Culver Conversations with Staff:  Dean Gloria Culver will be hosting a casual forum for staff on Friday, April 29, at 11 a.m. to meet with her with no set agenda. Look for an official invite coming soon.

Save the date for AS&E Staff Retreat: The AS&E Staff Retreat returns in person and virtually this year and is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Staff will have the opportunity to participate in various hands-on sessions, and the daylong event will include lunch and a light reception. Look for more information, including registration details, soon.

Upcoming supervisor forums: Academic department chairs, directors, and managers are invited to attend one of two upcoming discussion sessions focused on improving managerial expertise and increasing staff morale. Based on feedback received through the Genesee Staff Council and other avenues, these forums will be moderated by deans and senior administrators in AS&E. All participants will be encouraged to share strategies for improving the work environment of our staff.

• In-person session, Thursday, May 19, 1 to 2 p.m., moderated by Rob Alexander, dean of admissions, financial aid, and enrollment management; and Jess Foster, deputy to the dean of the faculty and chief of staff.
• Virtual session, Tuesday, May 24, 9 to 10 a.m., moderated by John Barker, senior associate dean of the faculty, and Beth Olivares, dean for diversity and director of the Kearns Center. A Zoom link will be sent upon confirmed registration.

To reserve your spot, email Michael Cochrane, administrative assistant in the deans’ office, your name and selected forum by Monday, May 9.

Change to how University’s banking information is used: Due to an increase in fraudulent activity, the Office of Treasury Management is now the only office permitted to issue banking information—including, but not limited to, University bank account numbers and bank transactions—to vendors, suppliers, and external and internal customers. Please remove any of the University’s wiring instructions from forms, departmental websites, etc., and destroy copies of any existing banking instructions currently in use. If it is necessary for your department to receive funds electronically, contact Treasury Management directly at treasury@ur.rochester.edu for assistance. This change will help safeguard the University’s financial assets and strengthen controls to deter fraud.

Commencement volunteers needed: As we celebrate this year’s Commencement, the University is looking for staff and faculty to assist in a variety of ways (golf cart drivers, ushers, and scanning tickets with a scanner). Staff and faculty will need to complete training (online via Zoom) prior to the May 13 event. Arrival time is 8:30 a.m. and additional training will be provided on the day of the event. Review the volunteer registration for more details and to sign up.

Adopt an international senior for graduation: Due to visa restrictions, high travel costs, and other factors, some of our international seniors in the College may not have any family present to celebrate their accomplishments. Consider filling in for their family by adopting a grad! If you’re able to attend a departmental ceremony on Saturday, May 14, can take lots of pictures, and would like to get to know one of our amazing students, express your interest here. Contact Molly Morrison for more information.

Use your tuition benefits this summer: A wide variety of AS&E courses for students, faculty, staff, and the community are offered during the Summer Session, taking place May 24–August 13. With more than 100 courses, including fully asynchronous options, summer is a great time to learn something new and different, like a language, and to gain additional professional skills. University employees may be eligible for tuition benefits. Registration is currently open in UR Student. Connect with the Office of Summer and Continuing Studies via email with questions.

Join the QuadFox 5K Challenge: Registration is open through April 15 for the annual QuadFox 5K. All members of the University community can join the fun as we run, jog, walk, roll, or dance to complete the 3.1 miles together. New this year, undergrads and graduate students can complete the race in person on April 24 via a designated campus course; all other participants will be completing virtually. Complete and submit your time for the virtual component by April 24 and you may be eligible for a finisher’s T-shirt (see event details for T-shirt eligibility). Sponsored by Wilson Commons Student Activities, Office of Alumni Relations and Constituent Engagement, Eastman School of Music, School of Nursing, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and AS&E Graduate Education & Postdoctoral Affairs.

Health Promotion Office newsletter: Sign up to receive the UHS Health Promotion Office’s monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the services and programs offered to undergraduate and graduate students. If you are involved with only graduate students and want that newsletter, you should sign up as “Faculty / Staff – Grad.”

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.