1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Are you a freshman age 18+? Then you can take part in research at VCU with Spit for Science: The VCU Student Survey. Come to the theater, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., to find out more. Check your inbox for a study invitation. You’ll receive a $10 e-gift card upon completion.

For more information, contact Joanna E. Penick at penickje@vcu.edu or (804) 205-8047.

11:30 a.m.

VCU's National Scholarship Office will host an informational session about the Truman Scholarship, an award geared toward juniors planning to pursue careers in public service. The scholarship provides leadership development, an internship opportunity in Washington D.C., and up to $30,000 for graduate studies. The session will be held via Zoom and at 701 W. Grace St., Room 1210. Questions: Visit http://blogs.vcu.edu/natlscholar or email natlscholar@vcu.edu. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jeff Wing at jawing@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/bGoCcSBKWPL9Vkge6.

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.

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Join VCU's Transfer Center in the Richmond Salons I and IV, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., to welcome the university's transfer students to campus. Seasoned transfer students will answer questions. Please arrive early; there will be limited seating and refreshments. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Angela Aslanska at adaslanska@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1349 or visit https://vcu.campusgroups.com/WoW/rsvp_boot?id=1146513.

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

VCU's National Scholarship Office will offer a virtual informational session about the Critical Language Scholarship, which funds the study of a critical language abroad and is open to both undergraduates and graduate students in all majors. Questions: http://blogs.vcu.edu/natlscholar. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Meredith Sisson at mrsisson@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/hQkty1mwrcNfJ1cF8.

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.

Friday, Sep. 10, 2021 at 7 p.m.

Chi Alpha Campus Ministries will host a Welcome to the USA Party at 822 W. Franklin St. (a change in location). Connect with others, enjoy snacks and play fun games.

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

Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2021 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

VCU's Students Today Alumni Tomorrow will host Ramadition Tuesday. Download the Traditions Keeper app at the following URL to win prizes. Visit the STAT table in the Plaza of the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., to share your pictures.

For more information, contact Sarah Ramkey at ramkeysm@vcu.edu or visit https://www.vcualumni.org/students/mobile-app/.

Wednesday, Sep. 15, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

VCU's Dean of Students and Career Services will host a Weeks of Welcome open house at the Hunton Student Center, 1110 E. Broad St. Learn about MCV Campus programming, student organizations, campus partners and resources all in one space. Meet the assistant dean of students, tour the Suit Yourself Closet and win prizes. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Candyce Brown at cabrown3@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0525 or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1219380.

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. 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 faculty want you to be successful in your classes and your future careers, which is why they submit progress reports for students who might be struggling early in the semester. If you get one, don’t worry, there’s lots of time and resources to help you improve. Check out the following URL for tips and tricks to make the most of your classes, and make an appointment with your academic advisor if you have any questions.

For more information, contact VCU Student Success at success@vcu.edu or visit http://keeplearning.vcu.edu.

Take a tour of Cabell Library – on your own, in-person or online. The library has tours to suit a variety of needs, including the Cabell Library Mobile Tour for Focused Inquiry, a self-guided tour using your smartphone and video tour playlists to help you learn about library services online. Questions: https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/events/2021-2022-ongoing/jbc-tours.html. Visit the following URL for a list of available tours.

For more information, contact Gregory Kimbrell at kimbrellgg@vcu.edu or (804) 393-2951 or visit http://guides.library.vcu.edu/jbctours.

TEDxVCU, sponsored by The Commons, is looking for students interested in joining the organization as members and leaders of its following planning committees: curation, marketing, production and community outreach. Questions: https://vcu.campusgroups.com/tedxvcu/organization-interest-form/ or email tedx@vcu.edu. Fill out the interest form at the following URL by Sept. 10.

For more information, contact Justin Raibolt at jraibolt@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/yd7ii9V3XkYwSU9b9.

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.