Prepare yourself for the biggest shopping holiday of the year

Many companies have decided to release their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals early this year, giving you more time to shop the hottest items on the market. However, this all comes with a price as scammers also get more time to deceive consumers with deals that are too good to be true. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides helpful guidance on how to shop safely during Black Friday and how you can protect yourself from Cyber Monday scams. University IT urges the University community to be extra vigilant with incoming emails or text messages and avoid clicking any suspicious links.

Eastman School of Music alumni, faculty receive Grammy nominations

Several graduates of the Eastman School of Music, along with Sara Gazarek, Eastman’s newly appointed associate professor of jazz voice, have received nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards. Eastman also has several alumni who played on nominated albums.

UCC drop-in counseling sessions this week

UCC will continue to provide support spaces in the wake of the ongoing violence and the ripple effects felt around the world. A virtual group session for Grief for Gaza will be held on Tuesday, November 14, from 5 to 6 p.m. A virtual group session for Grief for Israel will be held on Thursday, November 16, from 4 to 5 p.m.

For students who prefer individualized support, UCC has same-day appointments available for urgent needs, after-hours on-call and in-person support (both accessed by calling 585-275-3113), and on-demand support 24/7 through TELUS (students have free access by downloading the app to their phone).

‘Screw-Up Nights, Vol X: Astronomical Failures’

Are you sick of success stories? Learn about colossal mistakes, failures, embarrassments, and rejections from professors, students, and community members at “Screw-Up Nights, Vol X: Astronomical Failures” on Wednesday, November 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Barbara J. Burger iZone. Food will be provided. RSVP here.

Field trip to ‘Gaming for All’ at Strong Museum of Play

Join the Program in Digital Media Studies on a trip to Strong Museum of Play’s event, “Gaming for All: A Women in Games Celebration,” on Thursday, November 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. This trip is all expenses paid and open to all students. Bus transportation and a pizza dinner are provided. Sign up here.

‘Wellness on Demand’ vending machine in UHS

Do you need items such as emergency contraception, safer sex supplies, COVID-19 tests, and more? Visit the “Wellness on Demand” vending machine in the UHS foyer. These items are available to you 24 hours a day so you can get them when you need them most. Brought to you by the UHS Health Promotion Office and Primary Care teams.

Thanksgiving week early payroll deadlines

Due to the University’s observance of the Thanksgiving holiday—Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24—the pay date for biweekly hourly will be Wednesday, November 22. The change affects the payroll processing submission deadlines as shown below. It’s important that all employees comply with these deadlines in order to ensure people are paid properly.

• Biweekly hourly payroll (pay period ending November 18): All time must be entered and approved by 10 a.m. on Monday, November 20.
• Monthly and semi-monthly payroll (pay period ending November 30): All time must be entered and approved by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22.

How employees can prepare

• Ensure your time is entered daily.
• Remind your timekeeper to approve your time on a weekly basis.

How timekeepers can prepare

• Each morning approve the time recorded by employees for the previous day.
• On Monday, November 13, ensure all time entered for employees for the previous week has been approved.
• During the week of November 13, continue to approve your employees’ time on a daily basis.

Tools to support student well-being

Have you been wanting to acquire more skills for supporting the well-being of the students you serve? Enroll in workshops this month as part of the Well-Being for Life and Learning Training Program

• Keys for CARE: Connecting Students, Staff, and Faculty to a Supportive Community on Thursday, November 16, from noon to 1 p.m.
• Educator Self-Care and Self-Compassion on Friday, November 17, from 1 to 2 p.m.
• Creating a Queer-Inclusive University, Part II on Friday, November 17, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Religious Diversity in the Classroom and on Campus on Monday, November 20, from noon to 1 p.m.
• Intercultural Communication: What Did You Say? on Monday, November 27, from noon to 1 p.m.
• Grief and Loss Support on Thursday, November 30, from noon to 1 p.m.
• Well-Being in Learning Environments on Friday, December 1, from noon to 1 p.m.

Open to all faculty and student support staff. More information on the locations of workshops and registration is available on MyPath by looking up the workshop title. Learn more about and register for the self-paced Well-Being for Life and Learning training program.

Assistance with passports and travel signatures

Representatives from the Monroe County Clerk’s Office will be available to assist anyone who needs help applying for a passport—including help with your passport picture—on Tuesday, November 14, from 2 to 8 p.m. in Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons.

Additionally, if you are an international student who will be traveling this winter, advisors will be on hand to update the travel signature on your I-20.  Don’t forget to bring a copy of your most recent I-20 to the event. Refreshments will be served. Learn more and register.

Fourth annual Cardiac Care Collaborative

The Department of Cardiology and the Institute for Innovative Education announce the fourth annual UR Medicine Cardiac Care Collaborative. The one-day, in-person symposium aims to provide healthcare practitioners with a comprehensive update on novel research and treatment advancements in cardiac care. Attendees will enhance their knowledge, competence, and performance to optimize the diagnosis, treatment, and management of various cardiac diseases. The symposium takes place Wednesday, November 15, in the Class of ’62 Auditorium (G-9425), School of Medicine and Dentistry. Register here.

Find resources to quit smoking or vaping

Quitting smoking or vaping takes time. The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout (GASO), recognized this year on November 16, can be your day one. Available resources include individual sessions and group programs from the Center for Community Health & Prevention and a text messaging program from Wilmot Cancer Institute. The Center for a Tobacco-Free Finger Lakes shares these resources and more.

To celebrate the day or get resources in person, stop by the Strong Memorial Hospital Lobby on November 16 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. UR Medicine representatives will have information about the lung cancer screening program, giveaways, and answers to your questions about quitting smoking or getting screened.

Virtual talk on helping teens reduce or quit e-cigarette use

Visit the Center for Community Health & Prevention’s Facebook page on Thursday, November 16, any time after 11 a.m. as Shivani Sockanathan, an instructor of clinical family medicine, presents “Helping Teens Understand the Risks of Vaping.” The taped presentation will help you learn how nicotine affects health and the diverse strategies used to support teens and patients of all ages in cutting back or quitting e-cigarette use. The event is a special promotion for the Great American Smokeout on November 16.

A conversation with Rashaad Parker

Rashaad Parker is a local filmmaker, artist, and activist whose work is focused on civil rights and social justice activities. The Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, which houses the Rashaad Parker Black Lives Matter Archive, invites you to attend a conversation with Parker at the Memorial AME Zion Church, on Saturday, November 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. The discussion will be accompanied by a screening of ROC City Speaks, a 17-minute series of on-the-street video interviews on how people were coping with racial injustice amid the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by a Q&A. Refreshments will be available.

‘Twelve Days of Fitmas’ at the URMC Fitness Center

Beat the New Year’s crowd and try out the URMC Fitness Center free for 12 days this holiday season. Learn how here.

First affinity groups established

2006: The University’s first affinity groups—the African American Network, Latino Professional Network, and Pride Alliance—were introduced. The new resources for faculty and staff were designed to provide mentoring and professional development opportunities. Today’s University Resource Groups continue that mission.