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University of Rochester
Connections: The University of Rochester and the community.
This article in the Chronicle of Higher Education examines the way higher education institutions, specifically the
University of Rochester, are crucial to improving the economy of the communities in which they reside.
Undergraduate courses related to community involvement
Rochester Promise Initiative
University administrators have created an initiative to provide $25,000 a year in tuition benefits to Rochester City
School District students who are accepted to, and attend, the University of Rochester. The University is also waiving
application fees for these students to encourage them to apply for admission.
UR Offers Rochester City School District Students $100,000 Scholarships
See the plan on Rochester WHAM news
Rochester Center for Community Leadership
The Rochester Center for Community Leadership (RCCL) exists to create programs and opportunities that connect University
of Rochester students with the Rochester community. It also hosts programs and leadership training that teaches University
of Rochester students to become leaders and to give back to the community. Their motto "Learn What You Love, Give Where
You Live" reflects the importance that an educational institution give back to its community.
RCCL Homepage
See the list of Rochester's Community Partners
News Headlines Related to the RCCL
The Rochester Youth Year is a one-year internship that allows a recent college graduate to enter the Rochester community
to benefit urban youth. In addition to benefiting area youth, the program also helps to keep UR students living and
working in the area after they graduate.
Read about the Rochester Youth Year here.
Rochester Scholars provides Rochester high school students with the opportunity to explore college life and to examine
unique courses and career paths.
Rochester Scholars web site
University of Rochester Medical Center
Center for Community HealthMission: The Center for Community Health serves as an academic center, conducting research and developing
and implementing programs that address health disparities. The goal is to eliminate those disparities and improve the
overall health of the Rochester community.
The mission of Lazos Fuertes is to improve the health of Latino families in the Rochester area by providing access
to quality bilingual/bicultural health care services. In addition, Lazos Fuertes is designed to benefit the Latino community
through the training of future bilingual/bicultural Family therapists and to benefit the community through conducting research
to develop new and effective treatments.
Get the Lead Out
A partnership with the City of Rochester to reduce the community's instances of lead poisening
Community Healthcare Screenings
On several different occasions throughout the year, clinical departments offer community wide healthcare screenings
at no charge. For example during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the Department of Urology offers prostate cancer screenings
to men with no health insurance in the City of Rochester. In the past, this has taken place at the St. Joseph's Neighborhood
Center. The Department of Dermatology also offers free skin cancer screenings during certain times of the year.
Over 30 Spin-off companies Based on UR Technologies (Provost Kuncl address to URMC, 2008)
To name a few...
Virtual Scopics: Imaging Technologies
Employs over 60 people, $26 million in venture investment
funding, $10 million in contracts
Vaccinex: Therapeutic Technologies
Employs 50 people, $26 million in venture investment funding,
$10 million in contracts
iCardiac: Drug Safety Software
Employs 15 people, research alliance with Pfizer
Monroe Community College
MCC and the Rochester business community often work together to meet community goals. Here are a few examples of businesses
that are partnering with MCC on current initiatives:
Arunas Chesonis, CEO of Paetec Communications has pledged his family foundations's support to match
every dollar donated the MCC's capital campaign up to $1.5 million to build a
new fitness and recreational facility at MCC's Brighton campus. Chesonis stated that "MCC is a powerful force in our community,
delivering an impact of more than $700 million each year".
The MCC Nursing Department is solving the nursing shortage in the Rochester Community though combined
efforts of MCC leadership, area hospitals and insurance agencies, corporations. MCC leaders were assisted by the
Rochester Business Alliance (previously known as the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce), a local, not-for profit
business organization comprised of over 400 member companies providing workforce development and human resource solutions.
St. John Fisher College
A need-based scholarship program was announced last year to aid students at SJFC in both the Wegmans
School of Pharmacy and the Wegmans School of Nursing. The gift will be $25,000 over the next several years given by the Bank
of America Charitable Foundation, Inc. The scholarship will give financial assistance to low and moderate income
underrepresented students.
Camp Good Days and Special Times
St.
John Fisher College
raised $32,777 for Camp Good Days and Special Times at their 26th Annual Teddi Dance for Love
in February 2008. The founder of Camp Good Days and Special Times, Gary Mervis, is a volunteer football coach at SJFC and
lost his daughter, Elizabeth “Teddi” Mervis, to
childhood cancer in 1982. The College has raised more than $600,000 for Camp Good Days and Special Times over the past 26
years.
Buffalo Bills Training Camp
The Buffalo Bills moved their training
camp to St. John Fisher College
in 2000. The camp attracts fans from all over New York State
and Pennsylvania. The air-conditioned dormitories, food
service, and training facilities including the natural grass fields and the artificial turf stadium field are at the team’s
disposal during the camp.
The President’s Higher
Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction Award named St. John Fisher College as one of the 127 colleges and universities to be recognized for their extensive
community service in 2006-2007. President of SJFC, Dr. Donald Bain said, “Our commitment to service embodies the spirit
of community and caring that has been the hallmark if the Fisher experience for decades” (SJFC website, 2008 press release).
Students from the Wegmans School
of Nursing held a Nutrition and Wellness Fair for parents of students at three of the Wegmans Inner City
Schools in November 2007. The nursing students presented information on various topics for example, exercise options
to help prevent obesity. Dean of the Wegmans School of Nursing,
Dr. Miner believes obesity in today’s society is a big concern and with the information presented by the students, parents
can help with their children’s health and activity (SJFC website, 2007 press release).
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