1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU Department of Focused Inquiry will host a study break for Focused Inquiry students in the Focused Inquiry Learning Lounge, Room 5116, Grace E. Harris Hall, 1015 Floyd Ave. Hot chocolate and tea will be provided. Those who attend will also have the chance to learn about planned Spring programming for support in UNIV 111, 112 or 200.

For more information, contact Hannah Franz at askinh@vcu.edu.

12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The committee leading the search for the position of Dean of the Honors College will host open forums through Dec. 12 for the university community to meet the four final candidates. A presentation will be in Virginia Room A, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. A presentation is also scheduled for noon-1 p.m. Dec. 12 in Richmond Salons III, University Student Commons. Information about each of the candidates may be found at the following URL under “Meet the Candidates.”

For more information, contact Jenn Arce at jmarce@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6162 or visit https://provost.vcu.edu/searches/honors/.

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

The Wellness Resource Center will host a 20 minute mindful meditation session for students on self-compassion. The session will be at the center's Resilience Lab, 815 S. Cathedral Place.

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

6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The films “Fade To Black” (1990) by Tony Cokes and “Giverny I” by Ja’Tovia Gary (2017) will be screened. The films explore the tensions of being black in America. The screening, at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St., will be followed by a discussion with the two filmmakers.

For more information, contact Meredith Carrington at mtcarrington@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1088 or visit https://icavcu.org/films/cinema_1211/.

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Learn more about VCU's Online MBA program at a webinar hosted by the School of Business. This 30-minute online presentation provides an overview of the program and how to apply. Register at the following URL. For those unable to register ahead of time, see the webinar by logging in a few minutes before at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/721881545

For more information, contact Robert Clarkson at rmclarkson@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1597 or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/?id=ffd0b84b-4259-4711-ba80-5791a3d355ea&program=OMBA.

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 from noon to 1 p.m.

C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences will present their next Whetting Your Appetite for Research seminar. Maureen Olmsted, Ph.D., Wright Center research navigator, will introduce those who attend to ProtocolBuilder, a tool that can be used to create investigator-initiated protocols by using preset templates. The seminar will be in Room 2-010, Tompkins-McCaw, 509 N. 12th St. Participants may bring lunch; drinks will be provided. Register at the following email address.

For more information, contact Pam Dillon at pmdillon@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1519 or visit http://www.cctr.vcu.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The VCU Division for Inclusive Excellence has released its Request for Proposals (RFP-IE-002) Building a Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Certificate Program to seek partners who will design and develop course content for its Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Certificate Program. These sessions will be added to the course and program compendium offered through the division's new education platform, IExcel Education. This RFP is open to all VCU faculty, staff and students, as well as to community partners who are vested in the success of the university. An open informational session will be held in the Wanda S. Mitchell Conference Room in the Division for Inclusive Excellence at 817 S. Cathedral Place. Those interested in submitting a proposal by the end of January can learn more about the RFP and submission/development process by attending one of the informational sessions prior to Jan. 13 when the “Intent to Submit” form is due. To access the full RFP, visit the following URL and click on the banner item at the top “Request for Proposals.”

For more information, contact Jan Altman at iexcel@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8947 or visit http://inclusive.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU Human Resources and Anthem EAP will host a holiday survival guide. The workshop will focus on identifying sources of holiday stress and learning strategies for dealing with emotions, time, relations and money. The event will be held in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave.

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

VCU Police reminds everyone to lock doors and windows of residences and offices and to take all keys during the break. Make arrangements for mail and packages to be picked up in a timely manner. Valuables should be stored in a locked drawer or closet or taken home. Drivers leaving a car on campus should park in a well-lighted area, remove valuables and lock the doors. Drivers staying in Richmond should park closer to residences and work sites. Cyclists should store bikes legally with a U-lock.

For more information, contact the VCU Police Crime Prevention Team at crimeprevreq@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1209 or visit https://police.vcu.edu/stay-safe/holiday-safety/.

VCU Libraries will host a food drive through Dec. 21 to help stock Ram Pantry at VCU, which provides emergency food for VCU students. For each food item a person donates, VCU Libraries will waive $5 in fines, up to a $30 maximum. Fees to repair damaged items or to replace lost items will not be waived. Food should be brought to service desks at the libraries. Any nonperishable food is acceptable. No opened containers or food past the expiration day can be accepted.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2019/food-for-fines-program-runs-nov-17-dec-21.html.

VCU Grant Academy is a grantsmanship program providing training and support for a select cohort of faculty investigators. Participants will work with senior faculty, research development experts and research administrators with the goal of submitting a successful funding proposal. Open to all faculty in any discipline from across the university, this multifaceted training will offer assistance to a selected cohort of faculty who 1) currently have a concrete research project idea, 2) are ready to develop a proposal and 3) have identified a competitive funding opportunity with a submission deadline during 2020 or the spring of 2021. Full applications are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 24, 2020. Apply at the following URL.

For more information, contact Melissa Throckmorton at throckmortms@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1443 or visit https://research.vcu.edu/vpr/grant_writing/index.htm.

Grade sheets are now available on faculty eServices. Grades are due by noon on Dec. 18, at which time grade entry will no longer be available. Continuing this semester is an option to try out the new Banner 9 grading module. The traditional link and the new Banner 9 link are both available within faculty eServices. Within Banner 9 is the ability to upload grades from an Excel file. Faculty may only access grade sheets for courses to which they have been assigned in the Class Schedule.

For more information, contact The Office of Records and Registration at rar@vcu.edu.

The VCU Mail Services digital newsletter is available at the following URL and includes reminders about winter mail closings. Mail hours for Dec. 23, 24, 27, 30, 31 and Jan. 3: Monroe Park (Valentine House, 920 W. Franklin St.), 10 a.m.-noon; Medical Campus (Virginia Mechanics Institute Building, 1000 E. Marshall St.), 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; and Main Processing Center (1622 Ownby Lane), 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Facilities will be closed Dec. 25 and 26 and Jan. 1 and 2. To request mail service during closing, email Donnette Haynes at the following email address with the subject “Winter Closing - Box #."

For more information, contact Donnette Haynes at haynesds@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3868 or visit http://bit.ly/VCUMailNewsletterQ2FY20.

The Division for Inclusive Excellence invites VCU and VCU Health System colleges, schools, divisions and units to facilitate events for the 2020 Martin Luther King Celebration Week at VCU, Jan. 19-25. The 2020 theme is "Reflections on the Fierce Urgency of Now." Supplemental funding for catering or other related expenses may be available. Submit ideas by using the Google form at the following URL by Jan. 10. Ideas can also be submitted by email to mlkday@vcu.edu, with “MLK Event” in the email subject line. Include the type of event, event date, time and location and anticipated expenses. Requests for financial support should include detailed justification.

For more information, contact Florence Johnson at mlkday@vcu.edu or (804) 828-8947 or visit https://mlkday.vcu.edu/.

VCU OB MOTIVATE moms are working hard in their recovery from the disease of addiction. Through Dec. 20, a holiday closet of gifts is available for them and their children. Arrangements for new gifts for these young, pregnant/postpartum/parenting patients, their newborns and older (typically 3-9 years) children may be made by emailing Marjorie.Scheikl@vcuhealth.org for pickup, ordering on Amazon at the following URL or donating with Venmo (@CaitlinEMartin).

For more information, contact Caitlin E. Martin at caitlin.martin@vcuhealth.org or (804) 305-8010 or visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3EUWOOIR6MQBL?ref_=wl_share.

The open forum presentation and feedback forms for the Honors College dean search candidates 1 and 2 have been posted the morning of Dec. 11 and will close the evening of Dec. 12. Open forum presentations and feedback forms for candidates 3 and 4 will be posted the morning of Dec. 16 and will close the evening of Dec. 17. Visit the following URL for information about candidates, open forum locations and times, to view presentations and provide feedback.

For more information, contact Jenn Arce at jmarce@vcu.edu or visit https://provost.vcu.edu/searches/honors/candidates.

The 13-month, cross-disciplinary master’s program focuses on students applying knowledge in advanced product innovation and entrepreneurship topics with real-life clients. Integrating arts, business and engineering principles, students in the Master of Product Innovation learn advanced product innovation and entrepreneurship topics pertaining to conceptualization, development and commercialization of new products and services. The program offers unique instruction and team-based experiential learning opportunities. The deadline for early admission is Dec. 15. Apply at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mary Chris Escobar at escobarmc@vcu.edu or visit https://davincicenter.vcu.edu/master-product-innovation/.

In the spring of 2020, the Wellness Resource Center will change its name to the Health Promotion and Well-Being Center. The move is in alignment with the center's functional responsibilities of holistic well-being, which includes community engagement and education in alcohol and drugs, mental health and sexual health. The office will continue to be referred to as The Well in messaging and materials.

For more information, contact Jihad Aziz at thewell@vcu.edu or visit https://thewell.vcu.edu/.