10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Join VCU Human Resources and Fidelity for non-workplace investment suggestions. The session will include IRA accounts, brokerage accounts and other nonretirement options. Questions: http://ramstrong.vcu.edu. Register in Talent@VCU or at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://bit.ly/3t1ZTFT.

4 p.m.

The final VCU Faculty Club meeting of the academic year will feature a TED-Talks style presentation on the often-hidden history of the Black experience in Richmond, plus a roundtable discussion on grant opportunities for cardiovascular or metabolic disease research.

For more information, contact Pam Hendrix at pahendrix@vcu.edu or visit https://provost.vcu.edu/faculty/faculty-resources/facultyclub/.

8 p.m.

Hear five VCU Small Jazz Ensembles perform at a free concert to be livestreamed at the following URL. Music by Erykah Badu, Donald Byrd, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Roddy Green, J.J. Johnson, Toshio Masuda, Baden Powell, Sonny Rollins, Marlysse Simmons, Allen Toussaint, Cedar Walton, Lulu West and Thomas Windley, with video guests Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar) and the VCU Jazz Orchestra I.

For more information, contact Antonio Garcia, director of Jazz Studies, at ajgarcia@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/concerthall.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

The pace is meditative, emphasizing peace and calm in body and mind and will include about half the number of poses included in a regular flow class. Poses are held longer; participants will take several breaths in each pose instead of moving to each breath. No equipment is required, but a yoga mat is recommended. This class will be hosted by VCU Human Resources and VCU Recreational Sports. Register in Talent@VCU at the following URL. Questions: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://bit.ly/3gH4nPl.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

VCU Human Resources will offer a virtual Benefits and Wellness Fair for university faculty and staff through May 7. Highlights for May 4 will include live events with Aetna, VCU Card Office, Joyner Fine Properties, Slow Flow Yoga with VCU Recreational Sports and Virginia Retirement System, and a Zoom Open Enrollment Q&A with the VCU HR Benefits team. See full details, including schedule and giveaways, at the following URL.

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

Wednesday, May 5, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

It's never too early to begin saving and planning for your financial well-being. VCU Human Resources and TIAA will host a session to help understand income and outflow and how to balance them to your advantage; how to discover saving a little now can help later on; and how to make a plan for your financial future. Questions: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/. Register in Talent@VCU or at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://bit.ly/2Pt73Fk.

Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at noon

Finals are coming up, and it's a good time to learn more about The Well's free, one-on-one, stress management and mindfulness sessions for students. This workshop will include all the information about what happens in a Resilience Lab appointment. Questions: https://thewell.vcu.edu/programs/resilience-lab/. Click on the following URL for the Zoom link.

For more information, contact Kelly O'Connor at oconnork3@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/96438025275.

Friday, May 7, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WVCW will hold radio training day at the Student Media Center, 817 W. Broad St. Executive staff and DJs will be available to help set up and run your very own radio show. Learn how to operate the boards, record promotions and publicize your show. Questions: Email promotions@wvcw.org. Sign up at the following URL.

For more information, contact Fiona McMichael at mcmichaelf@mymail.vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/6YTx1g2cEhCyCRCfA.

Friday, May 14, 2021 from noon to 1 p.m.

Join the IT Career Community Lunch and Learn for a glimpse into the world of auditing at VCU. Blake Bialkowski and Michael Pointer will explain what led them to Audit and Compliance Services. They will provide an overview of VCU audit processes and how they identify audits with risk assessment, scoring and audit plan approval. Learn more about what they traditionally look at and how it potentially applies to everyone at VCU. Register in Talent at the following URL. Click on https://go.vcu.edu/itcc-events-remote for the Zoom link.

For more information, contact Warren Mays at itcareer@vcu.edu or visit https://go.vcu.edu/itcc-events.

Monday, May 17, 2021 from 9 a.m. to noon

Sharon Zumbrunn, Ph.D., Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence Faculty Fellow, will facilitate a two-session virtual writing retreat. She will help participants define their writing and wellness priorities and learn practical strategies for a more balanced and rewarding summer. Register for Part One at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeremTN7hYb5qnw1M9jmSkLYI_uZFLQfcbmcGq44_i9-j83tA/viewform.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU Alumni will present a discussion about travel after the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel will include experienced traveler Gabby Beckford, travel agent Ciera Pope, former flight attendant Georgia Felopulos Smith (B.S.’17/H&S) and travel enthusiast Leila Khadrane. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lauren Leavy at leleavy@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3_-1hHdtT-ar-JJAtOeD2w.

Friday, May 21, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and VCU Institutional Review Board are hosting open consulting hours virtually using Zoom. Consultants from various research areas will be available to work with faculty, staff and students from any school or department at VCU. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nyssa Towsley at ntowsley@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1157 or visit https://bit.ly/WCconsult.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 9 a.m.

VCU Online and Academic Technologies will offer a four-day event that includes Canvas workshops and more. Session tracks will cover all levels of Canvas users from novice to advanced. Sessions will be held May 25-28. Workshops will be 9 a.m.-noon with open office hours from 1-4 p.m. each day. Questions: https://go.vcu.edu/canvas. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Online at onlinepd@vcu.edu or visit https://learningsystems.vcu.edu/canvas/2021-faculty-canvas-boot-camp/.

Open enrollment for health coverage and flexible spending plans will be May 3–17. The plan year begins July 1, 2021. No action is required to maintain current coverage elections for the upcoming plan year, but enrollment is required to begin or continue participation in flexible spending. COVA Care and COVA HealthAware participants may qualify for premium rewards for the upcoming plan year by completing a new or updated health assessment. Questions? Visit go.vcu.edu/hrsupport. Enroll at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU HR Benefits Administration at openenroll@vcu.edu or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/open-enrollment.

Blackboard will be decommissioned after May 31, and all online courses will use Canvas. Instructors who have course materials which need to be readily available should export them from Blackboard by May 31. Questions: https://learningsystems.vcu.edu/canvas. Resources, training and assistance are available at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jana Avery at canvaslearn@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/learn-canvas.

VCU 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. Register at the following URL. Questions: Email benefits@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Alexis Hobbs at hobbsad@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://vcu.csod.com/ui/lms-learning-details/app/event/c9921b6a-d526-48c3-ac2f-b5a913a231f0.

Human Resources presents "How to Retire With the Virginia Retirement System" for VCU employees. These sessions are open to VCU employees only, not VCU Health System employees. View upcoming sessions at the following URL. For more information, contact VCU Benefits at benefits@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Alexis Hobbs at hobbsad@vcu.wedu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://vcu.csod.com/ui/lms-learning-details/app/event/cf698494-7201-467a-8b5b-c8739911e503.

VCU Libraries, the Office of the Provost, Online@VCU, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Academic Technologies, Barnes and Noble @ VCU, Inclusive Excellence and the Friends of VCU Libraries invite applications for the Affordable Course Content Awards, which support faculty adoption, customization and creation of free course materials. The deadline to complete an Intent to Submit form is May 20. View the guidelines at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit http://guides.library.vcu.edu/acca/2021.

The Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization is seeking input from residents to help develop a long-range transportation plan. The plan, named ConnectRVA 2045, will guide transportation investments over the next 20 years to support the mobility needs of the community and its future growth. The organization is asking residents to help shape spending priorities and has developed a 10-minute survey. View the survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact John Leonard at jdleonard@vcu.edu or visit https://metroquestsurvey.com/yk5h5p.

The independent review of fraternity and sorority life at VCU is in the second phase and Dyad Strategies welcomes feedback from the VCU community. Access the survey at https://students.vcu.edu/dsa/fsl-review/post-title-447363-en.html. The second phase also includes focus groups and interviews with various constituent groups. View additional updates on the review at the following URL.

For more information, contact Division of Student Affairs at dsa@vcu.edu or visit https://students.vcu.edu/dsa/fsl-review/.

Applications are now available for the 2022 cohorts of the VCU Leadership, HIGHER Ground and Minority Political Leadership Institute programs in the VCU Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

For more information, contact Kiara Faulks at faulksks@vcu.edu or visit https://gehli.vcu.edu/.

Until May 27, the Department of Public Works will close the eastbound Pulse Bus Only lane and the southern sidewalk of Broad Street from Eighth to Ninth streets during construction of the Virginia General Assembly Parking Garage. Riders on the Pulse, Routes 1A/B/C Southbound, 2A/B/C Southbound, 23x, 26x, and 29x will be affected and will have to use alternate stops. Pulse riders using Government Center East must use a temporary bus stop located at Broad/Seventh.

For more information, contact VCU Parking and Transportation at parking@vcu.edu or visit http://ridegrtc.com/news-initiatives/news-updates/broad-street-temporary-stops-pulse-routes-1a-b-c-2a-b-c-23x-26x-29x.

VCU's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence invites students, alumni, VCU colleagues or students' family members to submit messages of gratitude to professors for this semester. The messages will be shared with the VCU faculty member. A submission form is available at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFT630hMF00dCT5UI1tDC-gY9ZXyRUSXmdXlyU_16KT9K7Pg/viewform.

In preparation for the transition from Blackboard to Canvas, training sessions are still available throughout May, as well as a Faculty Boot Camp May 25-28. Summer and fall training sessions are also available. View the schedule and register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jana Avery at canvaslearn@vcu.edu or visit https://learningsystems.vcu.edu/canvas/.

VCU's Honors College is requesting proposals for fall 2021 courses. Submit a proposal to the following email address.

For more information, contact Jared Johnson at jajohnson4@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1715 or visit https://honors.vcu.edu/for-faculty/teach-honors/.

VCUDine has a number of special events planned for Shafer Court Dining Center. They include Sushi Specials, through May 7, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sushi Specials at Bento, through May 6, open-close. See details and menus at the following URL or follow @VCU_Dining on social.

For more information, contact Lauren Hay at dining@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1148 or visit http://vcu.campusdish.com.

VITAL is a research study testing a weight and wellness program specifically designed for people living with diabetes. If you are eligible to participate in this study, you will be asked to attend in-person data collection visits at three time points, participate in a 24-week program consisting of weekly virtual (Zoom) group meetings led by a trained coach at no cost to you and keep track of your weight, food and physical activity using a digital app.

For more information, contact Autumn Lanoye at optforhealth@vcuhealth.org or (804) 827-2250 or visit http://www.vcuVITALtrial.com.