Special Announcement
University Events Impacted Due to COVID-19
Events featured in TelegRAM have been moved to an online setting to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Please check with organizers for assistance in accessing the online venue. The university's COVID-19 site, now located at https://covid-19.vcu.edu/, is the source for the latest VCU updates. You can also receive VCU COVID-19 notifications. Download "VCU Mobile" from your iOS or Android App Store, or visit https://mobile.vcu.edu with your smartphone and select the appropriate link.
This week
Navigating the NIH Career Development (K Award) Grant Process
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m.
The C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will host a seminar via Zoom. Patrick Nana-Sinkam, M.D., associate director, Wright Center Career Development and Mentoring, will discuss the National Institute of Health's career development application and review process. A Zoom link will be sent to those who register at the following URL (keyword "NIH").
For more information, contact Pam Dillon, Ph.D., research liaison, at pmdillon@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1519 or visit https://training.vcu.edu/.
Health Sciences Librarians To Discuss Finding Trustworthy Information About Covid-19
Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.
VCU Libraries' series of Community Zooms continues with medical information experts John Cyrus and Dana Ladd. The amount of information available on COVID-19 can be overwhelming. Librarians from the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences and the VCU Medical Center Health and Wellness Library share tips for identifying reliable health information and walk participants through free online guides. The session is for patients, providers and the community. Email libdevelop@vcu.edu for a link.
For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu.
Healthy Habits for Your Brain and Body
Thursday, May 14, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m.
For centuries, we have known the health of the brain and the body are connected. Now, science is able to provide insights into how to optimize our physical and cognitive health as we age. Join VCU Human Resources and Tina Thomas of the Alzheimer's Association online to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. Register in Talent at the following URL.
For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.
VCU Autism Center Lunch and Learn
Thursday, May 14, 2020 from noon to 1 p.m.
VCU Autism Center for Excellence is working to provide resources for families. Weekly Lunch and Learn presentations will address different topics. Each will include a Q&A and will be offered via Zoom. The session will focus on home activities to learning experiences. Register at the following URL.
For more information, contact Carol Schall at cmschall@vcu.edu or visit https://vcuautismcenter.org/te/lunchandlearn.cfm.
Researcher Training Using ResearchMatch
Thursday, May 14, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research invites research teams to learn more about ResearchMatch (https://www.researchmatch.org/?rm=CCTR), a free recruitment source for health-related research at VCU. This webinar, hosted by Vanderbilt University, will cover what researchers can expect when using this service. Register at the following URL.
For more information, contact Katie Schifano at ctrrecruit@vcu.edu or visit https://attendee.gototraining.com/rt/2385612982214557185.
Rec Sports Virtual Trivia
Thursday, May 14, 2020 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
VCU Recreational Sports will offer virtual trivia for VCU students, faculty/staff, alumni and community members. Play individually or with friends on a team. Participation is free and requires a preregistration at the following URL. Trivia nights will also be held May 21 and 28.
For more information, contact Michael Potter at potterm2@vcu.edu or visit https://recsports.vcu.edu/about/virtual-programs/virtual-trivia/.
'Student Video Work: Round 3' Screening and Artist Talk
Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 8 p.m.
VCUarts The Anderson will present a virtual screening and artist Q&A for the third iteration of its Student Video Work initiative. Video work by 13 VCUarts students will be featured in "Student Video Work: Round 3." Join via Zoom to screen the videos and hear from the students about the inspirations and artistic processes behind their work. The Zoom link will be available on The Anderson's Instagram page (@vcuartstheanderson) on Thursday. Those interested can also email theanderson@vcu.edu for the Zoom link.
For more information, contact Monica Kinsey at kinseym@vcu.edu.
Fulbright Scholar Informational Session
Friday, May 15, 2020 at noon
VCU National Scholarship Office and the Global Education Office will host an online webinar for faculty and staff who are interested in the Fulbright Scholar awards (www.cies.org). Kimberly Williams of the Institute for International Education will lead the session. Register at the following URL. A meeting link will be sent to registrants the morning of the meeting.
For more information, contact Jeff Wing at jawing@vcu.edu or (804) 317-5929 or visit https://bit.ly/2WvjS1s.
Coming up
IRB Virtual Open Consulting Hours
Monday, May 18, 2020 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The VCU Institutional Review Board will offer virtual open IRB consulting hours, hosted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. IRB staff will be available for consultations with faculty, staff and students from any school or department at VCU. Register to join the Zoom meeting at the following URL.
For more information, contact Nyssa Towsley at ntowsley@vcu.edu or visit https://blogs.vcu.edu/humanresearch/2020/05/12/irb-consulting-hours-virtual-2/.
New Look for PubMed Coming Soon
Monday, May 18, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
PubMed, a frequently used resource of VCU Libraries, is the world's premier biomedical and health sciences database. Beginning May 18, the PubMed interface will have a different appearance. Librarians have created a self-paced tutorial about the changes at http://vcu.libwizard.com/f/newpubmed that can be accessed anytime. Librarians will present two new PubMed webinars, one from 2-3 p.m. on May 18, the other from 10-11 a.m. May 21. Register at the following URL to be sent a link to either webinar.
For more information, contact Thelma Mack at mackta@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0017 or visit https://vcu.libcal.com/calendar/workshops/.
Re-Learn to Relax
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 from noon to 12:30 p.m.
Join VCU Human Resources and CommonHealth in a virtual seminar on how to relax. The seminar will guide participants through a five-minute daily meditation exercise, have a discussion on the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, explore ways to find moments of calm during busy days and address techniques to help you power down for a good night’s sleep. Register in Talent.
For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.
Resilient Leadership Workshop
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 1 p.m.
The Learning, Development and Organizational Culture team presents Resilient Leadership, a 60-minute online workshop for managers and leaders at VCU. The session will focus on leading others through turbulent times by reframing to leverage the best of the present situation, what is within your control and influence, what is working well for you and those around you and building your preferred future based on your collective strengths and past experience. Register at the following URL.
For more information, contact Shana Ryman at sryman@gmail.com or visit https://vcu.csod.com/ui/lms-learning-details/app/event/ec60893b-f605-4c51-8fb3-9a3111f27329.
Full Body Chair Workout
Thursday, May 21, 2020 from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Looking to get a full body workout done without having to leave your home or office? Join Ashley Shepherd, VCU Recreational Sports' athletic trainer, to find out how to stay energized and alert through the work day while incorporating equipment found easily around you. Join VCU Human Resources and Rec Sports for a virtual workout that can be done anywhere.
For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.
Online Training for Handling Dangerous Goods
Thursday, May 21, 2020 from 9 a.m. to noon
VCU Environmental Health and Safety will hold online training for those who handle dangerous goods. Register for the class through BioRaft to be sent a Zoom invitation.
For more information, contact Barbara Back at bjback@vcu.edu.
Guided Meditation Online
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at noon
Take a break from email notifications, meetings and your to-do list to find a moment of quiet reflection in the middle of your day with mindfulness meditation. The virtual session, hosted by VCU Human Resources, is open to all and no previous meditation experience is necessary. The session will provide a sense of calm, peace and balance to improve attention, focus and the ability to work through stressful circumstances. Register in Talent.
For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1521 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/worklife/.
Notices
Zoom Update Required by May 30
To continue using Zoom after May 30th, download and install the latest version (5.0) of the Zoom client at https://vcu.zoom.us/download. This includes important security updates. To verify your current version of Zoom, open the desktop app and click on your avatar (photo) in the upper right corner. Navigate to "Help" and select "About Zoom." A window will open which will display your current version. Additional details are available at the VCUZoom Blog at the following URL.
For more information, contact David Morefield at dmorefie@vcu.edu or visit https://blogs.vcu.edu/zoom/2020/04/27/zoom-5-0-now-available/.
MCV Campus Construction: Traffic Impact Updates
Construction and utility work at and around the VCU Health Outpatient Pavilion and Inpatient Children's Hospital sites will affect traffic patterns on the MCV Campus. For current information and updates, visit the URL below.
For more information, contact Carrie Carroll at carrie.carroll@vcuhealth.org or visit http://vcuhealth.org/traffic.
Faculty and Staff Flexible Spending Accounts To End June 30
Current flexible spending accounts end June 30 for faculty and staff participating in the state program, and are not automatically renewed or continued. To open a flexible spending account for the new plan year that begins July 1, complete an open enrollment election using the instructions at the following URL.
For more information, contact VCU Human Resources at openenroll@vcu.edu or (804) 827-1723 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/open-enrollment.
Spring 2020 Final Grading Due May 12 at Noon
Grade sheets are now available on faculty eServices. Grades are due by noon on May 12, 2020 at which time grade entry will no longer be available. It is imperative to meet this deadline to ensure students have time to opt into the flexible grading option prior to their deadline. Faculty may now choose to use the feature to upload grades from an excel file in Banner 9. Faculty may only access grade sheets for courses to which they have been assigned.
For more information, contact The Office of Records and Registration at rar@vcu.edu.
Honors College Requesting Course and Module Proposals for Spring 2021
VCU's Honors College is requesting proposals for Spring 2021 courses and modules (five-week courses). Submit a proposal by June 1 at the following URL.
For more information, contact Jared Johnson at jajohnson4@vcu.edu or (804) 828-1803 or visit https://honors.vcu.edu/for-faculty/teach-honors/.
Nominations Sought for School of Medicine Teaching Excellence Awards 2020
The School of Medicine seeks nominations for the School of Medicine Teaching Excellence Awards. Recipients will be selected for four awards: The Enrique Gerszten M.D. Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, Irby James Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, Distinguished Mentor Award and the Educational Innovation/Educational Research Award. The deadline for nomination packages is July 1.
For more information, contact Deborah Stewart at deborah.stewart@vcuhealth.org or (804) 828-6591 or visit https://medschool.vcu.edu/about/deans-office/facultyaffairs/.
fixIT Is Closed
fixIT is currently closed and unable to perform on-site repairs. Mail-in options are available to have repairs completed for hardware issues. Computers under a RamSupport warranty are administered by Safeware. Contact Safeware directly at (800) 800-1492 to file a claim and set up a mail-in repair with one of their service providers. If you are unsure of your warranty status, email your serial number to the following email address for information about individual coverage.
For more information, contact Erinn Budd at fixitservice@vcu.edu or (804) 827-9334.
'Keep on Studying Abroad' Website Launched
As we navigate COVID-19, students can take steps to maintain momentum in planning their study abroad experience. VCU Global Education Office's new "Keep on Studying Abroad" website offers students tips for timing their study abroad in light of COVID-19, connecting virtually with a study abroad adviser, exploring funding options and considering virtual internships and online classes.
For more information, contact Sarah Carrier at abroad@vcu.edu or visit https://global.vcu.edu/abroad/keepstudyingabroad/.
MSTC E-Board Applications
VCU Medical Scientist Training Club is accepting executive board applications until 11:59 p.m. May 15 for vice chair, research chair and social chair. MSTC is a student organization which supports undergraduates interested in a physician-scientist career. Apply at the following URL.
For more information, contact Anirban Mahanty at vcu.mstc@gmail.com or visit https://forms.gle/ACsQAEuacZUk7pk78.
Nominations Sought for Alumni Volunteer Service Awards
Do you know a VCU alumnus who is providing volunteer service and leadership for the university as a board member, student mentor, advocate, advisor or other role? Nominations for VCU's Alumni Volunteer Service Awards should be submitted by June 1.
For more information, contact Ashley Dow Burton at aldburton@vcu.edu or visit https://www.vcualumni.org/news/awards/alumni-volunteer-service-awards/.
Hurricane Season Starts June 1
As operations change at VCU due to COVID-19, safety messaging for all emergencies is still a top priority for VCU's Emergency Management staff and VCU Police. As you plan for the summer, these teams remind everyone that dangerous weather events can occur at any time. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 and continues through Nov. 30. VCU officials monitor weather reports daily. In order to prepare, you are encouraged to make a plan, build an emergency kit and stay informed of forecasts.
For more information, contact VCU Emergency Management Team at vcualert@vcu.edu or visit https://www.ready.gov/plan.
Stay On Guard Against Email Scams
VCU Information Security Office warns that scammers are leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic to send individuals emails with malicious links or attachments. The message will usually pretend to be an authoritative source claiming to contain critical information related to COVID-19. The email will usually include a link or attachment, and the links or attachments will either attempt to infect your computer or trick you into providing your credentials.
For more information, contact VCU Information Security Office at infosec@vcu.edu or visit https://go.vcu.edu/phishing.
Open Enrollment Ends May 15
Open enrollment ends May 15. Online elections will be accepted by the state's EmployeeDirect website until May 15 at 11:59 p.m. If enrollment forms are submitted electronically, VCU Human Resources must receive the form by close of business on May 15. Enrollment forms submitted by postal mail must be postmarked by May 15.
For more information, contact VCU Benefits Administration at openenroll@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0177 or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/open-enrollment/.
