Four new positive cases of COVID-19

There are four new cases of COVID-19 to report: two River Campus students and one employee, and one Medical Campus student. Please note that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated when a new case is reported. Find the latest COVID-19 messages and updates here.

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.

Michael Campbell to retire as director of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Michael Campbell, a scientific leader in laser science and plasma physics who served as director of the University’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics for the past four years, has announced he will retire on December 31. Campbell will continue to carry out his duties as LLE director until the end of the year and will remain as a consultant to LLE until a new director is named. Details of the University’s national search to find his successor will be shared in the coming weeks.

Login changes coming Thursday for select University applications

Beginning Thursday, October 28, the following applications are moving from NetID login to Active Directory (AD) login:

• Workday Financial (UR Financial)
• Workday Student (UR Student)
• Amazon Business Prime
• Student Administrative Support Services (SASS)
• The Interlibrary Loan Service (ILLiad)

Get rid of unwanted electronics at the annual E-Cycle Day

University Facilities and Services is partnering with Sunnking to hold the 14th annual E-Cycle Day event on Friday, October 29, from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Zone 3 South, formerly known as Park Lot. It’s an opportunity for all members of the University community to safely and easily recycle unwanted electronics from home. The event will follow University health and safety measures. Find a full list of accepted items on Sunnking’s website. Contact Amy Kadrie with questions at (585) 362-5739 or by email.

Go Green: Sustainable initiatives from the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

The University’s partnership with the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence began in 2007 and plays a significant role in promoting sustainability within the Rochester community at large through projects like the community garden. Learn more in this week’s Go Green blog post.

Plan for 2022 open enrollment

Through the Total Rewards program, the University offers comprehensive salary and benefits, such as health care, tuition, and retirement to faculty and staff. Open enrollment, which is your opportunity to take action on many of the University’s benefits, takes place Monday, November 1, through Monday, November 15. Visit the open enrollment website to learn more about what’s new in 2022, and review the 2022 open enrollment planning steps.

Online learning symposium

Attend a panel discussion with Rochester faculty sharing their experiences with design and teaching their online courses. Panel members include the Warner School of Education’s Jeffrey Choppin, a professor of mathematics education, and Andrea Barrett, an assistant professor of educational leadership; and the Eastman School of Music’s John Kapusta, an assistant professor of musicology, and Rachel Roberts, director of the Institute for Music Leadership. Register to attend the discussion, which takes place Tuesday, November 9, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT via Zoom. Videos from prior events are available online. Email Adele Coelho with questions.

‘Escuchando Su Voz: Rochester Area Colleges Listen to the Puerto Rican Community’

Passport fair

Students, faculty, and staff can apply for a US passport or gather passport renewal application materials at the passport fair on Thursday, October 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Hirst Lounge, Wilson Commons. Passport photos can be taken and printed from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants are responsible for all fees associated with their application. For more information on passport applications, visit the US Passports and International Travel website.

Upcoming Koru mindfulness workshops

One way to help manage stress is mindfulness meditation. Put mindfulness and well-being into practice this fall with a free, four-week Koru course. Follow the links below to register.

• Koru Basics: Friday, October 29; November 5 and 12, from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. ET. This class takes place online via Zoom.
• Fall into Mindfulness and Meditation: Monday, November 8, 15, 29, and December 6, from noon to 1:15 p.m. EST. This class takes place online via Zoom.
• Koru 2.0: Thursday, October 28, and November 4, 11, 18, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. ET. This class takes place in Dewey Hall, Room 1-160 B, and online via Zoom.

25th annual Asthma and Allergy Update

The University’s Institute for Innovative Education presents the 25th annual Asthma and Allergy Update on Thursday, November 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Woodcliff Hotel and Spa or online via Zoom. The event is designed to provide physicians, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists, and nurses with an update in the field of asthma, allergy, and selected pulmonary topics. The keynote speaker is Elliot Israel, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Respiratory Therapy Department, the director of clinical research in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division, and an associate physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Israel will provide an update on severe asthma including phenotyping, biomarkers, and novel biologic therapies. 

Zero-cost hero: Sina Ghaemmaghami

Day three of Open Access Week brings “zero-cost” hero Sina Ghaemmaghami, the Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teacher Professor in the Department of Biology and the director of undergraduate research in the College. Ghaemmaghami’s biochemistry students are learning and creating educational resources at the same time. They also aren’t required to purchase textbooks. Check out why, and learn about the other “zero-cost” heroes.

• Dr. Chat Bot: Non–Medical Center faculty, staff, and all students | Medical Center employees
• COVID-19 Resource Center | Medical Center’s COVID-19 update page
• Current campus face mask policies
• Faculty and staff vaccine participation form (VPN or on-campus network connection required)
• FAQ on COVID-19 vaccination
• What to do if you or your close contacts have symptoms or have been exposed