The University will welcome families, friends, and alumni to Rochester to honor the achievements of the Class of 2026 and honorary guests at Commencement Weekend, Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17. The 176th Commencement Ceremony starts at 8:45 a.m. on May 15 in Fauver Stadium at the Brian F. Prince Athletic Complex on the River Campus. The weekend features celebrations, memorable events, and many opportunities to individually recognize graduates and express gratitude to those who have supported and inspired the Class of 2026.

As part of For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester, Govind P. Agrawal—the Dr. James C. Wyant Professor of Optics and a world leader in optical communications—and Anne Agrawal ’93W (MS) have established an endowed early career professorship at the University’s Institute of Optics. Their generous $600,000 gift establishes the Dr. Govind Agrawal and Anne Agrawal Professorship in Optics and will be amplified by an additional $900,000 from the Wyant Optics Challenge.

Even for medications that aren’t safe during pregnancy, there often are good alternatives. Stacy Sun, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, shares what’s safe, what’s not, and when to get your obstetrician involved.

Are you a faculty member with questions or feedback about the faculty affairs annual report? Join Kevin McFarland, vice provost for faculty affairs, for a coffee listening hour in Wallis Hall, Room 107, on Monday, February 9, from 2 to 3 p.m. or on Monday, February 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. Stay tuned for a third session at the Eastman School of Music.

Discover how you can support your gastrointestinal health with Elisabeth Eisnor, a registered dietitian, on Tuesday, February 10, at noon. Register here.

Are you utilizing employee tuition benefits this spring for courses at another college or university? If so, submit an application in myURHR Workday within 30 days of the start of the course. Log in to myURHR Workday, click on “Benefits and Pay” on the homepage, and then click on “Employee Tuition Reimbursement Application” under Suggested Links to start your application. Find more information on tuition benefits here.

Get an overview of the University’s 403(b) retirement program, learn how to create a retirement strategy, update your account with TIAA, and utilize the useful tools provided by TIAA in a live webinar on Wednesday, February 11, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Reserve your spot.

The Office of Total Rewards hosts a personal finance webinar on February 25, from noon to 1 p.m., to help you assess your current financial situation and take action toward financial wellness. Securian Financial will break down simple steps to help you recognize challenges, set goals, and take charge of your personal finances and savings. Register to attend.

As part of an ongoing commitment to protecting payment card data and maintaining compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), all faculty and staff involved in handling, processing, or managing payment card information are required to do the following.

• Complete the annual PCI compliance training. Search for the “What is PCI” training in MyPath and complete the course at your earliest convenience.
• Review the University’s PCI Policy, which outlines procedures for protecting cardholder data, defines roles and responsibilities, and details safeguards to follow to remain compliant with PCI DSS.

Contact Merchant_Support@ur.rochester.edu with questions.

Join the Memorial Art Gallery for “Black History Month Celebration Day: A Salute to Black Excellence” on Sunday, February 8, from noon to 4 p.m. Experience jazz, the blues, hip hop, and more in the Pythodd Tribute Music Lounge, as well as storytelling, dance and vocal performances, art making, and more. This event is free to attend.

The Warner School of Education & Human Development’s monthlong social media campaign celebrates the impact of reading aloud on children’s literacy.

Share breakfast with Erin Thompson, executive director of the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, on Tuesday, February 10, from 8 to 9 a.m. Learn more about the institute’s programs and plans.

Attend a “Todd Talk” conversation with actor Embeth Davidtz as she discusses her acting career, and the work and challenges behind her movie directorial debut, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight. Registration is required to attend via Zoom on Monday, February 9, at 5 p.m. Registrants will receive a separate email on the day of the talk with the applicable Zoom link.

This workshop on Thursday, February 5, and co-led by Digital Media Studies and the Greene Center, will focus on crafting a résumé that balances powerful content with compelling design.

Students can join the Writing Anxiety Group through the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program. The meeting time will be determined by group members’ preferences. Call (585) 273-3584 or email the group facilitator to register.

All staff and faculty are invited to attend the Green Reps’ winter event, Mystery Date with a Book, on Tuesday, February 10, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Rush Rhees Library. Sip warm beverages while swapping gently used books. Learn more and sign up.

The eight-week Campus Race to Zero Waste competition, in which colleges and universities nationwide promote waste-reduction activities to their campus communities, begins this week. Help URochester score big for the planet by rethinking your consumption habits and taking extra effort to recycle in February and March. Refresh your knowledge of reuse programs and recycling rules on campus, and contact the Sustainability Office with questions.