Student Issue for May 19, 2026

Special Announcement

Parking Deck Subscribers To Relocate During Graduations

Upcoming high school graduations will create interruptions to parking from May 19-22 (Tuesday-Friday) and May 26-29 (Tuesday-Friday). Through May 22, all West Broad Street Deck subscribers will relocate to the West Cary Street Deck, 1101 W. Cary St.; Jefferson Street Deck, 100 S. Jefferson St.; Henry Street Deck, 200 N. Henry St., or West Main Street Deck, 801 W. Main St. From May 26-29 (Tuesday-Friday), West Broad Street Deck subscribers may relocate to the above listed locations if preferred, but are not required.

A dedicated shuttle service will be provided by Parking and Transportation from May 19-22 and May 26-29 to transport subscribers to and from on-campus locations. RamSafe shuttles will run continuously to and from the West Cary Street Deck, Jefferson Street Deck, Harrison and Franklin streets, Franklin and Laurel streets and Shafer and Franklin streets from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. If a VCU parking subscriber needs transportation between 6:31 p.m. and 6:29 a.m., they can place a ride request through the RamSafe using the Ride Pingo app.

Reciprocal parking will not be permitted on the West Broad Street Deck May 22 and May 26-29. MCV Campus subscribers may park on the West Cary Street Deck, Jefferson Street Deck, Henry Street Deck or West Main Street Deck.

Additional information on high school graduation impacts is available at https://parking.vcu.edu/special-events/high-school-graduations/.

Today

VCU Writing Center Workshop: Informational Session and Writing With Confidence

Add to calendar 19-05-2026 10:00:00 19-05-2026 America/New_York VCU Writing Center Workshop: Informational Session and Writing With Confidence In this virtual informational session and workshop, we will discuss the services provided by the VCU Writing Center and help you build confidence in your writing by breaking down the process into manageable chunks. Start your academic writing career off right by exploring the Writing Center and finding out why you write the way you do and how to become a more confident writer. Register at the following URL. https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/ Jess Rogers rogersjp2@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

10 a.m.

In this virtual informational session and workshop, we will discuss the services provided by the VCU Writing Center and help you build confidence in your writing by breaking down the process into manageable chunks. Start your academic writing career off right by exploring the Writing Center and finding out why you write the way you do and how to become a more confident writer. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jess Rogers at rogersjp2@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

VCU Writing Center Workshop: The Personal Statement

Add to calendar 19-05-2026 18:00:00 19-05-2026 America/New_York VCU Writing Center Workshop: The Personal Statement Writing about yourself can be intimidating, especially when something important like a scholarship or admittance to a program is riding on one short piece of writing. In this interactive Zoom workshop, we will look at examples of strong, successful personal statements, as well as less successful ones, and give you the tools you need to write your best statement. Register at the following URL. https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/ Jess Rogers rogersjp2@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

6 p.m.

Writing about yourself can be intimidating, especially when something important like a scholarship or admittance to a program is riding on one short piece of writing. In this interactive Zoom workshop, we will look at examples of strong, successful personal statements, as well as less successful ones, and give you the tools you need to write your best statement. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jess Rogers at rogersjp2@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

This week

Wednesday Walks With the Health Hub

Add to calendar 20-05-2026 12:00:00 20-05-2026 13:00:00 America/New_York Wednesday Walks With the Health Hub Looking for a group that allows you to connect with others and nature and also improves your health? The Health Hub hosts Wednesday Walks, which provide the opportunity for a walk in Church Hill. Each walk will begin and end at the Health Hub, 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A, and visits different parts of the neighborhood. 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A VCU Health Hub vcuhealthhub@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from noon to 1 p.m.

Looking for a group that allows you to connect with others and nature and also improves your health? The Health Hub hosts Wednesday Walks, which provide the opportunity for a walk in Church Hill. Each walk will begin and end at the Health Hub, 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A, and visits different parts of the neighborhood.

For more information, contact VCU Health Hub at vcuhealthhub@vcu.edu.

Wilder School Lunch and Learn for May: Frontline Insights on Advancing Regional Quality of Life

Add to calendar 20-05-2026 12:00:00 20-05-2026 13:00:00 America/New_York Wilder School Lunch and Learn for May: Frontline Insights on Advancing Regional Quality of Life The May alumni lunch hosted by VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will feature Joe Casey, Ph.D., county administrator for Chesterfield County and a leader in local government in central Virginia. Casey has held leadership roles in Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties since 1990. During this virtual conversation, Casey will discuss regional progress, the partnerships that have driven change and the quality-of-life factors that continue to shape central Virginia. Register at the following URL. https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kU48jG5XRx2OJtEgNQl0Hg Stevan Dozier doziers2@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from noon to 1 p.m.

The May alumni lunch hosted by VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs will feature Joe Casey, Ph.D., county administrator for Chesterfield County and a leader in local government in central Virginia. Casey has held leadership roles in Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield counties since 1990. During this virtual conversation, Casey will discuss regional progress, the partnerships that have driven change and the quality-of-life factors that continue to shape central Virginia. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Stevan Dozier at doziers2@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kU48jG5XRx2OJtEgNQl0Hg.

Clinical Research Town Hall: Digital Advertising and Other Wright Center Resources for Clinical Trial Recruitment

Add to calendar 20-05-2026 16:00:00 20-05-2026 17:00:00 America/New_York Clinical Research Town Hall: Digital Advertising and Other Wright Center Resources for Clinical Trial Recruitment VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and VCU Health's Office of Clinical Research invites you to the monthly clinical research town hall. Join Rose Williams, CCRP, VCU Wright Center Research Navigator; Sarah M. Farthing, MS, CCRP, Research Manager, Healthy Lifestyles Center; and Christopher Richmond, MFA, VCU Wright Center Communications Manager, for a virtual program via Zoom. Register at the following URL. Virtual via Zoom Lauren Harris, Ed.D., harrisl4@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and VCU Health's Office of Clinical Research invites you to the monthly clinical research town hall. Join Rose Williams, CCRP, VCU Wright Center Research Navigator; Sarah M. Farthing, MS, CCRP, Research Manager, Healthy Lifestyles Center; and Christopher Richmond, MFA, VCU Wright Center Communications Manager, for a virtual program via Zoom. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Lauren Harris, Ed.D., at harrisl4@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/0jVHFr0rQ9Wi5GKWTn1ZJA#/registration.

Data Exploration, Visualization and Descriptive Statistics

Add to calendar 21-05-2026 12:00:00 21-05-2026 13:30:00 America/New_York Data Exploration, Visualization and Descriptive Statistics VCU's Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will host a lunch research seminar via Zoom. Nuha Farhat, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mathematics and Economics, Virginia State University, will discuss interpreting research results and producing outputs that can be used in academic papers, reports and teaching materials. In this hands-on, virtual workshop, participants will generate summary statistics, explore relationships in data and create publication-ready visualizations using ggplot2. Register at the following URL. via ZOOM Pamela Dillon, Pharm.D., research liaison, pmdillon@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

Thursday, May 21, 2026 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

VCU's Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will host a lunch research seminar via Zoom. Nuha Farhat, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mathematics and Economics, Virginia State University, will discuss interpreting research results and producing outputs that can be used in academic papers, reports and teaching materials. In this hands-on, virtual workshop, participants will generate summary statistics, explore relationships in data and create publication-ready visualizations using ggplot2. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Pamela Dillon, Pharm.D., research liaison, at pmdillon@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/UIEFd2tnRDmZIyGUJI8jxg.

Wright Center K Breakfast Club Meeting: Grant Budgeting 101

Add to calendar 21-05-2026 09:00:00 21-05-2026 10:00:00 America/New_York Wright Center K Breakfast Club Meeting: Grant Budgeting 101 VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will discuss Grant Budgeting 101 at its monthly K Breakfast Club. If you currently have a K award or you are seeking to apply for a Career Development Award, you are invited to join – the event is hybrid; feel free to participate in person or virtually via Zoom. The in-person session will be held at the Richmond Academy of Medicine Building, 1200 E Clay St. Richmond Academy of Medicine (RAM) Building, 1200 E Clay St Brad Williams williamsb12@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

VCU's C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research will discuss Grant Budgeting 101 at its monthly K Breakfast Club. If you currently have a K award or you are seeking to apply for a Career Development Award, you are invited to join – the event is hybrid; feel free to participate in person or virtually via Zoom. The in-person session will be held at the Richmond Academy of Medicine Building, 1200 E Clay St.

For more information, contact Brad Williams at williamsb12@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/hCwXPZL9T6-NHHnOnfLpCA#/registration.

Coming up

America To Go Catering Training Begins May 27

Add to calendar 27-05-2026 10:00:00 27-05-2026 America/New_York America To Go Catering Training Begins May 27 VCU Procurement Services is moving into the next phase of the America To Go (ATG) catering implementation with upcoming virtual training sessions for campus departments and event planners. These sessions will include a live demonstration of the ATG RealSource e-catalog, ordering guidance, compliance expectations, billing workflows and a Q&A segment. Training Sessions will be Wednesday, May 27, 10 a.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/t8N48qy5TOmuqrPSIKF_fg; Wednesday, May 27, 2 p.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/6YkEcwJ2R7Sx6elEhZWqsA; Thursday, May 28, 10 a.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/0AsjgK5MSa-eQgsS-Oml-g; Thursday, May 28, 2 p.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/eLcttmG0RI2DFRK1FsjcGg All sessions will cover the same content. Participants only need to register for one session. Following the launch of the new RealSource e-catalog on May 27, all applicable university catering orders should be placed through ATG in RealSource. Virtual/Zoom Justin Carrico jcarrico@vcu.edu DD/MM/YYYY

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 10 a.m.

VCU Procurement Services is moving into the next phase of the America To Go (ATG) catering implementation with upcoming virtual training sessions for campus departments and event planners. These sessions will include a live demonstration of the ATG RealSource e-catalog, ordering guidance, compliance expectations, billing workflows and a Q&A segment. Training Sessions will be Wednesday, May 27, 10 a.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/t8N48qy5TOmuqrPSIKF_fg; Wednesday, May 27, 2 p.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/6YkEcwJ2R7Sx6elEhZWqsA; Thursday, May 28, 10 a.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/0AsjgK5MSa-eQgsS-Oml-g; Thursday, May 28, 2 p.m. – https://vcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/eLcttmG0RI2DFRK1FsjcGg All sessions will cover the same content. Participants only need to register for one session. Following the launch of the new RealSource e-catalog on May 27, all applicable university catering orders should be placed through ATG in RealSource.

For more information, contact Justin Carrico at jcarrico@vcu.edu or visit https://blogs.vcu.edu/procurement/america-to-go-catering-training-begins-may-27/.

Neuro-Ultrasound in Stroke Care Symposium

Add to calendar 05-06-2026 08:00:00 05-06-2026 11:00:00 America/New_York Neuro-Ultrasound in Stroke Care Symposium Neuro-Ultrasound in Stroke Care is a focused course exploring the practical application of neuro-ultrasound in contemporary stroke management. The virtual course equips learners to assess cerebrovascular pathology at the bedside, track disease progression over time and integrate ultrasound findings into timely, evidence-based decisions across the full continuum of stroke care. The course is free, no CME. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2WtQrjg2QhKbs1btFbCZCg Virtual Aarti Sarwal, M.D., aarti.sarwal@vcuhealth.org DD/MM/YYYY

Friday, Jun. 5, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Neuro-Ultrasound in Stroke Care is a focused course exploring the practical application of neuro-ultrasound in contemporary stroke management. The virtual course equips learners to assess cerebrovascular pathology at the bedside, track disease progression over time and integrate ultrasound findings into timely, evidence-based decisions across the full continuum of stroke care. The course is free, no CME. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2WtQrjg2QhKbs1btFbCZCg

For more information, contact Aarti Sarwal, M.D., at aarti.sarwal@vcuhealth.org or visit https://neurology.vcu.edu/education/cpe/.

Notices

VCU Generative AI Sentiment and Skills Survey

VCU’s Technology Services and Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence are conducting a survey to better understand sentiments and skills surrounding the use of Generative AI tools. This survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and is open to all VCU faculty, staff and students who are 18 years of age or older. The results will be used to inform training and tool adoption. Results will be shared in aggregate. Questions: Contact emergingtech@vcu.edu with any questions. See the survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact Peyton Burgess, Ph.D., at emergingtech@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4nQJ64T2q2zxEGM1xxEA_Y0tXM2w_eW9sJxHSAiBxR0VGKg/viewform?usp=header.

Students: Join the VCU Career Services Team

The VCU Career Services office is seeking students in a variety of roles to join its team for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications will not open on Handshake until the summer, but students can complete the interest form at the following URL to learn more and apply once positions become available. It is anticipated that both Federal Work Study (FWS) and non-FWS students will be hired.

For more information, contact Ashley Worthington at worthingtonar@vcu.edu or visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSed1HYaeEMVMXN2oY02Uigj6qHtvzvPfITVFKae9P0OIWoXtQ/viewform.

Rights of Students Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA affords students the rights to inspect and review educational records; request that records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading be corrected; provide written consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent; and to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.

For more information, contact The Office of the University Registrar at rar@vcu.edu.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act: FTC Safeguards Rule

The Office of the University Registrar is responsible for notifying the university community that it does not release nonpublic information about VCU students. This information is used and shared in a limited and carefully controlled manner. It is not disclosed, except as permitted by law, unless authorized by the student.

For more information, contact The Office of the University Registrar at rar@vcu.edu.

Call for Applications: VCU-PMDC Pilot Grants

The VCU Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center (PMDC) provides up to $75,000 in Pilot Grants to fund clinical, translational or basic science investigations in Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders. Open to faculty, post-doctoral students and fellows, undergraduates and graduate students. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 30. See request for proposals at the following URL.

For more information, contact Chandler Moore at john.c.moore@vcuhealth.org or (804) 387-0103 or visit https://parkinsons.vcu.edu/research/pmdc-pilot-grants-/.

Annual Student Organization Registration Due June 1

Just two more weeks to complete annual registration for all current student organizations. Annual registration is required to be eligible for access to (1) SGA funding, (2) SOVO Fair participation and (3) campus space reservations in EMS and other resources on campus. Due Monday, June 1. Questions: Visit studentorgs@vcu.edu Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Justin Raibolt at jraibolt@vcu.edu or visit https://ramsconnect.vcu.edu/theunderground/student-org-registration-tips/.

Monroe Park Campus – West Grace Street Housing Project – Upcoming Changes to West Grace Street Starting May 26

Phase 1 utility work associated with the West Grace Street Housing Project is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, June 26 and will impact the 600 block of West Grace Street. The affected areas will include the 600 block of West Grace Street; QQ Lot – Exit only via North Pine Street; Northbound Belvidere access to West Grace Street (detour via West Broad Street to North Harrison Street); and Southbound Belvidere access to West Grace Street (detour via West Main Street to North Laurel Street). There will also be a one-day full shutdown of the 600 block of West Grace Street for utility vault installation using a crane. The specific date has yet to be determined and will be announced once finalized. Weather or unforeseen circumstances may affect this schedule, and any updates will be shared as soon as they are available.

For more information, contact Britt Dixon at dixonbd@vcu.edu.

Concussion Research Study

Recruiting adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 years old who have 1) never had a diagnosed concussion OR 2) sustained a concussion within the last 14 days. This non-invasive study is investigating the acoustic startle reflex and acoustic startle potentiation in relationship to subsequent injury following concussion. Participants will be compensated for their time.

For more information, contact Jessie Oldham at oldhamjr@vcu.edu or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=YKDWLNYWDNK7M7KX.

Other resources

VCU Libraries workshops

See a schedule of workshops and classes that teach how to use collections and databases.

LinkedIn Learning @ VCU

Navigate a vast library of online video tutorials to supplement teaching, learning, and professional development.

RamsConnect events

View all of the student events happening on campus and register for events that interest you.