University leaders provide spring financial update
In a message to faculty and staff on Friday, President Mangelsdorf, Provost Rob Clark, Medical Center CEO Mark Taubman, and CFO Holly Crawford provided details on the University’s financial recovery—including full salary reinstatement for all employees as of July 1, 2021, and a return to the full standard two-tiered retirement formula for all eligible employees beginning July 1, 2021. Read the full message.
Additionally, Rich Handler, chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, shares the following message with the University community:
Dear Team University of Rochester,
On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I want to thank each of you for your herculean efforts to bring our University through these incredibly difficult past twelve months. Every member of our faculty and staff has shown incredible dedication, passion, resilience, and fortitude as you dealt with your own personal challenges while carrying our great institution on your individual and collective backs. The Board has been working hard to support President Mangelsdorf and the rest of her team in navigating this crisis, but the reality is that we are all aware of the effort and sacrifices from each of you that are resulting in bringing us to a place where we can finally begin to see a much more optimistic future.
To put this into historical perspective, the Board believes the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the greatest challenges our University has faced since its founding 171 years ago. Sarah and countless University leaders have kept me and the Board informed of how our clinical teams have worked to combat the virus and to care for the Rochester community, how our faculty successfully transitioned to hybrid instruction and managed to sustain their research operations, and how our staff have risen to the occasion to keep our campus running and our students safe. We know this hasn’t been easy, but each of you are the University of Rochester and the Board of Trustees knows it. So do our students and our community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and please know that your Board is committed to working in partnership with all of you as together we bring our University of Rochester to a brighter and healthier future that will benefit our community, society, and the world.
Rich Handler ’83
Chair, Board of Trustees, University of Rochester
CEO, Jefferies Financial Group
Since Friday’s notice in @Rochester, there are 14 new cases of COVID-19 to report: 11 River Campus students; one River Campus employee; and two Eastman Campus students. 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 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.
Susana Marcos to lead Center for Visual Science
Susana Marcos, an internationally recognized expert in the optics of the eye and the interactions of light with the retina, will become the David R. Williams Director of the Center for Visual Science. Marcos will also hold a joint appointment in the Department of Ophthalmology, and will be the inaugural holder of the Nicholas George Professorship at the University’s Institute of Optics. Her appointment will take effect July 1.
Presidential historian, author Michael Beschloss to speak to University community
Presidential historian and best-selling author Michael Beschloss will deliver a virtual talk at a University event in March. Beschloss is the fifth speaker in the Difficult Conversations as a Catalyst for Change series, presented by Donald Hall, the University’s Robert L. and Mary Sproull Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Sciences & Engineering. Beschloss will discuss “What Makes a Great US President,” starting at 6 p.m. EST on Monday, March 8. The event is expected to run until 7:30 p.m.
The talk is open to the public, and those interested must register online to receive a Zoom link. Questions for Beschloss can be submitted during registration.
Happy birthday, Susan B. Anthony
Today we mark the 201st birthday of American civil rights and social justice leader Susan B. Anthony, whose influence is captured across several collections in the Department Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, including an addition in 2017 of correspondence that includes letters written and signed by Anthony. Anthony also was instrumental in gaining admission for women to the University. Last year, as part of what would have been her 200th birthday celebration, the University honored Anthony’s legacy and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with an institution-wide initiative, Celebration 2020, to call attention to the achievements, contributions, and influence of Rochester women.
Security Tip: Verify Duo requests before you approve
Before you respond to a Duo request, make sure you expected to receive an authentication notice. The University uses Duo as the second form of authentication to secure critical systems and verify your identity after you enter your login information. If you did not prompt or expect it, please decline the request and indicate why: “It seems fraudulent” or “It was a mistake.” Information Security will be notified about fraudulent incidents to investigate if someone was attempting to use your account information. You can also contact abuse@rochester.edu to report an incident and you should change your password immediately.
Duo helps us protect many important systems, including HRMS, VPN, UR Student, UR Financials, and URMC Remote Access Systems. You must be on the network to enroll yourself in a Duo service; more information for University and URMC accounts is available on the University IT website. But what if you’re working remotely or have never used Duo before? Call the University IT Help Desk at (585) 275-2000 or the ISD Help Desk at (585) 275-3200 (for URMC and UR Medicine) for assistance in setting up accounts.
Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed, experiencing relationship problems, or having trouble sleeping? Stop into UR Connected drop-in hours to chat with a peer coach and get connected to resources on and off campus. Visit the UR Connected website for hours and more information. Brought to you by the UHS Health Promotion Office, University Counseling Center, and Office of Residential Life.
First-Year Fellow program accepting applications
Undergraduates in AS&E are invited to apply for the First-Year Fellow program. First-Year Fellows are upper-class students who live among first-year students in the residence halls. Like the rest of the first-year team, Fellows are trained to help ensure that the first-year experience is a safe and rewarding one for students, with their primary focus being academic support. Applications are due Sunday, February 28. Visit the Res Life Employment website for the job description and application.
Cook along with Jill Chodak from Well-U’s lifestyle management team; she’ll show how to minimize saturated fat without sacrificing flavor. February’s recipe uses lean or alternative proteins to create a heart-healthy meal for the whole family.
Benefits webinar reminder
Are you newly hired or newly benefit eligible? The Office of Total Rewards is hosting a live webinar on Tuesday, February 16, at noon EST to review and explain all benefit options. Representatives will be available to answer questions live throughout the presentation.
Earn your bachelor’s with full tuition coverage at School of Nursing
Reimagine your nursing career with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Nursing. Join admissions representatives for a virtual open house on Thursday, February 18, at 5 p.m. EST. Register to attend live and learn more about applying to the RN-BS program, including eligibility, application deadlines and requirements, and grants and scholarships available for full tuition coverage. Contact School of Nursing admissions with questions.
Annual diabetes conference
Attend the 22nd annual diabetes conference, “Navigating the New Age of Diabetes Management,” on Saturday, March 6, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. EST. Topics this year will include the complexities of diabetes treatment in the era of COVID, using technology to care for patients, barriers in treating underserved populations and how to overcome those barriers, novel strategies to improve diabetes education for groups and individuals, and information on the mechanisms of new insulin medications and how to best use them. Learn more and register here.
Join the University’s Women’s Initiative Supporting Health and local community groups on Tuesday, February 16, at 11 a.m. EST for a class focused on type-2 diabetes prevention. Register with Exercise Express Spinning and Fitness Studio at (585) 454-6478.
Lecture on 'Antiracism, the Gospel, and the Church'
Join John Kapusta, an assistant professor of musicology at Eastman School of Music, for a “Pastoral Letter Against Racism” listening session. The event takes place Thursday, February 18, at 3 p.m. EST.
Virtual climate summit
The student-organized Envision Climate Summit takes place February 19–21, and features talks, panels, and workshops on climate change, its repercussions, and possible solutions. Learn more and register here. All events will be held via Zoom.
On February 6—in the midst of extensive testing and care at Strong Memorial Hospital as he awaits a heart transplant—Jim Kaska wed Melinda Jones, with help from the cardiac care team. Their story was featured on ABC News and can also be found on the UR Medicine Facebook page.
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