1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Meet VCU's president, Dr. Michael Rao, in Commonwealth Ballrooms A and B, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., along with members of the Presidential Student Ambassadors. Student affairs departments will be represented, photo opportunities will be available and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Wyatt Booth at psambassadors@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1200.

12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Enter contests and play games for a chance to win prizes including a 9.7-inch iPad Pro, JBL Flip Bluetooth Speaker and a Dell Prize Pack during an open house at RamTech, VCU's on-campus technology store, 930 W. Grace St. Free snacks and drinks for guests; free limited parking available in front of the store.

For more information, contact Erinn Budd at budde@vcu.edu or (804) 827-9984 or visit http://ramtech.vcu.edu.

12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The da Vinci Center, 807 S. Cathedral Place, a collaboration of VCU’s Schools of the Arts, Business, Engineering and College of Humanities and Sciences, hosts a lunch and learn session. Creative activities and food from Deep Run Roadhouse will be available. All students welcome.

For more information, contact Kelsey Steenburgh at steenburghbk@vcu.edu.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., hosts its annual Library Fest for new Rams with tours, giveaways, services overview, information sharing and orientation. Co-sponsors are VCU Libraries, VCU Dining Services, Technology Support Services and RamTech. Partners are VCU Police, Office of Sustainability, Writing Center, Campus Learning Center, Barnes & Noble @ VCU, The Well and Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2018/library-fest-open-house-welcomes-new-rams-monday-aug-20-2-to-4-pm.html.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

VCU Recreational Sports welcomes the class of 2022 by hosting Rec Sports Night. Free food, prizes, games and demonstrations will be available. In preparation, Cary Street Gym will be closed from 3-5 p.m. Linden Street in between Cary and Cumberland streets will be closed from 3-8 p.m.

For more information, contact Will Adams at wpadams@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8839 or visit https://welcomeweek.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 from noon to 12:45 p.m.

The College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute and Institute for Contemporary Art present Lunchtime Mindfulness Meditation @ ICA, 601 W. Broad St. The free session, guided by experienced meditation teachers, is open to the public. Doors open at 11:45 am. Advance registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Register at the following URL or the ICA Welcome Desk.

For more information, contact Marcie J. Walsh at walshmj2@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0546 or visit https://icavcu.org/events/mindfulness-0821.

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018 at 12:30 p.m.

Instrumentalists who are not music majors - especially brass, saxes and bassists - are encouraged to audition for VCU's big bands and/or combos for credit. Sign-up sheets will be posted by Aug. 20 outside room 2014, James Black Music Center, 1015 Grove Ave. Horns audition 12:30-5:30 p.m. Aug. 23 and bassists audition at selected hours between 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 27.

For more information, contact Antonio Garcia at ajgarcia@vcu.edu or visit http://www.arts.vcu.edu/music/about/ensembles/jazz-ensembles.

Wednesday, Sep. 19, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

VCU's Office of Continuing and Professional Education presents "Hope for Addiction" as part of the free monthly community series 3rd Wednesdays at Regency's Garden Room (near the food court) 1420 N. Parham Road. The impact of substances on the mind and body will be discussed, and VCU's addiction-related continuing education options will be reviewed. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Office of Continuing and Professional Education at ocpe@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1322 or visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/community.

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Center for Human-Animal Interaction will host Pups on the Plaza 2018, a fundraiser featuring the Dogs on Call therapy dogs. Meal tickets are $4 and event T-shirts are $10. Meal tickets and T-shirts may be purchased at the event, by email at chai@vcuhealth.org or from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and Oct. 9 on the first floor of Main Hospital, 1250 E. Marshall St.

For more information, contact Jessica Hale at chai@vcuhealth.org or (804) 827-7297 or visit http://www.chai.vcu.edu.

Thirty-minute tours of James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., are available through Sept. 28. Learn how to locate materials, available services, where to ask for research help and tips for the academic year. Information will also be available about the Makerspace, advanced technologies, Comic Arts Collection and study areas. No registration is required.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/library-classes.

VCU Recreational Sports Wellness is offering 10 percent off on hour-long table massages for today, Aug. 20, only, as the new semester begins.

For more information, contact Carrie Baines at cabaines@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0319 or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/wellness/table-massage/.

STEM-H opportunities for Richmond youth at VCU places underprivileged students from area Title-I Priority high schools on a path to STEM-H (science, technology, engineering, math, and health science) careers through workshops and peer-to-peer mentorship. STEM-H students, those on a pre-professional health track or anyone passionate about working with and mentoring youth are requested to complete the form at the following URL.

For more information, contact Devina Thapa at thapad2@vcu.edu or visit https://goo.gl/forms/rQI3iNmdzZqEeCNd2.

All VCU students who are not full-time employees are required to complete an online course, "Not Anymore," by Sept. 14. The training, which takes about an hour to complete, will help new students create and maintain a community free from sexual violence and unacceptable behavior.

For more information, contact Trisha Saunders at trsaunders@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7596 or visit https://studentsuccess.org/SSO/vcuna.

The deadline for nominations for this year's VCU Staff Senate Awards for Excellence has been extended to Sept. 7. One Monroe Park Campus and one MCV Campus staff member will be honored for excellence in each of the following categories: integrity, staff advocacy, new employee, career achievement, and diversity and inclusion.

For more information, contact VCU Staff Senate at staffsenate@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1309 or visit http://www.staffsenate.vcu.edu/awards.

The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence is seeking submissions from community members who are interested in recording a brief, casual video discussion to showcase teaching excellence at VCU. The nomination form is at this URL: https://goo.gl/forms/iAjehyP2uq8mtIqD2

For more information, contact Caitlin Bergendahl at cbergendahl@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3492 or visit https://ctle.vcu.edu/programs/profiles-in-teaching-excellence/.