As many of you know, the University is in the early phases of implementing a new strategic plan, Boundless Possibility. In September, we were invited, along with the University community, to take a survey on this plan. Thank you to all who have participated in this process, from serving on committees, submitting ideas, to completing the survey. We appreciate your time and thoughtfulness. I encourage you all to visit boundless.rochester.edu to learn about what we aim to achieve over the next seven years and how we intend to do it.

Along with the University’s efforts, we at AS&E are also looking at how we can best support and recognize our amazing staff and faculty.

With that in mind I’d like to recognize the winners of the AS&E ACE award for September!

• Brooke Baiocchi, Mt. Hope Family Center-Psychology
• Christine Cayea, Mt. Hope Family Center
• Phyllis Corcoran, Mt. Hope Family Center
• Justin Johnson, Athletics and Recreation
• Kris Lantzky-Eaton, AS&E Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs
• Leanne Temp, Department of Psychology

You can find the list of winners so far this year here.

Please consider nominating AS&E staff members for this recognition. 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 and then announced in the newsletter.

Meliora,

Jess Foster

GRADUATE RESEARCH DAY

Join us this Friday for AS&E Graduate Research Day in the Feldman Ballroom of Douglass Commons. Nearly 40 students across AS&E will present brief 10-minute talks on their research throughout the day. Please stop by anytime during the event, stay for as many of the talks as you would like, and join us in hearing about the diverse research happening within the University of Rochester graduate student community. Learn more about the event here.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE TEACHING CENTER

Our colleagues at the Teaching Center have been hard at work designing a terrific lineup of professional development opportunities for faculty. Here is a look at their latest offerings:

• Anti-Racist Feedback and Messaging: October 27, 12 to 1 p.m. via zoom. The language we use sets the tone for student learning in our classroom and has the power to encourage or suppress student engagement and motivation. Learn anti-racist strategies to reduce student achievement gaps by using growth mindset principles for providing feedback and messaging to students. Register here for the zoom link.
• Transparent Assignment Design (TILT): November 2, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. via zoom. Transparent (TILT) assignment design explicitly focuses on how and why students are learning course content, concepts and skills in a particular way. By clearly and concretely stating the purpose, task and criteria, transparent assignments have been shown to reduce achievement gaps for first-generation students. Register here for the zoom link. A second session will be offered November 10 from 12 to 1 p.m. via zoom. Register here for the zoom link.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR FACULTY AND STAFF

• Apply for a Course Development Grant: Consider applying for one of the grants that support instructors in the development of AS&E courses. The shared annual deadline for these grants is November 30. Learn more here.
  • Teaching Innovation Grant (Teaching Center).
  • Community-Engaged Course Development Grant (Center for Community Engagement).
• myURHR Demo Days: It’s not too late to register! myURHR Demo Days are a great opportunity for all faculty, staff, and student workers to get a more in-depth look at the University’s new Human Resources information system that is replacing HRMS in 2024. Participants will experience guided tours that include previews of how key functions and business processes have been designed. Sign up here
• Supporting Students’ Career Exploration: As students explore courses for spring 2024 registration, the Greene Center’s Major to Career Pathways can be a valuable roadmap. The Pathway documents (one for every major!) show students the possible industries and job titles they can pursue with the majors they might be considering and can help support their decision-making when choosing what courses to enroll in. Another exploratory tool that students can take advantage of while at Rochester is Forage. Forage is an online resource that offers virtual experience programs for students that are designed by leading global organizations like JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, Latham & Watkins, and many others. Students can develop skills and gain a real understanding of different roles/companies through these programs that contain self-paced modules with tasks similar to those they would undertake during a traditional internship experience. For questions or next steps, please contact Lynn Donahue. Lynn is the new director of career curricular initiatives at the Greene Center and will be the primary point person to connect faculty and staff with resources and academic experiential opportunities.
• Center for Education Abroad Drop-In Hours and Passport Drive: Faculty or staff interested in learning more about leading or organizing a program abroad for students can drop in and join a virtual coffee/tea hour on Wednesday, October 25 from 10 to 11 a.m. Registration is required. Please reach out to Ted Pagano, associate director for the Center for Education Abroad, if you have any questions. There will be a Passport and Travel Signature Drive with the International Services Office on Tuesday, November 14 in the Feldman Ballroom. At the event, students, faculty, and staff can apply for or renew their US passports between 5 to 8 p.m. Photo services will be provided. Please visit the Monroe County Clerk Passport website for the list of required materials needed for your application.
• Relax & Renew Retreat: Relax and renew retreats are half-day, silent meditation retreats for students, faculty, and staff who are interested in a more immersive meditation experience. On Saturday, October 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Spurrier Dance Studio, participants will experience four hours of noble silence while engaging in a variety of contemplative practices. Retreats are free of charge and open to all members of the University community. Learn more and fill out contact form to register here
• Workshops on Supporting Student Well-being: A survey conducted in May by the UHS Health Promotion Office found that 85 percent of Rochester faculty and staff reported speaking with a student one-on-one about their well-being. However, 59 percent of staff and 74 percent of faculty mentioned they had never received specialized training to navigate conversations with students in distress. In the Well-being for Life and Learning Training Program, you can learn a variety of skills to add to your toolbox to support student well-being in simple, effective, and compassionate ways. The workshops are open to all faculty and student support staff. To get more information on all our upcoming workshops, locations, and registration, visit MyPath and search either the “Well-being for Life and Learning: Campus Environments” (for staff) or “Well-being for Life and Learning: Learning Environments” to follow the training (for faculty and course instructors). Learn more here. Check out one of their upcoming workshops:
  • Religious Diversity in the Classroom and On Campus on October 20 from 12 to 1 p.m.
  • Well-being in Learning Environments on October 23 from 12 to 1 p.m.
  • Effective Study Strategies: Guidelines to Empower Students’ Learning Success on October 27 from 2 to 3 p.m.
  • Creating an Accessible Campus on October 30 from 12 to 1 p.m.