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/.

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

The next segment in the "Whetting Your Appetite for Research" series has been scheduled. The C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences will host the event, in Room 2010, Tompkins-McCaw, 509 N. 12th St. Robyn McDougle, Ph.D., director of the VCU Center for Public Policy, will discuss techniques investigators can use to convey their research findings to policymakers. Participants can bring a lunch, drinks will be provided.

For more information, contact Pam Dillon at pmdillon@vcu.edu or visit https://rampages.us/vcucctr/2018/11/30/december-whetting-your-appetite-for-research-series/december-whetting-your-appetite-for-research-1/.

Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU Libraries invites students, faculty, librarians, scientists, writers and researchers to the Virginia satellite session of the international conference OpenCon on Jan. 11. OpenCon Virginia brings together students, researchers, educators and librarians and others who want to learn how to create a more open system of information in research and education. The program, in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., includes keynotes, lightning talks and breakouts on open data, reproducibility and open educational resources. Register for the event or to propose a five-minute lightning talk (deadline Dec. 21) at the following URL.

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/opencon-.html.

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Richmond artist and VCU Painting and Printmaking Department faculty member Brooke Inman will lead a button- and magnet-making session. All materials will be provided for the event, inspired by the current exhibitions "Hedges, Edges, Dirt" and "Provocations: Rashid Johnson" at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/events/artistchoice-1219/.

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018 at 7 p.m.

Singer and songwriter Elizabeth Wise will perform at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St. Music begins at 7:15 p.m.; conversation and complimentary snacks precede the event.

For more information, contact Institute for Contemporary Art at ica@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/events/inyourear-1119/.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 at 8 a.m.

The Office of Alumni Relations is embarking on its first national tour, and the events begin Jan. 9 in Richmond. The ensuing 22-city tour following the Richmond kickoff puts VCU Alumni’s new strategic plan, ELEVATE (Expanding Leadership, Enrichment and Volunteerism for Alumni Through Engagement), in motion and brings new opportunities and programming to elevate the alumni experience. From Jan. 9-19, Richmond-area alumni, including VCU faculty and staff, can select from a schedule of cultural excursions, career and personal development programming and social events. Learn more about the ELEVATE Tour, including a Jan. 9 breakfast forum for faculty and staff who are alumni or current students, and register, at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Alumni at alumni@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2586 or visit https://www.vcualumni.org/about/strategic-plan/elevate-tour/.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 from 9 a.m. to noon

The Wellness Resource Center will host the Recovery Ally Program, a training session designed to help participants better support students and loved ones in recovery. The session, for faculty, staff and students, will be held in Room 1105, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. Registration, at the following URL, is mandatory.

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

VCU's Academic Learning Transformation Lab will offer three faculty development courses in the spring. The online sessions involve designing an individual online course, exploring best practices for online student engagement and the management of time and teaching presence as an online instructor. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tim Luckritz Marquis at tluckritzmarq@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1924 or visit https://altlab.vcu.edu/spring-2019-offerings/.

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.

VCU supervisors are required to inform university Safety and Risk Management when a serious incident occurs. VCU is required by state law to report serious injuries to the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Click on "Report a Serious Incident" at the following URL.

For more information, contact Christine Blakey at cblakey@vcu.edu or visit http://srm.vcu.edu.

VCU Collaboration Services will adjust Google Drive trash retention on Dec. 17. Documents deleted in Google Drive including Team Drive will be purged from trash and backup after 60 days. Previously, trash remained in Google Drive indefinitely.

For more information, contact Doctor Gee at drgee@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.

Dec. 17 is the election deadline for changes to become effective in January 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 Administration at benefits@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://www.varetirement.org/hybrid.html.