On Monday, we celebrate civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. Some annual events—including the Greater Rochester Martin Luther King Jr. Commission’s MLK Community-Wide Celebration, typically held at Eastman Theatre—have gone virtual this year.
On Tuesday, a panel of faculty and alumni mental health experts will address COVID-19 and longstanding systemic racism, their impact on the mental health of communities of color, and healthy strategies for perseverance and resilience. Details and registration information can be found in the For the Community section below.
Please note: Because Monday is a University holiday, there will be no @Rochester that day. Look for the next issue on January 19.
Also in today’s issue:
Access to the tunnel connecting Helen Wood Hall to Strong Memorial Hospital will expand to the evening starting next week
Colleagues and former students remember professor emeritus Stanley Hattman
Nominations are being accepted for the 2020–21 Student Life Awards
Since Thursday’s notice in @Rochester, there is one new case of COVID-19 to report: one River Campus employee. Please note that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily. Whenever a new case is known, the contact-tracing process begins immediately with confirmed exposures being contacted and required to quarantine.
It’s also extremely important for the health of the University community that individuals continue to adhere to the face masking and social distancing protocols. Even as some individuals are now receiving their first or second dose of the vaccine, these practices to prevent the transmission of the virus cannot be relaxed.
If you think you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, it’s important to report them through Dr. Chat Bot immediately. Even if you think your symptoms might be something else—like a cold, seasonal congestion, or allergies—it’s still important to tell University health professionals and contact tracers what you’re experiencing.
Evening tunnel access to begin next week
Access to the tunnel connecting Helen Wood Hall to Strong Memorial Hospital will be expanding to the evening, beginning on Tuesday, January 19 with University swipe-only access from 5:30–7:45 a.m. and 5–7:30 p.m. Follow posted signage if you pass through the building, taking care not to disrupt educational activities that may be taking place in public hallways and common areas.
Stanley Hattman, emeritus biology professor, remembered
Stanley Hattman, a professor emeritus of biology who retired from the University in 2004, died on December 20. He is being remembered by colleagues and former students for his molecular biology research, mentorship, and jovial demeanor.
Holiday office hours
The Strong Memorial Hospital cashier’s office reports that it will be closed on Monday, January 18, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
“Musk deserves praise for his inventiveness, challenging of orthodoxy, and courage. But no leader is immune from confronting their eventual exit—especially when so much innovation and value is on the line,” writes Jerrold Zimmerman, a professor emeritus and the Ronald L. Bittner Professor of Business Administration at the Simon Business School. He is coauthor with Daniel Forrester ’99S (MBA) of the new book Relentless: The Forensics of Mobsters’ Business Practices.
The iZone is offering a unique course for undergraduate students in Arts, Sciences & Engineering for the spring semester called Rochester Creators (CAS 162). This two-credit course is for anyone with the creator spirit looking to develop their practice and portfolio, or for anyone who is interested in exploring and developing their creative confidence for the first time. Find more information here.
Employees who previously had PayFlex as their HSA administrator have the option to transfer their PayFlex HSA account to their new HSA Bank account. You will need to fill out the HSA Bank form and submit it directly to PayFlex at:
PayFlex Systems USA, Inc. as Custodian for (Name of Account Owner) HSA Operations
PO Box 3317
Carol Stream, IL 60132-3317
Employees that elect this action can expect a $25 close account fee per PayFlex policies and potential blackout dates on accessing their funds as the transfer from PayFlex to HSA Bank is completed. Specific questions about transferring funds should be directed to HSA Bank at (866) 471-5940 and PayFlex at (844) 729-3539.
Small weight loss can equal big benefits
Even five to 10 pounds of weight loss can make a difference. Enroll now for Well-U’s Weight Loss program beginning on January 28. Sticking to a routine and coming together virtually as a group can help keep you accountable and get the results you are looking for. Register to get started.
Webinar on buoyancy-activated cell sorting
Attend a webinar hosted by the Shared Resource Labs on the benefits of Akadeum’s buoyancy-activated cell sorting microbubbles, in addition to other methods of cell sorting currently used at the University. The event takes place Thursday, January 21, at 11 a.m. EST. Learn more and register here.
The annual Student Life Awards recognize undergraduate students in the College who—through service to others, investment of talent and time, and pursuit of excellence—have significantly and positively affected the University and surrounding community. Nominations are open through February 10. Review the available awards and submit nominations online. The awards are sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students in the College.
Virtual information session with Warner School admissions
Join Warner School of Education admissions at a virtual information session on Tuesday, January 19, from 4 to 5 p.m. EST to learn more about graduate programs in counseling, educational leadership, education policy, health professions education, higher education, human development, online teaching, program evaluation, and teaching. The next application deadline is February 15. Contact the Warner School admissions office with questions. Learn more and register for an upcoming admissions virtual information session.
Mental health and resilience in times of resistance
Join the next REAL (Rochester Equity and Access Leadership) Conversation exploring the mental health challenges presented by the concurrent public health crises of COVID-19 and longstanding systemic racism. On Tuesday, January 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. EST, a distinguished panel of mental health experts will discuss the significance of these issues and their impact on communities of color, and identify healthy strategies for perseverance and resilience; the discussion will be followed by a moderated Q&A. President Sarah Mangelsdorf will also join the program to offer opening remarks. This program is open to the entire University of Rochester community, as well as friends of the University and members of the local Rochester community. More information and event registration are available here.
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