Students have partnered with other University community members to promote sustainability through a “60-Second Sustainability” COVID-19 video series and a “Little Book of Green Nudges” program. Read about both student-led initiatives, which encourage positive behavior change during the pandemic and in everyday life, in the Go Green blog from University Facilities and Services.
In today’s issue:
UR Financials, UR Procurement, and UR Student are getting an upgrade this weekend
This week’s Wellness Wednesday highlights interfaith support for students
Nominations for the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s academic mentoring awards are due next week
Since Tuesday’s notice in @Rochester, there are six new cases of COVID-19 to report: five River Campus undergraduates and 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.
A special note about UHS’s surveillance testing program: all students, including off-campus students, who regularly access campus are included on UHS’s list of individuals to contact for surveillance testing. The surveillance testing program is based on testing 2,000 students per week using the quick, rapid test, and full participation is required from students in order for UHS to complete the required number of rapid tests needed to fulfill their weekly targets. This program has been a very effective way to monitor and contain the spread of the virus throughout this academic year.
UR Financials, UR Procurement, and UR Student get an upgrade
The UR Financials and UR Procurement systems are scheduled to be upgraded this Saturday, March 13. UR Procurement will be unavailable from Friday, March 12, at 9 p.m. EST through Sunday, March 14, at 8 a.m. The upgrade is not expected to affect Procure to Pay (P2P) users. If you have questions, email Procurement_service_center@ur.rochester.edu or call (585) 275-2012.
UR Student is being upgraded on Saturday, March 13, and will also be unavailable from Friday, March 12, at 9 p.m. EST through Sunday, March 14, at 8 a.m. Additional outage schedules can be found on the UR Student Service page. Contact the Help Desk at univithelp@rochester.edu or (585) 275-2000, or submit a support ticket if you experience any issues with the upgrade.
Feel a pit in the center of your body? Might be a spiritual issue. There are virtual and in-person ways for you to worship and gather with your faith community. Needing to be physically distant doesn’t mean you need to be disconnected. And everyone, including those who are not religious but feeling spiritually depleted, can reach out to Denise Yarbrough, director of religious and spiritual life.
Weekly Adventures in Mapping
Wish you knew how to build maps? The River Campus Libraries Digital Scholarship team has a workshop series for you: Weekly Adventures in Mapping! Using a book club-like format, WAM! will teach you how to use the geographic information system (GIS) tool, ArcGIS Pro, which is helpful for map-making, as well as spatial analysis and data visualization. The adventures start today, March 10, at 2 p.m. EST. Register now to be in map-shape by May.
Education Abroad information session
Join a virtual information session with the Center for Education Abroad, Thursday, March 11, at 3 p.m. EST to learn about opportunities for international study, internships, research, and service-learning. The session, which is geared toward undergraduates in Arts, Sciences & Engineering, will include information about programs available for fall 2021, scholarships, and transferring credit. Register to attend here.
Writing workshops for AS&E graduate students and postdocs
The Graduate Writing Project is hosting a series of virtual workshops designed to improve your writing product and support your writing process. Open to AS&E graduate students and postdocs, these workshops will utilize a flipped classroom model; participants will receive instructional materials which they can work through independently prior to the workshop. During the workshop, participants will share their work and further develop their writing through discussion and small group activities. These virtual workshops will take place March 29–31, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT. Learn more and register online.
Dining Services is conducting a survey to better understand the needs and preferences of faculty and staff on campus. This insight will be valuable in assisting Dining Services with future planning and increasing overall experience and satisfaction. The online survey will take no more than 10 minutes and responses are confidential. The survey is mobile-friendly and will be available through the end of March. Begin the survey here, or copy and paste the following URL into your internet browser: https://interview.wratings.com/37517/s/university-of-rochester-administration.
Faculty discussion on community-engaged teaching during COVID-19
Join an online discussion and skill-share about instructional practices related to community-engaged teaching during the pandemic on Thursday, March 11, from 4–5 p.m. EST. The discussion will be facilitated by Stu Jordan, a senior lecturer in political science and faculty director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and Katrina Korfmacher, a professor of environmental medicine and director of the Community Engagement Core. All faculty interested in community-engaged teaching and learning are invited to participate, whether or not they have taught such classes during the past year.
Participate in the Simon Executive Experience
The Simon Executive Experience provides you with the opportunity to virtually attend class and participate in a round-table discussion with current students. This session will begin with a presentation to provide you with an in-depth look at the executive MBA program. Register to attend on Friday, March 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST.
School of Medicine and Dentistry academic mentoring award nominations due next week
Nominations are due Tuesday, March 16, for the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s 2021 academic mentoring awards. There are three awards: one for mentoring junior faculty; one for mentoring predoctoral trainees and postdoctoral trainees or fellows in basic science research; and one for mentoring residents, fellows, or other clinical trainees in clinical care or clinical research. The awards will be presented at the school’s convocation in the fall. Details and nomination requirements are available online. Note the two-step process, and also that nominations should be led by the department chair or unit director.
Funding opportunity for US–Russia partnership projects
Eurasia Foundation’s US-Russia Social Expertise Exchange Program (SEE) invites organizations in the United States and Russia to submit proposals for collaborative projects in one or more of the following areas: arctic and environmental conservation, Indigenous peoples’ empowerment, disability and inclusion, public health, or open thematic area. SEE accepts applications that are jointly developed by at least one US and one Russian partner non-governmental organization and offers funding up to $50,000 for the implementation of joint initiatives. Statements of interest are due March 31 by 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Interested applicants can register to attend SEE’s Proposal-Writing Webinar today, Wednesday, March 10, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. EST. The webinar will cover tips on how to write a high-quality application, as well as the competition timeline and common proposal mistakes.
This month’s digital print edition of the Campus Times is now available. In lieu of physical print editions this year, the Campus Times has been releasing virtual issues at the beginning of each month. You can also continue to access the weekly publications online at campustimes.org.
Mindful drop-ins
Open to all students, faculty, and staff, this meditation takes place Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Practices will rotate each week and include formats such as body scans, breath awareness, and mindful movement. Prior meditation experience is not necessary. Each 30-minute session includes a verbal description of the practice, the practice itself, and a verbal debrief. To join this practice, RSVP to kyle.trenshaw@rochester.edu for the Zoom link.
Highland Hospital gala goes virtual this Thursday
Tune in to News 8 WROC on Thursday, March 11, from 7 to 8 p.m. EST for Highland Fest. The event will feature patient and staff stories, entertainment, and a silent auction. To register for the auction, follow these instructions. Everyone is welcome to bid, no ticket or sponsorship purchase necessary. The auction is open will remain so until Saturday, March 13, at 5 p.m. EST.
Data science seminar on AI-powered extraction of knowledge from social media
Join the Goergen Institute for Data Science on Friday, March 12, for “AI-Powered Extraction of Knowledge from Social Media,” a research seminar with Yiannis Kompatsiaris, research director at the Information Technologies Institute at the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas. This free, virtual talk takes place from 2-3 p.m. EST via Zoom.
Film screening and Q&A with the Gandhi Institute
Join the Gandhi Institute for a screening of the film The Third Harmony and a Q&A with author Michael Nagler on Saturday, March 13, at 3 p.m. Learn more and view the film’s trailer here.
Call for proposals for the 'ARTs + Change' virtual conference
The ARTs + Change Virtual Conference: Activate, Reimagine, Transform is seeking proposals for its June virtual gathering. The conference will offer opportunities for artists of all disciplines, educators, community members, and community organizations to come together to create, share work and ideas, present research, and propose collaborations. The proposal submission period runs through March 26 and accepted presenters will be notified by April 30. To ensure accessibility, the conference will be free of charge, with a suggested $10 donation. Read details for submitting proposals and apply online. The conference takes place June 3–6 and is hosted by the Institute for the Performing Arts in partnership with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center, 540WMain Inc., Create A Space Now, and the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival.
Yesterday, members of the University community observed a moment of silence to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic and the events of the past year. More photos are posted here.
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