Commencement workers urgently needed: This year’s commencement exercises include multiple ceremonies in order to comply with social distancing guidelines and to allow graduating students the chance to safely enjoy an in-person commencement experience. Commencement organizers are urgently looking for staff and faculty willing to work as ushers at various events. Ushers are being asked to help ensure the integrity of each of the sites and ceremonies and may need to redirect individuals who are not permitted to enter a ceremony; a script will be provided to all ushers. With ceremonies being conducted over a number of days, both weekday and weekend opportunities are available, in either two-hour or four-hour blocks of time.
- Friday, May 21, diploma ceremonies: various times between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m at various locations on campus
- Saturday, May 22, diploma ceremonies and the Hajim School of Engineering ceremonies: various times between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at various locations on campus *HIGH NEED FOR THIS DATE
Diploma ceremonies will be held in a variety of indoor locations with reduced capacity, distancing, and masks. Only students (and the workers needed to manage an event) will be in attendance and each graduate must provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test prior to participating.
If you would like to serve as an usher, please contact Rhonda Smith rhonda.smith@rochester.edu or your HR Business Partner at your earliest convenience with your available times/any specific ceremony you would like to assist with.
New workshop series for faculty and staff series aims to support student mental health: Rochester faculty and staff have been incredibly resilient and supportive during the COVID-19 pandemic—adapting to online pedagogies and being supportive to students as they navigate academics and mental health during these unprecedented times. Given the variety of traumas that students have faced in the past year, the Mindful University Project is currently developing a “Supporting the Mental Health of Students during the 2021-22 Academic Year” workshop series to help equip faculty and staff with knowledge of simple, action-oriented strategies that one can use to improve student mental well-being during the upcoming semesters. The project is bringing in a number of individuals to host spaces for productive dialogue on a variety of topics, including trauma-informed teaching; creating a mindful classroom; self-care and self-compassion for educators; responding to students in distress; cultural sensitivity; nonviolent communication; suicide prevention; and more. They envision offering the series this summer before classes begin and would like your feedback on your interest and availability. Fill out the survey here.
Faculty workshop series on fostering an antiracist campus: An upcoming three-part workshop for AS&E faculty aims to foster an antiracist campus, which organizers hope will be helpful for those who may have missed or were not able to participate in any of the initial workshops. Please register in advance. Zoom links to be provided closer to the date of each workshop. If you have any questions, contact Beth Olivares (and CC Amanda Johnson).
- Workshop One: Opening the Door: Foundations. Participants will discuss the language of race and racism, the origins of race, the history of race here at the University, and the position of self in society. June 22, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Workshop Two: Managing the Anti-Racist Classroom. Participants will explore what we bring to the classroom and how norms inform how we manage our classrooms and labs. June 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Workshop Three: The Faculty Ally in Action. In this highly interactive workshop, participants will engage with real-world applications of antiracist concepts presented in previous sessions. By working through case studies together, participants approach race-related scenarios that commonly arise for faculty in teaching and learning environments at Rochester. June 29, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Please note: there will be another workshop series for AS&E staff members in the fall. Watch for details via email.
Teaching Reflection workshop: Since the pivot to online instruction in March 2020, instructors have experienced significant changes in their teaching and the teaching environment. This session will offer instructors a structured opportunity to reflect on the impact of the disruptions to in-person instruction on their courses. Participants will clarify for themselves the value of what they lost, gained, and learned in their courses during the past year and will use those reflections to articulate the values they hope will guide their teaching going forward. The three-hour workshop will include synchronous Zoom sessions for peer reflection bookending an offline writing block for self-reflection and will be held June 1 from 9 a.m. to noon. To register, ask questions, or request accommodations, contact Rachel Remmel of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at rachel.remmel@rochester.edu.
Rochester faculty featured in Greene Center podcast: The Greene Center’s podcast, Careers Unfiltered, will be releasing a new series this summer featuring Rochester faculty members. This six-episode series is set to kick off Wednesday, June 2. Check out Careers Unfiltered to learn about a specific industry, hear advice, listen to University stories, or explore different careers. With over 40 episodes of career conversations with alumni, students, staff, and now faculty, there’s something for everyone. Tune in using Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in becoming a future guest on the podcast, please fill out this form.
