VCU in the City
In an effort to better integrate VCU students into the surrounding Richmond community, this series provides registered students with discounted (sometimes free) tickets or trips to concerts, plays, and seasonal events in the city. Past excursions have included the Virginia Opera, Richmond Symphony, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, and a Carbon Leaf Concert.
This monthly concert series provides students with a midday break of good music and good food with a different band each month.
Commons Book Club
Join the Commons Book Club and receive a FREE book a month that is yours to keep! Discussions are lead by Liz Canfield every other week. For details about joining, contact the Programs Office at 828-4554 or castonguayjb@vcu.edu.
Commons Karaoke
Once a month, the USC&A will be opening the doors to the Breakpoint Games Room and letting students play for FREE! Do your best Elton John or Beyonce on the Karaoke stage, and enter to win prizes! The event will run from 7:00pm – 11:00pm – but come early to get the FREE snacks! Commons Karaoke Dates: 09/04/09, 10/09/09, 11/06/09, 01/22/10, 02/19/10, 03/05/10, and 04/02/09.
Commuter Cooldown Concert Series
This monthly concert series provides students with a midday break of good music and good food with a different band each month.
Craft Nights
These all-inclusive "drop-in" craft nights are designed to allow students to quickly and easily create something that could be used to spruce up their dorm room or gain the favor of their best friend. Past craft nights have focused on photo tinting, building teddy bears, papier-mâché Halloween masks, origami, and much more.
Grad Finale
The time is approaching for you to finally collect that diploma! Let VCU and Jostens help send you on your way at the Grad Finale. Caps & Gowns, portraits, announcements, VCU Alumni Services, the Graduate School, the Career Center, and other vendors will be available to give you information to help you commence. The Monroe Park Fall Grad Finale is October 19 & 20 from 11:00am to 7:00pm in the Student Commons, and the MCV Campus Fall Grad Finale is October 26, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm in the Medical Science Building. May 2010 Graduates will have their opportunity in March!
Short Courses
These are one night, two-hour courses offered during both the fall and spring semesters on topics ranging from bartending to cake decorating, auto mechanics to ballroom dancing. Students much register in advance and pay a $5 registration fee per course.
Lectures
The Programs office brings nationally and internationally recognized speakers to campus to supplement traditional classroom learning. Past speakers include Black Panther Party leader Elaine Brown, transgender activist Kate Bornstein, and Shawn Decker author of the book My Pet Virus.
Mad Lib Theater
Students are pre-selected to write, cast, and produce their own plays. There is a catch: The Programs Office provides them in advance with props, script lines, and other items that must be incorporated into their play. Students are then provided with promotional materials and a venue in which to perform their play for a University-wide audience.
Trash-4-Cash Yard Sale
This super-sized yard sale is open to VCU students, faculty, staff, and Richmond community members. Participants register ahead of time to reserve a table. Tables are free for VCU students, $5 for VCU faculty and staff, and $10 for community members.
Winter Lights
Every wonder what it would be like to ice skate on the Commons Plaza? Well, now you can at our annual Winter Lights Celebration. The commons celebrates its grad illumination with hot chocolate, holiday music, and a real skating rink on the plaza. Come join us on November 20, 2009 at 7:00pm for the fun!