In Today’s Issue

• Update on Online Education Initiatives
• Chemist Dan Weix Awarded Sloan Fellowship
• Winners of Annual Voice Competition Announced
• Home Drone: A Public Art ‘Intervention’
• AlertUR Test Set for Feb. 28
• Kristel Thornell Discusses Becoming a Writer
• United Way Aims to Build a Better Rochester
• Simon School Spring Registration Event Is Feb. 26
• WalkingWorks Finale Event Is Feb. 28
• RPO Offers Discount for Exquisite Puccini

News and Announcements

Update on Online Education Initiatives
A message to the University community from Rob Clark, dean of the Hajim School and interim senior vice president for research: “I am writing to update you on our continuing exploration of online education, including the launch of a new experiment with well-known provider Coursera and the discontinuation of our earlier efforts with Semester Online.” Read the full message.

Chemist Dan Weix Awarded Sloan Fellowship
Daniel Weix, assistant professor of chemistry, has been recognized by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as a recipient of a Sloan Research Fellowship for 2013. Read more...

Winners of Annual Voice Competition Announced
Mezzo-soprano Melissa Fajardo won first place in the Friends of Eastman Opera’s 12th annual competition for Eastman School voice and opera students, held Feb. 15 in Kilbourn Hall. Read more... 

Home Drone: A Public Art ‘Intervention’
An 18-foot rhinestone-covered replica of a U.S. Predator drone will be the center of new multimedia art exhibit opening March 1 at the Hampden Gallery at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The exhibit, titled Home Drone, challenges viewers to imagine their reaction if thousands of deadly drones had struck in the U.S. rather than in Pakistan, Yemen, and Afghanistan. It was created by Heather Layton, senior lecturer in the Department of Art and Art History, and Brian Bailey, a professor of adolescence education at Nazareth College. Read more...

AlertUR Test Set for Feb. 28
The spring semester test of AlertUR, the University’s emergency notification system, will occur on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. AlertUR now includes notifications to the Medical Center. In the event of an emergency, alerts are sent by voice, text, or email message. Before the test, be sure to review your contact information at www.rochester.edu/alertur. Sign in with your NetID and password to verify the fastest method for reaching you. Employees with a NetID who do not have a University email address may enter a personal email or phone number to receive emergency alerts. The Feb. 28 test will not disrupt scheduled activities.

Kristel Thornell Discusses Becoming a Writer
Kristel Thornell, an Australian-born author currently based in Rochester, presents the Neilly Lecture, “Emerging,” a talk about the process of becoming a writer, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the Hawkins-Carlson Room in Rush Rhees Library. The talk will also be streamed live at www.rochester.edu/news/live. Read more...

United Way Aims to Build a Better Rochester

Simon School Spring Registration Event Is Feb. 26
The Part-time Programs Office at the Simon School will be holding a registration event for new nonmatriculated and matriculated students on Feb. 26. Register for the event here. To schedule an appointment regarding the part-time MBA or MS programs, contact Jennifer Mossotti at jennifer.mossotti@simon.rochester.edu.

WalkingWorks Finale Event Is Feb. 28
Well-U will host a WalkingWorks finale event from 12:30–2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28. The walk-in event will take place in the LeChase Assembly Hall (Room G-9576) at the Medical Center and will include food and drinks, raffle prizes, and the opportunity to provide feedback about the fitness competition. You can also meet in Flaum Atrium for a walking session from noon to 12:30 p.m. Visit www.rochester.edu/working/hr/wellness/enroll for more information or to register. Direct questions to well-u-info@rochester.edu.

RPO Offers Discount for Exquisite Puccini
University faculty, staff, and alumni can get 50 percent off tickets to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Exquisite Puccini on Feb. 28 and March 2 at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. To order tickets, click here and enter priority code UROC or call 454-2100. The offer is valid between Thursday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 24, at 11:59 p.m. Student tickets to all RPO concerts are $10.