1:15 p.m.

VCU's Muslim Student Association will hold Jummah (Friday) Prayer in Room 250, the Multipurpose Room, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. The first Kutbah will be held at 1:15 p.m., the second at 2:15 p.m. Masks are required.

For more information, contact MSA at VCU at vcumsa@gmail.com.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

VCU's Office of Sustainability will present Campus Sustainability Day at the Student Commons Plaza. This nationwide celebration of sustainability will feature a DIY workshop, cool sustainability giveaway items and information from local organizations and VCU departments.

For more information, contact Parker Long at longpj@vcu.edu or (804) 628-1163.

3 p.m.

Benjamin Teresa, Ph.D., co-director of RVA Eviction Lab and associate professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, will discuss his work as an urban planner and researcher. The virtual Coffee and Talk event will be hosted by the Urban Studies Student Association. Questions: Instagram.com/ussa.vcu. Click on the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jackie Stephens at stephensjl2@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/j/91707503661.

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

VCU Faculty Club will host its second meeting of the academic year at the Institute for Contemporary Art at the Markel Center, 601 W. Broad St. VCU Brandcenter's Tom Scharpf will kick off the returning Faculty Club Speaker Series with his presentation, "The Brandcenter: Unveiling the Mystery." There will also be a research roundtable discussion, "Optimizing Health Through Multidisciplinary Collaborations Involving Communications, Behavioral Sciences, Culture or Humanities." Questions: http://go.vcu.edu/facultyclub. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Pam Hendrix at pahendrix@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/8baE3V5Qosx8NZeE9.

7 p.m.

Chi Alpha Campus Ministries will host a tea and coffee party in Rooms A and B, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. All are welcome, especially international students.

For more information, contact Lisa Taylor at taylorlr4@vcu.edu.

Monday, Oct. 4, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

This session via Zoom, sponsored by VCU Online, will focus on how university-supported tools can help facilitate meaningful discussions in online courses. Questions: Email OnlinePD@vcu.edu. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Brianne Jackson at bljackson@vcu.edu or visit https://vcuonline.catalog.vcu.edu/browse/vcuonlineworkshops/courses/meaningful-discussions-online---october-2021.

Monday, Oct. 4, 2021 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU Learning Systems and VCU Online will sponsor a workshop to explore the steps for creating a course in Canvas and highlight the basic and most effective features, tools, settings and content options. This online training is free and has no cancellation penalty. Register at the following URL (keyword: Canvas).

For more information, contact Jamillah Martin at canvaslearn@vcu.edu or visit https://training.vcu.edu.

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

VCU's Common Book Program will host a lecture given by VCU faculty Don Young, Ph.D.; Julie Zinnert, Ph.D.; Scott Neubauer, Ph.D. and Jesse Goldstein, Ph.D. The talk will be in the Lecture Hall, Room 303, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave., and will focus on the importance of addressing climate change, which is the theme of the 2021-2022 Common Book, "Rising" by Elizabeth Rush.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Fagan at fagane@vcu.edu or visit https://commonbook.vcu.edu/events/.

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Have you wondered about how to make the most of your retirement plan? Join VCU Human Resources and TIAA to learn how to plan your savings strategy and give your money more time to accumulate. 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/3CCMrNO.

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Get to know international students from all over the world at VCU's monthly Global Café. Each café has a different theme and refreshments are always served. The Global Café will be held in the West Grace North Residence Hall (kitchen) at 830 W. Grace St. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact Nichole Dorton at nldorton@vcu.edu or visit https://global.vcu.edu/students/community/globalcafe/.

Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and VCU IRB (Institutional Review Board) will host open consulting hours via Zoom. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nyssa Towsley at ntowsley@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1157 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=9PEXYCJTYN.

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Does cash rule everything around you? Do you wonder how that differs for others? Come engage with students, faculty and staff in the October RAMmalogues session about socioeconomic status and class. Share how socioeconomic status has impacted your life and bear witness to what others have to share in open dialogue. RAMmalogues is a space for intercultural, multigenerational and community-wide dialogues around who we are and what matters to us. The session will be in Room 250, James Branch Cabell Library, 901 Park Ave. Questions: https://inclusive.vcu.edu/iexcel/rammalogues/. All students, staff and faculty are invited, but registration is limited to 25. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jan Altman, Ph.D., at iexcel@vcu.edu or visit https://training.vcu.edu/course.aspx?processFlag=2&itemID=17874.

Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, a center in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, and the 2021 cohort of the VCU Leadership Development Program for their annual team project presentations. This year’s team projects focus on advancing institutional racial equity at VCU. Register to attend virtually or in person at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kiara Faulks at gehli@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/ZxN2PEyW8RE9utMo8.

Monday, Oct. 18, 2021 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

VCU's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence will present a workshop via Zoom which will provide participants with strategies, practice and feedback in writing questions and assignments. Recent research has shown that questions and tasks must compel students to reveal use of these skills in their written work or group interactions. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/6ENyoBSBCCZr5Hv8A .

Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence will present a panel on writing a compelling teaching narrative. Panelists will share insights on how to highlight the best of your teaching as you navigate the promotion process. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tiffany Freitas at freitast@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/NgSNrytvBW4Bvwza7.

Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium will host its 2021 conference on the Hopin.to platform. The theme will be "The Promise of Public Education: Connecting Research, Policy and Practice in a New Era." The program will feature over 100 speakers exploring prominent topics in public education. MERC connects VCU's School of Education with seven local school divisions in order to plan and conduct research that directly addresses school and community needs. Tickets are $15 for VCU faculty, staff and students.

For more information, contact David Naff at naffdb@vcu.edu or visit https://merc.soe.vcu.edu/conference/.

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Center for Corporate Education at VCU's School of Business will present Managing Remotely as part of the Level Up Learning series. This online 90-minute workshop will allow participants to explore strategies for managers on how to motivate their teams from afar. The registration fee is $40. Register at the following URL or email corp-ed@vcu.edu for more information.

For more information, contact Carrie Hawes at cjhawes@vcu.edu or (804) 828-3165 or visit http://go.vcu.edu/corped.

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign for 2021 is now open. Through this campaign, employees can safely and easily donate to their favorite causes throughout the year. Participants can do a one-time credit card payment or opt for payroll deduction. The campaign runs until Dec. 17.

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

The second session of RecWell's adult swim lessons will begin Oct. 9 (Saturday classes) and Oct. 18 (Monday and Wednesday classes). Classes are held at Cary Street Gym Aquatic Center, 101 S. Linden St. and are open to VCU students, RecWell members and nonmembers. Class levels include beginner, intermediate/advanced and all levels. Register by noon Oct. 8 at the following URL.

For more information, contact Amanda Simmons at alsimmons@vcu.edu or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/programs/aquatics/adult-swim-programs/.

VCU Human Resources and Walgreens are offering flu immunization clinics for all VCU faculty and staff. Clinics will take place on the Monroe Park Campus (Human Resources Training Room, 922 W. Grace St., Room 115, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14); MCV Campus (Robert Blackwell Smith Building, 410 N. 12th St., Room 129, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 6 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 25) and the VCU Police Department (224 E. Broad St., 2-6 p.m. Oct. 27). Make an appointment at the following URL prior to the event.

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/employee-health/flu-vaccination-clinics/.

Annual Member Benefit Profiles for VRS members are now available through the MyVRS online system at https://myvrs.varetire.org. The new VRS Member Guide is also now available at the following URL.

For more information, contact Daynon Smith at benefits@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://www.varetire.org/pdf/publications/vrs-member-guide.pdf.

Emerging Healthcare Leaders is hosting a mentorship program to connect pre-health students with mentors in their desired career path. EHL will offer several mentorship socials and activities throughout the year. Mentors can gain leadership experience by sharing lessons they have learned in the health care field. Those who are being mentored will gain access to guidance on their pre-health journeys. Both mentors and those being mentored can register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Kush Savsani at savsanikv@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/mN4Cv7GzzEJnv4pp7.