“After working on the front lines last March, to see none of the AstraZeneca vaccinated participants in this trial ending up in the hospital with COVID is a huge relief,” says Ann Falsey, co-lead principal investigator of the US clinical trial and codirector of the URMC Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit. “It is amazing how well this vaccine works.”
In today’s issue:
Two virtual town hall meetings for the Arts, Sciences & Engineering community will cover planned power shutdowns
The Medical Center is now able to vaccinate faculty and staff 50 years and older
UCC is offering a drop-in group for students in response to recent violence against Asians and Asian Americans
Since Monday’s notice in @Rochester, there are no new cases of COVID-19 to report. 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.
Vaccine Update: URMC now able to vaccinate faculty and staff 50 years and older
As an update to the vaccination information provided in recent days, University and UR Medicine faculty and staff who are 50 years or older can also register to be vaccinated through the Medical Center. New York State yesterday expanded its guidance to include this eligible age group. See the Medical Center announcement for information on registering for an appointment; remember, the Medical Center’s ability to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to faculty, staff, and students is at the direction of New York State and the availability of supply.
Town hall meetings provide info on upcoming power outages
University Facilities and Services will host two virtual town hall meetings for the Arts, Sciences & Engineering community about planned power shutdowns to designated buildings between April 16 and 18. A building outage map and building outage list provide details. The outages, which are expected to be less than 30 minutes, are part of an electrical system upgrade that will increase capacity to serve the University’s growing electric demand.
Register here for the town halls for the AS&E community, which are planned for:
Thursday, March 25, from 3 to 3:30 p.m. EDT
Thursday, April 8, from 3 to 3:30 p.m. EDT
Equipment on an emergency generator should not experience a power outage. If critical research or other non-life safety equipment is not on emergency power or have an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) backup available, you should consider shutting down your equipment. The Medical Center will also be affected by the outages. Watch for future Facilities notices and updates in @Rochester, Medical Center publications, and the URMC intranet as the shutdown approaches.
Drop-in counseling group offers support for AAPI students
The University Counseling Center is offering a drop-in group for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander students who need support in response to recent violence against these communities. The group takes place via Zoom every Wednesday at 4 p.m. EDT.
CAPA Global Education Network information session today
Join the Center for Education Abroad and its partner CAPA: The Global Education Network to learn about a six-week fully online summer study abroad program. This program is designed to give students insight into the significant ways in which global cities have been imagined, invented, and transformed by globalization. Register here for the session, which is geared toward undergraduates in Art, Sciences & Engineering, and takes place today, March 23, at 2 p.m. EDT. To learn more about your virtual global opportunities, visit Rochester.edu/abroad.
Education Abroad information sessionÂ
Join a virtual information session with the Center for Education Abroad, Thursday, March 24, at 4 p.m. EDT 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.
Virtual writing retreat for AS&E grad students and postdocs
Having trouble feeling motivated or finding time to write? Join a virtual weekend writing boot camp. Log onto Zoom to meet other writers, set writing goals, and most importantly, write. For those who may need a bit more support, a writing tutor will be available. This event is open to grad students and postdocs in AS&E and takes place Saturday, March 27, through Sunday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT each day. Register online to attend. Email Rachel Lee with questions.
Stay up-to-date on the latest health and wellness trends
The Weekly Wellness newsletter, brought to you by Well-U, provides current health and wellness articles as well as the latest programs and events you can attend. You also will have the chance to win a fun, monthly prize through the Well-U raffle. Subscribe here.
'Lunch and Listen' program for Medical Center staff and clinical workers features guitar studio
The next “Lunch and Listen” concert from Eastman Performing Arts Medicine and the Office of Patient Experience takes place today, Tuesday, March 23, 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 students from the studio of Nicholas Goluses, a professor of guitar at the Eastman School of Music.
Estate planning webinar tomorrow
Do you want to make sure that your assets will be passed to loved ones or organizations that are near and dear to your heart? Join TIAA tomorrow, Wednesday, March 24, at noon EDT to discuss basic estate planning and strategies to ensure that your wishes are met after you are gone.
Simon virtual happy hour
Chat with representatives from Simon Business School in an informal setting about executive and professional MBA programs and discover which may be the best fit for you. These unstructured events allow for your questions to be answered by experienced program staff. Register here to join on Thursday, March 25, from 5– 6 p.m. EDT.
Check out employee discounts and perks
University employees can save money on health and wellness programs, childcare, museums, dining, shopping, and other activities. For more information, visit the Employee Discounts page on the Total Rewards website.
In New York State, the pandemic-related ban on evictions is set to expire on May 1, 2021, raising concerns about housing insecurity and evictions. Join Mary Leo, executive director of the Housing Council at Pathstone, Adrian Neil of the Rochester Black Bar Association, and Dana Miller, deputy commissioner of the Neighborhood and Business Development, in a discussion on housing issues and ways to implement change. Register in advance to attend the event, taking place Thursday, March 25, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT.
'Harnessing the Potential for Big Data in the 21st Century' panel discussion
On Thursday, March 25, at noon EDT, join Wendi Heinzelman, dean of Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences; Sevin Yeltekin, dean of the Simon Business School; Mujdat Cetin, the Robin and Tim Wentworth Director of the Goergen Institute for Data Science; and Michael Hasselberg, senior director for digital health for UR Medicine, for a panel discussion on how University researchers are advancing basic and applied research in data science that has the potential to improve our daily lives, and why it is so important for academic institutions to play a role in this growing field. Students, faculty, and staff can register here. This event is part of the Huang Speaker Series in Technology and Innovation.
Barbara B. Smith World Music Series goes virtual
The Eastman School of Music brings back the Barbara B. Smith World Music Series in a set of free virtual concerts. Four guest artists representing different musical traditions from across the world will be streamed, with live Q&A sessions to follow. Concerts will be streamed live on the last Sunday of the month, all at 3 p.m. EDT, starting March 28.
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