The University recognizes the outstanding contributions of several distinguished individuals and educators by presenting the institution’s highest honors for achievement and service, as well as awards for scholarship and teaching during Commencement Weekend 2026.

University flags on the Eastman Quadrangle and near the entrance of Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department, and the flags atop the Eastman Theatre at the corner of Gibbs and Main Streets, will be lowered on Tuesday, May 19, for Lorrie Yoos, a professor emeritus at the School of Nursing, who died on March 28. Yoos joined the University in 1975.

Eastman Institute for Oral Health has introduced an innovative, patient-centered approach that is transforming care for people with severe anxiety and complex needs: music therapy.

All University employees can add spring to their steps, get active, meet goals, and be entered to win during Bloom, Well-U’s URochester-wide wellness challenge. Registration ends Friday, May 8. Have questions? Join a virtual Q&A session on Wednesday, May 6, at noon.

Need end-of-semester help linking your course assignments, running assessment reports, or viewing your course evaluation data in HelioCampus? Join upcoming office hours for hands-on support to complete your end-of-semester assessment in no time. Whether you’re setting things up for the first time or looking to refine your approach, this is a great opportunity to ask questions, troubleshoot issues, and learn practical tips to streamline your workflow. You’ll also find help with viewing or creating reports from your course evaluation results after they become available. Starting on May 11, drop in at any time during the sessions on Mondays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and on Fridays from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information or to set up additional meeting times for support, email heliocampus.support@rochester.edu.

The Department of Surgery’s annual Resident Research Symposium will be held on May 7 at 7 a.m. This session brings in keynote speakers who share their research and spend time discussing the unique opportunities and challenges of the surgeon-scientist with residents, postdocs, medical students, and other trainees. Get the details here.

URochester faculty, staff, and students can join the Office of University Engagement and Enrichment for the next session of the Restorative Dialogues series, “Preparing for Tough Conversations.” Share what’s on your heart and mind, build community, and explore restorative practices. Register here to attend the virtual session on Thursday, May 7, from noon to 1 p.m.

Are you ready to meet the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) standards for data management and sharing? Do you understand the new template? This virtual workshop on Thursday, May 14, at 1 p.m. will give you an overview of the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing, guide you through the steps to effectively create a Data Management and Sharing Plan, and share guidance materials and a template created specifically for Rochester researchers.

The 2026 annual meeting of the Consortium for Vision and Oculomics in Psychiatry is June 25–27 and brings together researchers, clinicians, and trainees from across disciplines to explore the latest advances at the intersection of vision science, oculomics, and psychiatry. The program will feature keynote presentations, oral and poster sessions, and opportunities for collaboration and discussion. Find full details, registration, and program updates.

Register your child for the Warner School of Education & Human Development’s annual Young Writers Summer Camp, tailored to students in grades 6–12 who love to write and want to spend time with like-minded peers practicing different kinds of writing. The camp is held August 3–7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in LeChase Hall. A 10 percent discount applies for children and grandchildren of University employees and alumni, siblings of current students, and families with more than one child attending the camp. Register for camp by July 20.

Eugenio Gonzalez Flores, a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics, and Beom Mo Koo, a PhD candidate in the Department of History, are the recipients of the 2026–27 Raymond N. Ball Dissertation Fellowship, awarded in recognition of a person’s outstanding potential as a scholar.