7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

VCU Advocacy Program, in partnership with the Virginia Campus Task Force, will host its first annual "Take Back the Net," a virtual speakout for survivors of sexual assault. This event will include speakers and audience members from universities across the commonwealth. Speakers have signed up and been selected ahead of time. They will share their stories of courage, resilience and hope.

For more information, contact Dana Vandervelde at vandervelded@vcu.edu or (704) 998-7076 or visit http://Tinyurl.com/jointbtn2020.

Thursday, Apr. 9, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

VCU's Records Management Office will hold Records Management 101 training via Zoom. Training will cover recordkeeping requirements and practices to be compliant with state regulations and university policy. Register at the following URL (keyword "records").

For more information, contact Amber Peranski at aperanski@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2097 or visit https://training.vcu.edu/.

Thursday, Apr. 9, 2020 from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Learn more about VCU's Evening MBA program at a webinar hosted by the School of Business. This 45-minute online presentation will provide an overview of the program and how to apply. Register at the following URL. For those who cannot register in advance, attend the webinar at this URL: https://vcu.zoom.us/j/706197389

For more information, contact Robert Clarkson at GSIB@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4622 or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/event-webinar-040920-mba?program=MBA&utm_source=Drip-OMBAProspect&utm_medium=email&utm_content=GMATWaiver&utm_campaign=OMBARY20.

Friday, Apr. 10, 2020 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

This three-part IExcel Education virtual seminar series focuses on best practices for revising course content to incorporate learner-centered teaching methodologies that consider multiple cultural perspectives. Participants will examine the benefits of diversity as well as the effect of privilege in classroom environments, along with identifying some instructional practices that may inhibit learning processes for students from diverse backgrounds. Opportunities will also be provided for participants to interact, exchange relevant information and initiate plans for a future pedagogical innovation. All three sessions feature both didactic and experiential components. The first two sessions will be scheduled for 90 minutes; the third session will be 45 minutes. Sessions will be facilitated in sequence. Course instructors from all academic disciplines are welcome to attend. Register for this and other IExcel seminars at the following URL. A Zoom link will be shared before April 10.

For more information, contact Jan Altman, Ph.D., at iexcel@vcu.edu or visit https://iexcel.vcu.edu/faculty-and-staff/.

Saturday, Apr. 11, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.

The Accounting Department’s service learning class will be helping members of the VCU community with tax preparation via Zoom. International and postdoctoral students are encouraged to make use of this service.

For more information, contact Roxanne Spindle at rspindle@vcu.edu or (804) 739-7415.

Monday, Apr. 13, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Need to organize a messy Inbox? Want to know what's new? Collaboration Services invites you to learn all things Gmail and make you the master of your Inbox. This online class will provide a hands-on introduction to the organizational and productivity tools Gmail has to offer. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Dr. Gee at drgee@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/gogoogle.

Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m.

LinkedIn Learning will host a webinar for staff that will include what LinkedIn Learning is, demonstration features of the platform and how it can be used for professional and personal development. Q&A for specific questions will be ongoing.

For more information, contact Rochelle Clarke at rclarke3@vcu.edu or (804) 827-7768 or visit http://bit.ly/StaffWeb2.

Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2020 at noon

Do you wish there was one place to store research files, track versions in any file (not just Google files) and share with teammates and advisers? VCU librarians will share how the Open Science Framework allows all that plus share research publicly or on your CV. Sign up for the online presentation at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.libcal.com/calendar/workshops/osf2020.

The Commonwealth Times is asking members of the VCU community what they're grateful for in the midst of the current situation. Share your positive interactions, thoughts and more with The CT for the chance to be published in an upcoming story. What are some things you're grateful for, despite living through a global pandemic? Being at home with family? Home-cooked meals? Health-care workers across the world? Fill out the form at the following URL.

For more information, contact The Commonwealth Times at spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_8HEUKZz1cphnvt_W2at2t-Tn69akVt-b55u8PWlRHH7GFA/viewform.

Construction and utility work at and around the VCU Health Outpatient Pavilion and Inpatient Children's Hospital sites will affect traffic patterns on the MCV Campus. 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.

Human Resources presents "Retiring With the VCU Optional Retirement Plan." These sessions are open to VCU faculty and VCU University and Academic Professionals, not VCU Health System employees. See 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/2XvaJIH.

The Health Promotion and Well-being Center is offering free, one-on-one Resilience Lab appointments for students via Zoom. Staff members from The Well work with students to discuss managing stress with mindfulness. A portion of this appointment will be a guided meditation. Sign up at the following URL.

For more information, contact Mia Liadis at liadisa@vcu.edu or visit https://thewell.vcu.edu/programs/resilience-lab/.

Looking for a way to restore the calm? Join the Health Promotion and Well-Being Center online each Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. for a 30-minute group guided meditation. Sign up at the following URL to use the Zoom link on the Resilience Lab calendar to join. Meditation is suitable for all levels of practice.

For more information, contact Mia Liadis at liadisa@vcu.edu or visit https://thewell.vcu.edu/programs/resilience-lab/.

April is sexual assault awareness month; while many students, faculty and staff are away from VCU, VCU Police officers are still available to take reports and provide resources to survivors. VCUPD uses the You Have Options Program, which gives survivors control over how much information they share about an assault. Each shift staffs specially trained, victim-witness officers who can speak with victims about any crime, survivors of assault, intimate partner violence, stalking and harassment.

For more information, contact Ofc. Jasmine Merricks at jnmerricks@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6356 or visit http://bit.ly/2D0FcCV.

VCU Honors College is seeking students for fall 2020 admission. Competitive candidates must be freshmen or sophomores and have a 3.5 GPA or above. Applications are due May 1.

For more information, contact Jenna Venable, Coordinator of Student Outreach, at venablejl@vcu.edu or visit http://honors.vcu.edu.

VCU Libraries is seeking feedback on its new website design at new.library.vcu.edu/. The libraries request that users explore the new site and offer feedback and suggestions for improvement at the following URL. The libraries will also be conducting virtual user testing. Students or faculty members who wish to participate can indicate their interest on the feedback form.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUnRGORMKhcYn1r9aKOZNRJfPSF5y72GyYKH873V_25Z1WmA/viewform?entry.371700483.

VCU's Integrity and Compliance Office has published the spring edition of Policy Points, the quarterly notification that highlights universitywide policy updates from Jan. 1-March 31. View this edition at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tony Rapchick at policy@vcu.edu or visit https://policy.vcu.edu/universitywide-policies/policy-points/.

The VCU Peppas will hold open registration to join the pep band's drumline. Participation is free and open to all. Interested students should visit the following URL. Completing the preregistration permits a follow-up with information about practices and performances.

For more information, contact Duane Coston, director of athletic bands, at costonpd@vcu.edu or (804) 240-7974 or visit https://preview.tinyurl.com/PEPPASDRUMLINE.

Earn a technology specialization through the College of Engineering. Fundamentals of Computing is open to non-computer science majors/minors, VCU and VCU Health employees and non-degree-seeking students. Online courses include Computers and Programming, Software Engineering and Web Development, Data Science Skills, and Cybersecurity Skills. Eligible employees may use their tuition benefit/education assistance.

For more information, contact VCU Office of Continuing and Professional Education at ocpe@vcu.edu or visit https://egr.vcu.edu/fundamentals-of-computing/.

Textbook adoptions for Summer and Fall 2020 are now due. Submit your adoption to the appropriate Barnes and Noble at VCU store. To submit, visit the following URL using Faculty Enlight or email your adoption information to the following address.

For more information, contact Harry Pacheco at textbooks@vcubooks.com or (804) 828-1678.

Thinking about quitting or cutting back the use of tobacco products or e-cigarettes/vapes? The Health Promotion and Well-Being Center is offering virtual one-on-one smoking cessation appointments for students.

For more information, contact Kendyll Graham at grahamk4@vcu.edu or visit https://thewell.vcu.edu/programs/tobacco-cessation/.

VCU Recreational Sports is participating in the 2020 Recreation Movement. This virtual fitness program, which runs through May 3, connects university students, faculty, staff and alumni from over 40 schools across the country. Members of the VCU community with an active vcu.edu email address can participate. Users log their active minutes per workout through the site; minutes are then combined by school and displayed in a leaderboard showcasing each school’s performance.

For more information, contact Anthony Muscatello at amuscatello@vcu.edu or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/about/virtual-programs/recreation-movement/.

Black-identifying volunteers age 18-plus are sought to participate in an online survey about racial-ethnic discrimination experiences and mental health. SONA credit is available. A raffle to win a gift card will be held. Take the survey via SONA at https://bit.ly/2V0sc8l or at Qualtrics at the following URL.

For more information, contact Christina Barnett, M.S., VCU investigator and counseling psychology doctoral candidate, at barnettc@mymail.vcu.edu or visit https://bit.ly/2X6ABd3.