Starting July 1, a URochester education is being prioritized by focusing tuition benefits on programs offered here. Under the updated policy, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria, tuition reimbursement for programs at external colleges and universities will not be eligible for reimbursement when a comparable program is available at the University. University leadership believes in a URochester education where the Rochester curriculum allows students to tailor their degrees to their interests; where, as an R1 research institution, students participate in innovative research; and with an integrated URochester Medicine system on campus, pre-med and nursing students have excellent opportunities for clinical shadowing, internships, and fellowships in a collaborative community, with intimate class sizes.

University leadership knows the education benefit is important, and is taking steps to implement a legacy plan for those currently matriculated into a program who would otherwise be impacted by the changes. In order to qualify to continue receiving tuition reimbursement under the legacy provision, employees must be matriculated into a program of study by the beginning of the fall 2026 semester. Legacy benefits will be available through the completion of the degree or the spring 2029 semester, whichever comes first. All eligibility criteria associated with tuition reimbursement benefits will apply to legacy benefits.

In addition, the tuition benefit is increasing for employees in pursuit of a nursing-specific program at the School of Nursing to a 95 percent waiver for all eligible participants, regardless of salary band. This change supports and expands funding for those pursuing nursing degrees. Learn more and explore the FAQs, and find the policy details here.

Nominations open Monday, June 29, for district representatives to serve on the Genesee Staff Council—an advisory body that facilitates communication on issues important to University staff and shares their perspectives with senior leadership. Find the list of districts with open seats here. Nominate yourself or a staff member by Friday, July 10. Voting will take place August 10–21. Email GSC@rochester.edu with questions.

If you book airfare using the University’s contracted agency, Town & Country Travel, please be aware that their fees are increasing starting July 1. Find full details here.

The Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center is sponsoring discounted tickets for faculty and staff to the Rochester Red Wings Pride Night on September 9. Faculty and staff can request up to four tickets at $7 now through Friday, August 21. Celebrate Pride, and watch a URochester representative throw the first pitch.

If you enrolled in the MetLife legal plan, remember to take advantage of all it offers. You can use this benefit for assistance with wills, living wills, setting up power of attorney, buying or selling a home, and more. If you’re enrolled in the plan, you, your spouse or domestic partner, and your dependent children can all use it. Find more information here.

The Office of Total Rewards hosts a webinar on Monday, June 29, at 1 p.m. to discuss eligibility for retiree benefits, health and dental insurance, Medicare, enrollment periods, and more.

March with URochester in the Roc Pride Parade on Saturday, July 18. Line-up will begin at 9:30 a.m. for an 11 a.m. start time on the corner of South Avenue and Science Parkway. Shuttles will be provided throughout the day, looping from Rush Rhees Library to the parade and festival location. Stay up-to-date by signing up here.

The next summer applied genomics seminar on Monday, July 6, will discuss repetitive elements and chromosome biology with Jabale Rahmat, a graduate student in the lab of Amanda Larracuente, the Nathaniel and Helen Wisch Professor of Biology. The session takes place from noon to 1 p.m. in Wegmans Hall, Room 1005.

As members of the University’s Baja SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) team, URochester students gain hands-on engineering experience through designing, building, and racing off-road vehicles together.

Summer travel means airports, hotels, cafés, and a lot of free, open Wi-Fi. It’s convenient, but open networks are also a convenient place for criminals to intercept what you’re doing or trick you into connecting to a network they control. Before you join that free network, University IT suggests the following:

• Treat public Wi-Fi as if a stranger can see your traffic—because on an unsecured network, they sometimes can. Save banking, shopping, and logging into sensitive accounts for a trusted connection.
• Use your phone’s cellular hotspot for anything sensitive. Your own data connection is far safer than open Wi-Fi.
• Turn off auto-connect so your devices don’t silently join unknown networks as you travel.
• Keep devices locked and updated. A passcode and current updates are your last line of defense if a device is lost or targeted.

When in doubt, wait until you’re on a network you trust. A few minutes of patience beats a compromised account.

The Guardian, June 22

Karma Frierson, an assistant professor of Black studies who has written about Black culture in Mexico, weighs in on the racism that Mexico’s Black soccer star Julián Quiñones endured, and the subsequent outpouring of support he received, after he scored in the World Cup.