12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Take a midday break at a casual luncheon. Listen to live relaxing music in Patterson Memorial Garden, outside Hunton Student Center, 1110 E. Broad St. Pick up a free gourmet frozen pop from King of Pops (first come, first served) at the event, sponsored by the Graduate and Professional Student Programming Board.

For more information, contact Shravan Morla at morlas@vcu.edu.

12 p.m.

The Catholic Graduate Student Organization at MCV will sponsor a mass for health professionals and students. The mass will be held in the chapel at Main Hospital, 1250 E. Marshall St. All students and staff are welcome.

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

4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU's Spit for Science undergraduate research team will host an informational community event about the program. The event, open to all VCU students, will be held in Room 1112A, Grace and Broad Residence Center 1, 1000 W. Grace St., and will include food and prizes. Those who attend will also be able to practice DNA extraction.

For more information, contact Amy Adkins at adkinsae@vcu.edu .

6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Leslie Harris, professor of history, Northwestern University, will talk about legacies of slavery in institutions of higher education. Harris is the author of "In the Shadow of Slavery: African Americans in New York City, 1626-1863," co-editor of several essay collections about the history of slavery in North America and co-convener of the first international conference on recovering the histories of slavery at higher education institutions in the United States and abroad. She will speak at the final "Virginia's Past, Present, and Future" event of the semester, the year-long series presented by VCU's Humanities Research Center and Department of History in partnership with American Evolution: Virginia to America, 1619-2019. The talk will be in the third-floor lecture hall, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Michael Means at meansmm2@vcu.edu or visit https://humanitiescenter.vcu.edu/spring-2019-speaker-series-leslie-harris.

Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2019 at 6 p.m.

The VCU Department of Music presents Advanced Chamber Ensembles. The concert will be in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall of the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. for the Performing Arts. Admission is free.

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

Thursday, Apr. 11, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

VCU's Wellness Resource Center will host National Alcohol Screening Day. Learn about alcohol safety and and get a free T-shirt and pizza for talking with representatives from The Well about your alcohol use. The event will be held in the plaza of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. The rain location will be the Richmond Salons of the Commons.

For more information, contact Kat Corrin at corrinkh@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7815 or visit http://thewell.vcu.edu.

Sunday, Apr. 14, 2019 at 7 p.m.

The VCU Department of Music presents a Cello Studio Recital. The concert will be held in the Recital Hall of the James W. Black Music Center, 1015 Grove Ave. Admission is free.

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

Thursday, Apr. 11, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Spend an evening painting with VCU students and staff. This fun, laid-back networking opportunity includes free dinner and refreshments. Space is limited; RSVP at the Graduate and Professional Student Programming Board page on the following URL.

For more information, contact Shravan Morla at gspb@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/gspb.

Friday, Apr. 12, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Burn off some stress with a special, one-time MCV-edition of this popular dance workout class. Learn K-pop moves from a professional dancer and use up some calories. The event will be in the Court End Ballroom, Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St. Healthy snacks, drinks and fitness-related giveaways will be provided to all who attend. Register at the following URL at ramsconnect.vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Shravan Morla at gspb@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/gspb.

Monday, Apr. 15, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU Libraries presents an opportunity for informal discussions over lunch about qualitative research. The session, in honor of VCU's Graduate Credential in Qualitative Research, will be held in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Discover new books and videos on qualitative collection and analysis. Learn about preserving and sharing the insights you gain. Increase your toolkit of analytical software in different paradigms. Share your methods interests with like-minded VCU researchers. Bring your lunch.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2018-19/qualitative-brown-bag.html.

Tuesday, Apr. 16, 2019 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU Parking and Transportation will host a forum for students, faculty and staff in the auditorium of the Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building, 1217 E. Marshall St. Parking and Transportation administration members will discuss recent initiatives, improvements and address audience concerns. Those who cannot attend can view the forum live by visiting the following URL.

For more information, contact Jonsette Calloway at callowayjn@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4482 or visit https://apps.parking.vcu.edu/livestream.asp.

Tuesday, Apr. 16, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Jennifer Rhee, Ph.D., associate professor of English at VCU, will discuss her latest book, "The Robotic Imaginary: The Human and the Price of Dehumanized Labor." The book traces the provocative and productive connections of contemporary robots in technology, film, art and literature. The talk will take place in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Michael Means at meansmm2@vcu.edu or visit https://humanitiescenter.vcu.edu/meet-vcus-authors-jennifer-rhee.

Tuesday, Apr. 16, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Stuart Horowitz, Ph.D., will speak at the April chapter meeting of the Central Virginia Society of Clinical Research Associates. The session will be in Room 304, first floor, VCU Medical Center Critical Care Hospital, 1213 E. Clay St. He will discuss comparative site trial data, site enrollment performance and how enrollment can be improved.

For more information, contact Shirley Helm at shirley.helm@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-2942 or visit https://rampages.us/vcucctr/2019/03/25/central-virginia-socra-chapter-meeting-comparative-site-trial-data-site-enrollment-performance-and-how-enrollment-can-be-improved/.

Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

VCU's Wellness Resource Center in collaboration with Students Advocating Violence Education and Support at VCU are hosting "Take Back The Night." The rally for survivors of sexual violence and their allies will be held in the Richmond Salons, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Kaylin Tingle at tinglekm@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2019 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Young Aces Open tennis event, hosted by VCU's Division of Community Engagement and Richmond Public Schools, will be at the Mary and Frances Youth Center, 120 S. Linden St. More than 200 fourth- and fifth-graders from each of the city's 26 pubic elementary schools participate. Volunteers welcome participants, serve as court monitors, facilitate fun activity stations and assist with event management logistics. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rachel Rhoney at lobsandlessons@gmail.com or (804) 828-9276 or visit https://givepul.se/5ijfn.

Friday, Apr. 19, 2019 from noon to 1 p.m.

The five components of backward design will be discussed at a workshop facilitated by Jonathan Lindsay and Stephen Wechman. VCU's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence will host the session, in Room 4100, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. The event will focus on using this planning strategy to create effective assessments that reflect specific learning goals. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/Y4PxsHbNXRGRvvvJ7.

Sunday, Apr. 21, 2019 at 7 a.m.

VCU Recreational Sports will host a day hike in celebration of Earth Day. Participants will be able to explore and discover various plant and wildlife species. Register by April 16 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Karl Schmidt at kmschmidt@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1274 or visit https://portal.recsports.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=85248a6d-0fcc-430f-b4d3-542aacc6212d&semesterId=de8463d0-2001-43ba-8bb4-b37c567ccaa6.

Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019 from noon to 1:15 p.m.

Human Resources presents "How to Retire with the Virginia Retirement System" for VCU employees. The session will be in Jackson Ward Conference Room B, Johan L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St. This session is open to VCU employees only, not VCU Health System employees.

For more information, contact Sherri Goodine at https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/ or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://training.vcu.edu/course_detail.asp?ID=16966.

Virginia Commonwealth University's May Commencement exercises take place at 10 a.m. on May 11 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Faculty participating in the ceremony will wear academic apparel. Regalia must be ordered by April 12.

For more information, contact . at . or visit http://apps.bsv.vcu.edu/retailstr/commencement.pdf.

Utility work and construction at the VCU Health Outpatient Facility construction site continues. The work, at the corner of North 10th and East Leigh streets, will affect traffic patterns in the area of the MCV Campus over the next several months. For current information and updates, visit the URL below.

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

Nominations for VCU's Excellence in Interprofessionalism Award will be accepted until 5 p.m. April 12. VCU's Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care established the award to recognize full-time VCU students graduating in 2019 and faculty within five years of their initial full-time faculty appointment. Nominees should have demonstrated involvement and interest in promoting interprofessional activities. Self-nominations are accepted and encouraged. Faculty, programs, and schools may also nominate qualifying candidates. Make a nomination at the following URL.

For more information, contact Melissa Burton at mhburton@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2898 or visit https://rampages.us/cipe/.

Consider nominating a nurse you know for one of the Sigma, the nursing honor society, Gamma Omega Awards of Excellence. Submit a nomination at the following URL by April 15.

For more information, contact Genevieve Beaird at gbeaird@vcu.edu or visit https://nursing.vcu.edu/about-us/sigma-theta-tau/.

Online nominations for outstanding communications professionals are currently being accepted through May 31 for the 2020 Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. The event recognizes communication professionals with exceptional careers in advertising, journalism, public relations, new media and other media fields. Nomination requirements are available at the following URL.

For more information, contact Caitlin Hanbury at cshanbury@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0862 or visit https://robertson.vcu.edu/engage/va-hall-of-fame/.

The program is offered by Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. It includes weekly individual behavioral weight management visits for teens that cover topics including healthy eating and goal-setting, plus an exercise training program. STRIVE participants will visit the program’s dedicated gym facilities three times a week where they will work with personal trainers to improve their fitness. Eligibility requirements are available at the following URL.

For more information, contact STRIVE Team at teens@vcuhealth.org or (804) 527-4756 or visit http://www.chrichmond.org/STRIVE.