Update on new positive cases of COVID-19, and a note about reporting

There are 21 new cases to report: 13 River Campus students and six employees; one Eastman Campus student; and one Medical Campus student. Please note that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated when a new case is reported. Find the latest COVID-19 messages and updates here.

Please note: Moving forward, both @Rochester and the COVID-19 dashboard will no longer track and report new case numbers for River Campus employees, Eastman School of Music employees, and non-clinical Medical Campus employees. Only student cases will be reported on the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard and in @Rochester. The Monroe County dashboard provides daily and weekly updates about positive cases in the county and serves as a great resource for understanding the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community.

Apply for the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates

COVID-19 positive test isolation guidance for faculty and staff

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health have recently updated recommendations related to isolation periods for individuals who test positive for COVID-19. According to this guidance, fully vaccinated individuals may end isolation five full days after they test positive if they have never experienced symptoms or five days after the onset of symptoms if they are fever-free for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and if other symptoms have improved.

All employees must continue to mask and follow all other University safety guidelines. Visit the University’s COVID-19 Resource Center for more information, regular updates, and frequently asked questions.

Note: Updated guidance for students will be shared soon.

Recognize an exemplary colleague

Nominations are due by February 16 for the Witmer Award for Distinguished Service, the Meliora Award, the Staff Community Service Award, and the Lamar Riley Murphy Leadership Award. Find more information, including the new online award nomination process, here.

Emotional first-aid

First-aid kits typically include bandages, antibacterial ointment, gauze pads, and alcohol wipes—items that will patch up your body and get you back to what you were doing. But what do you do to heal an emotional wound? Check out Behavioral Health Partners’ January blog post for some tools to add to your emotional first-aid kit. Behavioral Health Partners is brought to you by Well-U, offering eligible individuals mental health services for stress, anxiety, and depression.

Tuition reimbursement application

If you are attending an outside school for the spring 2022 semester, you must submit your tuition reimbursement application to tuitionbenefits@ur.rochester.edu. The application can be found online. All applications must be received no later than 30 days after the start of the course.

Adjusted library access

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, Rush Rhees Library will maintain the following hours of operation until further notice:

• Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

All other libraries will only be available by appointment. Visit the libraries’ support and information page for more.

MARL Startup Studio information session

Join the Goergen Institute for Data Science, the Ain Center for Entrepreneurship, and the Greene Center for Career Education and Connections for an information session with MARL Startup Studio on Friday, January 14, at 1 p.m. EST via Zoom. MARL Startup Studio was created to help entrepreneurs in the Rochester community go from idea to launch using their think, build, launch model. The studio is looking for candidates for their six-month startup program.

Events celebrate Department of Psychiatry anniversary

This year, the Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Register for upcoming events including:

• Wednesday, January 19: The 5th Annual Department of Psychiatry Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Grand Rounds featuring Harriet Washington, ’76, author of Medical Apartheid
• Thursday, January 27: A virtual reception for The Bridge Art Gallery Celebrates 10 Years: Bridging Art and Mental Health and debut of the Engel Doodle collection
• “The Past, Present, and Future of Biopsychosocial Education, Care, Research and Community Partnership,” a webinar series happening throughout the year

Register online and learn more about upcoming events.

Submissions now accepted for Medical Center arts and literary journal

Medical Center faculty, staff, and students can submit artistic works in poetry, prose, drawing, and photography inspired by their experiences in healthcare or reflecting unique perspectives for Murmur 2022: Reconciliations, the Medical Center’s literary and arts journal. The themes for this year’s edition are exasperation, discord, reentry, and contemplation. Learn more and submit here. If you have questions, email urmc.murmur@gmail.com.

MS medical management program information session

Join the Simon Business School for a brief virtual presentation about the part-time MS medical management program. Prospective students will have the opportunity to learn about the curriculum and application process and ask questions about the program. Register to attend on Thursday, January 27, at noon EST.

Learn about the effects of monolingualism

• Dr. Chat Bot: Non–Medical Center faculty, staff, and all students | Medical Center employees
• COVID-19 Resource Center | Medical Center’s COVID-19 update page
• Current campus face mask policies
• Faculty and staff vaccine participation form (VPN or on-campus network connection required)
• FAQ on COVID-19 vaccination
• What to do if you or your close contacts have symptoms or have been exposed