, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Rams in Recovery invites the VCU community to hear from Bill Maher, recovery coach, family case manager, SUDs counselor and interventionist, at VCU's Motivate Clinic, first floor conference room, Jackson Building, 501 N. 2nd St. Maher will share his insight on supporting loved ones through this crucial time on their path to recovery from alcohol and/or substance use disorder. For example, what is “early recovery”? What are some of the things to expect? How can you best support your loved one through these days and months to increase the chances of maintaining sobriety and sustaining a healthy recovery?

Monday, Apr. 16, 2018 at 8 p.m.

VCU Music's Percussion Ensemble presents their spring 2018 concert, "Collaborations," in the W.E. Singleton Center's Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall. The VCU Percussion Ensemble will perform with members of the VCU Craft and Material Studies Department and VCU Dance Departments, working collaboratively on cross-disciplinary music. Free admission.

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

Wednesday, Apr. 18, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

VCU Human Resources and Recreational Sports host the VCU RamStrong Health and Wellbeing Fair in the Cary Street Gym. Membership not required. Participating vendors include Active Health, Anthem and Aetna Employee Assistance Programs, Capital Square Healthcare, Virginia Credit Union and other VCU health and wellness partners.

Wednesday, Apr. 18, 2018 from noon to 1 p.m.

The VCU Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation (iCubed) holds a "My Life, My Scholarship" symposium at the Monroe Park Campus Barnes & Noble @ VCU Cafe. The next event features Dr. Jan Ivery, associate professor from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga and visiting scholar within the iCubed Social Justice core and the School of Social Work. She will share how her how her lived experiences and informal mentoring opportunities have shaped her interest in community-based interventions and strategies for social change. RSVP at the URL below.

For more information, visit https://icubed.vcu.edu/connect/.

Friday, Apr. 20, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In one of three events marking the addition of the 3 millionth volume to VCU Libraries' collections, the libraries present alumna Colette Fu in the Cabell Library Lecture Hall, Room 303. Fu discusses her book "Wa Hair Swinging Dance," a pop-up book in which she captures the fervent movement of women from the Wa people of China engaged in a traditional harvest dance. The book is a valuable addition to VCU Libraries' Book Art Collection.

For more information, visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2017-18/3-millionth-volume.html.

Friday, Apr. 20, 2018 from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Asian Pacific Student Alliance and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs invite the VCU community to "Open Mic: Redefining Our Stories," in the University Student Commons, Rams Lounge. This open mic night seeks to understand what redefining our narratives look like in our respective communities. There will be poetry, tunes, comedy and food. Submit your request to perform via email by April 18.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Registration is now open for VCU’s 6th Annual Community Engagement Institute, to be held May 15-16 in West Grace Street Student Housing-South, 835 W. Grace St, by the Division of Community Engagement and the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research. This institute brings together those who share a commitment to solving today's grand challenges through community-academic partnerships. Faculty members, community partners and graduate students are invited to attend this free two-day event to explore the fundamental principles of university-community engagement in the 21st century.

For more information, visit https://community.vcu.edu/faculty-support-/training--development/community-engagement-institute/.

Facilities Management announces that the Monument Avenue 10K Race on Saturday, April 14 will have a significant impact on the Monroe Park Campus starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 12 through 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. Laurel Street, between West Franklin and Cathedral Place will close at 1 p.m. Thursday. Cathedral, Floyd, Linden and additional blocks of Laurel will close between 5-6 a.m. Friday. West Franklin, Shafer, Grove and Park will close at various other times on Friday. West Grace, West Broad, Pine, Harrison, Lombardy and remainder of Laurel and West Franklin Streets will close on Saturday, beginning at 3 a.m.. No parking will begin and be strictly enforced earlier than the road closures on all of the impacted streets. Both West Main and West Cary Streets will remain open and should be utilized to enter and leave the campus. Please allow extra travel time on Friday and Saturday.

For more information, visit https://www.sportsbackers.org/events/monument-ave-10k/.

On April 14, the EE Lot, West Broad Street Deck and Laurel Street Deck may be inaccessible from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Impacted subscribers and MCV Campus reciprocal parkers may utilize the Henry Street Decks. Additionally, the Campus Connector will be unable to service Cabell Library, beginning at 12 p.m. April 12 through 6 p.m. April 14; all other stops will be serviced. During the race, passengers can track the Connector in real time on Transloc, using the “Special Event – Campus Connector” route.

For more information, visit http://wp.vcu.edu/parkingtransportation/2018/04/11/10k-impacts/.

VCU's Outdoor Adventure Program leads a trip to two of the state’s most scenic cliffs: Nelson Rocks and Seneca Rocks, April 21-22. One day will be spent on a via ferrata, climbing iron steps to traverse up, down and around cliffs, and over a 200-foot suspension bridge along the "iron way." The second day, participants will learn about multi-pitch climbing while traversing and climbing to the top of Seneca Rocks. On April 21 & 22, VCU OAP will be heading out to West Virginia! Spend the weekend getting some seriously high exposure as you traverse two of the state’s most scenic cliffs: Nelson Rocks and Seneca Rocks. One day will be spent on a via ferrata -- climbing iron steps to traverse up, down, and around cliffs, and over a 200-foot suspension bridge along the "iron way." Then, spend a day learning about multi-pitch climbing as you traverse and climb your way to the top of Seneca Rocks.

For more information, visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=5addf2a5-ae3c-4e1e-9b00-948411e54590&semesterId=2747cef5-50b3-4321-bf68-a95f2d1b3ea5.

The VCU Recreational Sports Outdoor Adventure Program will host a Whitewater River Rafting Weekend on the Youghiogheny River April 28-29. The cost for this trip will be $75 for students and $85 for staff/faculty/members. Price includes food, transportation, equipment and guides. Registration is available online through MyRecSports portal at the URL below, or in person at the Outing Rental Center.

For more information, visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=ee6c490b-3ecc-4eed-81ad-a4f29de5f708&semesterId=2747cef5-50b3-4321-bf68-a95f2d1b3ea5.

Dining plan enrollment is now open for the Fall 2018 semester. VCU dining plans range from just five swipes a semester to 300 swipes a semester, with varying amounts of dining dollars on each plan. Dining plans may be utilized at 23 different dining locations across both campuses, including Panda Express, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A and Market 810. To sign up for a plan or to learn more about different dining plan options, visit the URL below.

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

The VCU Rec Sports Outdoor Adventure Program Teambuilding staff hosts an afternoon at the University of Richmond Challenge Course. This experience will consist of low and high challenge course elements such as a cargo net ladder, zip line and leaps of faith alongside fellow VCU students. Transportation provided.

For more information, visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/outdoor-adventure-program/teambuilding-and-challenge-course/ .

The Division for Inclusive Excellence and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence announce the 2018 Institute on Inclusive Teaching (IIT) for VCU educators who want to explore strategies for inclusive teaching and transforming pedagogical practices. The Institute will kick off May 17-18. Requests for Participation are due by April 15; VCU faculty of any rank, graduate students and staff are welcome to participate.

For more information, visit https://ctle.vcu.edu/programs/institute-inclusiveteaching/.