Please be advised that the deadline for semi-monthly and monthly payrolls has been moved from Wednesday, December 24, to Tuesday, December 23. All time entries must be entered and approved by 3 p.m. on December 23. All employees, timekeepers, and managers must adhere to this deadline to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.

Updated calendars are available on the Payroll website, including the 2026 timekeeper calendar, the 2025 year-end vacation and PTO calendar, and the 2026 holiday calendar.

Have quick questions about the URochester retirement program, or need help enrolling online? Stop by the Sarah Flaum Atrium on Tuesday, December 9, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to chat with a TIAA representative.

Join Well-U and Allison Steinberger, a registered dietitian, on Friday, December 12, at noon to learn how simple dietary shifts can help you stay focused on your health goals during the holidays. Register now.

Faculty and staff are invited to the River Campus winter social on Thursday, December 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons. Enjoy food and beverages, live music, and raffles.

The December newsletter includes tips for building inclusive courses, creating tests in Blackboard, and information about the updates that were made to Blackboard in November and December.

When your regular care falls through, let backup care be your holiday hero for winter breaks and early releases, after-school care gaps, and caregiver illness or vacations. URochester offers eligible faculty and staff access to 10 days of subsidized backup care through Care.com. Visit the Family Care web page for eligibility criteria and to enroll.

As snow arrives and daylight hours shorten, Transportation and Logistics and Environmental Health and Safety offer tips to drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to stay safe on and around URochester campuses. To report hazardous conditions, call the snow removal hotline at (585) 275-0000. To report injuries, employees should file an incident report and contact Environmental Health and Safety at (585) 275-3241. You can also find printable posters for departments, digital slides for displays, and general winter weather tips and articles.

Campus Dining announces the opening of two new dining locations on the River Campus: Blue Cactus and Saffron & Stone. Both locations will officially open their doors to students and faculty on January 20. Blue Cactus is a build-your-own Tex-Mex concept offering, while Saffron & Stone introduces a new bowl-focused dining experience. Please note that Saffron & Stone meals feature halal-certified proteins, but are prepared in a shared kitchen environment that is not halal-certified.

All URochester graduate students and postdoctoral fellows can join the Teaching Center’s spring teaching book club to learn more about and share effective, evidence-based, and learner-centered teaching practices.

Students can register to join a Zoom information session on Tuesday, December 9, covering the program’s structure, costs, and application process

Students who are planning to stay on campus for winter break can find information on the winter break website and browse the winter activities website, which will be updated regularly as events are added.