12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Mary Caton Lingold, Ph.D., an assistant professor of English at VCU, will speak at the English Faculty Forum. The talk will be in Room 308, Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave. Lingold will explore the life and work of a man named Mr. Baptiste, who lived in Jamaica in the late 17th century. He composed music portraying three different African traditions as they were performed by enslaved people at the time. Baptiste’s pieces were eventually published in Hans Sloane’s 1707 travel narrative and natural history of Jamaica. The talk argues that Mr. Baptiste may have been one of the earliest known black American composers while also addressing larger issues concerning questions of identity and race in colonial archives. All are welcome.

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

12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Connect with organizations offering opportunities that unite academic goals to authentic, real-world work that advances your career development. The fair will be on the second floor of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Gain exposure to a work environment you want to explore through internships, field work, externships, work study, study-abroad experiences and undergraduate research activities. Pre-Professional Health Students should visit the Healthcare Opportunities booths to connect directly with employers who offer volunteer and service hours. The event is sponsored by VCU Career Services and VCU Pre-Professional Health Advising.

For more information, contact Lian Currie at lcurrie@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1645 or visit https://tinyurl.com/ExpOpps19.

2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Join VCU's Wellness Resource Center for a 20-minute guided meditation. The session, at the Wellness Resource Center, 815 S. Cathedral Place, will focus on a body scan for deep rest and relaxation.

For more information, contact Mia Liadis at liadisa@vcu.edu or (804) 828-9355 or visit http://thewell.vcu.edu.

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

RamPantry at VCU will hold an Octoberfest on the Shafer side at the Compass with cornhole, hot apple cider and pumpkin painting. Donate $1 or one food item for cider and $3 or three food items to paint a pumpkin.

For more information, contact Kathryn Rowe at roweks@vcu.edu.

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

Active Minds at VCU will hold an event in conjunction with National Day Without Stigma to promote positive discussion about mental health. The event will be in Room 1303, the multipurpose room, The Honors College, 701 W. Grace St. Students will have the opportunity to break the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing their own experiences and offering advice in a supportive, positive environment.

For more information, contact Rachel Bastien at activeminds4vcu@gmail.com.

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

In the spirit of Halloween, harpists Colleen Potter Thorburn and Jaclyn Wappel create a frightening yet stirring musical soundscape inspired by the legends, literature and classic films of the season. Using combinations of two harps, narration, visual effects and more, the program features original arrangements and transcriptions, including J.S. Bach’s "Toccata and Fugue in D minor," Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition" and world premiere medleys from the films of Tim Burton. The free performance will be in the W.E. Singleton Center for the 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/2019/08/26/faculty-recital-colleen-thorburn-harp-october-30/.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU Human Resources and Walgreen's will hold a flu shot clinic in Room 129, Robert Blackwell Smith Building, 410 N. 12th St. COVA Care, COVA HealthAware and COVA HDHP health plans provide free flu shots covered by the prescription drug benefit. Bring your insurance card.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit http://www.hr.vcu.edu.

Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 at 2 p.m.

VCU anthropology professor Bernard K. Means, Ph.D., will be presenting on "Fantastic Beasts." A skull exhibit and tour of the Virtual Curation Laboratory will follow. In keeping with the Halloween theme, chocolate skulls, pizza and soda will be provided. The event, part of the World Studies Society's October Global Conversation Series, will be at 911 W. Grace St., the VCU building associated with the Virtual Curation Lab.

For more information, contact Neha Pondicherry at pondicherryn@mymail.vcu.edu or (559) 801-7269.

Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

You're invited to put on your best Halloween duds - makeup, pirate's patch, fake teeth, blood-spattered shirt, witches' hat or whatever scares your friends the most — and have your picture shot against a green screen. The event will be held in the Workshop, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. A selection of creepy backgrounds will be available. Photos will be posted to a shared folder which can be downloaded and shared. Bring your friends and colleagues. Photos from years past are available at http://bit.ly/HallowScreen.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2019-20/hallow-screen-2019.html.

Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The VCUarts Art Foundation Program presents "SpukHaus 2019: Double Sided," a one-night exhibition of artworks by AFO students that takes over two floors of The Anderson, 907 1/2 W. Franklin St.

For more information, contact Monica Kinsey at kinseym@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7720 or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/programs/theanderson/.

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

How should Richmond look and feel in 2037? The new citywide Master Plan, Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth, is currently under development. The Master Plan sets the vision and goals for guiding the growth of Richmond over the next 20 years. Stop by the University Student Commons near the P.O.D. Market to talk with city planners about the draft plans for Richmond and share your thoughts. Learn more at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jeff Eastman at eastmanj@vcu.edu or (804) 828-7008 or visit http://www.richmond300.com/share.

Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Learn more about the Research Career Community and meet fellow members from both campuses. Those who attend will discuss the career community and play candy-related games. You do not need to be a member of the Research Career Community to participate. The meeting will be held in Room 1075 (first floor), College of Health Professions, 900 E. Leigh St. Bring leftover Halloween candy to share. The first 30 people to register will receive a free candy bowl for their desk. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Katie Schifano at schifanokr@vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/2oGpWr1.

Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's Office of the Provost will host the campus visit by its second candidate for Executive Director for Online@VCU. The presentation will be in Room 2104, Academic Learning Commons, 1000 Floyd Ave. The topic will be "Vision for Online@VCU: Where Should Online@VCU be in the Next Five Years and How Do We Get There?" For more information on the candidates, go to the following URL and click on "Meet the Candidates."

For more information, contact Channing Holloway at csholloway@vcu.edu or visit https://provost.vcu.edu/searches/online/.

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 from 10 a.m. to noon

Beta Alpha Psi will hold an organizational meeting in Room B3189, Snead Hall, School of Business, 301 W. Main St. Each month the organization invites speakers from the Richmond area to discuss current trends and best practices in accounting. This month's speaker will discuss different service areas in accounting.

For more information, contact Caroline Clary at clarycr2@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

As part of the Qatar Leadership Exchange, VCU's Division of Student Affairs will host Qatar Day at the Plaza of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Traditional aspects of Qatari and Arab culture will be featured, including Arabic calligraphy, henna, traditional Qatari clothing, food and more.

For more information, contact Joslyn Bedell at dsa@vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 at 7:30 a.m.

The Translational Research Initiative for Pain and Neuropathy Symposium (TRIPN) will be held in the first-floor auditorium of the College of Health Professions Building, 900 E. Leigh St. (Note the new location.) Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the symposium begins at 8 a.m. Register at the following URL. The event is free to attend.

For more information, contact Teri Dulong-Rae at tripn@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-0617 or visit http://go.vcu.edu/tripn.

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 from noon to 2 p.m.

As the holiday season approaches, the Peer Health Educators of the Wellness Resource Center will offer information about good nutrition. The center's Health Hut will be available at the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., near the POD, to discuss proper portion sizes and healthy food options on campus.

For more information, contact Carrie Baines at cabaines@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0231 or visit https://thewell.vcu.edu/.

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU's International Studies Program in the School of World Studies will host "Border Walls and the New Cold War." The roundtable discussion, in Room 406, Hibbs Hall, 900 Park Ave., marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

For more information, contact Rohan Kalyan at rkkalyan@vcu.edu or (808) 294-2607 or visit https://worldstudies.vcu.edu/news/calendar-of-events/.

Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

You First and Summer Studies and Special Programs invite first-gen students, faculty and staff to the National First-Generation College Celebration events. A group photo of VCU's first-gen community will be taken at the Ram's horns in the Commons Plaza. T-shirts will be available at First Tuesdays with You First at 7 p.m. Nov. 4th in the SGA Senate Chambers, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Reserve a free T-shirt at (students) https://forms.gle/nFXZxNXF71XQFfCv9 or (faculty) https://forms.gle/WMpp8CJ9uoGYUZvA6.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Bambacus at bambacuses@vcu.edu or (804) 827-3927 or visit https://youfirst.vcu.edu/.

Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The VCU Health Hub at 25th is holding a community open house for Richmond East End community members, VCU and VCU Health faculty, staff and students. The community open house, at 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A, will feature health screenings and consultations, fitness classes, activities for adults and children, community-based projects, giveaways and more.

For more information, contact Adam Caldwell at caldwellab@vcu.edu or visit https://www.vcuhealth.org/for-your-health/health-hub-at-25th.

VCU's 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, mindfulness, paralegal studies, play therapy and test prep for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT, ACT and MCAT. Foundations of biochemistry is also offered.

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

Human Resources presents "How to Retire with the Virginia Retirement System" for VCU employees. These sessions are open to VCU employees only, not VCU Health System employees. If you are interested in attending, view upcoming sessions at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Benefits at benefits@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://bit.ly/2IQFZcJ.

The 2020 payday and holiday calendar is now available at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Human Resources at askhr@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0177 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/payroll/.

The Black Mental Health Study is seeking black emerging and young adults' (aged 18-40) perspectives on mental health and therapy services. Psychology students can take the study on SONA at the following URL and receive class credit. All other VCU students, faculty and community members can complete the study at the following URL (https://bit.ly/2Mogjq6). Compensation may be available.

For more information, contact Randl Dent at dentrb@mymail.vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.sona-systems.com/default.aspx?p_return_experiment_id=815.