A reminder on face masks: they must be worn properly covering the nose and mouth indoors on the University’s campuses and properties. Visit the face mask FAQ page for full information. Face masks with air valves are not permitted, nor are face shields alone without a proper face mask underneath.
Login changes coming October 28 for select University applications
Beginning Thursday, October 28, anyone who uses UR Financials (Workday), UR Student, Amazon Business Prime, or Student Administrative Support Services (SASS) will need to use their Active Directory (AD) account to log in. This is the first of several planned changes to simplify and streamline logins for University services. Find more information here.
University announces COVID-19 vaccination policies for contractors, suppliers, and consultants
Beginning November 15, the University will require that all personnel employed by or affiliated with contractors, suppliers, and consultants, and who perform work indoors on the University’s campuses and properties be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing the week before and each week during their time on campus. A separate requirement specifically for Medical Center and affiliate facilities has already been put in place and became effective September 27. This requirement has since been updated to also allow for weekly testing unless vaccination is required by applicable regulations.
The full details are available on the University Facilities website, along with a printout to be used for required COVID-19 symptom screenings.
A letter is being delivered to all contractors, suppliers, and consultants on how to adhere to this November 15 deadline, and all must attest that their contract staff assigned to work indoors on the University’s campuses and properties will comply with this requirement. The University may, in its sole discretion, consider exceptions to this requirement for emergency work.
Three minutes, two slides, one prize for brain cleansing explained clearly
What do car engines and human brains have in common? Using that question as a starting point—and with a visual assist from Eddie Murphy stuffing bananas up a tailpipe—Aditya Raghunandan, a postdoctoral research associate in the Mixing Lab of Douglas Kelley, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, won first place and $1,000 at this year’s competition for the Steadman Family Postdoctoral Associate Prize in Interdisciplinary Research.
“I think the data will show that boosting is certainly likely to be very effective in conferring additional and longer protection,” says Angela Branche, an assistant professor of medicine and codirector of the Medical Center’s vaccine treatment and evaluation unit.
October 20 student flu vaccine clinic at the Eastman School of Music
On Wednesday, October 20, from 9-11:30 a.m., University Health Service (UHS) will host a student flu vaccine clinic at the Eastman School of Music, in the Dean’s Dining Room. Due to current staffing constraints, UHS is unable to host a flu clinic for faculty or staff this year and encourages employees to get their vaccines through a local pharmacy or a primary care provider.
Flu shots at the October 20 student clinic are only by appointment: Schedule an appointment through UHSConnect. If you have not registered for UHSConnect, you will need to do so; for directions, go to “How to Register” on the UHS website. Once in UHSConnect, students should click on “Appt. Scheduling” and then “Schedule Appt.” Select October 20–October 20 in the “Date From” and “Date To” fields, and then select “Flu Vaccine Clinic—Eastman School of Music” as the Reason for Appointment; click “Search.” If you need to cancel your appointment, click on “Appt Scheduling” and then “View Appts”; click on the appropriate appointment to cancel.
Bring your student ID, and your health insurance card: If you are on the UR Student health insurance plan (Aetna), you can go online to download your insurance card to your phone. Click on “Get Your ID Card” for instructions. The flu shot is covered in full for all active members of the University’s student health insurance plan (Aetna) and generally covered in full by most private insurance plans. Contact your insurance plan directly for specific coverage details. If you are on another insurance plan (your plan, a parent’s plan, or your spouse’s plan), bring your card or a picture of your card on your phone. You will need to provide the insurance holder’s date of birth.
Flu vaccines offer the best and safest way to prevent the spread of the illness, and getting vaccinated does not cause the flu. Some people may react with a sore arm or feel achy after the shot, but this is much better than coming down with influenza.
If you are a first-time manager, you’re likely learning new skills daily. Find tips for new managers in this month’s UR Medicine EAP blog. UR Medicine EAP is brought to you by Well-U, helping eligible individuals to assess issues, and provide short-term counseling and referrals.
PumpPrimer II applications are due October 25
PumpPrimer—AS&E’s intramural seed funding program—is designed to stimulate extramural funding for projects that otherwise would be difficult to launch. PumpPrimerII provides funding to help faculty establish a novel research direction. The deadline to apply for the next round of PumpPrimer II awards of up to $50,000 each is Monday, October 25. All tenure track faculty are eligible to apply, except junior faculty members who have startup funding remaining or have not yet completed their first term of appointment. Additional application guidance may be found here.
For more information within the School of Arts & Sciences, contact Lindsey Junge, assistant dean for grants and contracts by email or by calling (585) 273-2289. For more information within the Hajim School of Engineering, contact Cindy Gary, assistant dean for grants and contracts by email or by calling (585) 273-5173.
The Carillon Society continues its Sunday carillon concerts this weekend at 5 p.m. EDT. Listen from the Eastman Quadrangle or online. Find the concert’s program here.
Book group: World as Lover, World as Self
Join the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence for a book group covering Joanna Macy’s World as Lover, World as Self. The group will meet five times from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on November 9, 23, 30, and December 7 and 14. Learn more and register here.
“It’s really a testimony to the human imagination … the power of science-fiction and the stories it tells us about a hopeful human future,” says Adam Frank, the Helen F. and Fred H. Gowen Professor of Physics and Astronomy. Frank appeared on CNN on Wednesday to discuss the latest Blue Origin space flight, the passengers for which included Star Trek actor William Shatner, who at age 90 became the oldest person to reach space. Find the full video on the University’s Facebook page.
@Rochester is produced daily by University Marketing and Communications. You are receiving this message as a member of the University of Rochester community or as a subscriber. Please do not forward this newsletter to other distribution lists.
