November 20, 2020: Two-Step Login, RBHS Research Is Up, and More
Spotlight
Prepare Now for Phased Rollout of Duo’s Two-Step Security Login
In a message earlier this month, the Office of Information Technology announced the requirement to use two-step login with Duo as an effort to make the university more secure by protecting sensitive email and data. Plans for a three-phase implementation start in December 2020 with the automatic transitions of current and previous users of Duo only and conclude with the requirement that all remaining Rutgers Connect users must sign up to prepare for their transition in early February 2021. No matter what phase of the plan applies to you, all Rutgers Connect users are encouraged to become familiar with Duo by reviewing videos and other resources.
From the Desk of...
Chancellor Brian L. Strom
Dear Colleagues,
As we persist through a second wave of the pandemic in New Jersey, I want to share the good news of the steady progress we have made in growing the research enterprise at RBHS. As a critical area of our three-part mission, we have cultivated an environment in our schools, centers, and institutes to promote scholarship, innovation, and discovery.
In a word, the growth of our research portfolio has been spectacular. Since 2014, research awards (in dollars) have grown by 67 percent and, save for a short pandemic-related dip from FY19 to FY20, we have seen consistent year-over-year growth, culminating in our reported $365 million for FY20. Thus far in FY21 the news is again good; we are tracking substantially ahead of our FY20 numbers. Through the first quarter of FY21, our federal grant awards ($64 million), are up by 29 percent versus the same timeframe last year.
Announcements
Celebrating Minorities in STEM Podcast
All are invited to help celebrate and spotlight minorities in the sciences by checking out the Celebrating Minorities in STEM podcast series available online. This series of podcasts features underrepresented minorities from top academic institutions and includes speakers such as Rutgers graduate students, faculty, and staff as well as members of external institutions. The podcast is orchestrated through efforts at New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence, a network dedicated to improving autism research and clinical care. Stream and enjoy on Soundcloud today!
Volunteer to Support NJ's COVID-19 Hotline
New Jersey Poison Control Center is seeking faculty, staff, or student members of the Rutgers community with health/medical backgrounds as unpaid, in-person volunteers to support the COVID-19 Hotline, which was established by the governor and the NJ Department of Health to provide 24/7 coverage for callers and supply important medical information and advice for their COVID-19 concerns. Individuals interested in volunteering should contact Karen Greco, staff assistant at New Jersey Medical School to see about the multiple shifts available. Additionally, please be sure to share share this informational flyer with any of your colleagues or students with appropriate expertise to encourage them to volunteer, too!
Student Health Creative Assets and Messaging Available Online
Rutgers Student Health and R-Comm have partnered to create messaging including visual and written assets around COVID-19 precautions and best practices for students. These assets are available to everyone and may be shared widely. Addressing such COVID-related topics as harm reduction, core messaging (the 3Ws, how to treat your mask, the importance of contact tracers, and how to access testing) and holiday travel, graphic and written messaging samples are available from both R-Comm and Student Health.
NCFDD Membership and Other DICE Resources Supporting Faculty
Thanks to a strategic partnership between the Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE) and the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD), faculty at Rutgers–New Brunswick are eligible to claim their NCFDD memberships and gain access to their professional development resources and support. Find out more about how to take advantage of these and other faculty diversity and development resources available from DICE.
Athletic Compliance Message for Faculty and Staff
The 2020-2021 Faculty and Staff Brochure (PDF) from the Office of Athletic Compliance details Rutgers University, B1G Conference, and NCAA regulations that all faculty and staff should know when interacting with prospective and current student-athletes. Compliance guidelines and details cover a variety of topics, including definitions, reminders, and policies. Contact the Office of Athletic Compliance with any questions or concerns.
Join CCRP2 Mailing List!
Join the Center for COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness (CCRP2) mailing list to receive important announcements and information via email about upcoming events focused on COVID-19 research at Rutgers. Learn more and subscribe to access CCRP2's archived postings.
Preorder a Thanksgiving Takeout Feast Today!
Having a small Thanksgiving this year? Rutgers Dining Services' Thanksgiving Takeout Feast is now available to preorder. Anyone is invited to preorder the feast to bring home for Thanksgiving or give to a loved one, but NetID is required. Menu includes roasted turkey breast, fresh cranberry sauce, red-bliss mashed potatoes, maple-roasted sweet potatoes, stuffing, salads, deserts, and more! Pricing includes all for one meal swipe with a maximum of one meal swipe per person or $22 with RU Express or credit card. Orders must be picked up on November 25, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Kilmer's Market in the Livingston Dining Commons at 83 Rockafellar Road in Piscataway, behind the Livingston Student Center. Spots are limited, so visit their website for more information today!
More to Know
"Slackwater" Music Video Featuring Rutgers Marine Field Station Supports Environmental Advocacy Efforts
While stationed at the Rutgers University Marine Field Station (RUMFS) along the southern coast of New Jersey, Kentucky-native cellist and composer Ben Sollee wrote his "Slackwater" single, drawing inspiration from Edwin B. Forsythe Wildlife Refuge and watching the push-and-pull of the tides during a week spent perched where the Mullica River empties at the Great Bay’s edge. Accompanied by a video comprised of shots of the Great Bay/Mullica River ecosystem of New Jersey taken by Emmy Award-winning videographer, Mallory Cunningham, this unique music video is available to view online or purchase as part of the Songscape project from Sustain, a non-profit organization partnering the music industry and environmental organizations to promote environmental responsibility and awareness. Sollee's "Slackwater" joins similar songscapes composed around the nation to serve as novel sources of advocacy for public land conservation through increased public engagement created by the cultural influence and emotional hook of music. Check "Slackwater" out!
Project ECHO Launches NJ Training Center for AHRQ Nursing Home Program
Rutgers Project ECHO launches National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network (CAN), which is administered by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and supported by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as the official training center for quality, safety, and resiliency training. Learn more about what this collaborative effort entails and how Rutgers Project Echo Nursing Home CAN make a difference in communities.
Access Newsletter Now Online and Spotlights SAS Response to Crisis
The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) proudly debuts the new online version of its award-winning newsletter, Access, with its Fall 2020 edition. This special digital issue highlights the school's response to the COVID-19 pandemic across the sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences, from life-saving research to inspiring and insightful teaching, proving that the Rutgers liberal arts tradition is active and engaged even during these challenging times. Read the current issue of SAS Access online and find out more about how SAS is contributing to the common good and aiding in the recovery of the world.
Ask Us Anything
How can I receive university emergency text messages on my phone?
Rutgers community members can sign up to receive text and email alerts during emergencies from the Office of Emergency Management's Emergency Notification System (ENS). Review the University’s Emergency Action Plans for additional information and follow RUPD on Facebook and Twitter for additional updates.
What's Happening
Ask a Geologist: Digging into Archaeology
Join Rutgers Geology Museum on Friday, December 4 at 1 p.m. for Ask a Geologist: Digging into Archaeology, an online presentation with guest speaker Sophia Hudzik, a project assistant in archaeology at Montclair State University. This upcoming episode of the Ask a Geologist Series will explore the basics of archaeology as well as Hudzik's own field experience excavating archaeological sites near Rome! This free, virtual event is open to visitors of all ages and don't forget to check out the complete Fall 2020 schedule (PDF) and the recordings of past Ask a Geologist events available online, too!
RBHS Round Table Discussion
During this Round Table on Wednesday, November 23, 5 p.m.–6 p.m., RBHS Chancellor Brian Strom and colleagues will provide updates on the pandemic and RBHS’s efforts to keep our community safe and well. Joining Chancellor Strom to provide brief presentations and answer questions will be Mary O’Dowd, executive director for health systems and population health integration at RBHS; Vicente Gracias, senior vice chancellor for clinical affairs and RBHS vice president for health affairs at Rutgers University; and Frank A. Ghinassi, president and chief executive officer for University Behavioral Health Care at Rutgers Health. Everyone is invited to submit questions that relate to the discussion topic by Friday, November 20. Access and add the Zoom details for this RBHS Round Table to your calendar today!
Art Before/After Hours: Day With(out) Art
Join the Zimmerli Art Museum to celebrate Thomas Sokolowski, the Zimerli's late director through Day With(out) Art, a one-day event initiated by the Visual AIDS organization that Sokolowski help found in 1989, as as day of action and mourning in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. This all-day event will take place throughout Tuesday, December 1, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. with a live Zoom screening of TRANSMISSIONS in the morning, a program of six videos newly commissioned by Visual AIDS, considering the impact of HIV and AIDS beyond the United States and a live Zoom panel in the evening focusing on the historical and contemporary intersections of HIV/AIDS advocacy and the arts. A special emphasis will be paid to the role Tom Sokolowski played in founding Visual AIDS. The day is free and open to all, but registration is required for both the morning and evening events.
Geology Museum's Bizarre Beasts Late Night
Join Rutgers Geology Museum for the Bizarre Beasts Late Night, a special guest presentation of Late Nights at the Museum on Wednesday, December 2, 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m. This special night will highlight some of the Earth's most bizarre creatures and explore what makes them so weird with guest presenter Darcy Shapiro, a writer for the Bizarre Beasts YouTube Channel. This event will include do-at-home educational activities and a trivia game. This free, virtual event is open to visitors of all ages. Don't forget to check out recordings of past Late Nights at the Museum, too!
John W. Chambers II Oral History Graduate Fellowship Lecture
The Chambers Oral History Graduate Fellow Carie Rael’s talk will take place on Thursday, December 3 at 7 p.m. Focusing on the examination of Latinx residents' historical fight to combat gentrification, criminalization, and deportation in the Anaheim/Santa Ana region from 1942 to 2010, Rael will share findings from grassroots activists and residents who work with the Latinx community in the region. Co-sponsors of this event include the Rutgers Oral History Archives, Rutgers Living History Society, Department of History, and Office of the Executive Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. Registration required.
Register for REDCap Webinar for Advanced Users from NJ ACTS
On December 9, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m., NJ ACTS Workforce Development Core will be offering a training workshop for advanced users to gain hands-on experience with the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) platform. REDCap is a highly versatile, web-based application designed to help rapidly develop databases and surveys for research studies and is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)–compliant, highly secure, and intuitive to use. This workshop will be presented by Han Wu, a data architect at New Jersey Medical School and key topics will include: easy-to-use interface; data security options; multi-site protocol; repeating/longitudinal data collection; web-survey; field types and validation options; direct data exports; reports; double data entry; application programming interface; and mobile apps. Registration required and please direct any questions to Yasheca Ebanks at School of Health Professions.
Awards & Honors
Patrick Strzelec
Patrick Strzelec, associate professor of sculpture in Deparment of Art and Design at Mason Gross School of the Arts, is this year's recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award from International Sculpture Center, an international, member-supported, nonprofit arts organization. Each year this award recognizes an artist-educator with an exceptional combination of personal studio practice and measurable academic performance who has also excelled at teaching sculpture in institutions of higher learning.