1:30 p.m.

Au Bon Pain, 944 W. Grace St., will open at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The first 50 guests at VCUDine's newest location will receive a free croissant, samples and giveaways. The bakery café, owned by Panera Bread with over 300 locations in the United States, India and Thailand, serves sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods and beverages.

For more information, contact Lauren Hay at lhay@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1148 or visit http://vcu.campusdish.com.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eat a healthy diet during finals. It could even make you smarter. The Wellness Resource Center and VCU Dining is hosting #MindfulFinals PopUp on Healthy Eating in the lobby of Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place. Stop by for some healthy snacks and tips on a healthy diet.

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

11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A planning meeting has been scheduled for the Spring 2019 Wellness Fair. The Pace Center will host the event, at 700 W. Franklin St. Student organizations supporting wellness, VCU departments and offices and community partners and services in the Richmond area will be highlighted.

For more information, contact Alisha Childress at childressaj@vcu.edu or visit http://www.thepacecenter.com/.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU Associate Professor Sachi Shimomura will speak at the English Faculty Forum. The talk, "Unburied Time, Medieval Narratives and Community Memory," hosted by VCU's Department of English, will be in Room 308, Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Rivka Swenson at rswenson@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1331 or visit https://english.vcu.edu/news--events/faculty-forum/.

7 p.m.

The University Band will perform in concert. The VCU Department of Music presents the event in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 from 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.

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

Spring 2019 Monroe Park Campus commuter permits may be purchased at https://parking.vcu.edu/. All students must be registered for classes prior to purchasing. For more information, visit the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Parking and Transportation at parking@vcu.edu or visit https://parking.vcu.edu/parking/students/options-and-rates/.

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Prepare your mind and body for exams. The SGA and Graduate and Professional Student Programming Board will be hosting study break activities on the second floor of the Hunton Student Center, 1110 E. Broad St. Socialize while enjoying refreshments and games. A second break will be held at the same time and place on Dec. 5.

For more information, contact Jenaé Harrington at jdharrington@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 from noon to 1 p.m.

Immigrant enforcement policies in Virginia will be the topic of a panel discussion. The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will present "Virginia is for immigrants? Exploring the trends, players, and impacts of immigration enforcement policies." The brown-bag luncheon session will be in the lower level of the Raleigh Building, 1001 W. Franklin St. Featured will be perspectives from the Office of Public Policy Outreach/Center for Public Policy's public policy polls and academic research. Panelists include Brittany Keegan, a doctoral student, Wilder School, and Salta Liebert, Ph.D., associate professor, public administration, Wilder School. Moderator will be Grant Rissler, Ph.D., assistant director of the Center for Public Policy, Wilder School. RSVP to bkeegan@mymail.vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Shirley McDaniel at srmcdani@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0867 or visit http://wilder.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 from noon 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/.

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 at 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/.

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Barnes & Noble @ VCU on the Monroe Park Campus will host a holiday party. The event will be held in the café, with drink specials, a DIY gift wrapping station, cookie decorating, holiday crafts and more. Ugly holiday sweaters are encouraged.

For more information, contact Amy Randolph at arandolph@vcu.edu or visit http://www.vcubooks.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 from noon to 1 p.m.

Inhibiting the growth of cancer tumors is the topic of a talk about research at VCU. Paul Dent, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, will present “RAS: To Boldly Go Where None Have Gone Before” at a lecture hosted by VCU's Office of Research and Innovation. Dent's research team has discovered a way to inhibit RAS, a protein that drives cancer tumor growth and chemotherapy resistance, and enhance the degradation of mutant RAS proteins, leading to an upcoming clinical trial.

For more information, contact Lydia Klinger at leklinger@vcu.edu or (804) 628-2642 or visit https://research.vcu.edu/events/because_of_you.htm.

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 from noon to 4 p.m.

Off Campus Student Services is partnering with River City Fashion Uprising for an item swap. Bring any new or gently used clothing, shoes or housewares to swap for something new to Suite 229, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Lisa Mathews-Ailsworth at offcampus@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4514.

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 at noon

The CLAIRON competition will be discussed at an interest meeting. The session will be held in Rooms 104 and 105, Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building, 1217 E. Marshall St. CLARION is a competition between interdisciplinary teams of health-related professional students to brainstorm solutions of complex current health care problems. The winning team earns scholarships. Food will be provided to those who RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Melissa Burton at mhburton@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2898 or visit https://goo.gl/forms/8VUd8ATVJyB5U6Ft2.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at noon

What's next for federal health law, provider reimbursement and Obamacare? In the wake of the midterm elections, a seminar hosted by VCU's Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care features IPEC adjunct Ross K. Airington, director of health policy for Washington Strategic Consulting, in Room 2-020, Sanger Hall, 1101 E. Marshall St. Lunch will be provided to those who register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Melissa Burton at mhburton@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2898 or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-KzoQrYkFNejKjGZu25c3MWaiKBFu69PdhhszERJXtjRbLQ/viewform.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at 3:45 p.m.

Preliminary results from VCU's Spit for Science project will be presented. The program's undergraduate research team will offer findings of the university-wide study in Room 1004F/G, West Grace Street Student Housing – South, 835 W. Grace St. The project's goal is to create cross-disciplinary opportunities for students to work with researchers in emotional health and substance use.

For more information, contact Spit4Science at spit4science@vcu.edu or visit http://spit4science.vcu.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at 5 p.m.

VCU's Chamber Brass Ensemble will perform in a free concert. The university's Department of Music presents a recital by the ensemble in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall of the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

VCU School of Medicine presents its first Educational Grand Rounds, "Entrustable Professional Activities." The event will be held in the auditorium of the Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building, 1217 E. Marshall St. Maryellen Gusic, M.D., professor of Medical Education, University of Virginia, will discuss how assessment of learning and entrustment contributes to student performance in departments and clerkships. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Katherine Henderson at katherine.henderson@vcuhealth.org or (804) 828-9823 or visit https://vcuhealth.libcal.com/event/4717595.

Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU President Michael and Mrs. Monica Rao will host a university-wide holiday open house. The annual event will take place in the Court End Ballrooms at the Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact University Events at univevents@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyl_IYZB3ErbYYoxn5YMpPGBPOJozC9S6_1hQJX4iq_nu4-A/viewform?usp=sf_link.

Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 at 5 p.m.

An informational session about Mozilla has been scheduled. A tech specialist from Mozilla will discuss recruitment opportunities for students involving software development, cybersecurity and product management, in Room 2214, College of Engineering East Hall, 401 W. Main St.

For more information, contact John Naylor at naylorjo@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 from noon to 6 p.m.

VCU Police will hold a blood drive at its headquarters at 224 E. Broad St. The department has set a goal to collect 24 pints of blood for the American Red Cross, which currently has a blood shortage. Each donor will be emailed a $5 Amazon gift card. Appointments are limited and may be made at the following URL, using the sponsor code VCUPD. Walk-ins are welcome. Parking is available in the headquarters parking lot.

For more information, contact Lt. Nicole Dailey at NVDailey@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6226 or visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/.

VCU's Phillips Institute for Oral Health Research is offering 10-week, fully funded summer internships. Opportunities are available in oncology, microbiology, infection and immunity and tissue engineering. Apply by Feb. 28.

For more information, contact Oonagh Loughran at oloughran@vcu.edu or visit https://philipsinstitute.vcu.edu/postgraduate/summerresearch/.

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.

A climbing trip near Monterrey, Mexico, will be hosted by VCU's Recreational Sports Outdoor Adventure Program. The El Portrero Chico Climbing Trip is scheduled for Jan. 5-12. Activities include hiking, hot springs, exploring Hidalgo/Nuevo Leon and intermediate to advanced climbing. Register by 5 p.m. Dec. 11.

For more information, contact Sam Albert at scalbert@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8473 or visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=d0ca2af6-77f0-41fa-9c53-6ad3a3a54540&semesterId=f96fd974-b6e5-4960-bcfa-5594ccbb8451.