11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The VCU Division of Administration is hosting public open houses to preview a draft of the ONE VCU Master Plan. VCU and VCU Health communities are invited to share feedback. Sessions will also be held on Sept. 17 from 5-7 p.m. and Sept. 18 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information, contact Jessica Bryant at masterplan@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4018 or visit http://masterplan.vcu.edu.

4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Brooke Newman, VCU Associate Professor of History and Associate Director of the Humanities Research Center, will present her book: "A Dark Inheritance: Blood, Race and Sex in Colonial Jamaica" in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Newman offers a reassessment of the development of race and subjecthood in the British Atlantic and shows how colonial racial ideologies justified African slavery and barred members of marginalized groups from claiming inherited rights of British subjects.

For more information, contact Michael Means at meansmm2@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4729.

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Explore Afro-Cuban, New Orleans and Brazilian music with VCU Jazz Director Antonio Garcia in the SGA Senate Room Chambers, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. This free event, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, is co-sponsored by the School of World Studies and the Division for Inclusive Excellence.

For more information, contact Anita Nadal at nadalaa@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8947 or visit http://www.inclusive@vcu.edu.

4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sept. 17 marks 50 years since the start of classes at VCU, and VCU Alumni is celebrating the occasion with a birthday bash on the Compass. Games, giveaways and cake will be available.

For more information, contact Allison Toney at aktoney@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2018 at 11 a.m.

In recognition of Constitution Day, VCU Libraries presents political scientist John Augenbaugh, Ph.D., and historian John Kneebone, Ph.D., who will discuss the clauses of the first amendment guaranteeing U.S. citizens the rights to assemble and to present their grievances to the government.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0129 or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2018-19/constitution-day-2018.html.

Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2018 at noon

The Catholic Graduate Student Organization will sponsor a mass for Catholic medical professionals and graduate students in Chapel Room 209, Main Hospital, 1250 E. Marshall St. All are welcome; seating is limited to 50.

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

Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

VCU’s Science, Technology and Society program hosts “Imagining Animals Through Science,” at the Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. The discussion will examine the relationships between Victorian Americans, science and animals in the midst of such events as slavery, the Civil War and the decline of the ecosystem. Panelists include Henry McGhie, head of collections and curator of zoology at Manchester Museum, University of Manchester; Abraham Gibson, NSF postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Biology and Society at Arizona State University; and VCU faculty member Kathryn Shively Meier, author of "Nature's Civil War." A book signing will follow.

For more information, contact Kathryn Shivley Meier at kmeier@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8427.

Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2018 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Members of VCU's Activities Programming Board will discuss their current roles, responsibilities and answer questions in the Richmond Salons of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Nicholas Hooks at hooksnc@vcu.edu or (804) 402-5600 or visit http://apb.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2018 at 8 p.m.

The VCU Department of Music presents the U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble at the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1169 or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/music/2018/08/22/us-army-blues-jazz-ensemble-september-18/.

Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2018 at 8 p.m.

United Healthcare Network will host its first workshop, "Pre-Health Undergraduate Experience," in Room A, University Student Commons.

For more information, contact Grace Linder at linderge@vcu.edu or (610) 737-4223 or visit https://vcu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/unitedhealthcarenetwork.

Wednesday, Sep. 19, 2018 at 2:30 p.m.

VCU's Department of Painting + Printmaking presents a lecture by artist Kamrooz Aram at the Institute for Contemporary Art Auditorium, 601 W. Broad St. Aram, born in Iran, lives and works in Brooklyn, N.Y. He received a BFA from Maryland Institute, College of Art, in 2001 and an MFA from Columbia University in 2003.

For more information, contact Kat Wilson at papr@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/paintingprintmaking/2018/08/29/kamrooz-aram-lecture/.

Wednesday, Sep. 19, 2018 at 6 p.m.

Artist Jon-Phillip Sheridan leads a conversation at the Institute for Contemporary Art with Bioengineer Stephen Fong and Forest Ecologist Chris Gough about green urbanism and grassroots strategies to mitigate pollution and the urban heat island effect.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/events/artistschoice-0919/.

Thursday, Sep. 20, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Graduate Student Associate and the Graduate School will hold a Meet the Dean event in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. The Graduate School's Dean, F. Douglas Boudinot, and other university administrators and graduate students will be in attendance. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Jennifer Tennison at tennisonj@vcu.edu.

Friday, Sep. 21, 2018 from noon to 1 p.m.

The VCU Center on Health Disparities hosts "Stress Management" presented by the team from the Wellness Resource Center at VCU at Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St. Lunch will be provided. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Alisa Brewer at alisa.brewer@vcuhealth.org or (804) 827-2075 or visit https://goo.gl/forms/GgRbewR6hDGiOYHA3.

Friday, Sep. 21, 2018 from noon to 1 p.m.

As a result of closing due to severe weather, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence has now rescheduled the Teaching Excellence Academy session to be held at the Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://goo.gl/forms/4uHZDCSHajlVEDS33.

Friday, Sep. 21, 2018 at 5 p.m.

Registration ends Sept. 20 for VCU Recreational Sports' lifeguard certification course, which runs Sept. 21-30 in the Cary Street Gym Aquatic Center.

For more information, contact Jenna Bordeaux at bordeauxjk@vcu.edu or (804) 827-9999 or visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=8f04eb94-8b05-4785-bfc5-8f1060041199&semesterId=f96fd974-b6e5-4960-bcfa-5594ccbb8451.

Monday, Sep. 24, 2018 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Equity and Access Services presents a review of VCU's Sexual Misconduct/Violence and Sex/Gender Discrimination Policy in Room 311, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. The session is open to all, but space is limited to 20 attendees.

For more information, contact Tammi Slovinsky at tslovinsky@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1963.

Monday, Sep. 24, 2018 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Work with a Money Coach from the Money Spot to create your own spending plan for the semester at this workshop, in the Alumni Association Board Room of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. A spending plan template will be provided. Bring your laptop. Money Mondays is brought to you by VCU TRIO Student Support Services, the Money Spot at VCU and the Virginia Credit Union.

For more information, contact TRIO Student Support Services at trio@vcu.edu or (804) 828-9517 or visit http://www.trio.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Sep. 25, 2018 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Minority Association of Pre-Health Students presents a vitals workshop at the Grace and Broad student residency, 1000 W. Grace St.

For more information, contact Madina Nooristani at nooristanimn@vcu.edu or (703) 996-6015.

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

VCU's Activities Programming Board presents actor, writer, poet and model Demetrius Harmon in the Commonwealth Ballrooms, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Tickets can be obtained via Eventbrite by VCU students using a valid VCU email address.

For more information, contact Nicholas Hooks at hooksnc@vcu.edu or (804) 402-5600 or visit http://apb.vcu.edu.

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 at 8:30 a.m.

In addition to the above date, Women in Science at VCU will host the organization's third annual Graduate Shadow Day on Oct. 12, 17 and 18. Undergraduate students will spend the day with their graduate student host, sitting in on classes and lab work. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. To shadow, sign up at the following URL. To host an undergraduate student, sign up at http://signup.com/go/bbcWKUB.

For more information, contact Jacqueline Grible at vcu.wis@gmail.com or visit https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2449586/false#/invitation.

Sept. 17 is the election deadline for changes to become effective in October for Virginia Retirement System Hybrid Plan participants. Voluntary contributions can be changed once per calendar quarter. Participants can voluntarily contribute up to 4 percent of their creditable salary and receive up to a 2.5 percent employer match.

For more information, contact VCU Human Resources, Benefits at benefits@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://www.varetirement.org/hybrid.html.

Registration ends Sept. 19 for VCU Recreational Sports' slow-pitch softball league, which begins play Sept. 30.

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

VCU's New Student and Family Programs is accepting submissions for departments, organizations and clubs who would like to host an event during VCU's Nov. 2-4 Family Weekend. Register by Oct. 1.

For more information, contact Lynanne Yndestad at ljyndestad@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1025 or visit https://goo.gl/forms/d96OD626wKuZWeOJ3.

University Gmail users were given the option to switch to the new Gmail in May. Those who have not yet switched will be automatically moved by Google on or after Sept.18, with the option to opt out of the new experience until Oct. 16.

For more information, contact Connie Whetstine at ctlowery@vcu.edu or visit https://apps.vcu.edu/apps.