C o n n e c t i o n s THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER AND THE COMMUNITY C o n n e c t i o n s THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Throughout its 157-year history, the University of Rochester has been committed to the greater Rochester community. We are proud to be an urban university; proud to be a major health care provider in this region; proud that our students, faculty, alumni, and staff are deeply involved in community service; proud of the role we perform as employers, consumers, and neighbors in a community and region we dearly love. We have become the largest employer in our immediate geographic area and the generator of an increasing number of new businesses. This publication is testament to the many vital connections between the University of Rochester and the greater Rochester community. It bears witness to our role as an educator, a health care provider, a leader in the arts and culture, an active force in economic development, and a good citizen. We serve our community best by striving to be the most outstanding university we can be. That is why universities are magnets for the economic progress that is the key to our in- creasingly knowledge-based society. But it is worth highlighting that our ties to Rochester are vital and inextricable, and these ties are growing. In this publication we celebrate these ties: the University, the Rochester community, and our accelerating progress together. Joel Seligman, President, University of Rochester 3 UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER Dear Friend of the University of Rochester: Monroe County is proud to be home to the University of Roch- ester. The unique character and accomplishments of this world- class institution and its faculty, staff, alumni, and students are a great source of pride for our community. The University of Rochester is Monroe County’s largest em- ployer and has a significant impact on our economic vitality and quality of life. It has been a catalyst for start-up enterprises and job creation, cutting-edge research and development, and the growth of high-tech, biotech, and optics companies. The University of Rochester is also the area’s largest health care provider, offering high-quality services to individuals and families throughout our region and across the country. Monroe County is pleased to partner with the University on the Center for Community Health. Through the renowned Eastman School of Music, Eastman Theatre, and Memorial Art Gallery, the University is bolstering our community’s image as a premier center for arts and culture. I was thrilled to have President Joel Seligman participate in my College Presidents Summit. Our colleges and universities need to be actively involved in defining the vision and priorities for our region as we move forward. I thank President Seligman for his leadership, enthusiasm, and commitment. I look forward to strengthening our partnership as we con- tinue to build a great future for Monroe County. Sincerely, Maggie Brooks Monroe County Executive 4 CONNECTIONS In every sense of the word, the University of Rochester has truly come off their campus and into our community. As Rochester’s number one employer, the University is a genuine economic force, and President Seligman is an outstanding ambassador. The University of Rochester and the City of Rochester are linked both geographically and philosophically, sharing the common ideals of education and economic development. The University has helped to define modern-day health care in this country, and our city is the beneficiary of the University’s immense health care resources. In fact, Rochester was recently voted number six by the Places Rated Almanac as the best place to live in the United States. There is no doubt that the University’s presence in our community has contributed to that ranking. The Brooks Landing project, the proposed College Town, and a planned research facility are just a few examples of how the University is helping to reshape Rochester. Joel Seligman and I use every opportunity to look for ways to build on our successes. I am anxiously looking forward to seeing both the University and our great city blossom into even greater synergy. The University of Rochester student body represents the type of resident that we want to retain in Rochester—bright, commit- ted, and on the road to success. From education to health care, from prenatal to nursing home care, from jobs to housing, the University of Rochester and the City of Rochester are reaping the benefits of our strong relationship, interdependency, and collaborative spirit. I would like to thank University of Rochester President Joel Seligman and the entire faculty, staff, alumni, and student body for their commitment to Rochester. 5 UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER For the past two decades, the mer school open to anyone Warner School of Education with an undergraduate de- Education has collaborated with local gree. The Life Sciences Learn- school districts—urban and ing Center at the Medical suburban—in the research, Center is a science education selection, and implementa- laboratory working to increase tion of high-quality math cur- young people’s interest in sci- Education is at the heart of the ricula. During this time War- ence and raise public aware- University’s mission, and efforts reach ner has received eight grants, ness of benefits from science totaling $5.7 million, which and research. The center’s far beyond its campuses. In partnership have helped the school to two laboratories give students with teachers, parents, students, develop its mathematics out- experience with state-of-the-art reach with a regional focus. biomedical research equip- and community organizations, the Each new grant that Warner ment. The center also offers applied for was prompted by a Summer Teacher Institute University is expanding, enriching, and local teachers and administra- and professional development supporting education in our region. tors asking for more ongoing workshops. More than 6,000 support. students and 250 teach- All across the country, ers from area schools have educators are considering how participated in the center’s to increase student achieve- programs. ment in science—and how to Programs in science are make sure that girls, as well as just the beginning. Through boys, know they belong in sci- Rochester Scholars, Rochester ence classrooms and labs. In Scholars Jr., and Rochester Rochester, thanks to teamwork on Campus, high school by the University and other and middle school students groups, programs for students can take college courses and from preschool to high school even find out what living on and beyond address just such campus is like. Almost 2,000 needs. students have enrolled in these Each summer the Labo- programs over the past three ratory for Laser Energetics years. A yearlong, project-based holds an eight-week research program, the Young Entrepre- program for highly motivated neurs Academy, gives students high school students. The hands-on experience with Department of Physics offers entrepreneurship. programs for K–12 students There are opportunities and teachers, and the Institute for adults and seniors, too. of Optics offers an optics sum- Always Better offers non-credit 6 CONNECTIONS adult learning programs, and Sparking Wonder yoUR Experience Highlands A recent $3.8 million grant at Pittsford provides enrich- has created a partnership ment education for residents between Warner and the of this local retirement com- Rochester Diocese Catholic munity. Schools to establish Rochester The University also takes preschools as centers of excel- part in community efforts to lence. Funded by the U.S. tackle challenging problems Department of Education’s in urban education. The Early Reading First program, Urban Teacher Leadership the ScienceStart! curriculum Academy—co-funded by the capitalizes on children’s natu- Rochester City School Dis- ral curiosity about the world trict and Warner—is a new around them and uses science program that helps teachers as a vehicle to develop their become leaders for equity- language, literacy, and school based educational practices readiness. and improvements in the city Preschoolers in the school district. The Saturday ScienceStart! curriculum School, created by medical have made significant gains students and funded through in language skills, particularly an AAMC grant, helps more in vocabulary acquisition and than 100 inner-city students at the ability to give explana- risk of failing. Every Saturday tions. They have also notably morning, medical students advanced their knowledge provide two hours of one-on- through a scientific approach one tutoring in core subjects of raising questions and inves- such as math, science, and tigating possible answers. reading. “I have seen the Science- A community’s success Start! curriculum develop a depends on the education of keen interest in the world its people. Through efforts to around us and a recognition support and improve learn- that everything in our world ScienceStart! ing, the University, commu- is truly science,” says Kathy Preschoolers at the St. Monica School delve into a lesson taught nity groups, and residents Dougherty, principal at Ca- are working for the future in thedral School at Holy Rosary. by music mentor Liz Gowman. The school partners with the Uni- Rochester. “ScienceStart! is a natural versity in bringing the nationally known ScienceStart! curriculum immersion into the world of into the classroom, helping Rochester preschool children to learn science—our world—without through exploring the world around them. the fear that’s occasionally 7 UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER associated with ‘science.’ The The Power of Words are disconnected from their program uses hands-on ma- Teens have important things schooling,” explains Larson. terials to develop the themed to say about the world in “It’s as if they are crying out to unit, thus creating an excit- which they live, and the Poetry us, ‘I have something to say, ing learning environment for Slam is giving them a platform and you aren’t listening!’” preschoolers.” from which to speak.