Update on new positive cases of COVID-19

There are 25 new positive cases among students to report: three on the Eastman Campus, five on the Medical Campus, and 17 on the River Campus. 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.

Recent awards and honors

University community members are being recognized for contributions to their respective fields:

• Mary Carey, an associate professor at the School of Nursing and director of the Clinical Nursing Research Center at Strong Memorial Hospital, has been selected as an honoree of Sigma Theta Tau’s 2022 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.
• Rob Clark, a professor of mechanical engineering, is one of 111 newly elected members of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Election to the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer.
• Andrew Elliot, a professor of psychology, is being honored with the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Jack Block Award, and the American Educational Research Association’s Sylvia Scribner Award.
• Edward Messing, a professor of urology and of pathology and laboratory medicine, assumes the American Urological Association presidency in May.
• Julianna Okoniewski ’22 was named a Division III All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
• Carol Podgorski, an associate professor of psychiatry, recently received an award from the New York State Department of Health to support the University’s Finger Lakes Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Study links fracking, drinking water pollution, and infant health

New research coauthored by Elaine Hill, an associate professor of public health sciences, of economics, and of obstetrics and gynecology, documents for the first time the pollution of public water supplies caused by shale gas development—commonly known as fracking—and its negative impact on infant health.

University launches new shuttles with hybrid technology

Four new energy-efficient blue and yellow shuttles were rolled out on campus in mid-February. Learn more about the vehicles and the technology that saves fuel and reduces emissions through regenerative braking.

Apply by April 15 for the Art New York program

The Art New York program offers students credit for an internship in New York City that situates their program of study within the art world. Students in the program do not need to be art majors or minors and no previous art experience is required. The application deadline for the spring 2023 program is April 15. Learn more about the program and find the application here.

Celebrate National Student Employment Week

The Student Employment Office encourages all campus employers to celebrate National Student Employment Week through April 16. During this week, colleges and universities across the country recognize the importance of student employees who perform invaluable services with enthusiasm, dedication, and initiative.

Supervisor Series: Workplace conflict

Join UR Medicine EAP and Well-U on Wednesday, April 20, from noon to 1 p.m. EDT for the last session of the Supervisor Series on workplace conflict. Assess your conflict management style and consider your role as supervisor in resolving conflicts. The training is for those in a supervisory or managerial role only. Register here.

Voices of XR: Scott McEldowney

Scott McEldowney is a director and research scientist for Reality Labs Research, Meta. On Friday, April 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT, McEldowney will give an overview of his work and discuss the key elements for a successful augmented or virtual reality system. His talk will occur over Zoom and in person in Studio X. Register to attend the talk.

We Were Here documentary screening, discussion

Join the Memorial Art Gallery, River Campus Libraries, the Little Theatre, and ImageOut for a special screening of the documentary We Were Here in conjunction with the Up Against the Wall: Art, Activism, and the AIDS Poster exhibition, on view at the Memorial Art Gallery through June 19. The screening takes place Friday, April 15, at 7:15 p.m. at the Little Theatre and will be followed by a panel discussion on the underrepresentation of BIPOC communities in HIV/AIDS films.

Fitness center clothing liquidation sale

All exercise clothing and merchandise at the URMC Fitness Center is 20 percent off. Stop in during office hours to find a deal.

Meal prep class

Do you find it difficult to find time to cook nutritious meals while being a full-time student? In this workshop, participants will learn a quick meal and dessert recipe, how to meal prep, eat mindfully, and enjoy a delicious meal using ingredients that you can get from Hillside and the grocery store. Vegan, nut-free, and gluten-free options will be available. The class takes place today, April 13, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Community Kitchen, Douglass Commons. Registration is required for the workshop, which is open to all undergraduate and graduate students.

Wellness at Eastman seminar on caring for your voice

“Caring for Your Voice,” the next Wellness at Eastman seminar, takes place today, April 13, at 6 p.m. EDT.  Many people are “professional voice users” and don’t know it. New teachers routinely have overuse issues, and voice majors and professionals must care for their instruments. Liane Grasso ’98E, a speech-language pathologist at UR Medicine, and Todd Schneider, an assistant professor of otolaryngology at the Medical Center, will share how to keep your voice healthy throughout your life. Register here to attend.

Destress Fest

Feeling stressed? Visit Destress Fest in the Welles-Brown Room, Rush Rhees Library, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, for bracelet-making, reflection stones, lavender sachets, and stress balls while supplies last.

Last weekend, the Center for Community Engagement held a walking tour of the 19th Ward and PLEX neighborhoods for Rochester students. Find photos from the tour on the center’s Instagram.

• Dr. Chat Bot: Medical Center employees (daily required) | Medical Center students (daily required) and non-Medical Center students (as needed)
• 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)
• COVID-19 vaccine requirements and FAQs
• What to do if you or your close contacts have symptoms or have been exposed