University statement on Supreme Court affirmative action ruling
The US Supreme Court released its decision on the validity of race or ethnicity as recognized criteria in university admissions. The University of Rochester is carefully reviewing the decision with our legal team and others to determine the potential impact on our operations. Fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging is a central tenet of our institutional vision and values and extends to policies and practices for admissions, recruitment, and employment in accordance with the principles of equal opportunity and in compliance with applicable laws. While we undergo this analysis, we once again affirm the University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we recognize that higher education and society-at-large benefit from the diversity of thought that emerges from the open exchange of ideas among people from different backgrounds, identities, experiences, and beliefs.
President Sarah Mangelsdorf and Provost David Figlio also addressed the decision in a message to the University community, assuring that Rochester will continue to be a place that values diversity in all its forms. Read the full message.
Rochester athletes have been recognized as All-Americans across a variety of spring sports. You can find more accolades on the Athletics site.
From the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, men’s track and field team membersScott Sikorski ’23 received All-American honors in the 1500 meters and Cole Goodman ’25 received All-American honors for the long jump and triple jump.
From the women’s outdoor track and field team, the 4×400 meter relay squad of Susan Bansbach ’23, Megan Bell ’25, Kristin Hardy ’23, Kate Isaac ’24, and Madeline O’Connell ’23 received All-American honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Bansbach also received honors for the 400 meters.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association named softball playersMolly Broccolo ’26 and Ally Kim ’25 All-Americans.
Men’s golferKerry Wang ’24 was honored by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
“It really gets to the issue of, if you want to meaningfully restrict the use of flavored products, you really need to close those loopholes,” says Deborah Ossip, a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and the Center for Community Health and Prevention. “And to combine that with the program of enforcing the regulations, and I think a very large public awareness campaign about why that’s happening, because there’s a lot of confused messaging around use of flavored products and e-cigarettes.”
The University makes a direct contribution to the 403(b) retirement program for eligible faculty and staff of 6.2 percent of eligible compensation up to the breakpoint, then 10.5 percent of eligible compensation in excess of the breakpoint up to the IRS limit. The University will impose a one-year freeze on indexing the salary breakpoint for this contribution formula. The breakpoint, which is normally indexed annually, will remain $63,100 for the plan year beginning July 1. The IRS limit (IRS Code section 401(a) (17)) will be updated to $330,000 effective with the plan year beginning July 1. For additional information on the University’s direct contribution calculation, review the retirement program brochure.
Schedule a biometric screening for July
Schedule your biometric screening, complete your online health surveys, and enjoy your $125 incentive through Well-U employee wellness. Biometric clinics will be onsite Monday, July 3, in Sarah Flaum Atrium and Helen Wood Hall, and Wednesday, July 5, in Café 601, Medical Center, with more clinics available throughout the month.
Fitness 101 with Well-U
Write your best wellness story in Well-U’s Fitness 101 starting July 7. Find expert advice to help you feel strong and confident on your fitness journey. Enroll here.
Resources for reducing stress
Learn effective calming methods and improve your communication in Well-U’s Stress Reduction program starting on Monday, July 10. Once completed, you will earn $100 and make strides toward gaining a better work-life balance. Sign up here.
Employee tuition benefits webinar
Join the Office of Total Rewards on Tuesday, July 11, at noon to learn about employee tuition benefits when attending classes at the University, tuition reimbursements for completed classes from outside colleges and universities, and dependent children tuition benefits at the University. There will be time at the end of the presentation for questions. Register in advance to attend.
Protect your skin from the sun
With summer weather here, it’s important to remember how the sun affects skin health. The Office of Total Rewards reminds faculty and staff that Excellus offers learning centers for a variety of health topics to help you stay healthy at any age—including how to protect your skin from the sun.
Reduced hours for Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters near Flaum Atrium on Monday
On Monday, July 3, the Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters location inside the School of Medicine and Dentistry, near Flaum Atrium, will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July Carillon Concert Series starts next week
The July Carillon Concert Series kicks off on Wednesday, July 5, at 6:30 p.m. with Simone Browne. Concerts in the series are free and open to the public. Enjoy the concerts from Eastman Quadrangle outside Rush Rhees Library. Find the full schedule here.
Apply for the Optics I-Corps Regional Course
Optics and photonics researchers can apply for the upcoming NSF I-Corps Regional Course, July 31–September 1, to explore the product market fit of your optics innovation. This free course begins online and culminates with a funded customer discovery trip to the SPIE Optics and Photonics conference in San Diego, California. Hosted in partnership with Dartmouth College, this course provides a unique opportunity to explore the market potential of your innovations by interviewing potential customers. Apply here by July 5.
Connect with Simon’s part-time programs staff
Stop by and chat with an admissions representative about Simon Business School’s programs for working professionals on Thursday, July 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Sarah Flaum Atrium, Medical Center. Learn more about University tuition benefits and merit-based scholarship opportunities. The first 10 registrants will receive a voucher for a free coffee at Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters (vouchers will be handed out at the table) and all visitors will receive an application fee waiver of up to a $150 value.
You can also find the graduate program that best aligns with your interests and goals, and learn how to construct your best application at the webinar “Find Your Simon Program and Start B-School This Year” on Friday, July 7, from noon to 1 p.m. A member of the admissions committee will provide an overview of the part-time programs and walk through the application process, provide tips on constructing a competitive application, and address some of the most commonly asked questions about applying to Simon. The final 2023 application deadline for Simon’s part-time programs for working professionals is July 15.
Virtual webinar on gene therapy in neurology
In 2018, Medical Center neurologists delivered gene therapy to an infant born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Since then, the SMA gene therapy program has grown and children with SMA now live near-normal lives. In 2022, children that came to the medical center were among the first to receive experimental gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These treatments are part of an accelerating trend of research and clinical trials involving gene therapies that marshal the expertise of our Department of Neurology.
As part of the virtual “Experience Rochester series,” join a panel of Medical Center neurologists on Thursday, July 13, for a discussion on how far they’ve come in treating these neurological diseases and the optimistic future for many similar conditions. Register now.
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