6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Keep yourself healthy during finals - and beyond. The Wellness Resource Center is hosting #MindfulFinals PopUp on Self-Care in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Learn more about techniques to keep healthy.

For more information, contact Carrie Baines at cabaines@vcu.edu.

12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Calm your mind with meditation during the noon hour. The College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute and Institute for Contemporary Art present Lunchtime Mindfulness Meditation @ ICA at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St. The free sessions are guided by experienced teachers. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Marcie Walsh at walshmj2@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0546 or visit https://icavcu.org/events/mindfulness-1204/.

12:30 p.m.

Learn how to apply to VCU's Honors College. An informational session for current VCU students will be held in Room 1303, the Honors College, 701 W. Grace St. Attendance at an informational session is required to apply.

For more information, contact Megan Dailey at mhdailey@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1403 or visit https://honors.vcu.edu/admissions/continuing-students/.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at noon

The devil you say? Is it even worth mentioning? The Catholic Graduate Student Organization's luncheon will be in Room 3-016, Sanger Hall, 1101 E. Marshall St. What do Catholic Christians believe about the darker side of the world and what could it possibly mean in a modern professional setting? VCU faculty advisor Mario Dance will share thoughts and experiences. Lunch will be served.

For more information, contact Mario Dance at medance@vcu.edu or (804) 828-9838.

Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 at 7 p.m.

Ten ensembles will be featured in the VCU Department of Music's holiday gala. The annual concert will be at the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. Scheduled to perform are Jazz Orchestra II, VCU Guitar Ensemble, VCU Community Guitar Ensemble, Vox Concordia (formerly Women's Choir), Bassoon Ensemble, VCU Symphony, VCU Health Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Commonwealth Singers. The event will benefit the Doorways, a nonprofit which provides lodging and support for patients and their families and friends during hospital stays. Tickets, available at go.vcu.edu/concerts, are $10 for general admissions and $5 for children 12 and younger.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu or visit https://www.thedoorways.org/.

Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at 3 p.m.

The architecture of the ICA at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St., will be highlighted during a tour. Michael Lease, the ICA's director of facilities, installation and exhibition design, will serve as guide at the event. Afterward, artist Aimee Joyaux will lead an open watercolor activity.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at ica@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 at 7 p.m.

Lend a hand to VCU students who are 30-plus. Retro Rams will hold an interest meeting in Room 404, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Retro Rams is a new support/service organization addressing the challenges and experiences of nontraditional undergraduate students at VCU who are transfers, resuming studies or first-timers attending college.

For more information, contact Glynis Boyd Hughes at gmboyd2@vcu.edu or (804) 482-9129.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 from noon to 1 p.m.

Give yourself the gift of self-care for the holidays. VCU's Wellness Resource Center will host a brown bag session at The Well, 815 S. Cathedral Place. Bring a lunch. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kat Corrin at corrinkh@vcu.edu or visit http://bit.ly/VCUHealthForTheHolidays.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at 7 p.m.

VCU's Department of African American Studies presents a talk and book signing with Bol Gai Deng. The event will be in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Room 215, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Deng, a VCU alumnus, came to the United States as a Sudanese refugee in 1999. He is currently running for president of South Sudan as the Kush Democratic Majority party candidate. He recently told his story to author Andrea McDaniel in "Bol Gai Deng: Legacy of an African Freedom Fighter." The event is free and open to the public, and books will be available for purchase.

For more information, contact Dae Newman at newmanad@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1384 or visit http://afam.vcu.edu.

Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Global Brigades Medical Chapter at VCU will sell cocoa ($1) and baked goods ($2) on the lawn side of the Compass. Funds from "Cocoa in the Compass" will be used to help purchase medical supplies for the group's trip to Honduras this winter.

For more information, contact Janel Boyles de Rondón at boylesderonjp@vcu.edu.

Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

United2Heal and VCU Student Government Association are holding a Super Warehouse event. Food and music will be provided at Unit 31, 2601 Maury St. Rides will be available at the Commons Loop at 3 p.m.

For more information, contact Qasim Hasan at hasanqa@mymail.vcu.edu or (571) 223-8271.

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon

Employee training for the proper handling of dangerous goods has been scheduled. VCU Environmental Health and Safety will host the training at George Ben Johnston Auditorium, 305 N. 12th St., for VCU and VCU Health employees who mark, label, pack or prepare/sign shipping documents containing dangerous goods. Handling dangerous goods without training or lapsed training is illegal and may subject the handler and university to fines.

For more information, contact Danny Munoz at dmunoz2@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1279 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=HH3RY99WRP.

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018 from noon to 1:15 p.m.

Human Resources presents "How to Retire With the Virginia Retirement System." The program, for VCU employees, will be in Jackson Ward Conference Room B of the Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St. This session is open to VCU 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=16792.

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Offer support to a student or loved one in recovery. VCU's Wellness Resource Center will host a training session for the Recovery Ally Program in the Alumni Association Board Room, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Registration is required at the following URL.

For more information, contact Thomas N Bannard at bannardtn@vcu.edu or (804) 366-8027 or visit https://goo.gl/2hY6KC.

The "World AIDS Day Art Showcase" scheduled for Dec. 4 has been canceled. The event, hosted by the Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention and Black Art Student Empowerment, was to be held at Grace and Broad Residence Center - Phase I, 1000 W. Grace St.

For more information, contact Bianca Owens at owensb2@vcu.edu.

Utility work at VCU's Health Outpatient Facility construction site will affect traffic patterns. The work, at the corner of North 10th and East Leigh streets, will alter traffic patterns in the area of the MCV Campus over the next several months.

For more information, contact Jake Hughes at jake.hughes@am.jll.com or visit https://www.vcuhealth.org/news-center/building-projects/outpatient-facility-updates.

Graduating students and faculty who plan to participate in VCU’s commencement must register. RSVP to reserve a seat for the Dec. 8 Siegel Center event at the following URL.

For more information, contact . at UNIVevents@vcu.edu or visit https://commencement.vcu.edu/rsvp/.

You can sign up now for the Out of the Darkness Campus Walk. VCU's Wellness Resource Center seeks to end the stigma around mental health. The Well is working with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and members of the campus community to promote the March 3 event. Participate in the walk, become a virtual walker or donate at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mia Liadis at liadisa@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6919 or visit https://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=5839.

Early bird special tickets are available through Dec. 19 for the MCV Campus Winter Ball. The event, sponsored by VCU Student Government Association, will be 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Jan. 26 at Main Street Station, 1500 E. Main St. Tickets may be purchased at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jenaé Harrington at jdharrington@vcu.edu or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-vcu-winter-ball-tickets-51718101233.

A sea kayak trip in Florida's Everglades is being offered by VCU Recreational Sports Outdoor Adventure Program. An exploration of marshes, swamps and open water will be featured in the Jan. 5-12 trip. Registration closes at 6 p.m. Dec. 11.

For more information, contact Karl Schmidt at kmschmidt@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1274 or visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=3defbc14-f808-48c2-9869-86ded01efa58&semesterId=f96fd974-b6e5-4960-bcfa-5594ccbb8451.

Lend a hand to a VCU group which helps area underprivileged high school students interested in STEM-H careers. Executive board and committee forms are now open for Stepping into STEM-H at VCU, an initiative that places underprivileged students from Title I Priority high schools in the greater Richmond area on a pathway to STEM-H careers through workshops and mentoring.

For more information, contact Devina Thapa at thapad2@vcu.edu or visit https://goo.gl/forms/j5vTOatF3SKaiysn2.

VCU announces the option of including pronouns on business cards as part of an ongoing commitment to inclusivity and diversity. For ordering information, visit the following URL or go to the B&B Printing e-catalog on eVA. For custom orders or questions, contact the following email address.

For more information, contact VCU Stationery at stationery@vcu.edu or visit https://stationery.vcu.edu/.

Nominations are being accepted through Dec. 17 for the 2019 Excellence in Virginia Government Awards. The awards, sponsored by VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, celebrate people and organizations in the public and private sectors who have made significant contributions to the practice of government. An awards luncheon will be held April 11 at the downtown Richmond Marriott. Make a nomination at the following URL.

For more information, contact Paula Otto at piotto@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1146 or visit https://bit.ly/2PuojIU.