News for University of Rochester Parents: April 2009

NEWS

Commencement is May 17

The College will hold its Commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, on the River Campus Eastman Quadrangle. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter will deliver the address. Students will receive their diplomas at the Departmental Diploma Ceremonies that take place after the main ceremony. The Eastman School commencement begins at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, at the Eastman Theatre.

Graduating students from the College and their families are invited to a Family Night Dessert Reception from 10 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, in Hirst Lounge at Wilson Commons, following the Family Night Farewell Concert. RSVP online. Contact the Office of Parent Relations for details.

Visit the University's Commencement 2009 Web site for details on commencement activities, parking, and frequently asked questions.

AlertUR System Will Be Tested

This semester's test of the emergency notification system, AlertUR, is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. The system is designed to alert undergraduates during an emergency. Students can select to be alerted by text message, e-mail, or other methods. Contact information can be updated at www.rochester.edu/alertur.

Student Health Insurance Update

All students enrolled full time for the fall semester should complete the online Health Insurance Selection Process for the upcoming year by June 30. The selection process will be ready for use by the end of April. Graduating seniors enrolled in the University-sponsored BlueCross BlueShield health plan are covered until Aug. 31. If a graduating senior gets new health insurance coverage before Aug. 1, they should notify the University Health Service Insurance Advisor to cancel coverage. Services covered by the mandatory health fee are available to all students until Aug. 31.

Simon School Dean Commits $1 Million to School

Mark Zupan, who has served as dean of Rochester's Simon Graduate School of Business since 2004, has made a $1 million endowment commitment to the school. Read more ...

Eastman Students Reach Out with Classical Music

More than 120 Eastman School students fanned out into the community during the past month, presenting interactive concerts to audiences ranging from school children to nursing home residents. The events are part of the school's annual "Music for All" initiative, a chamber music program designed to take classical music out of concert halls and bring it directly to the public. See a video of one of the elementary school presentations.

Counseling Site for Parents of Incoming Freshmen

Parents of incoming freshmen are invited to check out a resource from the University Counseling Center for parents and friends of first-year students. The site includes tips on the transition, what to expect, and strategies for dealing with common issues that arise during the first year of college. Read more ...

Messages for Mom

Visit the University's homepage between May 8-10 for special Mother's Day messages from Rochester students.

Study Abroad Forms Due May 1

Attention parents of students who will study abroad in the fall semester: two parent forms—an emergency contact form and a parent/guardian acknowledgment—need to be returned to the Center for Study Abroad by May 1. E-mail abroad@admin.rochester.edu with any questions.

Math Team Makes Exponential Climb

A three-member team of Rochester math students took 10th place in the Putnam exam, considered the pièce de résistance of mathematical competitions for college undergraduates. The team's breakout performance, Rochester's highest-ever finish, garnered an honorable mention. Read more ...

Eastman Students Write New Music for Old Silent Film Shorts

As part of a film scoring course at the Eastman School, students had the opportunity to compose music for an eclectic selection of recently preserved silent short films from the collections of the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography. Their works were performed live by other Eastman musicians when the archival films were recently screened at the George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre. Read more ...

Eastman Graduate Joined Jazz Legend for 'Piano Jazz'

Christopher Ziemba, who received his bachelor of music degree in 2008, joined legendary 91-year-old-pianist Marian McPartland for a visit and performance that aired on public radio stations last month as part of the national series Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. Read more ...

Students Explore Rochester With Bike Program, Discounts

With the arrival of spring, students can once again make their off-campus forays through the University's award-winning, student-designed bicycle lending program, City Cycles, which resumes operation on April 15. The "Rochester Every Day" (RED) program offers students discounts at dozens of area businesses, from restaurants to hair salons to theaters and more.

Competition Showcases Stars of Tomorrow

Finals for the 2009 Lotte Lenya Competition will be held at the Eastman School on Saturday, April 18. Thirteen talented young singing actors from the United States and abroad will compete for prizes of more than $35,000 in front of a distinguished panel of judges. Read more ...

Room Selection Process Underway

Take a look at the 2009-2010 Housing Selection Guide for important information about the College's housing selection process.

Leadership Development Program

Fifteen undergraduates are nearing completion of the inaugural year of the College's Leadership Development Program. Coordinated through the Rochester Center for Community Leadership in the office of the Dean of Students, the program teaches students leadership skills through formal classes, community-based leadership opportunities, and mentoring and internship settings.

ADVICE

Four 'P's for Parents

Burt Nadler, assistant dean and Career Center director, offers an easy way for you to define an internship search: remember the four Ps. Read more ...

TEACHING

How I Teach

"My job as a teacher, as I see it, is to help students experience the excitement and enthusiasm that comes from deep understanding of a rewarding subject. To do that job well I have to know and love the material, I have to empathize with students, and I have to apply good techniques." —Michael Scott, professor of computer science and a past recipient of a Goergen Award for Distinguished Achievement and Artistry in Undergraduate Teaching. Read more ...

LEARNING

The 'Thingness' of Film

Students in Professor Joanne Bernardi's "Film as Object" class get a chance to touch, smell, and see up close the labor of love and remarkable expertise that goes into preserving and restoring film. Read more ...

DINING

Dining Services Has New Sustainability Site

On Dining Services' new sustainability site you can see how Dining is incorporating sustainability into its actions. Learn about local foods or see what can be composted and recycled. You can also check out Green Food, a blog about sustainable dining.

MAKING HEADLINES

'Video Games Can Improve Vision'
BBC News (March 29)
Rochester researchers found playing action video games improved the ability to notice even very small differences in shades of gray against a uniform background.

About Parents Buzz

Parents Buzz is produced by University Communications, Parent Relations, and the Parents Program. It is e-mailed monthly to parents of undergraduates at the College and at the Eastman School of Music. View issues online at www.rochester.edu/parentsbuzz. Direct feedback and questions to parentsbuzz@rochester.edu.

Dan Fink '09, Dave Borrelli '09, and Eric Weissmann '10 (from left) are leading a project to convert waste vegetable oil from University dining centers into biodiesel to fuel a campus bus. The team is building the biodiesel processor and is planning to make the inaugural bus run in conjunction with Earth Day, April 22. See photos and get the latest updates on the project at the team's blog, www.urbiodiesel.com.

CALENDAR

Parents: You're Always Welcome

Parents of current College and Eastman students, as members of the University community, are regularly invited to regional alumni programs. Visit the regional calendar for details and registration information.

Regional Events

Philadelphia: Speed Networking Night. 6 to 8 p.m. April 16.

Chicago: Toasting to Your Health: Wine and Its Effects on Aging with special guest David Goldfarb, professor of biology. 6 to 8 p.m. April 16.

Boston: A Rochester Evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 6 p.m. April 18.

Cleveland: Brunch with President Joel Seligman. Noon. May 3.

In Rochester

ArtAwake 2009. 5 p.m. April 17.

Transforming Conflict: Creating Better Communities. April 18 and 19.

See more on the University Events Calendar.

Concerts

Guest Recital: Italian Baroque Music. 8 p.m. April 24.

World Music Series: Gamelan Lila Muni. 8 p.m. April 27.

More events listed on Eastman's concert calendar.

SPORTS

Yellowjackets at Home

Baseball: April 18, 1 p.m., Clarkson University; April 19, noon, Clarkson University; April 21, 4 p.m., Ithaca College.

Softball: April 18, 1 and 3 p.m., Skidmore College; April 19, noon and 2 p.m., Utica College.

Golf: April 17-18 Fred B. Kravetz Invitational at Oak Hill Country Club.

Men's Tennis: April 17-19, UAA Championships.

Women's Tennis: April 21, 4 p.m., SUNY Geneseo.

Women's Lacrosse: April 24, 4 p.m., Rensselaer; April 25, 2 p.m., Vassar.

Yellowjackets Away

Baseball: April 22, 4 p.m., Rochester Institute of Technology; April 25, 1 p.m., Vassar; April 26, noon, Vassar; April 29, 4 p.m., St. John Fisher; May 1, 7:30 p.m., St. John Fisher (at Frontier Field in Rochester).

Softball: April 23, 3 and 5 p.m., Keuka College; April 25, 1 and 3 p.m., St. Lawrence; April 26, 1 and 3 p.m. Rensselaer; April 28, 3 and 5 p.m., SUNY Fredonia.

Golf: April 26-27, UAA Championships, Royal Lakes Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga.; May 13-16, NCAA Championships, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Women's Tennis: April 24-26, UAA Championships, Waltham, Mass.

Women's Lacrosse: April 17, 4 p.m., Hamilton College; April 18, 2 p.m., William Smith; April 28, 5 p.m., Ithaca.

For a full schedule: www.rochester.edu/athletics.