One new positive case of COVID-19

Since Friday’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.

The Medical Center is continuing to make vaccine clinic appointments available to all University faculty, staff, and students. Visit the URMC COVID Clinic List to register.

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.

Feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed in these COVID times? Students can reach out to the University Counseling Center for help. UHS also maintains a site with COVID Coping and Resources for students. Employees can contact the UR Medicine Employee Assistance Program, one of several support services for faculty and staff.

Public Safety Chief Mark Fischer to retire at the end of July

Mark Fischer, who has led the University’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the past seven years, has announced his retirement effective at the end of July. Fischer directs a 177-member public safety unit that serves a community of more than 36,000 students, faculty, and staff. He has served as DPS director and chief since 2013, when he was promoted from deputy director.

Deputy Chief Gerald Pickering will become interim chief effective August 1. A national search will be initiated in spring 2022 for a new DPS leader with a search committee comprising student, faculty, and staff participants from across the institution.

Security Tip: Beware of contact tracing scams

Federal officials warn that scammers are posing as COVID-19 contact tracers to steal personal information. Scammers do so by disguising their email address or phone number to appear as a legitimate incoming call from a contact tracer also known as “spoofing.” Learn the 5 ways to spot this specific scam and be aware that contact tracers, hired by the state’s department of public health, will not ask for personal information, like a Social Security number or bank account, and will not request money during the call. While talking to a contact tracer can help stop the spread of COVID-19, reporting malicious actors can help stop their scams from spreading.

University honors student employees of the year

Richard Koutouan ’21S (MBA), a graduate student at the Simon Business School, and Annie Rosenow ’22, a political science major, are the University’s student employees of the year.

Catherine Filene Shouse Arts Leadership Program Fellows

Congratulations to certificate students in the Arts Leadership Program at the Eastman School of Music who were recently awarded summer and academic year internships. As Catherine Filene Shouse Fellows, they are able to further explore professional areas of interest that expose them to extra-musical tools and experience that can only be learned in “real world” settings.

Hajim 'State of the School' with Dean Wendi Heinzelman

On Wednesday, April 28, at 10 a.m. EDT, Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School of Engineering, will share the school’s latest news and updates and talk about her vision for the school’s future. Join via Zoom. Students, faculty, alumni, and staff can register here.

• Dr. Chat Bot: Non–Medical Center faculty, staff, and all students | Medical Center employees
• What to do if you or your close contacts have symptoms or have been exposed
• University’s COVID-19 Resource Center
• Medical Center’s COVID-19 update page
• COVID-19 Concern Report

Healthy living for your brain and body

Finals week is exhausting. Take some time to care for your body and mind on Wednesday, April 28, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. EDT. This program for all undergraduate and graduate students at the University and at Rochester Institute of Technology. It will feed your mind with information about how to promote good mental and physical well-being, as well as boost your academic performance; offer guided meditation to improve mindfulness and reduce stress; and includes a tai chi session to center your brain and body. Register here to attend.

Tap into a network of peer of coaches

Register to join a listening session for provost search

A reminder that University faculty and staff are invited to participate in listening sessions with the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller as part of the University’s search for the next provost.

Sessions will be held at the following times:

• Staff: Tuesday, April 27, from 4 to 5 p.m. EDT. Register for the staff session.
• Faculty: Wednesday, April 28, 4 to 5 p.m. EDT. Register for the faculty session.
• General open forum:  Monday, May 3, 11 a.m. to noon EDT. This session is open to all who may have scheduling conflicts. Register for the open forum.

A separate forum and communication are being organized for students.

These discussions will help the search consultants learn about the role and gain an understanding of the University’s culture, current environment, and the organizational context in which the next provost will operate. If you are unable to attend a meeting, you can share your thoughts with the consultants and the committee via this survey.

Career Outcomes 'Lunch and Learn'

Since 2016 the Greene Center for Career Education and Connections has been collecting data on the first destination of graduates as part of the Career Outcomes project. This year’s dashboard highlights the first destinations for Class of 2020 undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, this year the Greene Center, the Office of Alumni Relations, and the College Dean’s Office participated in the second year of the National Alumni Career Mobility Survey, which aims to benchmark undergraduate student success at 5- and 10-year marks. If you want to learn more about Career Outcomes, or would like to discuss how your department could work more closely with the Greene Center, register for the Greene Center’s Lunch and Learn, taking place Wednesday, April 28, a noon EDT via Zoom.

Last day to register for Well-U’s wellness challenge

Travel around the world virtually with Well-U, embark on something new, log activity with ease, and have a great time with the Worldwide Wellness Spring Challenge. Create a team or play as an individual. You will have many chances to win prizes every week and for different experience levels. Today is the last day to enroll.

Spring is here—get ready to ride

It’s time to relish the warmer days and spring forward by bike. A series of free, virtual biking classes offered throughout the riding season by the Department of Transportation and Parking Management can help get you on your way. A “Learn to Ride” class will be held on Tuesday, April 27. Join this class if you’ve ever wanted to learn how to ride as an adult, or if you have a child you would like to teach to ride. “How to Fix a Flat and Other Bike Maintenance Basics” will be held on Thursday, April 29. There will be hands-on time to learn how to check your brakes, gears, and chains to be sure you’re safe to ride. See the full schedule of classes. All classes are held from noon to 1 p.m. EDT via Zoom, including time for questions at the end. Registration is required.

Ferrari Symposia keynote lecture on Leonardo da Vinci

On Wednesday, April 28, at noon EDT on Zoom, join Stephen Campbell, the Henry and Elizabeth Wiesenfeld Professor in History of Art at Johns Hopkins University, for his keynote lecture of the 2021 Ferrari Humanities Symposia. The lecture, “The Shape of Pre-Modern Lives: Towards an Anti-Biography of Leonardo da Vinci,” will confront the “Da Vinci worlds” of the 21st century myth with the unknowable figure of the pre-modern artist whose life and work challenges the myth. Learn more and register here.

Toastmasters open house

Join the University’s Daybreakers Toastmasters club for an open house and guest day. Learn about how Toastmasters can help you improve your public speaking and presentation skills. The event takes place virtually Thursday, April 29, at 7:30 a.m. EDT Email vpm-3685@toastmastersclubs.org for more information.

Virtual University Technology Showcase

Register for the virtual University Technology Showcase. This free, online showcase will highlight technology presentations and exhibitor displays from diverse organizations and researchers and includes guest talks on the future of remote work. The event takes place Thursday, April 29, from 1 to 5 p.m. EDT.

10th annual Tana Grady-Weliky MD Lecture: Women and Diversity in Medicine

Learn more about the concept of intersectionality and apply the theory by examining the role of social identities such as gender, race and ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation in biomedical institutions. “Leading from the Intersections: A Strategy for Excellence,” will be presented virtually by Toi Harris, associate provost of institutional diversity and inclusion and student services at Baylor College of Medicine, on Friday, April 30, at noon EDT.