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Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_1312007.html .
Vol. XXXVII No. 4; Jan. 31, 2007; updated 10:30 a.m.
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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TRANSFORMING THE U: THE FIRST QUALITY FAIR attracted more than 800 staff and faculty members from every campus last week. Best practices and improvement projects were showcased by 53 exhibitors in a festive atmosphere. "Standardization of Services," presented by University Services, won first place; UMD and the School of Dentistry also won top awards. Other projects recognized were sponsored by UMC, College of Liberal Arts at UMTC, Office of Human Resources, and Medical School. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Office_of_Service_and_Continuous_Improvement/ Quality_Fair_generates_big_energy.html .

UMTC IS ONE OF 76 INSTITUTIONS IN THE NEW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT classification, an elective category in the Carnegie Foundation's system for comparing colleges and universities nationwide. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Office_for_Public_Engagement/ A_national_leader_in_community_engagement.html .

PEOPLE: Gopher men's basketball interim coach Jim Molinari got a law degree before his love of athletics and teaching took over his career. He's also an uncompromising advocate for student-athlete success in the classroom. Faculty and staff still have a chance to see Molinari and the team in action with reduced-price tickets Feb. 7 and 24. Read a profile of the coach at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/A_love_of_teaching.html .

AWARDS AND APPOINTMENTS: See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/people.html .

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CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

SOME OF THE NATION'S TOP BIOFUEL EXPERTS will meet at a symposium, "Pathways Toward a Renewable Energy Future," Feb. 1, 1:30-4:30 p.m., St. Paul Student Center, UMTC. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070118_3114&page=UMNN .

"DIVERSITY IN COMMUNICATIONS," hosted by the Communicators Forum, will feature VP and vice provost for equity and diversity Rusty BarcelÓ. She will describe her vision for portraying diversity on U campuses honestly and respectfully, common pitfalls and stereotypes, and how the U will measure progress and successes related to diversity and equity. The U community is invited to attend this free program. Feb. 7, 3-4:30 p.m., Campus Club, Coffman Union. Register by Feb. 5 by e-mailing james052@umn.edu . Participate via Breeze on the Web by contacting obrie136@umn.edu . For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/umcf/event .

"DIVERSITY THROUGH THE DISCIPLINES" FORUM will highlight research conducted by recipients of the President's Faculty Multicultural Research Award: Kathy Fennelly, Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs, and Helga Leitner, geography; Erika Lee, history; David Martinez, American Indian studies; and Deniz Ones and Stephan Dilchert, psychology. Feb. 8, 2:30-4:30 p.m., President's Room, Coffman Union, UMTC. This is the second of three programs; the third will be March 8. See http://academic.umn.edu/system/projects/pfmra.html .

REORGANIZATION OF THE U'S TECH TRANSFER PROGRAM is designed to reinvigorate commercialization of U research. Patents and Technology Marketing (PTM) and the Office of Business Development (OBD) have been reorganized into the Office for Technology Commercialization (OTC). OTC oversees all aspects of technology commercialization at the U through its twin centers: the Licensing Center (formerly PTM), which manages patent and licensing functions, and the Venture Center (formerly OBD), which assists in the creation of U-based startups. Both functions have been consolidated at OTC's new location in University Enterprise Laboratories in St. Paul. For more information, contact umotc@umn.edu or 612-624-0550 or see http://www.research.umn.edu/techcomm .

TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED LEARNING (TEL) GRANTS support instructors in developing, implementing, and evaluating projects with programmatic potential that improve educational access, enhance community, and/or incorporate emerging technology such as educational games, simulations, digital audio, and/or digital video. Deadline for 2007 grant proposals: Feb. 13. For more information, see http://dmc.umn.edu/grants .

SHOP ONLINE AT THE U: Looking for a gift for a birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, or other special occasion? Check out the new UMart Web site for a selection of U products. Shop online, buy from multiple departments with a single transaction, and pay by credit card. See http://umart.umn.edu and choose "U Products." If your department has a product you'd like to list, contact umart@umn.edu .

Crookston:

THE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RECRUITMENT PROGRAM new director is Sean Shin. Shin brought ESL to UMC in fall 2005, working as a visiting professor in UMC's Learning Abroad Center. The ESL program became part of the curriculum in June 2006 and has grown significantly, largely through Shin's efforts in collaboration with chancellor emeritus Don Sargeant and study abroad coordinator Rae French. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story443.html .

"HOW DO YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART?" a talk on preventing heart disease in women, by Anne Taylor, associate dean for faculty affairs for the Medical School, UMTC, will be webcast Feb. 2, 12:20-1:15 p.m., 116 Kiehle Building. Free and open to the public; refreshments will be served. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story438.html .

Duluth:

"COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: A DIALOGUE," a conference on the development of community support systems for building healthy families, aims to foster collaboration between faculty and community professionals working on issues of healthy child and family development. The keynote speech will be delivered by Martha Erickson, director of the Harris Program, Center for Early Education and Development, UMTC. Hosted by the UMD departments of psychology and education. Feb 2, 9 a.m.-noon, Rafters Room, third floor, Kirby Student Center. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/January/24.html .

SEVENTH ANNUAL NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL will feature the contemporary chamber music ensemble Zeitgeist, one of the oldest and most successful new-music groups in the country. Founded in 1977, Zeitgeist's unique instrumentation includes percussion, piano, and woodwinds. Hosted by the Department of Music. Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m., Weber Music Hall. Tickets: adults $8, seniors $6, students $5. See http://www.d.umn.edu/music .

Morris:

THE TOURNÉES FILM FESTIVAL will bring five award-winning movies from the francophone world to Morris beginning this week, thanks to the student organization Entre Nous and the French faculty. Films will run Sundays for five weeks: Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, and March 4, 7 p.m., Edson Auditorium. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=2314 .

WOMEN'S WEEK events will include an Editor's Roundtable bag lunch, Feb. 5, 11:30 a.m., Alumni Room, Student Center; Poetry Blowout, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., Edson Auditorium; Red Shirt Day, Feb. 6; Soup and Substance discussion on feminism, Feb. 7, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Oyate Hall, Student Center; discussion on women in math and sciences, Feb. 8, 6 p.m., Alumni Room, Student Center; and the Vagina Monoloques, Feb. 9-10, 7:30 p.m., Edson Auditorium. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=2332 .

Twin Cities:

DIGITAL MEDIA CENTER (DMC) FACULTY FELLOWSHIPS provide instructors with $20,000 for release time to explore technology, learning, and teaching issues; share project outcomes and research findings; and develop leadership and scholarship skills at program events and biweekly meetings. Applicants must be UMTC faculty members or academic professionals with primary responsibility for teaching courses. Deadline for 2007-08 fellowship applications: Feb. 20. For more information, see http://dmc.umn.edu/fellowship .

"ENGAGING STUDENTS IN DIGITAL WRITING" is the topic of a panel discussion including Chris Anson, professor of English and director of North Carolina State U's campus writing and speaking program, and U professors Lee-Ann Kastman Breuch, rhetoric, and Thom Swiss, curriculum and instruction. Feb. 1, 3-4:30 p.m., 101 Walter Library. Registration requested. See http://www.writing.umn.edu/lrs/speakerseries.htm or call 612-626-7579.

"WHO'S GOT THE STORY? Memoir as History/History as Memoir" conference series resumes with a panel of journalists who have also published memoirs: June Cross, Secret Daughter; Samuel Freedman, Who She Was; and Annette Kobak, Joe's War. They will appear in three events: Jan. 31, reading and discussing their work, with U professors Patricia Hampl and Elaine Tyler May moderating, 7:30 p.m, Weisman Art Museum; Feb. 1, as part of the Thursdays at Four series, 4 p.m., 125 Nolte Center; and Feb. 1, in a panel discussion, with U professor Madelon Sprengnether moderating, 7:30 p.m., 140 Nolte Center. See http://www.whosgotthestory.umn.edu/schedule.html .

MAROON AND GOLD WILL GO RED FOR WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH ON FEB. 2. If you want to increase awareness of women's No. 1 killer, wear red and gather 8-9 a.m. at the Fieldhouse to help create the "world's largest living heart." Free breakfast will be offered; speakers will include Mary Pawlenty, Susan Hagstrum, and Deborah Powell. Over the lunch hour, the Powell Center for Women's Health will sponsor "How to Mend a Broken Heart," presented by Anne Taylor, 12:10-1:15 p.m., 2-650 Moos Tower. Taylor will address risk factors, prevention strategies, and other developments in cardiovascular research; lunch provided. See http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3037087 and http://www.womenshealth.umn.edu .

BROWN-BAG FINANCIAL SERIES for employees includes "Meeting Financial Challenges at Mid Career" (Feb. 7), "Diversify Your Investment Plan" (Feb. 14), "Keeping Your Investment Strategy on Track" (Feb. 21), and "A Perspective on Today's Economy and International Investing" (Feb. 28). Sponsored by Employee Benefits, with guest speakers. Noon to 1 p.m., 215 Donhowe. For more information, call 612-624-9090 or see http://www.umn.edu/ohr/benefits/events .

"GENOMIC NUTRITIONAL PROFILING: The Ethics of Nutrigenomics" will be presented by David Castle, U of Ottawa, as the second in the 2006-07 Lecture Series on Law, Health, and the Life Sciences. Feb. 7, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Paul Student Center Theater. Free and open to the public, but registration is requested by Feb. 5. E-mail lawvalue@umn.edu or call 612-625-0055. See http://www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/news_and_events .

KICK-OFF EVENT FOR MICROFINANCE ALLIANCE, a new student organization that provides a platform for the U community on microfinance efforts to alleviate poverty, will feature Susan Cornell Wilkes, coauthor of The Miracles of Barefoot Capitalism, and a screening of Awakenings. Feb. 7, 7 p.m., Coffman Union Theater, http://www.microfinancealliance.com .

"MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE YOUNG DRIVER PROBLEM and Its Solutions" will be the keynote presentation, by National Institutes of Health researcher Bruce Simons-Morton, at the Center for Transportation Studies winter luncheon. Feb. 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Radisson University Hotel. Tickets: $30, $10 students. See http://www.cts.umn.edu/events/luncheon/2007/winter or call 612-624-3708.

BOB DYLAN'S AMERICAN JOURNEY, 1956-66, will run Feb. 3-April 29, Weisman Art Museum. Preview party Feb. 2. An interdisciplinary symposium, "Highway 61 Revisited: Dylan's Road From Minnesota to the World," will be March 25-27; watch for registration information. See http://www.weisman.umn.edu/exhibits/upcoming.html .

MORE EVENTS include Genius, a film about Charles Darwin, in the Science on the Screen series (Feb. 1); world-renowned baroque flutist Barthold Kuijken in residency (Feb. 1-4); The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to Laws of the Universe author and Oxford physicist Roger Penrose (Feb. 2); "Protest and Civil Rights" in the U Libraries First Fridays series (Feb. 2); "Building Ties: Culturally Sensitive Housing Designs for the Hmong and Ojibwe People," a showcase of student designs at the Hennepin History Museum (Feb. 4-June 3); Emerging Digerati (Feb. 5); Spanlink CEO Brett Shockley at the Carlson School of Management's First Tuesday luncheon (Feb. 6); "Democracy, Diversity, and Expertise: On the Need for a Radical Rethinking of the 21st Century Public Research University," by philosophy professor Naomi Scheman (Feb. 6); "Was Dred Scott Rightly Decided?" by law professor Michael Stokes Paulsen (Feb. 6); McKnight Summer Fellows Tony Brown, Andrew Scheil, and Tasoulla Hadjiyanni (Feb. 7); and What a Party author and political strategist Terry McAuliffe (Feb. 7). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS ONLINE at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

NEWS RELEASES are posted daily at http://www.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/home.php

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Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Gayla Marty, editor. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu . All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

Brief is published by e-mail and on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief.html. See also UMNnews, a U-wide Web publication, at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews .

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