The fall semester test of AlertUR will be on Thursday, September 4, at 6 p.m. AlertUR is the emergency notification system for the University, including the Medical Center. In the event of an emergency, alerts are sent by voice, text, and email message. The purpose of the test is to activate the AlertUR system and check that you can be reached immediately. Before the September 4 test, students and employees should review their contact information and add a cell phone number if one is not listed or is not current; sign in with your Active Directory username and password. Employees with an Active Directory username and password who do not have a University email address may enter a personal email or phone number to receive emergency alerts. The September 4 test will not disrupt scheduled activities. Find more information on AlertUR.
Occasional stomach pain in kids is normal, but when it happens often, it’s important to know the most common causes—and when to call your pediatrician. Here’s a breakdown from Medical Center experts.
Graduate student and postdoctoral fellow teaching book club
Join the Teaching Center’s fall 2025 graduate student and postdoctoral fellow teaching book club to learn more about and share your own effective, evidence-based, and learner-centered teaching practices. This club meets in person on the River Campus four times a semester, approximately once a month, to read and discuss Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning, by James Lang. Open to all University graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Register here.
Graduate Writing Project workshop on AI research tools
Graduate students and postdocs in the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences are invited to a hands-on workshop introducing AI-powered research tools. Participants will explore practical possibilities and potential pitfalls, with time to experiment directly with the tools. Register to attend on Wednesday, September 10, from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Complete annual training on preventing harassment and discrimination
Act now to complete the annual required training on preventing workplace harassment and discrimination in MyPath. This year’s course will take one hour and 20 minutes to complete. The training reinforces the University’s Meliora values and workplace culture. For more information and frequently asked questions about the training, visit the Office of University Engagement and Enrichment website.
2026 childcare subsidy
To address the rising cost of child and dependent care, the University offers a childcare subsidy program to help eligible faculty and staff with child care expenses. The program provides awards of up to $3,600 per year, based on total household gross income, through the Dependent Care FSA. The application window for calendar year 2026 runs from September 5 to 22. Check eligibility criteria and required materials and frequently asked questions. To learn more, join the Office of Total Rewards for a webinar on Tuesday, September 9, at noon. Send an email with questions.
Benefits survey closes on September 2
Have you completed the University’s Employee Benefits Survey yet? If not—there’s still time! Participate in the survey now so your feedback helps to shape our long-term benefits strategy and be entered in a drawing for a chance to win prizes like iPads, Beats earbuds, and more. Eligible employees received a survey link in an email on August 12. Complete the survey by September 2. Reminder: The survey is conducted by an outside consulting firm to ensure confidentiality.
Last call to register for accessibility ambassador project
The Office of Disability Resources is recruiting 20 participants for the 2025–26 cohort of the Faculty/Staff Accessibility Ambassador Project, which runs from September 8 to October 31. Course participants earn a postsecondary UDL credential from CAST, Inc. upon completion. In spring 2026, the cohort will receive further training on disability, accommodations, and accessibility. Find full details, including tuition coverage. Email Jen Prosceo with questions.
Optimize your well-being with a healthy weight
Reach your ideal weight and feel energized with support from Well-U’s Healthy Weight coaching program. Using research-based methods and expertise, get the boost you need from your coach from the condition management team. Register now.
Join Eastman Community Music School for an open house on Saturday, September 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Messinger Hall 1. Musicians of all ages are invited to explore programs, meet faculty, and try different instruments.
University employees receive tuition discounts for themselves and their dependents.
One month until Wilmot Warrior Weekend
At this year’s Wilmot Warrior Weekend, taking place September 27 and 28, participants can walk, run, ride their bikes, or join a spin class to help raise funds for cancer research and the Judy DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program. Many departments and groups at the University have formed teams. Volunteers are also needed; consider signing up as a group, whether with your coworkers or family or friends. Learn more.
As the University celebrates its 175th year, we’re highlighting some of the notable people, events, and discoveries that have contributed to Rochester’s rich history. Today, we look back at some popular sounds around Rochester.
Rochester’s 175-year history echoes with performances, concerts, and other aural delights. The Louis Alexander Palestra, which opened in 1930 on the River Campus, has hosted such notable musical acts as Simon & Garfunkel, Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, and Janelle Monáe. The River Campus is also home to the Hopeman Memorial Carillon. These bells atop Rush Rhees Library are played by students and faculty, and at concerts throughout the year.
What began as a radio club in the 1940s officially became WRUR, the University’s radio station, in January 1948—launching its first live broadcast a month later. What followed included radio shows, campus and news updates, sports coverage, and, of course, music programming. (Rock and roll finally hit the airwaves in 1965!) In 1999, the station added an online broadcasting component, extending access to listeners around the globe.
On the University’s Eastman School of Music campus, performance has been the name of the game since day one. The school and its illustrious performance spaces have brought attention to generations of influential composers. It’s also the birthplace of the wind ensemble, which made its debut in 1953. Eastman recently celebrated its Centennial, a landmark anniversary that offered events and exhibits showcasing the school’s legacy. You can dive deep into this history through the This Week at Eastman: The View from the Archive online feature, curated by David Peter Coppen, special collections librarian and archivist.
University photo provided by the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation
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