Excitement, anticipation, and school spirit abound as new and returning students arrive at URochester for the 2026–27 academic year.

The fall semester test of AlertUR will be on Thursday, September 17, at 6 p.m. AlertUR is the emergency notification system for URochester, including URochester Medicine. In the event of an emergency, alerts are sent by voice, text, and email message. The purpose of the test is to activate the AlertUR system and check that you can be reached immediately. Before the September 17 test, students and employees should review their contact information here and add a cell phone number if one is not listed or is not current; sign in with your Active Directory username and password. Employees with an Active Directory username and password who do not have a URochester email address may enter a personal email or phone number to receive emergency alerts. The September 17 test will not disrupt scheduled activities. Find more information on AlertUR here.

Take a mindful pause with the Mindful University Project’s new drop-in “Purposeful Pause” sessions. Open to the entire University of Rochester community, these 30-minute sessions offer a chance to slow down, reconnect, and explore mindfulness through a variety of practices.

Join virtually every Thursday from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m, beginning September 3, and in person on select Mondays from 4 to 4:30 p.m. in Douglass Commons, Room 302, beginning September 14. No prior mindfulness experience is needed, and you’re welcome to join whenever your schedule allows.

The Westside Farmers Market will host its annual College Night on Tuesday, September 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at 831 Genesee Street. Cosponsored by the Center for Community Engagement and Neighbors in Action, this event incentivizes students to get off campus by offering a free $5 token to spend at any vendor stand (student ID required), vendor bingo, and free market swag.

All URochester undergraduate and graduate students can register to join the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center for its annual LGBTQ Life meet-and-greet on Wednesday, September 2, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons.

David Huang, a professor of medicine, breaks down common causes and warning signs of heart palpitations and explains when you should see a doctor for your symptoms.