1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Leslie Cohen-Gee, assistant professor, Focused Inquiry, and Lynanne Jamison Yndestad, New Student and Family Programs, will speak at a virtual workshop hosted by You First at VCU. Having conversations with family about life in college can be challenging as a first-gen student whether you are returning home for break or discussing the ups and downs of online learning from home. Join the discussion about navigating some of these difficult conversations and get some tips for finding support. Questions: https://youfirst.vcu.edu/. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Elizabeth S. Bambacus at bambacuses@vcu.edu or (804) 827-3927 or visit https://bit.ly/YouFirst111920.

10:30 a.m.

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs will host Queer Coffee Hour. The session will include dialogues around sexuality, gender and their intersections while continuing to provide a (virtual) space for authentic conversations and identity expression. Register (required) for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kim Green at greenk2@vcu.edu or visit https://linktr.ee/vcuomsa.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU's Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and University Counseling Services will provide five breakout rooms for students to engage in at their level of comfort. The rooms include Mindfulness and Meditation, Coping and Resourcing, Student Leadership Discussion, Student Activism Discussion and Open Discussion. Register (required) for the Zoom link a the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiana Ingram at ingramtd@vcu.edu or visit https://linktr.ee/vcuomsa.

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers at VCU will hold its final meeting of the semester online. Topics will include the drone the group is building for national competition, continuing work over break, how those interested can join and goals for Spring 2021. RSVP at http://cglink.me/r893269. Register at the following URL for the Zoom link.

For more information, contact Adam Sweere at sweerea@mymail.vcu.edu or (540) 841-2707 or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/99304876351.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Society of Women Engineers will recap the WE20 virtual conference at the VCU chapter's November general body meeting. Afterward a wellness lounge will be held to discuss self-care exercises as the end of the semester draws near. Care packages will be picked up Nov. 20. Those attending the meeting will be given priority signup for a time slot.

For more information, contact Anisha Beladia at beladiaar@vcu.edu or (571) 208-6049 or visit http://cglink.me/r888933.

Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

VCU's National Scholarship Office will host two identical virtual information sessions about the Fulbright UK Summer Institutes, an award that provides recipients with the opportunity to study abroad for three or four weeks at a university in the United Kingdom. The second session will be held at noon on Dec. 10. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jeff Wing at natlscholar@vcu.edu or visit http://blogs.vcu.edu/natlscholar.

Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The VCU Writing Center will examine examples of strong, successful personal statements, as well as less successful ones, and offer the tools needed to write the best statement. The Zoom link is hosted on the center's events page at the following URL.

For more information, contact Trey Burnart Hall at hallbr@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/events/.

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020 at noon

The Center for Interprofessional Education and Inter Health Professionals Alliance will host an interest meeting for the National CLARION Competition. The student case competition for health professional students enables them to achieve a 360-degree perspective on patient safety in today's health care system and how it might be improved. Student teams, consisting of four students and made up of at least two disciplines, are given a case and are charged with creating a root cause analysis. The team presents its analysis to a panel of interprofessional judges which evaluates the analysis in the context of real-world standards of practice. The winning VCU team will compete at the national level for a scholarship and prizes. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Melissa Burton at mhburton@vcu.edu or (804) 828-2898 or visit https://zoom.us/j/99264339038?pwd=S04xaU5hcDVJR0NDY2lMRC9FL0ZMUT09.

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 at 5 p.m.

The VCU chapter of Student National Medical Association will host a panel discussion in conjunction with a screening of the documentary, "HEARD: An Insight Into Life in Richmond's Public Housing." A link to the documentary will be sent to participants who RSVP, and a panel of Richmond community members will explore the challenges of public housing. Each participant is asked to contribute $5 as part of a fundraiser for the Better Housing Coalition. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Victoria Ngo at ngovm2@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/Nfe9JpUE5vnYQ8mb7.

VCU Recreational Sports facilities will be closed Nov. 26-29. Facilities will reopen Nov. 30, which is the start of Winter Break hours. On Nov. 25 all facilities will close at 6 p.m. Cary Street Gym Aquatic Center will close at 5:30 p.m. MCV Campus Aquatic Center will close at 2 p.m.

For more information, contact Amanda Simmons at alsimmons@vcu.edu or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/facilities/hours/.

August and December grads are invited to upload a 10-second video clip using the graduate upload submission form to share a message or shout-out. The video clips will be used in the virtual commencement at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12. The deadline for submissions is 6 p.m. Nov. 30. Details are available at the following URL.

For more information, contact Office of University Events at UNIVevents@vcu.edu or visit https://graduations.vanwagner.com/student-information/?sch=VCU.

VCU Police remind members of the university community to prepare for safe driving during the Thanksgiving holiday week. Keep in mind COVID precautions; check each state’s regulations. Pack extra masks and hand sanitizer when you’re away from home. Drivers who sleep only five to six hours a night are twice as likely to crash; risks quadruple for those who sleep only four to five hours. Before travel, get a good night's sleep. For long trips, drive with another person. Schedule regular stops on the way to your destination.

For more information, contact VCU Police at policedept@vcu.edu.

SPIE (International Society for Optics and Photonics) and OSA (Optical Society of America) student chapters at VCU are sponsoring a photo contest open to all students which celebrates light in science and nature. Email photo entries by Nov. 25 to the following email address with a caption and the photographer's name and department. Winners will receive part of over $100 worth of prizes.

For more information, contact M A H Sojib at vcuosasc@gmail.com.