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.

Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Calendars for 2020 featuring the Dogs On Call therapy dogs will be on sale for $10 on the first floor at Main Hospital, 1250 E. Marshall St. All proceeds support the Dogs On Call and the Center for Human-Animal Interaction. Therapy dogs visit patients, students and staff. Calendars will also be available for purchase at the same times and location on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19.

For more information, contact Jessica Hale at jessica.hale@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-2532 or visit http://www.chai.vcu.edu.

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.

Faculty members looking for texts that are more affordable for your students, more aligned with your syllabus or that allow for more flexibility in your course design should plan to attend a 2020 Open Textbook Workshop. VCU Libraries hosts these sessions, in which faculty can earn $200 stipends, on Jan. 31, Feb. 12 and March 3. Sign up by Jan. 24. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/news/2019/faculty-open-textbook-workshops-set-for-2020.html.

Annual deferral limits for the VCU 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan and the VRS 457 Deferred Compensation Plan will increase to $19,500 in 2020. Participants aged 50-plus may contribute up to an additional $6,500 to either or both plans in 2020. No employee action is required due to these changes, however, employees wishing to change deferral amounts may do so by following the instructions under "Retirement tax-savings limits" at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Human Resources, Benefits Administration, at benefits@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/a-z-list-of-benefits/tax-deferred-annuity-and-cash-match-programs/.

The UAAB Awards and Grants Committee will accept nominations for the National Academic Advising Association Region 2 Awards and Scholarships beginning Jan. 6, 2020. Excellence in advising nominations will be accepted in the following categories: primary role, faculty advisor, advising administrator, outstanding new advisor and outstanding advising advocate. Nominations may be made at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cabel Newton at newtonc2@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0499 or visit https://nacada.ksu.edu/Community/Regions/Region-2/Apply-for-Awards.aspx.

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 Career Services has an opportunity for freshman students to start on a path of career development and earn credits toward graduation. UNIV291: Introduction to Career Planning and Management for the Spring 2020 semester will challenge you to explore your career planning process and develop a way to manage your path. This class is offered Wednesdays, 2-2:50 p.m., CRN: 38936 and is taught by Julia Bailey.

For more information, contact Julia Bailey at baileyje@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1645 or visit https://ts.vcu.edu/askit/university-resources/eservices/.

VCU Career Services is offering an opportunity for sophomore, junior and senior students to start on a path of career development and earn credits toward graduation. UNIV391: Introduction to Career Planning and Management for the Spring 2020 semester will challenge you to explore your career planning process and develop a way to manage your path. This class is offered on Wednesdays, 10-10:50 a.m., CRN: 35951 and is taught by Cody Rogalski.

For more information, contact Cody Rogalski at rogalskict@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1645 or visit https://ts.vcu.edu/askit/university-resources/eservices/.

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/.

Are you currently experiencing low back pain, between the ages of 18-60 years old and interested in the possibility of nine weeks of nonsurgical experimental treatment? If you answered yes to all three you may qualify for our research. What? New, innovative and fun virtual reality games are designed to help people with chronic back pain move and feel better. Where? All appointments, testing and treatments are conducted at VCU. When? Participation in the study involves 24 one-hour appointments scheduled over a 57-week period. Who? The VIGOR Study team consists of professionals in the field who have been selectively chosen and extensively trained. Interested? Contact us at the following URL. You may be compensated for your time.

For more information, contact Tiffany Amos at mcl@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4766 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=DHT7NDE3J9.