The spring semester test of AlertUR will occur today, February 5, at 6 p.m. AlertUR is the University’s emergency notification system, inclusive of the Medical Center. In the event of an emergency, alerts are sent by voice, text, and email message. The purpose of the twice-a-year test is to activate the AlertUR system and check that you can be reached immediately. Find more information, or review your contact information for the AlertUR notification system, here; sign in with your Active Directory username and password. Review the AlertUR FAQ here.

We spotlight the scholarly and service contributions of University community members to their fields. If you have news to share about a faculty or staff member, student, or department/unit that has recently achieved a significant professional accomplishment or received a prestigious national or international honor, please let us know so we can consider it for a future listing of awards and honors. Recent award recipients include:

• David Figlio, the Gordon Fyfe Professor of Economics and a professor of education at the Warner School of Education & Human Development, has been named to the 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings.
• Melissa Heatly, a professor of psychiatry, received the 2025 School Mental Health Champion Award from the National Center for School Mental Health.
• Joseph Kalmenovitz, an assistant professor of finance with the Simon Business School, received the 2025 Brattle Group Prize in Corporate Finance at the annual meeting of the American Finance Association.
• Paige Lawrence, the Wright Family Research Professor and the director of the Institute for Human Health and the Environment, received the Society of Toxicology Education Award. Alison Elder, an associate professor of environmental medicine, received the society’s Translational Impact Award.
• Christian Opp, a professor of finance and the faculty director of the Simon Business School’s PhD program, received the Financial Research Association conference’s 2025 Best Paper Prize.
• Marc Porosoff, an associate professor of chemical and sustainability engineering, was appointed to the Early Career Board of the journal EES Catalysis, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Shorter days can drain your energy and mood. Read this week’s EAP blog to discover practical tips to boost your well-being and keep your workplace energy high all winter long. UR Medicine EAP is brought to you by Well-U, helping eligible individuals assess issues through short-term counseling and referrals.

The Teaching Center is hosting a poster session for the 14 instructor-student teams who partnered in summer 2025 on course development projects implemented during the 2025–26 academic year. Learn how these projects improved teaching and learning, especially if you are an instructor considering applying for a summer 2026 Student Course Development Project grant. Attend on Friday, February 6, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Rettner Hall Atrium.

Reaching health goals through Well-U programs not only benefits you and your well-being, but can also give you a sweet monetary perk of $150 or more. Learn more about your eligibility.

Use your free premium Care.com membership for childcare help during school breaks. Memberships are available to eligible employees to find help with child care, elder care, pet care, household tasks, and more. Find eligibility criteria and enroll.

The Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX share that the report on the Campus Climate survey on sexual assault and misconduct, launched in spring 2025, is available to review. Please direct any questions about the survey to titleix@rochester.edu.

All are welcome to celebrate at the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center today, February 5, from 10 a.m. to noon. Sample hot chocolates and snacks from around the world. Bring your friends and your appetite. Register here.

The Office of University Engagement and Enrichment announces the spring Restorative Dialogues virtual series, open to all students, staff, and faculty. Join beginning February 10 from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom to explore restorative practices, build community,  and share what’s on your heart and mind. Save the dates and register.

Unleash your creativity and bring your dream art to life in this immersive VR workshop that guides you through Multibrush, a VR drawing app. Learn more and attend on Thursday, February 12, from 3 to 5 p.m.

In a webinar on Friday, February 13, from noon to 1 p.m., Elaine Sia, senior vice provost for academic excellence, will discuss strengthening the quality and outcomes of URochester’s academic programs, research, and student success initiatives. Sia’s role is a new arm of the provost’s office, established by Provost Nicole Sampson in 2025. You can find upcoming webinars and recaps of past webinars on the Leadership Conversations page.

Enjoy a night out with your significant other, a group of friends, or yourself at “HeART to Art” at the Memorial Art Gallery on Friday, February 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. Learn more about the event.

URochester students, staff, and faculty can attend these free, introductory meditation sessions led by John Covach, the Arthur Satz Professor of the Humanities, director of the Institute for Popular Music, and a professor of theory at the Eastman School of Music. Sessions take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, and Sunday, February 22, in Dewey Hall, Room 1-305.

The Department of Psychiatry is seeking artwork submissions for the upcoming show “Finding Community.” Accepted works will be shown in the Bridge Art Gallery, located within the department at Strong Memorial Hospital. Submit artwork here by February 19 or email the gallery.

Funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute supports rigorous, patient-engaged research that addresses real-world healthcare questions. This webinar will feature panelists who will discuss proposal development and patient engagement strategies, as well as lessons learned throughout the application and implementation process. Register to attend on Wednesday, March 11, at 1 p.m.

Greene Center hosts an event today, February 5, with URochester alumni working across business fields for students to practice their introductions and take part in speed networking.

Students feeling overwhelmed, confused, or anxious about navigating the complexities of college life can join CARE, in collaboration with the Learning Center, for weekly sessions starting February 6. The group will meet every Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. in Dewey Hall, Room 1-154. More resources are listed here.

Bloomberg, January 30

Narayana Kocherlakota, the Louise and Henry Epstein Professor of Business Administration at the Simon Business School, spoke to Bloomberg Real Yield about the nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, calling Walsh “very intelligent,” “very knowledgeable about financial markets,” and “very independent.” “I think that last attribute is one that’s really important when we think about his nomination to be Fed chair because I think his personal quality of independence will lead him to foster independence on the part of the Fed as an institution.”

Cheer on Rochester’s varsity teams at home contests scheduled for this coming week. Find more information on the Athletics website calendar and social media channels. Events are weather-dependent and subject to change.

Friday, February 6

• Women’s tennis vs. Nazareth University, 2 p.m.
• Men’s tennis vs. Nazareth University, 5 p.m.
• Men’s basketball vs. University of Chicago, 5:30 p.m.
• Women’s basketball vs. University of Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 7

• Women’s tennis vs. RIT, 10 a.m.
• Men’s tennis vs. RIT, 2 p.m.

Sunday, February 8

• Women’s basketball vs. Washington University in St. Louis, noon
• Men’s basketball vs. Washington University in St. Louis, 2 p.m.