11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Peer Health Educators from the Wellness Resource Center will hold an event focusing on self-care for the holidays. The session will be in the lobby of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Peer Health Educators will discuss self-care habits and assist in making personalized journals to use during the upcoming year or to give as holiday gifts. The journals will focus on such topics as exercise, sleep and mindfulness. Prizes will be provided.

For more information, contact Nicole Renea Jimenez at jimeneznr@vcu.edu.

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

Staff and students are invited to join a Jewish Medical Ethics lunch hosted by Jewish Life at VCU. The topic is "Danger to Doctors and Moderate Risk." The discussion will run 12:15-12:45 p.m. The lunch will be in the first-floor conference room, Hunton Student Center, 1110 E. Broad St.

For more information, contact Rabbi Friedman at mjfriedman@vcu.edu or (804) 601-4613.

5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Have you ever wanted to step into someone else's shoes? Learn all about Embodied Virtual Reality at an event hosted by VCUarts on the fourth floor of The Anderson, 907 1/2 W. Franklin St. The event will include student works from ARTS 391 (Empathy and Embodiment in Virtual Reality), ARTS 391 (Virtual Reality and Performance) as well as work by Embodied Empathy, a VCUarts interdisciplinary lab. Also, the Empathy and Embodiment in Virtual Reality class will be open to the public for guests to experience the work from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 20 at The Anderson.

For more information, contact Monica Kinsey at kinseym@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7720.

7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Diversity Ambassadors and The Changemakers will host "Open Book: A Human Library Experience." The showcase of identity-based storytelling from members of the VCU community will highlight stories and experiences to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. The event will be held in the Ram's Lounge, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

For more information, contact Chris Jeter at RLHMaga@vcu.edu.

8 p.m.

Professor Toby Whitaker will direct the VCU Jazz Orchestra II in concert in Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, W.E. Singleton Center, 922 Park Ave. Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door and free with a valid VCU student ID. Music will feature Al Cohn, Eddie DeLange, Duke Ellington, Frank Foster, Freddie Green, Neal Hefti, Will Huston, Thad Jones and Sammy Nestico.

For more information, contact Antonio Garcia at musictix@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6776 or visit http://www.vcumusic.showclix.com.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU Police will hold its 10th annual chili cook-off at Rodney's Place in Shafer Court Dining Center, 810 Cathedral Place. Those who attend are asked to donate $5 to sample chili and get a hot bowl of their favorite recipe. All proceeds benefit FRIENDS Association for Children in Richmond. First-, second- and third-place winners will be named, along with a taster's favorite.

For more information, contact Jennifer Brown at jmbrown@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8387 or visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2364874923639463/.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Highland Support Project Club will host a screening of “Gold Fever” at the Pace Center, 700 W. Franklin St. The film focuses on three women in Guatemala who fought oppressive gold mining companies which used intimidation and violence to keep their operations running. The film, released in 2014, was directed by Andrew Shurburne, Tommy Haines and J.T. Haines. Ray Martin, Ph.D., an engineer who has led numerous trips to Guatemala, will also speak.

For more information, contact Drew Lynch at lynchdc@vcu.edu or (540) 422-1254.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Martha Few, Ph.D., Latin American history professor at Penn State University, will examine the insect's impact on Spain's colonies during a 150-year period. The event, hosted by VCU Department of History, is the first annual Harold and Laura Greer lecture on Latin American history. The talk will be in Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Starting in the 1680s and continuing through the 1830s, records show locust swarms in the region of what is now Central America and southern Mexico intensified in frequency, duration and geographic scope. This talk will analyze the politics of insect-killing campaigns when locusts swarmed and the impact on the colonists and Indigenous peoples as they grappled with food shortages, fear of disease and threats of social unrest. The lecture is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Andrea Wight at wighta@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1635 or visit https://history.vcu.edu/news/announcing-the-first-annual-harold-and-laura-greer-lecture.html.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Pre-Physical Therapy Club at VCU will host a panel of physical therapists in Room 1102, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. The panel participants practice in different settings and with different patient populations.

For more information, contact Seth Leibowitz, Ed.D., at slleibowitz@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1761.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Kim Bowman of VCU's Office of Development and Alumni Relations will speak at a meeting of the Retro Rams in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. The session will be interactive; those who attend should bring a laptop. Questions, Jenn Klee at kleejr@mymail.vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Glynis Boyd Hughes at gmboyd2@mymail.vcu.edu or (804) 803-6878.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 at 7 p.m.

VCU Department of Music's University Band and Symphonic Wind Ensemble will perform in concert at Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall, W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave. General admission is $10 and free for VCU students with a valid ID.

For more information, contact Anne Marie Dumain at dumainamm@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1169 or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/music/.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Minority Association of Pre-Health Students will host an end-of-the-semester celebratory catered banquet. The dinner will be held in Commonwealth Ballroom Room A, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Those who attend can also create care packages for patients.

For more information, contact Davidyne Reeves at reevesda2@mymail.vcu.edu.

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 from noon to 3 p.m.

College Panhellenic Council of VCU will sponsor a canned food and coat drive to benefit Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army. The council will be tabling on the Hibbs side of the Compass to collect coats, cans and money.

For more information, contact Isabella Wralstad at wralstadir@vcu.edu or (757) 202-7439.

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Daily Planet Health Services will host an event to prepare jars of Thanksgiving food for the homeless. The event will be in Room 2129, Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave. Learn about nonprofit health care, fundraising and volunteer opportunities. Those who participate will have the chance to donate jars, cook food and assemble jars.

For more information, contact Carmen Khalil at khalilc@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care will host a development seminar in Room 1013, Molecular Medicine Research Building, 1220 E. Broad St. Genevieve Beaird, Ph.D., will present her dissertation study assessing whether specific design features such as location, leader and a scripted structure associate with different levels of team collaboration and patient experiences. 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/13WRa5Iok4WXIjxFXOek4v7gQ5Oui9KfRgOPQ4hcU20I/viewform?edit_requested=true.

Construction and related utility work at and around the VCU Health Outpatient Facility and Inpatient Children’s Hospital sites will affect traffic patterns on the MCV Campus for several months. For current information and updates, visit the URL below.

For more information, contact Carrie Carroll at carrie.carroll@vcuhealth.org or visit http://vcuhealth.org/traffic.

December commencement exercises take place at 10 a.m. Dec. 14 in the E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St. Students participating in the ceremony must wear caps, gowns and hoods. Academic regalia should be purchased at the Barnes and Noble @ VCU on your respective campus. Regalia will be available for sale through Dec. 13 on the MCV and Monroe Park campuses. If you are unable to visit your campus store before Dec. 13, you may order online from through Dec. 1 at the following URL. Shipping charges apply to online orders. Caps and gowns will not be available for purchase at the commencement ceremony.

For more information, contact . at . or visit http://www.balfour.com/vcu.

The Wellness Resource Center's Resilience Lab is partnering with VCU Recreational Sports to provide $5 off a massage for those who sign up for a one-on-one resilience lab appointment. Register on the Heartmath appointment calendar at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mia Liadis at liadisa@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6919 or visit http://thewell.vcu.edu.

Episcopal Campus Ministry at VCU provides an opportunity for individuals to perform in front of a live audience on Fridays. Musicians and musical groups of all genres are welcome to participate from 12:30-2 p.m. at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 8 N. Laurel St. A piano, guitar, bass and rhythm instruments are available for use. Schedule a performance at the following email.

For more information, contact Julia Terhune at terhunejc@vcu.edu or (804) 359-5628 or visit https://www.facebook.com/ecmatvcu/.

Ram Pantry will host a Pop-Up Pantry for MCV students. The pantry will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 19 in Room 1075, College of Health Professions, 900 E. Leigh St. A valid student ID is required.

For more information, contact Felicia Dixon at fdixon@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3475 or visit https://dos.vcu.edu/services/ram-pantry/.

If you are paying $240 or $360 a year for an Adobe Creative Cloud license, you may cancel the subscription without paying a cancellation fee. Under the VCU enterprise license agreement, the suite of applications has been heavily discounted and is available to students for $60 per year or $30 for six months. Contact the IT Support Center at the following telephone number for instructions to terminate your contract and purchase a new, discounted license.

For more information, contact Lucy Halunko at lhalunko@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2227 or visit https://adobe.vcu.edu.

The VCU Office of Continuing and Professional Education offers a variety of in-classroom and online learning opportunities for VCU faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members. Continuing education is available in computer skills for the workplace, craft beer, cultural competency and languages, customer service, event planning, foundations of biochemistry, infant mental health, mindfulness, paralegal studies, play therapy and test prep for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT, ACT and MCAT.

For more information, contact VCU Office of Continuing and Professional Education at ocpe@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1322 or visit https://ocpe.vcu.edu/.