Student support and resources from the Campus Culture & Care Committee: This March could prove especially challenging for our students. Based on surveys and other data, we anticipate that the effects of social isolation, academic challenges, financial strain, and an uncertain future will peak this month for students. But there are many things we can do to help them during this difficult time.
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with available resources. Often, a referral from a trusted staff or faculty member is the most effective approach to providing much-needed support.
Letting a student know they’re going to be OK, and then helping them take steps to feel better, could be the positive change they need. If your department would like a 5- to 10-minute presentation on these resources and more, please contact Molly Morrison at molly.morrison@rochester.edu.
Student travel update for Spring 2021: After continued monitoring the COVID-19 situation abroad and in the US, the University has made the difficult decision to cancel all University-related student travel abroad for summer 2021, including all programs and travel for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as Education Abroad programs within all University schools.
The University understands that graduate students, in particular some doctoral students, may need to travel abroad for their research or academic programs. Graduate students may contact their appropriate dean’s office for a review of any essential academic or research work that requires international travel.
Application deadline extended for fall education abroad: The Center for Education Abroad has postponed the undergraduate fall 2021 program application deadline to April 1. The University is reviewing a number of criteria in order to assess which programs will be able to safely reopen for the fall 2021 term. Updates will be shared as soon as the program decisions are made. Please visit the center’s website for the condensed portfolio of virtual programs.
Academic honesty survey for faculty and reminders for proctoring online exams: The Academic Honesty Education Committee is sending out a short, confidential survey this semester to learn about instructors’ perspectives on upholding academic honesty when teaching face-to-face and online.
Anyone who teaches courses in AS&E is eligible to complete the survey, which repeats and updates items from an instrument faculty were last asked to take part in back in 2013. The Education Committee greatly appreciates your participation (which is entirely voluntary). The survey is available at this link and will remain open until April 21.
In addition, AS&E instructors whose courses include online timed assessment are encouraged to follow guidelines AS&E has published governing how Zoom may be used for proctoring exams. The full document is available here. Among other things, the guidelines:
- Require informing students well in advance that Zoom will be used to proctor exams;
- Prohibit selective application of Zoom proctoring to subsets of students in a course;
- Require recording the Zoom meetings used for proctoring and uploading those recordings via the AS&E Intranet within 7 days of the proctored exam. (To upload, select “Proctor Upload” from the “Staff Resources” menu.)
Please feel free to send questions on how to carry out instruction and assessment in ways that support honest completion of work to honestyliaison@ur.rochester.edu; send questions on how to report cases of suspected dishonesty to college.honesty@ur.rochester.edu. Thank you for your time and contributions to maintaining a culture of integrity in AS&E.
Personal pronoun field available for website bio pages: The AS&E Web Communications team has added an optional personal pronoun indicator to departmental people pages. To add a pronoun reference to your bio, contact your department’s website editor, or send a request to aseweb@rochester.edu. The current selections are:
- he/him/his
- she/her/hers
- they/them/theirs
- Ask me my pronouns
- Name only
If your pronoun preference is not in this list, contact aseweb@rochester.edu to have it added.
Updates from the Admissions office: As the Office of Admissions prepares to welcome admitted students to the Class of 2025 and their families to the University through an array of virtual events and programming, you can read the most recent newsletter from Admissions including a message from the dean, more information on virtual Admissions programming, and an update on Pre-College Programs.
Celebrating Student Leaders: Winners have been selected for the 2020 College Student Organization Leadership Awards! They are awarded to student leaders and organizations that have enriched the University’s community through their self-development, programs, publications, activities, and community service. Join in the celebration of their achievements online featuring remarks from Jeff Runner, dean of the College.
Take AS&E classes this summer: The College offers a variety of courses for students, faculty, staff, and the community during the summer sessions (May 24 to August 13). With five different sessions and fully asynchronous options, there is sure to be an option that works for you. Learn a new language or delve deep while taking courses in chemistry, physics, computer science, or math. Try something new to gain additional professional skills. Registration is currently open via UR Student. Contact the Office of Summer and Continuing Studies at 275-2345 or oscs@rochester.edu with questions.
QuadFox 5K earns award: The QuadFox 5K, organized last year by Wilson Commons Student Activities in partnership with student life offices across the University, was recently named the 2020 Collaborative Program of the Year by the Association of College Unions International (ACUI). The award recognizes models of leadership and innovation that advance community-building work in higher education.
