11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Scholastic Book Fair, hosted by the Virginia Education Association, will be extended one day. The event will be open today, Monday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by to browse a wide selection of books, posters, toys and more.

For more information, contact Linda Le at lel7@vcu.edu or (571) 342-2826 or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1942944.

12 p.m.

Join the Graduate and Professional Student Senate at the Hunton Student Center, 1110 E. Broad St., to celebrate the conclusion of the semester. Also, collect a care package including insulated lunch boxes, snacks and coffee for finals week (while supplies last). RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Graduate and Professional Student Senate at gpss@vcu.edu or visit https://cglink.me/2dV/r1942836.

3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Science Hub will host a series of Study Space Hangouts in the STEM Building, Room 201E, 817 W. Franklin St. Come by to experience a relaxed environment to help you focus and destress as you study for finals alongside your peers. Featuring cozy music and good vibes, you can drop in to stay as little or as long as you like. Bring a snack, headphones or your favorite de-stressing method to use while you study. The hangouts will be held Monday-Thursday. For the full schedule and to register to attend, click on https://forms.gle/4MufVAEEqyyriVJq9

For more information, contact Sunauz Moezzi at moezzis@vcu.edu or visit https://clc.vcu.edu/science-hub/.

4 p.m.

Explore how AI can be an innovative learning tool if used properly. Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Trey Burnart Hall at hallbr@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Jewish Life at VCU will host Share the Light, the annual Mega Chanukah Drop at the University Student Commons Plaza, 907 Floyd Ave. Ari Lesser, Jewish rapper, singer and spoken-word artist, will perform. Doughnuts and Menorah To Go will be available. Win a gold diamond Star of David necklace. All students, faculty and staff are invited. RSVP at the following URL.

For more information, contact Rabbi Menachem Lessoff at Rabbi@vcu.edu or (804) 404-3637 or visit https://jewishvcu.org/chanukah.

7 p.m.

Join the Department of Health Administration to learn about graduate programs in health administration (MHA and MSHA) during a virtual informational session. RSVP to the following URL to receive the Zoom link.

For more information, contact Cam Parkins at parkinsc@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/oooKzdjSDqDxrrYh7.

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Learn different techniques to strengthen mental health in the new year. The Massey Cancer Center will also offer participants self-care activities that can be done at home. The session will be at the VCU Health Hub, 1330 N. 25th St., Suite A.

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

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Learn the basics of AI and prompt crafting by developing effective strategies for understanding Large Language Models (LLMs). Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Trey Burnart Hall at hallbr@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 at 11 a.m.

See examples of strong, successful personal statements, as well as less successful ones, and learn how to write your best statement. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Trey Burnart Hall at hallbr@vcu.edu or visit https://writing.vcu.edu/calendar/.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 at noon

Learn more about the Ph.D. program in Health Services Organization and Research at a virtual informational session. Meet program faculty and learn about admissions and funding. Register at the following URL.

For more information, contact Cam Parkins at parkinsc@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/iJTj7RuLvDGusWGRA.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Have a passion for children? Want a high-impact career? Want to champion social justice? Fuel dreams? Dedicate your life to making a difference while getting a fully paid education? RTR Teacher Residency is for you. RTR is a teacher residency program in the VCU School of Education that equips passionate future teachers with the tools to teach for change. Learn more at this informational session. Questions: Visit https://connect.soe.vcu.edu/portal/soeinfosessions Register for the Zoom link at the following URL.

For more information, contact Sabrina L. Evans at evanssl4@vcu.edu or (571) 294-4115 or visit https://connect.soe.vcu.edu/register/RTRDec10th.

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Cheer on the VCU men's basketball team as they play the University of New Mexico at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Secure your seat at the following URL.

For more information, contact Tavian Elliott at elliottt2@vcu.edu or visit https://vcutickets.evenue.net/event/B25/05.

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m.

The C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and VCU Health Sciences Library will present a lunch research seminar via Zoom. Nina Exner, Ph.D., research data librarian, will review NIH's data management and sharing policy, describe how to address public access to data in grant proposals and discuss the new NIH Public Access Policy, which requires data sharing without delay/embargo. Questions: Visit https://cctr.vcu.edu/ 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/iZeqO6jLTbO8t4dKYZ4pFA.

Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 at 8 a.m.

VCU December Commencement will be held at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St. Be mindful of the increased number of visitors and traffic impacts in the area as a result.

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

In a change from previous years, VCU Libraries will close in concert with VCU’s winter break. James Branch Cabell Library and the Health Sciences Library will be closed Saturday, Dec. 20 to Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. Both libraries reopen on Monday, Jan. 5. Online materials collections will remain available but other online services – including chat and email information services – will be unavailable. Patrons who have due dates on loans may return them without fines after the winter break. Interlibrary loan and materials delivery requests submitted during the break will be processed when employees return on Jan. 5.

For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit https://www.library.vcu.edu/spaces-tech/hours/.

Make a gift through this form to support VCU’s Student Life and Learning Fund by Dec. 31 to receive a 4-by-6-inch limited-edition print of “Richmond Reflections: Scholarship” by Wanda Felsenhardt (M.S.’25), or collect all four. This is the final piece in this exclusive series and your final opportunity to add this series to your collection. Make a selection at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jenna Hart at jbhart@vcu.edu or visit https://give.vcu.edu/fall-artwork-appeal-2025/?a=11140395.

As the semester winds down, students (and colleagues) are invited to share words of gratitude with VCU professors. University faculty members work hard to make a positive impact – let them know you’ve noticed. Expressing kindness not only brightens someone’s day, it’s good for you too. Questions: Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at ctle@vcu.edu. Spread joy and send your VCU profs some well-deserved props through the following URL.

For more information, contact Susan Coombes at ctle@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/u1b8ByEcK3r5jzqG8.

Winter break is a great time to begin searching and applying for jobs and internships. Stop by the VCU Career Services Office, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., Room 143 or the satellite office in Hunton Student Center, Suite 205, 1110 E. Broad St. Meet with a Peer Career Counselor during drop-in hours Tuesday-Friday weekly from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information, contact Ashley Worthington at worthingtonar@vcu.edu or visit https://careers.vcu.edu/about/contact-us/.

Travel with VCU's Outdoor Adventure Program for a week of hiking and skiing in the rugged mountains of the New Mexico Rockies. Travel from sunny desert landscapes to the cool powdery ski slopes of Taos Mountain Resort. No camping, hiking or ski experience is necessary, but comfort in cold weather is a must. $1,000/students, $1,500/RecWell members, $2,000/nonmembers. Includes New Mexico ground transportation, two-day lift ticket, food and four nights lodging (two nights tent camping and two nights RV "glamping"). The fee does not include airfare to or from the Albuquerque airport or ski/snowboard rentals. Ski lessons will be available for purchase separately. Email outdoors@vcu.edu for an interest packet or attend an upcoming meeting on Friday. Dec. 12.

For more information, contact Christina Spohn at outdoors@vcu.edu or visit https://portal.recwell.vcu.edu/Program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=64f1bff4-83dd-4b86-a3a8-f6b67a1c17d5.

Congratulations to the VCU Class of 2025. University Events has a special opportunity for you to share your graduation photos with us so they can be displayed for your family and friends during the celebrations. Have commencement questions? Visit www.commencement.vcu.edu or email univevents@vcu.edu. Upload your photos at the following URL.

For more information, contact University Events at univevents@vcu.edu or visit https://forms.gle/99hEkXV76DnUEsWS9.

Looking for a fun, community-focused way to make music at VCU? Join one of the university's three choral ensembles. All are welcome — no need to be a music major. Choral Arts Society (APPM 359): No audition required. Open to all students, faculty and staff. Rehearses MW 1:30-2:50 p.m. Commonwealth Singers (APPM 358): Audition required. SATB Mixed Chorus. Rehearses MWF 12-1:15 p.m. Vox Concordia (APPM 378): Audition required. SSAA Treble Chorus. Rehearses T/Th 2-3:20 p.m. All are sponsored by VCU's Department of Music.

For more information, contact Christopher Hansen, Ph.D., at hansenc3@vcu.edu or visit https://arts.vcu.edu/music/ensembles/ensembles-auditions/.

This study is inviting individuals between the ages of 20 and 24 with poor sleep quality. The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiovascular responses and vascular inflammation. This study will be conducted at 500 Academic Centre on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. Principal Investigator: Lee Franco, Ph.D., Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Questions: Contact The KHS Healthy Heart Lab at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

For more information, contact Garrett Oehlert at healthyheart@vcu.edu.

VCU's Global Education Office offers the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate Program that prepares professionals to teach English to multilingual learners locally, internationally or online. The 120-hour interactive program is geared for individuals seeking to develop specialized knowledge and practical skills in English language teaching and learning. The next session will begin Jan. 12, 2026. Apply for the program at the following URL.

For more information, contact Nicol Tinsley at nctinsley@vcu.edu or (804) 426-8053 or visit https://global.vcu.edu/elp/curriculum/tesol.

Apply now for a new study abroad program led by Social Work faculty: “Korea in Transition: Society, Culture and Emerging Challenges” (In-country: May 26–June 6, 2026). Experience an immersive journey exploring Korean society, culture and emerging social issues through on-site visits, lectures and hands-on learning. Each student receives a $2,000 scholarship to help reduce program costs. Open to all undergraduate students from any majors. Questions? Contact Youngmi Kim at the following email address or Alex Heyden (Global Education Office at levya@vcu.edu) Apply at the following URL.

For more information, contact Youngmi Kim, Ph.D., at ykim@vcu.edu or visit https://vcu.studioabroad.com/_portal/tds-program-brochure?programid=11759.

The VCU MPC Campus Parking Office will close from 12:30-1:30 p.m. today, Dec. 8 for a special event. The office will be open today from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and from 1:30-4:30 p.m. The office will resume its regular schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

For more information, contact Olivia Truban at parking@vcu.edu.

Females ages 12-21 are invited to participate in a research study exploring POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), Post-Infection and healthy controls. Researchers want to better understand how the brain and body reacts with and without POTS. The study includes a one- to two-year commitment and will be on the VCU/VCUHS campus. Compensation will be provided. See the screening form at the following URL.

For more information, contact Ivan Tavinogradov at ivan.tavinogradov@vcuhealth.org or (804) 828-5269 or visit https://redcap.vcu.edu/surveys/?s=4NTE8HMFDFF8THWA.

In partnership with VCU Libraries, a team of VCU doctoral students in the School of Education invites undergraduate students to share their experiences using, or not using, James Branch Cabell Library. Your feedback will help enhance study spaces, improve library services and strengthen the overall student experience. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. Students who finish the survey will have an opportunity to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card. See the survey at the following URL.

For more information, contact Jonathan Becker, J.D., Ph.D., associate professor, at jbecker@vcu.edu or visit https://vcuportal.questionpro.com/t/AcnLkZ7ij5.