Register to attend an iThenticate training session on Thursday, March 5, at 8 a.m. This session will walk through how to build folders and upload work, understand expected similarity matches (and what influences them), and interpret the Similarity and AI Writing Report.  Questions in advance are welcome.

Create an effective wellness routine by joining Well-U’s Fitness 101 program, beginning virtually on Tuesday, March 10, at noon. Experts from the Center for Community Health & Prevention will help you perfect your strategy for better health and energy. Register for the program.

Join UR Medicine EAP, Well-U, and Leave Administration on Wednesday, March 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m. to expand your knowledge of leave programs such as the Family Medical Leave Act, paid family leave, workers’ compensation, and short- and long-term disability. This training is for those in a supervisory or managerial role only. Search for “EAP Supervisor Series” in MyPath to register.

If terms like deductible, copay, or HSA leave you confused, you’re not alone. Join the Office of Total Rewards for a webinar on Friday, March 20, that breaks down the basics of the University’s health and dental benefits. The session will review plan options, explain key terms, and show you how spending accounts like FSAs and HSAs work. Sign up now.

In her recent Leadership Conversation, Elaine Sia, senior vice provost for academic excellence, discussed curriculum, value, and how to ensure student success.

As making arguments is a core function of a literature review, this session will discuss how to develop an argument drawing on the findings of a specific body of research. Participants will learn how to establish criteria for setting up critiques and how to draw on research evidence to support an argument in a literature review paper, section, or chapter. AI considerations will also be discussed to see how it can aid or inhibit authentic argumentation. This workshop is intended for students at later stages of reading and writing about a particular topic, but it is free and open to all. Registration is required to attend on Saturday, March 7, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Compete with hundreds of companies in and around Rochester at the annual JP Morgan Corporate Challenge on May 21 at the ESL Ballpark. You can walk or run the 3.5-mile race with the University team, open to employees and graduate students. The first 150 to register under the “University of Rochester” team will have their registration fee reduced to $15 by the Office of Wellbeing. After the first 150, the fee is $43. All participants will receive two T-shirts, one before the event and one at the event. Contact Christina Davidson with questions.

To celebrate Open Education Week, the River Campus Libraries are highlighting Zero-Cost Heroes, chosen because they have created, modified, adapted, or adopted course materials that are free to use at URochester and worldwide.

When the standard textbook for MATH 280 fell short, Ophelia Adams, a visiting assistant professor of mathematics, turned frustration into innovation, partnering with students to create an open, interactive alternative built around real code and a better flow of course content. Discover how her homegrown open educational resource replaced a commercial text, strengthened student learning, and sparked a broader commitment to accessible scholarship.

Students can join UR Title IX to learn how to take care of themselves and show compassion during hard times. Registration is required to attend today, March 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Havens Lounge, Wilson Commons.

School of Arts & Sciences and Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences graduate students interested in making progress toward their writing goals can join a Spring Writing Retreat on Monday, March 9, and Wednesday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Rush Rhees Library. Sign up here and email liz.tinelli@rochester.edu with questions.

All URochester undergraduate and graduate students can join an immersive wellness experience with soothing sounds and healing acupuncture. The event is on March 17, with time slots at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Bring a yoga mat if you have one and wear something warm.

Students can earn credit for an internship in New York City that situates their program of study within the art world. Students in the Art New York program do not need to be art majors or minors; no previous art experience is required. Applications are due April 1.

Students can anonymously order free safer sex supplies directly to their campus mailbox through Safe Sex Express, provided by Health Promotion.

Recognizing the challenge of combating food waste, Campus Dining and Auxiliary Services recently implemented a new food-waste tracking and reduction initiative in partnership with Winnow. This is one of several initiatives underway to reduce the amount of food waste generated by the River Campus, Eastman School of Music, and Medical Center.

The New York Times, March 3

The University and its Memorial Art Gallery are included in a New York Times feature on Rochester’s revitalization. The article spotlights the city’s growing reputation as an arts and culture destination, alongside a diversifying economy anchored by its universities, hospitals, and innovative companies. The museum is recognized for enriching the region’s cultural landscape through its collection of more than 13,000 works of art and robust educational programming, while URochester is highlighted as the area’s anchor higher education institution. To learn more about how URochester and UR Medicine are driving Rochester’s transformation, explore the Economic Engine and Community Catalyst report.