12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Drop by the University Counseling Services Prize Wheel in the lobby of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., to meet counseling staff and peer health educators. Learn about suicide prevention, how to support a friend in distress and get information about helpful resources within UCS and across campus. Prizes and giveaways for all participants.

For more information, contact Caroline Coffill at cscoffill@vcu.edu or (804) 828-6200 or visit http://counseling.vcu.edu.

Friday, Sep. 10, 2021 at 1:15 p.m.

VCU's Muslim Student Association will hold Jummah (Friday) Prayer in the Virginia Rooms on the second floor of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. First Khutbah will be held at 1:15 p.m.; the second will be at 2:15 p.m. Masks will be required.

For more information, contact Yousef Haggy at haggyy@vcu.edu or (540) 654-0987.

Friday, Sep. 10, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Pace Center's Serve Team is sponsoring "Cards of Hope," encouraging notes which will be given to refugees fleeing Afghanistan. Drop by the center, 700 W. Franklin St., to write a message of hope and encouragement. The center will provide snacks, cards and supplies. The ability to write in Arabic, Pashto or Dari is a plus but not required.

For more information, contact Katie B. Gooch at kbgooch@vcu.edu or visit http://www.thepacecenter.com.

Friday, Sep. 10, 2021 at noon

VCU's Humanities Research Center will present online a discussion of how to secure funding for work in the humanities. The webinar will be co-presented by the College of Humanities and Sciences Office of Sponsored Programs and the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tyler Conrad at conradtl@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wWhwJ1zARq-wIA8cP2tNlQ.

Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2021 from noon to 1 p.m.

This virtual session, presented by VCU Human Resources and VCU Learning and Development, will provide tips and strategies to cope with life's stressors. Questions: https://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/2XO52ap.

Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2021 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation will present an overview of grant writing for faculty researchers. Learn how to express your research ideas with clarity and persuasiveness. Hear about the most critical components of a successful grant application. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Joshua Hahn at hahnj2@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1524 or visit https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUuc-GgqjIoHt0z0xJQbu5hHqTUdqAOshRz.

Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

What makes a group different from a team? VCU's Human Relations Office of Learning, Development and Organizational Culture will offer a virtual course to help design effective teams and diagnose issues of context, team process and structure. Register in Talent@VCU at the following URL. The course closes five days in advance of the session date to allow for time to view a preparatory video.

For more information, contact Penny McFarline at mcfarlinep@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.csod.com/samldefault.aspx?returnUrl=%252fDeepLink%252fProcessRedirect.aspx%253fmodule%253dlodetails%2526lo%253d2b8b16f4-2553-44f0-ac93-70dd50d3b12b.

Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2021 at 9 a.m.

Considering your PMP certification? Join the Project Management Essentials and PMP Exam Prep courses at the VCU Center for Corporate Education to start your journey. Courses run six hours a week for five weeks. VCU faculty/staff receive a 10 percent discount. Questions: Email corp-ed@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Carrie Hawes at cjhawes@vcu.edu or visit http://go.vcu.edu/corped.

Wednesday, Sep. 15, 2021 from 11 a.m. to noon

The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, will host the VCU Leadership Development Program's virtual open house. During this interactive event, participants can learn about the program, application process, benefits and interact with alumnae. Questions: https://gehli.vcu.edu/programs/vcu-leadership-development-program/. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kiara Faulks at faulksks@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1169 or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEudOGhqzsjGdTvXHO538Uo4aJ43zcN5pjT.

Wednesday, Sep. 15, 2021 at 3:30 p.m.

Ever wanted to animate but were intimidated by drawing hundreds of images? Come learn about a tool called EbSynth that allows users to record a video, draw over one frame and then apply that drawing to the entire video via artificial intelligence. The session is organized by the Workshop at VCU Libraries. Questions: https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2021-2022/wednesdays-in-the-workshop-fall-2021.html. Click on the following URL to receive a link to attend the session.

For more information, contact Gregory Kimbrell at kimbrellgg@vcu.edu or (804) 393-2951 or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEvde6trDwoGdc7oxhwQFYkrPf0s_WHzxt3.

Wednesday, Sep. 15, 2021 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tiffany Williams, D.D.S., M.S.D., director for student recruitment, Department of Admissions, VCU School of Dentistry, will discuss at an online meeting of the Dental Club at VCU the requirements to apply to VCU Dental School. If you are interested, message the club on Ramsconnect at https://vcu.campusgroups.com/dentalclubatvcu/home/ or send an email to dentalclub.vcu@gmail.com.

For more information, contact Simon Petrizzi at petrizzisg@vcu.edu.

Thursday, Sep. 16, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Learn to be an advocate and ally for people struggling with substance use disorders and those in recovery. The event will be hosted by Rams in Recovery. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Emily Tompkins at tompkinsee@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0K9T9IjS3ameCHWtC6TtmpPip3HI-ZOnRiyHO9t5VgzAgYw/viewform.

Thursday, Sep. 16, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Jeremy L. Freifeld of Hutchison Law will discuss topics related to getting a startup off the ground in Series 2 of Bench to Community. The virtual series will focus on topics to help participants transition ideas and innovations into an early-stage company. The event will be hosted by the VCU Institute for Engineering and Medicine, the C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and VCU Office of the Vice President of Research and Administration. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Laura Osborne at lmnosborne@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0349 or visit https://iem.vcu.edu/events/bench-to-community/.

Friday, Sep. 17, 2021 from noon to 12:30 p.m.

This slower, 30-minute session focuses on active stretching of muscles and opening of connective tissue. Release built-up tension, prevent injury, increase blood flow to muscles and increase long-term flexibility. No equipment is required, though a yoga mat is recommended. This class is hosted by VCU Human Resources and VCU Recreation & Well-Being. Questions: https://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/3jdt5Ij.

Friday, Sep. 24, 2021 at 10 a.m.

"Ile aye, moya, là, ndokh … Harmonic Conversations … mm" is a solo exhibition by South African artist Dineo Seshee Bopape at VCU's Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St. The show’s title calls to the elements – earth, wind, fire and water – summoned in various languages from West and Southern Africa. Images, objects and sounds made from soil and water resonate throughout this gallery. They point to cities, ports and waterways that played important roles in the enslavement of people.

For more information, contact Stephanie Stanton at stantons@vcu.edu or visit https://icavcu.org/exhibitions/dineo-seshee-bopape/.

Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This inaugural, regional virtual research symposium hosted by VCU in collaboration with Eastern Virginia Medical School and Virginia State University will focus on the biology of inflammasomes and the therapeutic potential of inhibiting the inflammasome in diseases. Join a panel of experts whose members will present the latest investigations and discuss the future of inflammasome research. Register at the following URL for this free event.

For more information, contact Lauren Harris at harrisl4@vcu.edu or visit https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwvfuygqzMpH9OJvPpgfU6FHPszgZD6GVGz.

VCU's Records Management Office will hold Records Management 101 training online via Zoom in the upcoming months. Training will cover recordkeeping requirements and practices to be compliant with state regulations and university policy. Register in Talent (keyword "records"). Busy but can’t make it? Try self-paced Records Management 101 training available in Canvas.

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

VCU RecWell's Outdoor Adventure Program offers climbing clinics free to VCU students and RecWell members for all levels of experience. Clinics are held at the Cary Street Gym climbing wall, 101 S. Linden St., throughout the semester. Clinics include sport climbing, gym to crag, climbing technique and request-a-clinic.

For more information, contact Christina Spohn at spohncl@vcu.edu or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/outdoor-adventure-program/climbing-and-bouldering/.

In order to address structural concerns, the MCV Campus Aquatic Center has closed. VCU RecWell does not currently have an anticipated reopening date, but an update will be announced once the project timeline is confirmed. The MCV Campus Recreation Center, 900 Turpin St., and all locker room facilities will remain open throughout the repair project. The Cary Street Gym Aquatic Center, 101 S. Linden St., is open regular hours.

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

Ram Pantry is seeking students who would like to receive free bread – including bagels, pastries and more – that would otherwise go to waste. Questions: Email rampantry@vcu.edu or complete the following form: https://forms.gle/E1tALMG8SnvVVBto8.

For more information, contact Lisa Mathews-Ailsworth at rampantry@vcu.edu or (804) 828-4514 or visit https://dos.vcu.edu/services/ram-pantry/.

Are you a health-care clinician or student who practices or trains in Virginia? If so, then you are likely eligible to participate in a survey study conducted by faculty at VCU. We are interested in how health-care professionals have learned behavioral health counseling, specifically motivational interviewing. Those who complete the 20-minute survey will be entered into a bimonthly gift-card drawing. Click on the following link to participate. For more information, contact Rashelle Hayes, Ph.D., at rashelle.hayes@vcuhealth.org or (804) 628-6752 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=NWWYMP4W44.

For more information, contact Rashelle Hayes, Ph.D., at rashelle.hayes@vcuhealth.org or (804) 827-3695 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=NWWYMP4W44.

Researchers are looking for VCU employees, as well as their family members, to volunteer for the COVID-CARE study. Volunteers must be aged 18 and older and have one of the following apply to them: have had a known exposure to COVID-19 in the last 14 days or currently have suspected COVID-19 symptoms, Volunteers will be asked to review and electronically sign an informed consent document, complete a survey pertaining to your current symptoms (if any) and any known exposures in the last 14 days. You will be asked to complete two COVID tests at home, provided at no cost. Volunteers are paid for their time. To access the study’s website and see if eligible, go to the following URL.

For more information, contact Mandy Adams at study4u@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3686 or visit http://www.covidcarestudy.org/.

Researchers in VCU's Occupational Therapy Department are conducting a study to learn about how children sense and feel their environment. Children between the ages of 6 to 72 months (including children who were born full term and also children who were born preterm) are invited to participate. Enrolled children will participate in a play-based assessment (including coloring and sticker activities, and play activities to assess overall development). Compensation will be provided.

For more information, contact Virginia Chu, Ph.D., OTR/L, VCU Sensorimotor Performance and Rehabilitation Engineering Lab, Department of Occupational Therapy, at vchu@vcu.edu (spre@vcu.edu) or (804) 828-1564.