Faculty/staff Issue for March 24, 2020
Special Announcement
University Events Impacted Due to COVID-19
The majority of events and activities featured in the TelegRAM may be affected as the university follows precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Please confirm with organizers before traveling to events. The university's COVID-19 site, now located at https://covid-19.vcu.edu/, is the source for the latest VCU updates.
Coming up
Faculty/Staff Virtual Dialogue: How Coronavirus Affects Me
Monday, Mar. 30, 2020 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Have you heard, seen or experienced feelings of exclusion around campus related to the coronavirus (COVID-19)? Has your VCU experience changed as a result? As the COVID-19 outbreak creates distance between us, we believe it is still important to stay connected, check in with our peers and have a discussion about the emotional, mental and social impacts of COVID-19. This online session of RAMmalogues is an opportunity to talk with other faculty and staff about lived experiences. The goal of RAMmalogues is to increase our understanding of issues related to acceptance, belonging and inclusion around campus and to provide tools for talking about difference. RAMmalogues, led by trained facilitators provided by Kimbrough Consulting and Richmond Action Dialogues, provides a braver/safer space for faculty and staff to talk with each other about their social identities and lived experiences at VCU. Register for this special online session of RAMmalogues on Talent through the following URL to be sent a link to join this virtual community.
For more information, contact Jan Altman, Ph.D., at jhaltman@vcu.edu or visit https://inclusive.vcu.edu/stories/rammalogues-virtual-dialogue-on-coronavirus.html.
Online Records Management 101 Training
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/.
Notices
Local Blood Drives Scheduled
As communities across the country prepare for the effects of COVID-19, VCU Health and the American Red Cross are hosting local blood drives to prevent blood supply shortages for hospital patients. Please consider making an appointment at the following URL to donate during one of the following times. VCU Health Main Hospital, 1250 E. Marshall St., March 24 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), March 26 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), April 17 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.); One Capital Square, 830 E. Main St., March 27 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.); Seventh and Franklin Building, 701 E. Franklin St., April 23 (9 a.m.-2 p.m.); Stony Point, 9109 Stony Point Drive (Blood Mobile in front of building), April 15 (3-6 p.m.); Parham Road, 7818 E. Parham Road, April 14 (noon–4 p.m.)
For more information, or visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=VCUHealth.
MCV Campus Construction: Traffic Impact Updates
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.
Health Sciences Webinars
Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences hosts a wide range of spring webinars for the VCU community. The library offers PubMed, Embase, Research Poster Design, CINAHL and more to help students, faculty and staff with research needs. Register at the following URL.
For more information, contact Thelma Mack at mackta@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0017 or visit https://vcu.libcal.com/calendar/workshops/.
Faculty and Staff Views About Title IX Survey
Current faculty and staff members are invited to participate in an IRB-exempt study examining views about Title IX policy. Completion of the survey at the following URL should take no more than 10-15 minutes and any risk is minimal.
For more information, contact Christina Mancini, Ph.D., principal investigator, associate professor of criminal justice, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, at cnmancini@vcu.edu or visit https://southalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9MqZIX7nnUrHGvz.
Housing Fair Canceled
The Housing Fair scheduled for March 26 has been canceled and will not be rescheduled. Off Campus Student Services is still able to help. Check online resources at offcampus.vcu.edu or schedule an online appointment at the following URL.
For more information, contact Lisa Mathews-Ailsworth at offcampus@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4514 or visit https://vcuoffcampus.youcanbook.me.
Deadline Extended for Fall 2020 Spit for Science Undergraduate Research Assistant Applications
Undergraduate team members will assist with outreach and work in teams to develop research questions and analyze Spit for Science data. Students from all majors and at all class levels are welcome to apply. Enrollment will be for three credits (A-F grading system). Due to the extension of VCU's spring break, the application deadline has been extended to 5 p.m. on March 25.
For more information, contact Amy Adkins at adkinsae@vcu.edu or visit https://spit4science.vcu.edu/educational-opportunities/.
Resilience Lab and Group Meditation Moves Online
The Health Promotion and Well-being Center will be moving its weekly guided meditation sessions on Wednesdays and one-on-one Resilience Lab appointments online through Zoom. Check the Resilience Lab calendar at the following URL to sign up for available sessions.
For more information, contact Mia Liadis at liadisa@vcu.edu or visit https://thewell.vcu.edu/programs/resilience-lab/.
Updated Dates Available for Wilder School Dean Open Forums
New details regarding the final L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs dean search open forums are now available. For candidate privacy with Zoom, the forums will not be presented to a live online audience, but will be recorded and posted after both visits are complete. The university community is asked to submit questions on the search webpage. More information and deadlines to submit questions are available at the following URL.
For more information, contact Jenn Arce at jmarce@vcu.edu or (919) 610-9740 or visit https://provost.vcu.edu/searches/wilderdean/.
New Zoom Account Creation Procedure
All VCU Zoom accounts are now being issued as "Licensed." It is no longer necessary to fill out a request ticket. Log in at vcu.zoom.us with your VCU eID and password and your Zoom account will be provisioned. Users still working with a "Basic" account should log out and back in again to get their new "Licensed" credentials. Refer to the following URL for more information.
For more information, contact David Morefield at dmorefie@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/zoom.
RamTech Is Closed
RamTech is now closed. For questions regarding fixIT repairs, email fixitservice@vcu.edu. For any other questions, email ramtech@vcu.edu. Also, follow @ramtechvcu on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.
For more information, contact Erinn Budd at ramtech@vcu.edu or visit http://ramtech.vcu.edu.
Online OCPE Personal and Professional Development Programs Announced
The VCU Office of Continuing and Professional Education is currently offering a variety of online learning opportunities for VCU faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members. Continuing education is currently available in customer service, dealing with difficult people in the workplace, event planning, foundations of biochemistry, Google analytics and test prep for the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT, ACT and the 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/.
Barnes and Noble Bookstores Closed
Barnes and Noble on the Monroe Park and MCV campuses are closed until further notice. Most usual bookstore services, such as buying books for summer classes, returning rentals and ordering VCU branded merchandise, have free shipping options. Visit the following URL to place orders. Also, follow @vcubookstore for updates.
For more information, contact Harry Pacheco at hpacheco@vcubooks.com or (804) 828-1678 or visit https://vcu.bncollege.com/.
Digital Media Strategies for the COVID-19 Crisis
In partnership with the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, Digital Media Strategies for the COVID-19 Crisis will be offered March 30-May 8 in an online, self-paced format with Jeanine Guidry, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Robertson school and director of the Media + Health Lab. The course is open to VCU students and VCU and VCU Health employees for credit, as well as to the community as noncredit. Eligible employees may use their tuition benefit/education assistance. Noncredit revenue will be split between funding Coronavirus-related research by the Media + Health Lab and assisting with student needs.
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/covid-19.
Two VCUDine Locations Open
Two VCUDine locations will be open and accepting swipes all day during hours of operation. Shafer Court Dining Center Market 810 will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Panda Express will be open from 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Visit the following URL or follow @vcu_dining on social media for the latest updates.
For more information, contact Lauren Hay at lhay@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1148 or visit http://vcu.campusdish.com.
VCU Mail Services Suspends Deliveries to Departments
VCU Mail Services has suspended delivery to departments effective March 24. The VMI Building, 1000 E. Marshall St., and the Valentine House, 920 W. Franklin St., are open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Mail Services will hold departmental mail until further notice. For arrangements to pick up critical essential mail, contact the following email address or telephone number.
For more information, contact Donnette Haynes at haynesds@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1343 or visit https://bsv.vcu.edu/mailservices/.
Health in Emerging Adults and Racism in Richmond
VCU School of Medicine is looking for black women ages 18-25 with a BMI between 25-45 kg/milligrams squared in the Richmond area who want to take part in a study designed to capture experiences of racial discrimination. HER Squared is a research study designed to provide the opportunity to reflect on various experiences with racism and how you deal with the experiences. Compensation is available for eligible participants.
For more information, contact Kristal Brown at kristal.brown@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-4644 or visit http://hersquaredrva.com.
Other resources
VCU Libraries workshops
See a schedule of workshops and classes that teach how to use collections and databases.
LinkedIn Learning @ VCU
Navigate a vast library of online video tutorials to supplement teaching, learning, and professional development.