11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Do you have a question about setting up your Top Hat course(s) for Spring? Join one of Top Hat’s drop-in virtual Office Hour sessions. Each session will run for 90 minutes – join at any time. Participants will be admitted one-by-one to ask questions individually. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact VCU Instructional Computing Services at tophat@vcu.edu or visit https://tophat.zoom.us/meeting/register/0-mjeK18QYyLxxGjiE5qmA.

12 p.m.

Did you know? In 20 minutes or less you can become financially confident and earn money? Join this virtual session presented by VCU HR and Virginia Credit Union (VACU) and learn what Banzai is all about and how to use it to your advantage. You will be building your financial literacy and life literacy skills in no time. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://bit.ly/452pofP

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/worklife-at-vcu/employee-events/.

Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 at noon

Step into the New Year with clarity, gratitude and purpose. This guided meditation, presented by VCU HR and VCU RecWell, invites you to pause, reflect and gently release the past while opening your heart to the possibilities ahead. Through mindful breathing, visualization and affirmations, you’ll cultivate a sense of inner peace and set meaningful intentions for the year to come. Register in Talent@VCU or at: https://bit.ly/3MCKeMB

For more information, contact Cindi Phares at cphares@vcu.edu or visit https://hr.vcu.edu/worklife-at-vcu/employee-events/.

Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 from noon to 1 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will host a Discovery Dialogues seminar via Zoom featuring Jacqueline Britz, M.D., assistant professor, Family Medicine and Population Health. Discovery Dialogues Series is a regular event that bridges the divide between research, health care and the public. The events are open to all and the research is presented in lay-friendly language. Register at https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/ksb0TH04Q76lgM3lKtjwQw

For more information, contact Pamela Dillon, Pharm.D., research liaison, at pmdillon@vcu.edu or (804) 714-7551 or visit https://cctr.vcu.edu/.

Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Participate in this virtual session to learn more about the nation’s No. 1 graduate program in advertising and branding. The discussion will include Brandcenters four concentrations — Art Direction, Copywriting, Creative Brand Management and Strategy — the admissions process and what life is like as a Brandcenter student. Brandcenter Associate Director Ashley Sommardahl will share advertising industry insights and results from the most recent alumni salary survey. Register in advance for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Emma Barone at brandcenter@vcu.edu or visit https://connect.business.vcu.edu/register/info-session-jan-2026?utm_source=TelegRam.

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 at noon

Learn more about the flexibility of VCU's Evening MBA program at a webinar hosted by the School of Business. This online presentation will provide an overview of program formats (which include online, on-campus or a blend of both), curriculum and the admissions process. No registration is required – join via the Zoom link at https://vcu.zoom.us/j/83919301888

For more information, contact Evan Torpy at torpyec@vcu.edu or visit https://business.vcu.edu/prospective-students/graduate/.

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

In this application workshop via Zoom, participants will practice creating or updating their career development plan using the career pathing tool with guidance from a VCU HR facilitator. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the intersection between a career path and a career development plan, practice using a career path framework to create or update an individualized career development plan and leverage the facilitator as a resource. See the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Shana Ryman at sryman@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.csod.com/samldefault.aspx?returnUrl=%252fDeepLink%252fProcessRedirect.aspx%253fmodule%253dlodetails%2526lo%253d4c781f4d-6860-4dcf-b073-78b558811cd0.

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Have you ever wanted to study abroad? Join Nicole Corley, Ph.D., to learn more about a study abroad opportunity to Ghana, West Africa in Summer 2026. Scholarship opportunities are available, including a $2,000 study abroad scholarship from the School of Social Work. Sessions will be virtual and in person in the Academic Learning Commons (MCALC), Room 3100, 901 Park Ave. Register for the informational session and see the full schedule at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nicole Corley at ncorley@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/2Yztd2f5TFLrHizz8.

Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In honor of MLK Day, the Graduate School is collaborating with Second Presbyterian Church, 5 N. Fifth St., to serve meals to community members experiencing homelessness. VCU faculty, staff and students are invited to come out and volunteer at this event as part of the university's campus-wide MLK activities. Volunteers will welcome guests, serve meals and hand out warm winter items. Volunteers may also bring donations of gently used and new coats, hats, and scarves. Register to volunteer at https://cglink.me/2dV/r1942730

For more information, contact Erin Brown at embbrown@vcu.edu or visit https://mlkday.vcu.edu/.

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Division of Community Engagement in the Office of the Provost invites you to Pizza and Politics: The Legacy of Black Women’s Civic Engagement in the United States. Held during the annual MLK Jr. Week, this event will be a collaborative and discussion-based workshop on the history of Black women in American politics, the future of their involvement and insights into getting more young Black women into civic spaces. After hearing from some young leaders in the VCU community, the grouip will engage in a panel discussion with Councilwoman Nicole Jones, former Councilwoman Michelle Mosby and current President of the Richmond National Council of Negro Women, Tyee Mallory. Pizza and refreshments will be provided for those who sign up at the following email address. The meeting will be held James Branch Cabell Library, Room 303, 901 Park Ave.

For more information, contact Tani Washington at washingtot8@vcu.edu.

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.

Ready to take the next step toward a rewarding career in the legal profession? Enroll in CPE’s Certificate in Paralegal Studies. Class begins Thursday, Feb. 5. Join the informational session via Zoom to learn how this program can equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to prepare for paralegal opportunities. Sign up at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nancy Lowe at nalowe@vcu.edu or visit https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/19a93df906e9409e80a9cb6b9277e218.

Friday, Apr. 24, 2026 from noon to 5 p.m.

The Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine (WISDM) Faculty Organization will host an afternoon of networking and professional development through enhancement of leadership skills. The conference theme is "Time to Lead: Reclaiming Your Path in Health Care and Science." The event will be held at the Jonah L. Larrick Student Center, 900 Turpin St. Registration will begin at the end of February 2026.

For more information, contact Jody Hedstrom at hedstromj@vcu.edu or visit https://medschool.vcu.edu/about/deans-office/faculty-affairs/women-in-medicine#d.en.629085.

Starting with the first pay period in January, the value of group life insurance (provided to all eligible employees) will be included in each of your 24 pays throughout the year (instead of the whole amount appearing once at the end of the year, as has been done to date). This adjustment helps employees avoid potential tax liability at the end of the year, as taxes will be spread more evenly across all paychecks.

For more information, contact VCU Payroll Services at payroll@vcu.edu or (804) 828-0740.

Voices in Pharmacy Innovation is a monthly educational podcast hosted by Dave Dixon, Pharm.D., professor and chair at the VCU School of Pharmacy and core faculty member at the Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation. The first episode will be available on Thursday, Jan. 8. Each episode will feature conversations with pharmacy professionals and health care leaders, offering insights and strategies to help translate research and policy into practice. Jeffrey Bratberg, Pharm.D., clinical professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and a leader in substance use disorder care, joins as the inaugural guest. In this episode, Dixon talks with Bratberg about how pharmacists can play a bigger role in substance use disorder care, expanding access to treatment, reducing stigma and turning policy into real-world practice. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or through the center's website at the following URL. New episodes will be released on the second Thursday of each month.

For more information, contact Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation at cppi@vcu.edu or visit https://cppi.pharmacy.vcu.edu/podcast/.

Researchers at the VCU School of Public Health are testing a new research study program to help improve health and well-being among emerging adult women. You may be eligible for this study if you are a woman between the ages of 18 and 25 with a body mass index (BMI) between 25-50 kg/m2. Visit www.RedefiningBMI.com to learn more and take a quick survey if you may be eligible.

For more information, contact Redefining BMI study at bmiproject@vcu.edu or (804) 828-5362 or visit https://www.redefiningbmi.com/about.html.

Discover how learning theory, strategy and creativity come together to design effective learning experiences. In VCU’s Foundations of Instructional Design Program, participants will explore key frameworks such as backward design and AGILE, learn to assess learner needs, build curriculum and manage learning projects from start to finish. Class begins Monday, Feb. 9. VCU alumni, staff and faculty discounts available. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Laura Wilson at baxterl@vcu.edu or visit https://www.continuingstudies.vcu.edu/wconnect/coursestatus.awp3?course=26-LW-006.