February 20, 2013
In Brief
Memorial wall honors nation’s veterans
A wall to honor veterans of the U.S. armed forces was dedicated last month in the Saunders Research Building. The wall was inspired by philanthropist Philip Saunders who, when he agreed to lend his name to the building, requested that it recognize the contribution and sacrifice of those who have served in the country’s armed forces. In 2011, he donated $10 million—one of the largest gifts ever in the history of the Medical Center—for neuromuscular research. The Clinical and Translational Science Building was renamed to recognize his generosity.
The new wall is located in the building’s atrium and is inscribed with a quote from Saunders encouraging researchers to honor veterans and their families by tackling the nation’s health problems: “Let us never forget the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families, and may the research within this building bring healing to them and others.”
New policy site goes live
A compilation of all University policies is now available at www.rochester.edu/policy. Find relevant policies through the policy volumes, the search feature, or the A–Z index on the site. The site is only accessible from University networks. To update policy information on the site, contact the IT Help Desk at 275- 2000 or UnivITHelp@rochester.edu. For all other questions, contact Gail Norris at 275-2758 or gail.norris@rochester.edu.
New major addresses changing world of audio engineering
The New York State Department of Education has certified the University’s new undergraduate audio and music engineering major, which is being offered to students for the first time this academic year.
“The field of audio and music technology is rapidly changing,” says Mark Bocko, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Science in the Hajim School. “More and more musicians are producing high-quality audio CDs at home, causing a decline in employment opportunities in traditional recording studios. But the industry that builds the audio equipment and software is booming, as are a number of audio-related industries. So instead of focusing on traditional audio recording, we chose to address the technological demands of the entire field.”
Students enrolled in the major will develop knowledge and skills in recording and sound design, acoustics, electronics, digital signal processing, and computer programming. Watch a video about the program at www.youtube.com/UniversityRochester.
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. Before the test, review your contact information at www.rochester.edu/alertur. Sign in with your NetID and password to verify the best method for reaching you. Employees 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. The purpose of the twice-a-year test is to activate the AlertUR system and check that it’s working effectively. In the event of an emergency, alerts are sent by voice, text, or email message.
Medical Center receives funding to improve education, patient
The state Department of Health has awarded the Medical Center $4.65 million to expand the training experience for primary care residents by increasing their exposure to the patient-centered medical home model. It also will assist four practices in enhancing and broadening their ability to better manage patient populations.
The funding, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is part of the Hospital-Medical Home Demonstration Program, a three-year project that is making up to $250 million available for teaching hospitals to transition their outpatient training sites to patient-centered medical homes.
University named a Tree Campus USA
The Arbor Day Foundation has named the University a Tree Campus USA for the third year in a row. The national program was created in 2008 to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.
Speaker announced for diversity conference
The keynote speaker for this year’s diversity conference is Lani Guinier, prominent civil rights attorney and the first tenured African-American woman professor at Harvard Law School. The call for workshop proposals is now open: students, faculty, staff, and alumni are invited to submit proposals for workshops and posters at the April 12 conference. Proposal submissions can showcase best practices, curriculum models, research, outreach strategies, training methods, and other topics related to diversity and inclusion. The deadline for proposals is Feb. 21. Learn more at www.rochester.edu/diversity/annualconference/2013.
A new way to elect retirement contributions online
The Benefits Office announces that, beginning Feb. 26, there will be new steps to make or change your voluntary retirement program contributions online. All online voluntary contribution elections or changes will be made at www.tiaa-cref.org/rochester. In addition, you may view your contribution history at the site. Telephone enrollment at (800) 410-6497 will still be available. No action is required—your current voluntary elections will be maintained. However, the Benefits Office reminds you that, because of the online change, you will not be able to elect or change voluntary contribution amounts between Feb. 14 and 25. For program details and instructions on how to enroll or make changes, visit the Benefits website, www.rochester.edu/working/hr/benefits/retirement.
Take charge of your health
The University recently announced that the School of Nursing’s Center for Employee Wellness and the URMC Healthy Living Center have teamed up to provide comprehensive wellness services for University employees. The services are a key part of the University’s YOURhealth offerings and are designed to help individuals reach and maintain health goals and make healthy lifestyle changes. For more information, visit yourhealth.son.rochester.edu.
Bookstores offer discount with 312 Requisition
Did you know that the bookstore offers a 10 percent discount on most items when departments pay with a 312 requisition? Contact your store with any questions or to ask about bulk ordering: River Campus, mferrante@ur.rochester.edu; Medical Center, bksrochestermed@bncollege.com; and Eastman School, bksrochestereastman@bncollege.com.