Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Military Student Services presents Veterans Among Us in the James River Terrace of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Faculty and staff veterans are invited to pick up their branch-specific VCU lapel pins and meet fellow veterans.

For more information, contact Stephen Ross at stross@vcu.edu or (804) 827-8730 or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhUtRovN1nrF4T2AsAM862qH4mZDEmeWOTwRMaCCTdZ3SYPQ/viewform.

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, 601 W. Broad St., hosts an artist's choice event with Declaration artist Hope Ginsburg. Become a certified land diver and develop new awareness of Richmond’s environment by concentrating on the breath, the body and the site. From 6–8 p.m., connect with environmental justice organizations and learn how to become involved. Come early for a 5 p.m. social hour with free snacks and a cash bar at ICA’s Ellwood Thompson's. Visit icavcu.org for more info.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/events/artistchoice-8152/.

Friday, Aug. 24, 2018 from noon to 1:15 p.m.

Human Resources presents "Retiring with the VCU Optional Retirement Plan" for university employees and faculty in Room 115 of the HR training facility, 922 W. Grace St. This session is open to faculty and university employees only, not VCU Health System employees.

For more information, contact Jennie Kim at jhkim5@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://training.vcu.edu/course_detail.asp?ID=16747.

A revised draft of VCU's new bicycle parking and removal policy is open for university comment through Aug. 21.

For more information, contact Erin Stanforth at eestanforth@vcu.edu or visit https://policy.vcu.edu/policies-open-for-public-comment.

Academic Technologies hosts several Top Hat Student Response System training sessions for faculty throughout the summer. Faculty can register for these sessions at https://training.vcu.edu/ (enter keyword: Top). A link to join the online sessions will be emailed to the registrants approximately one week before the session. Face-to-face sessions will be held during new faculty orientation week, Aug. 20-22.

For more information, contact Jana Avery at jcavery@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/tophat.

VCU's Global Education Office is seeking volunteers to host two to four international Fulbright Scholars for dinner in their homes or a favorite restaurant on Aug. 15. Fulbright scholars from across the globe will be visiting VCU for a brief orientation program before the U.S. portion of their Fulbright experience. Transportation is required.

For more information, contact Nichole Dorton at nldorton@vcu.edu or (804) 827-9331.

Nominations are being accepted through Aug. 24 for the 2018 Dorris Douglas Budd Award, which recognizes outstanding administrative and office support staff who enhance the image and mission of VCU and the VCU Health System.

For more information, contact Debbie Fitzgerald at dmfitzge@vcu.edu or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/recognition-and-awards/dorris-douglas-budd-award/.

Men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 who smoke cigarettes are invited to participate in a research study that requires five, three-hour laboratory visits. Compensation is provided. This study will be conducted at VCU's Thurston House, 808 W. Franklin St. Principal investigator is Andrew Barnes, Ph.D., VCU's Department of Health Behavior & Policy.

For more information, contact Michaela Blankenship at blankenshipmg@mymail.vcu.edu or (804) 828-1867 or visit http://wp.vcu.edu/cobbco/current-studies/.

Researchers at VCU are offering a new behavioral weight-loss program funded by the National Institutes for Health. The REACH Trial is designed specifically for overweight young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Eligible participants will receive personalized feedback and coaching to meet their goals.

For more information, contact Ryan Wolf at ryan.wolf@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-1460 or visit https://reachtrial.vcu.edu/.

The unconference, Aug. 24-25 in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., focuses on the intersection and sharing of technology, history, storytelling and hidden voices. The free event, sponsored by VCU Libraries and the Humanities Research Center, is open to all. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2018-19/thatcamp-new-souths-2018.html.

Grading for Summer 2018 has begun. Grade sheets are available on faculty eServices. Grades are due by noon Aug. 14. At that 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.

For more information, contact Records and Registration at rar@vcu.edu.

The Common Book Program is seeking faculty, staff and graduate students to facilitate or co-facilitate discussions about the 2018 Common Book with incoming first-year students during Welcome Week. Facilitators will receive a copy of this year's book, "Tell Me How It Ends," attend a 90-minute orientation on Aug. 15 or 16 and facilitate a 50-minute discussion on Aug. 20 or Aug. 21.

For more information, contact Micol Hutchison at mvhutchison@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1110 or visit http://commonbook.vcu.edu.

VCU Recreational Sports is offering a beginner Olympic-style weightlifting class.

For more information, contact Sydney Dale at fitness@vcu.edu or (804) 827-3441 or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/fitness/.