Starting July 13th, we started sending out “Mental Health Monday” messages with information from the African American graduate student therapists at the UConn Psychological Services Clinic in partnership with the African American Cultural Center. Upcoming topics will include: strategies to help de-stress, mindfulness and meditation, signs of depression and anxiety, preparing for school-related stress, when and how to seek professional psychological help, and much more. Please stay tuned for the next announcement and send an email to aacc@uconn.edu to be added to our ListServ if you are not already.  *If you have mental health concerns, please contact the Psychological Services Clinic at 860-486-4848.  

Join the Ballard Institute for our eighth Summer 2020 Online Puppet Forum Series event on Facebook. These forums, hosted by Ballard Institute director and puppet historian John Bell, will consist of discussions with notable scholars and practitioners around the world about the past, present, and future of puppetry and puppetry studies.  In a pre-recorded forum released on July 23 at 4 p.m. ET entitled “Puppetry, Anthropology, and Animation” Teri Silvio will speak with John Bell about the intersections of Chinese hand-puppet traditions, Japanese manga and anime, cosplay, religion, fan culture, and Pili Multimedia Company’s globally popular Thunderbolt Fantasy series. Teri Silvio is an associate research fellow at the Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan. She has conducted ethnographic research on puppetry, animation, design, fandoms, theater, and gender and sexuality in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, and Southeast Asia. Her most recent book is Puppets, Gods, and Brands: Theorizing the Age of Animation from Taiwan. Forums will be available afterwards on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics Department of Molecular and Cell Biology University of Connecticut   Related Proposal for the Doctoral Degree   Nadine Lebek B.S. University of New Haven, 2017   Characterizing Synphilin-1 in proteostasis and α-synuclein clearance     Thursday July 30^th, 2020 1:00 PM Webex Virtual Seminar   https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/uconn-cmr/j.php?MTID=m5c67dae1396d39f1b25599f52127db2d     Major Advisor: Dr. Kenneth Campellone Associate Advisor: Dr. Barbara Mellone Associate Advisor: Dr. Leighton Core Examiner: Dr. Aoife Heaslip Examiner: Dr. David Goldhamer

While the Ballard Institute is closed, the museum will offer short, puppet-building and craft workshops via Facebook Live (http://facebook.com/BallardInstitute/) every Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m. ET! All past workshops are available on our Facebook and YouTube. Join UConn Puppet Arts senior Elise Vanase on July 24 to make a wriggly fish puppet that glides through the air with two control rods! Recommended for ages 6+. Materials needed: egg carton, paint, hot glue, two sticks/skewers, yarn or string, scissors  

The InsurTech Initiative Are you fascinated by the world of InsurTech? CT Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is offering the InsurTech Initiative; created in collaboration with the University of Hartford and funded by the CTNext Higher Education Grant. This program was designed to grow the next generation of innovators within the insurance industry. Students will learn about the impacts of digital technology on the insurance industry and will receive hands-on training creating and developing InsurTech business ventures BADM 5894: InsurTech Venturing - A 3-credit course where students will learn from top industry professionals every week, analyze real-world case studies and business models and enhance their entrepreneurial skills. Students enrolled in this course will all become eligible to apply for The InsurTech Fellows Program.  InsurTech Fellows Program - A fellowship that provides a variety of learning opportunities for students to further engage in the emerging InsurTech space. Through ongoing participation, students will work directly with new and innovative InsurTech startup companies, receive personal mentorship from insurance executives, consultants and leaders, connect to networks and exciting job/internship opportunities and receive a $4,000 scholarship for full participation.  This course will be held virtually. Applications for the Fall 2020 InsurTech Venturing course will be accepted on a rolling basis until August 28, 2020. Apply today!  Applications for the 2020/2021 cohort of the InsurTech Fellows Program opens in October 2020 and will only become eligible to students enrolled in the InsurTech Venturing course.

Biomedical Entrepreneurship  Are you interested in life science entrepreneurship? As a part of the Entrepreneurship Life Sciences Initiative, CT Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is offering a 3-credit Biomedical Entrepreneurship course in Fall 2020. This is a multi-disciplinary course across the School of Business, Engineering, Medicine, Dental Medicine and College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.  This is open to all students at the graduate or undergraduate level. Students will gain experience addressing real life clinical issues by offering technical solutions and creating business models that will further develop entrepreneurial skill sets. Taught by industry experts, students will learn the fundamentals around creating a new business or venture within the realms of life sciences. An online application must be submitted before registering for the course. This course will be held virtually. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the start of the fall semester. Apply today!

GSCI 2310: National Parks Unearthed has been added to the Fall 2020 schedule! Course components: Online lecture (required) Distance learning discussion (required), choose from two options: Monday 11:15AM-12:05PM or Wednesday 11:15AM-12:05PM   Geologic processes that shape the Earth's landscapes and interior through the study of National Parks, Monuments, and Seashores. Plate tectonics, climate and biotic change, natural hazards and resources, and environmental conservation. Learn about the physical processes that shape the Earth's scenic landscapes and interior as told through our Parklands!  

  How does an idea travel from one language to another?   What does it mean for a translation to be "faithful"?   How is technology changing the way we think about communication?   Explore these questions and more by enrolling in the fully online course offered this fall by UConn's Program in Literary Translation. TRST 3010 - Translating Literature: Practice and Theory (#7494) is an asynchronous online course dedicated to exploring various approaches and techniques for translating literature. The course also provides an opportunity to try your hand at translating passages of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama of your choosing. Here is a YouTube link to one of our lectures from the course: https://youtu.be/sajf_XKxhGY   Join us!

The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology has two new course offerings for the Fall 2020 Semester. MCB 5076 – Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy – Online https://gradcatalog.uconn.edu/course-descriptions/course/MCB/5076/   MCB 3841W-01 – Research Literature in Molecular and Cell Biology: The Cytoskeleton in Health and Disease https://catalog.uconn.edu/directory-of-courses/course/MCB/3841W

Do you need to boost your resume? Are you tech savvy? Do you know how to create a website?   The Student Coalition for Human Rights is seeking a new Digital Media Coordinator. The position will entail developing a new website for the organization and then both updating and maintaining that website as needed throughout the year. If interested, contact us at theschr@gmail.com .

UConn Extension has collaborated with our partners, communities and stakeholders for over 100 years. We are proud to serve all 169 cities and towns in Connecticut. Extension professionals and trained volunteers engage the state’s diverse population to make informed choices and better decisions. The partnerships enrich our lives and our environment. The Highlights of Extension annual report showcases program achievements from the past year. Our Extension faculty and staff are effectively responding to the new challenges as well. They are utilizing technology and mobilizing resources to help families, communities, businesses, farmers, and other stakeholders. For example, our extension specialists and 4-H volunteers are helping distribute thousands of gallons of dairy products weekly to families in need throughout the state. There are many other examples of how the CAHNR family is responding to help our communities. Extension programs address the full range of issues set forth in CAHNR’s strategic initiatives: Ensuring a vibrant and sustainable agricultural industry and food supply Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally Designing sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces Advancing adaptation and resilience in a changing climate The Highlights of Extension annual report is available online at https://bit.ly/ExtensionHighlights and we invite you to learn more about CAHNR Extension at https://cahnr.uconn.edu/extension/.

SAVE THE DATE! Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services will be hosting a virtual Off-Campus Housing Fair on Wednesday, August 5th from 12pm-2pm. Join us to talk with local property managers. Learn more about their properties and any specials they are offering. We hope that you will join us! More information about how to register to come.

SAVE THE DATE! Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services will be hosting a virtual Off-Campus Housing Fair on Wednesday, August 5th from 12pm-2pm. Join us to talk with local property managers. Learn more about their properties and any specials they are offering. We hope that you will join us! In order to attend, register for the event here. 

As the University of Connecticut makes plans to welcome back new and returning Huskies this fall, it will be essential for all students to have access to the proper IT systems, services, and capabilities so that they may interact with instructors and classmates and complete required coursework. Together, university faculty and staff from Information Technology Services (ITS) and the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) have identified the technical capabilities that incoming and continuing students will use when engaging with digital learning systems and applications from university and non-university locations. These capabilities include: Using Gmail to send and receive email with attachments Using PeopleSoft, the student administration system and self-service portal Using Blackboard (HuskyCT), the learning management system Using Kaltura to record and edit video Using LockDown browser for online assessment Composing text essays and receive digital editing (comments, markup suggestions and edits) Creating digital presentations Performing calculations Accessing and using online digital content with graphics and animations Participating fully in web and video conferencing To perform these required functions, devices must be portable, sufficiently up to date, and have adequate memory and storage. Below are the minimum technical specifications for computers that are capable of effectively providing these capabilities: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor (i7 or Ryzen 7 preferred) 8GB of RAM (16 GB preferred) Mac OS 10.15 or Windows 10 256 GB SSD hard drive (512 GB preferred) Wireless networking adapter Camera and microphone Since device requirements and preferences may vary from student to student and by school, major, program, and/or course, ITS is prepared to support students with equipment selection information, hardware options, and a technology training course allowing students to test equipment and gain experience using university systems before the fall semester begins. UConn wants all students to be successful, but we recognize that each student’s circumstances allow for different opportunities and limitations. Students who anticipate needing assistance accessing software and/or hardware ahead of the fall semester are asked to contact the ITS Technology Support Center at techsupport.uconn.edu, techsupport@uconn.edu, or 860-486-4357 to discuss options.

The Daily Campus is UConn’s independent, student-run newspaper. The digital team is looking to hire new digital producers for the Fall 2020 semester. This position can be fulfilled remotely. Digital producers will: Upload articles to The Daily Campus website during production  Use Wordpress to lay out articles online Develop interactive web pages to enhance reader experience  Maintain The Daily Campus website in the event of a campus shutdown   Job Requirements:  Detail-oriented and able to work on a team Adaptable, eager to learn and flexible Able to work 2 nights a week during production hours (8 PM to finish, typically around 12 AM Note: You may have to stay later depending on when stories come in) Must attend training sessions and staff meetings Preferred to have prior experience with Squarespace and Wordpress Prior HTML/CSS knowledge a plus   Hours: 8.0 to 12.0 hours a week Hourly Rate: $12.00   To apply, send a cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript to digital@dailycampus.com.  

LOW BACK PAIN IN HISPANIC POPULATION STUDY – Volunteers requested Dr. Deborah McDonald is seeking volunteers to be part of a paid study. This study will explore the needs and preferences regarding lower-back pain self-management in the Hispanic population. This research is being done at the School of Nursing at UConn Storrs and the objective is to determine the success of technological interventions and self-management on lower back pain in Hispanic individuals. Participation will include: Completing questionnaires about your pain Watching online modules regarding low back pain Participating in a virtual focus group to give feedback on the modules. You will receive a $50 amazon e-gift card for participating in all aspects of the study. You may be eligible for the study if you are: Ages ​18-60 ​years Live in or around the Connecticut area Have had low back pain for at least ​3 of the last 6 months Have access to the internet Are ​Hispanic​ and ​Spanish-Speaking You may not participate in this study if you have other physical pain unrelated to chronic low back pain For more information, please email the HISPANIC LOW BACK PAIN STUDY at hispanic.lowbackpain@gmail.com Link to Announcement in Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LWjtf5VeuC-Tuhk3morbVdT5ZSrdhxJe/view  PI: Deborah McDonald  SI: Jasmeen Mohammed UConn IRB Protocol H20-0052 Approved June 26, 2020