.

The post Graduate student town hall on September 2 appeared first on Graduate Education.

University Health Service (UHS) will be offering free COVID-19 testing for graduate students and undergraduate students who are living off-campus beginning Wednesday, August 26. The test takes about 5 to 8 minutes, and you must show the ALL CLEAR on Dr. Chat Bot before entering the building.

Testing is not required at this time for these students, but students in these groups have the opportunity to receive one free test. Students who have already received a test at a UHS-sponsored testing site are not eligible to receive a second test. If you are currently in quarantine, you should not schedule an appointment for testing until your quarantine period had ended.

Email ldudman@uhs.rochester.edu for an appointment on Wednesday September 2 or Friday September 4. UHS will be offering additional testing dates, and announcements will be shared when dates are set.

Please include the following information in your appointment request:

• Name
• Student ID #
• Date of Birth
• Phone
• Email
• Your availability on Wednesday evening (September 2, 5 to 7:30 p.m. EDT) and Wednesday and Friday mornings (September 2 and September 4, 9 a.m. to noon EDT). Ranking your top three choices will be helpful.

Appointments will be confirmed by email by noon on Wednesday, September 2. If you do not hear from UHS, they were unable to schedule you into testing this week.

Watch for announcements of additional dates, or .

The post COVID-19 testing appointments for graduate and off-campus students appeared first on Graduate Education.

The post Public Health Ambassador program for students appeared first on Graduate Education.

Campus events

All University events need pre-approval of a Cabinet-level official prior to any significant planning or reservations taking place. Under COVID, the University is defining an event as any gathering of more than five people in one indoor or outdoor space that is not part of a class, work-, or course-related activity, and that is organized by an academic or administrative department or student organization or paid for with University funds. Event approval requests can be submitted as follows:

• Student group events: Student groups in AS&E, Eastman School, Simon School, and Warner School must complete this . Schools that are part of the University’s Medical Center campus should contact their respective dean’s offices for approvals.
• Departmental/unit events: Any person or organization in any school or administrative area requesting to host an event must complete this .

Cabinet-approved on-campus events that would normally be open to the public are now only open to students, faculty, staff and approved visitors and guests—those who are already approved to be physically present for essential academic or research activities. These events include, but are not limited to, receptions, picnics, ceremonies, colloquia, student activities, and town hall meetings. See below for more information on Visitors and Guests.

Performances—events that involve theater, music, singing, or dance—are a distinct category. No indoor, non-curricular performances are permitted, and curricular performances must be conducted without an audience until further evaluation of this guidance later in the semester. Outdoor performances or concerts must adhere to current state and local gathering limits.

With regard to capacity limits, essential activities (instruction, dining, religious services) may exceed New York state’s 50-person limit by following other specific guidelines (NYS Department of Health guidelines for higher education or religious services, University Restart Plan, etc.). Non-essential activities (all other activities and events) should follow any specific established for various events and activities (e.g. 25 percent of maximum pre-COVID occupancy of venue for indoor events; 33 percent occupancy for outdoor events), and not exceed the 50-person gathering limit. These events must also align with any ordinances in effect.

Additional event guidance

• Everyone must properly wear a face mask/covering whenever inside a building, or outside when 6 feet of physical distancing is not possible.
• Events or exhibits should not include interactive or high-touch components where individuals touch or share the same object or surface. In the event the activity (e.g. bean-bag toss) requires sharing, rigorous cleaning and sanitation processes should be used between turns.
• All event staff and attendees should remain six feet apart at all times, and any seating should employ the same seat distancing practices. Outdoor singers and vocalists should have a minimum of 12 feet of separation between one another and between themselves and the audience.
• Event staffing should be kept to a minimum, and organizers should manage registration for all events.  If tickets are required for students, faculty, staff or approved guests to attend, online purchases or registrations should be utilized if possible. If check-in/registration counters are needed, these should be outfitted with plexiglass or other physical barriers between staff and attendees. To the extent possible, attendee and staff lists should be maintained for all events to assist with contact tracing, and event organizers will confirm that attendees and staff have completed Dr. Chat Bot and are cleared to be on campus on the day of the event.
• There should be no food, drink, or other catering service at events, unless approved by a Cabinet-level leader, and eating should only be permitted in designated spaces on-campus. Events that are approved to offer catering should utilize Meliora Catering to ensure that all NYS guidelines for “Food Services” are followed.

Of note, the Memorial Art Gallery was permitted to welcome the public back to its galleries as part New York State’s Phase 4 reopening stage and with guidance from health and government officials. As part of this reopening process, the MAG adheres to specific limited capacity measures, has implemented several new safety procedures, and has closed all interactive exhibits.

Students or student groups who require additional clarification on this guidance can contact the Office of Student Activities at (585) 275-9390, wcsa@rochester.edu. Student Activities departments from various schools will have some additional event-hosting opportunities and flexibility due to their missions. Student organizers will be and trained in COVID event management, have supplies necessary for physically distant events, and tools for event registration.  Student groups originating in the Medical Center campus should contact their respective dean’s office.

Off-campus events

University-organized or –sponsored events that are off campus (alumni events, admissions activities) are discouraged. As necessary, they should follow the same guidance for non-essential activities and follow any specific New York State Phase 4 capacity limitations and local ordinances established for various events and activities (e.g. 33 percent occupancy and 6-feet separation), not to exceed the 50-person gathering limit.

Independent gatherings not using University resources should follow New York State and local guidance, be optional, and organizers should understand that many individuals are inclined to self-isolate and they should not feel compelled to attend. For these reasons, the University recommends against these independent gatherings at this time.

Campus visitors and guests

River Campus and the Eastman School of Music campus continue to be closed to general visitors and guests. This decision aligns with safety precautions in place to help limit infection exposures to those individuals who live and work on these residential campuses. Students may not host visitors or guests, including family members, on-campus during the fall semester. And at this time, no admissions offices will host on-campus visitors; this guidance will be reviewed as needed throughout the fall semester.

Only approved visitors and guests who are essential to the academic and/or research missions of the University will be permitted to enter University campuses with residential populations during fall 2020. These approved academic or research visitors or guests should have an obvious and documented relationship that clearly furthers the University’s academic and/or research mission.

Visitors

Essential academic and research visitors are those who have or will have formal academic or research appointments (e.g., visiting research scientist, visiting professor) in their host University department. Departments and units hosting essential visitors should use the standard appointment processes through their schools and, if international, Global Engagement and the International Services Office (ISO). Departments shall ensure that all essential visitors receive appropriate training relevant to their visiting role (e.g. safety) in addition to the COVID-specific requirements outlined below.

Guests

Essential academic and research guests are those whose purpose for being physically present at the University relates to the University’s academic and/or research mission.  Unlike visitors, guests do not have a formal appointment in their hosting department or unit, which is usually due to the short time period guests will be physically present at the University. Departments and units hosting essential guests must develop a mechanism to track their arrival at the University and ensure all general required trainings are conducted (e.g., safety) in addition to the COVID-specific requirements below.

COVID-specific requirements for visitors and guests

• Essential visitors and guests shall follow all federal, state, local, and University protocols as outlined in the University’s Restart Plan, including but not limited to social distancing parameters, masking, and group size limits.
• Departments and units hosting visitors and guests during fall 2020 need to ensure that they receive and comply with all University guidance for COVID-19, including the University’s COVID-19 training and daily symptom tracking via Dr. Chat Bot. The University’s COVID-19 training is in MyPath for visitors with a formal appointment, and departments should provide essential guests with a copy of the training slides.
• For guests who will visit the campus for a research study visit, principal investigators and research teams are responsible for complying with the .
• Visitors and guests arriving from locations requiring quarantine by New York State or other health agencies must adhere to these quarantine requirements before coming onto campus.

Individuals who must briefly visit campus for the purpose of supporting University operations, for example vendors and service personnel, must wear face coverings and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet.

The post Guidance on fall semester events, guests and visitors appeared first on Graduate Education.

This decision is in-line with the recent change in New York State guidelines permitting gyms to reopen.

Strict occupancy limits are in place, requiring reservations for use of the Bloch Fitness Center. Students using the facility for recreational purposes are required to wear cloth masks (no bandanas, buffs, or gaiters) at all times.

The GAC will have limited hours through August 30. Regular hours are scheduled to begin on August 31.

on the University’s Athletics website.

The post Goergen Athletic Center reopens appeared first on Graduate Education.

For undergraduates and graduate students in Arts, Sciences & Engineering, the Eastman School of Music, and for students in the Warner School of Education, spring semester classes will begin Monday, February 1, and end on May 7. Final exams will be completed by May 14. There will be no spring break.

Students in other units will follow the academic calendars as originally scheduled for the semester:

Commencement ceremonies for all units are scheduled to take place May 21 to 23.

The graduate programs in the medical school will work to accommodate students in AS&E if they have classes in the School of Medicine and Dentistry this spring.

The post Spring 2021 semester schedule appeared first on Graduate Education.

The StudyZone will open on Sunday, September 13, and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. .

The post StudyZone enrolling students for in-person and virtual services appeared first on Graduate Education.

August 23: This message was updated to include new information.

Effective immediately, there is a change to the quarantine guidance for all University students, faculty, and staff arriving in Rochester from an international location.  Replacing the University’s current guidance, the Monroe County Health Department has informed the University that New York State is requiring individuals arriving from international locations, including Canada, to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in New York state. This requirement went into effect beginning with international arrivals to the University on Sunday, August 23.

Arriving residential undergraduate students who are impacted by this requirement have been messaged, and the offices of Residential Life and International Student Engagement are working to assist them with their quarantine options. Students needing to quarantine can sign up via a form on the . Graduate students and off-campus undergraduate students are able to fulfill this requirement by quarantining in their on-campus apartments or off-campus residence, as living situations allow.

The options also exist to quarantine for 14 days in any state not on New York state’s current “” list; not travel to campus and study remotely until the New York state quarantine requirement is removed; or quarantine in the Hyatt Regency Rochester. Faculty and staff are required to self-quarantine at home for 14 days (the exception being essential employees).

If you have questions, please contact the appropriate office/individual:

• Undergraduate students: Contact Molly Jolliff at molly.jolliff@rochester.edu
• Graduate students: Contact respective school/department
• Faculty and staff: Contact the Office for Global Engagement at  travelsecurity@rochester.edu

The post Updated: Quarantine requirements for students, faculty, staff arriving from international locations appeared first on Graduate Education.

As part of the University’s commitment to provide a free face mask to students, faculty and staff on campus, the following distribution details have been announced.

These are cloth masks with the University logo. They should be washed weekly at a minimum, and immediately if they get wet or visibly dirty. They can be hand-washed or tossed in the washing machine and dryer at high temperatures (recommended). See also When Should I Wear a Face Mask?

Student mask distribution

• AS&E undergraduate residential students: a mask is provided upon receiving your room key during move-in.
• AS&E undergraduate students living off-campus: Updated 8/30 For any students who have not received their one branded UR reusable mask, distribution will continue through the Common Connection in The Campus Center (201 Wilson Commons) throughout this week. The Common Connection is open Monday through Friday from 11am-10pm, Saturday from Noon-9pm, and Sunday from Noon-10pm.
• AS&E graduate students: Updated 8/24 A mask can be picked up in the AS&E Graduate Education office located at Lattimore 206 on Tuesday, August 25 from 2-4 pm and Wednesday, August 26 from 11:30am-1:30pm. While supplies last.
• Simon Business School students: Simon’s Office of Student Engagement (OSE) distributed masks at orientation. There will also be a table set up in the lobby outside of the OSE Suite in the next week or so where masks can be picked up. Students can also work with their advisor or email studentengagement@simon.rochester.edu to make an appointment to pick up their mask.
• Eastman undergraduate students living in Student Living Center: a mask is included in the move-in packet.
• New Eastman graduate students: a mask is available in the welcome packet available for pickup at the security desk in Lowry Hall.
• Returning Eastman graduate and off-campus undergraduate students:  Masks can be picked up at the orientation table in Lowry Hall between 2-4 pm daily.

Faculty and staff mask distribution

• River Campus, South Campus, Eastman School, and MAG: masks are being distributed through department administrators.

Additional masks

University logo masks are also for sale at the Hillside Market.

The post University on-campus mask distribution appeared first on Graduate Education.

See more photos from the first day

The post Masked and ready, the Class of 2024 moves in to campus housing appeared first on Graduate Education.