The Genesee Staff Council recently invited University leaders to participate in a recorded Zoom program to discuss questions from elected district representatives. The panelists offer updates on topics such as the University’s financial recovery, the Career Path Modernization project, the management of COVID-19 cases on campus, and the effort to vaccinate eligible staff. The recording is available on YouTube, Vimeo, and the University’s COVID-19 Resource Center. You can also access a PDF transcript of the conversation.
Panelists include
Sarah Mangelsdorf, president and the G. Robert Witmer Jr. University Professor
Mark Cavanaugh, director of environmental health and safety and cochair of the Coronavirus University Restart Team
Kathy Gallucci, interim chief human resources officer
Ralph Manchester, vice provost and director of University Health Service
The discussion is moderated by Caterina Caiazza, director of career curriculum initiatives at the Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education and Connections and cochair of the Genesee Staff Council.
In today’s issue:
Guidance for faculty and staff on a COVID-19 vaccine sick day
Learn about the University’s endowment during a virtual lecture
The first panel in the “Implicit Bias in Medicine” series covers the stigmatization of mental health
Since Monday’s notice in @Rochester, there is one new case of COVID-19 to report: a River Campus student. 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—for non–Medical Center faculty, staff, and all students and for Medical Center employees—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.
COVID-19 vaccine sick day guidance
More than 14,000 eligible faculty, staff, and students—the majority in the health care work 1a category—have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and half of them have been fully vaccinated. As predicted by the vaccine clinical trials, the University is seeing a larger percentage of faculty and staff taking a sick day after receiving the second dose due to predicted side effects. To help those who experience side effects and are unable to work after receiving their second dose, the University is now providing a one-time paid vaccine day to all non-exempt, hourly-paid part-time and full-time staff who have paid time off (PTO) or sick banks (exempt employees will use sick time as they typically would). This benefit will extend retroactively to those eligible employees who used a day of time from their PTO or sick bank following their second dose on or after January 3, 2021. Read more here.
Poet James Longenbach explores the ever-current ‘now’ of lyric poetry
In his newest book, poet James Longenbach, the Joseph Henry Gilmore Professor of English, examines lyric poems, comparatively short poems that focus on a speaker’s emotions. He profiles the lives and work of 13 poets and musicians from the 20th and 21st centuries who wrote in pursuit of “newness”—from Marianne Moore to Patti Smith.
Flags will be lowered for Kathleen Cannavino
University flags will be lowered Thursday, February 25, for Kathleen Cannavino, a financial counselor in primary care billing services, who died on January 31. Cannavino joined the University in 2010.
“The goalposts are moved by caffeine, and there are subtle, but real changes in behavioral outcomes in most kids who were exposed to caffeine in utero,” said study author John Foxe, the director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience and the Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt Chair in Neuroscience.
'Lunch and Listen' program for Medical Center staff and clinical workers
The next “Lunch and Listen” concert from Eastman Performing Arts Medicine and the Office of Patient Experience takes place today, Tuesday, February 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. Medical Center staff and clinical workers can join via Zoom to hear artists from the Eastman School of Music, and call in to make requests. This week’s concert features Eastman Community Music School faculty members Letitia Jap ’19E (DMA) on violin; and Kenneth Kam, a current doctor of musical arts student at the Eastman School of Music, on guitar.
'Forever Forward: The University’s Endowment'
Have you ever wondered what the University’s endowment is, how it’s managed, or why it’s important? Emerging Leaders invites you to a learning session about the University’s endowment, presented by Douglas Phillips, senior vice president and chief investment officer. Advanced registration is required for the event, taking place today, Tuesday, February 16, at noon.
'Get Outside, Winter Edition' webinar
Learn how to make winter magical instead of miserable with Well-U’s condition management team. On Wednesday, February 17, at 12:30 p.m. EST join a virtual discussion on how to safely enjoy the beauty that is winter and make the most of what feels like the longest season in New York. Get cozy, grab your favorite hot beverage, and get ready to have some fun outside this winter. Register online to attend.
Spring virtual LGBTQ staff and faculty tea
LGBTQ staff, faculty, and administrators across the University can grab their favorite hot beverage and come together virtually on Wednesday, February 17, between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. EST. You can drop-in and leave anytime during the hour. Register here to attend.
The following Ash Wednesday events will take place Wednesday, February 17.
The Catholic Newman Community offers “Drive By Ashes” at the Interfaith Chapel on the River Campus from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; and at the Eastman School of Music Student Living Center from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Instamass, streamed live on the UR Newman Instagram page, takes place at 9 p.m.
There will be no Ash Wednesday services at Strong Memorial Hospital. However, chaplains will bring ashes upon request to most patients and staff. Call communications at (585) 275-2222 to request the on-call chaplain, or call the office at (585) 275-2187.
'Aligning Towards Action in Social Determinants of Health Research' webinar
The next public health grand rounds lecture will take place Friday, February 19, at noon EST. Amy Kind, director of health services and care research program, and a professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, will discuss how employment of implementation science principles can allow research to more rapidly translate to broad-scale action. Pre-registration is required. ASL interpreters will be in attendance. Email Carolyn Settle with questions.
Warner School’s Doctoral Student Peer Support Association winter conference
Attend the first winter conference for the Warner School’s Doctoral Student Peer Support Association (DSPSA), “Reflections and Possibilities: Surviving 2020 and Thriving in 2021,” on Friday, February 26, and Saturday, February 27. Bettina Love, an award-winning author and the Athletic Association Endowed Professor at the University of Georgia, will be the keynote speaker on Saturday, February 27, at 10:30 a.m. EST. The conference aims to offer both master’s and doctoral students, faculty, and staff, as well as Rochester community members an opportunity to share their research, hone their presentation skills, receive feedback on their work, share work with the community beyond the University, and find out about the research interests of University peers. Register online to attend.
Highland Hospital gala goes virtual
Tune in to News 8 WROC on Thursday, March 11, from 7 to 8 p.m. EST for Highland Fest, Highland Hospital’s virtual gala. The event will celebrate Highland and raise funds to support the south tower modernization project, which will transform Highland into nearly all private patient rooms. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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