Tools to help support academic honesty: The Academic Honesty team reminds instructors that a randomized seat assignment tool is available for use in certain large classrooms this semester. Along with other preventive measures such as honesty pledges and talking to students about integrity, randomizing seating arrangements for midterms and major exams can discourage casual cheating and help guarantee the integrity of your assessments. Contact University IT for technical support, Honesty Liaison Greer Murphy for questions about exam integrity, and either Murphy or Honesty Board Chair Paulo Barelli with concerns regarding possible honesty violations.

Nominate a student for College Prizes: The College Center for Advising Services is accepting nominations until March 18 for this year’s College Prizes. If you would like to nominate a deserving AS&E undergraduate student and you are not yet in their database, please email prizes@ur.rochester.edu. During commencement weekend, the College will hold an awards ceremony for graduating seniors that will celebrate the achievement of students across the College, recognizing excellence in academics, athletics, and student life. If you have any questions, email prizes@ur.rochester.edu.

Public lecture with Distinguished Visiting Humanist Amitav Ghosh: Award-winning novelist, essayist, and climate change activist Amitav Ghosh is Rochester’s 2021–22 Distinguished Visiting Humanist. He will deliver a free public lecture based on his latest book, The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis, on Thursday, April 7, at 5 p.m. in the Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library. Ghosh traces today’s planetary crisis back to the discovery of the New World and the sea route to the Indian Ocean. At the center of his narrative is the now-ubiquitous spice nutmeg, with its history of conquest and exploitation—of both human life and the natural environment. Learn more and register.

Course on anti-racist curriculum offered this summer: Develop knowledge and skills to create an anti-racist curriculum through the revision of an existing course syllabus. In this workshop-style course, Anti-Racist Curriculum Development in Higher Education, you will use a rubric to evaluate elements of your own course syllabus. Score those elements and reflect with others and in writing about what you learn and plan to do in revising your curriculum as a result. Selected short readings and other resources are included to support your hands-on work. The synchronous online course is being offered during Warner School’s Summer B session on July 1, 8, 22, and 29. Faculty members can register here. If you are not a faculty member, you must e-mail Nancy Ares (nares@warner.rochester.edu) for permission to take this class; when you have permission, forward it to the Warner School Registrar.  Warner will provide a tuition award that will cover what employee tuition benefits do not.

Transparent assignment design fellowship: The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning is sponsoring a summer-fall 2022 fellowship to introduce a small cohort of AS&E instructors to the principles of transparent assignment design. Transparent assignment design has been shown to improve student performance, particularly for first-generation students. Fellows work with CETL staff and their peers to transition one or more assignments for their fall courses over the summer. During the fall semester, they debrief those assignments and make adjustments for future iterations. Fellows are expected to be available for three summer and three fall sessions of approximately two hours each in addition to the time spent transitioning assignments. The fellowship carries a $1,000 stipend for use in their teaching and research.  If interested, contact Rachel Remmel.

Coffee/tea virtual discussion on education abroad programs: Join Ted Pagano, associate director at the Center for Education Abroad, for an informal discussion on faculty- or staff-led or organized programs abroad. A brief overview, discussions of future collaboration, and idea-sharing will be part of this virtual coffee and tea time, taking place Thursday, March 24, from 9 to 10 a.m. EDT. Enrollment is limited, and registration is required.

Grants support integration of career-related activities in courses: The Greene Center congratulates Professors Ajay Anand and Cantay Caliskan from the Goergen Institute of Data Science, along with Professors Kristana Textor and Liz Tinelli from the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program, on receiving grant funding from the Greene Center to support the integration of career-related activities into their courses. The Greene Center is currently accepting another round of grant proposals, made possible through alumni support. Recipients will receive up to $5,000 to use in the 2022–23 academic year to embed career-related activities––such as career modules, assignments, experiential learning, skill development opportunities, or industry exploration––into new or existing courses. Applications, which are due March 25, can be submitted here. Grant awardees will be announced on April 8. Email c.caiazza@rochester.edu with questions.

April campus happy hour at Club Rochester: Expand your hive while you mix and mingle with students, staff, and faculty. Enjoy free food, giveaways, discount drinks, and networking as we celebrate the arrival of spring with a campus happy hour. Join Wilson Commons Student Activities at Club Rochester on Friday, April 1, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons. Follow Wilson Commons Student Activities on Instagram and Facebook for updates including host and menu announcements.

Splendor by Cori Spencer: Visit the Hartnett Art Gallery in Wilson Commons to view the newest show Splendor, an exhibit presented by artist Cori Spencer. Learn more about the works by attending the artist talk on March 16 at 5 p.m. in the Gowen Room, with a reception to follow in the gallery. Splendor will be on display from March 16 through April 9. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon until 7 p.m. Learn more about the gallery and upcoming shows by following the Hartnett Gallery on Instagram.

Upcoming deadlines affecting graduation: The deadline for seniors to make changes to their academic record and have these changes be reflected in the commencement program is Friday, April 1. Changes include but are not limited to: major or minor declarations and degree changes (BA/BS); changes in major or minor requirements (to be submitted by academic department); drop a major or minor; cluster changes; and preferred name changes. Students who have questions should schedule an appointment with an academic advisor in the College Center for Advising Services.

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 16 to August 5). 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. Contact the Office of Summer and Continuing Studies at 275-2345 or oscs@rochester.edu with questions.

Nominate a colleague for an ACE Award: The University community is invited to nominate AS&E staff members who exemplify the University’s vision and values and go above and beyond their job to make AS&E and the University ever better. Successful nominations will highlight specific examples of tasks, projects, or activities where staff are exceeding their core functions. Staff can be nominated more than once, and winners will be chosen on the first of each month by Dean Donald Hall.