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Vol. XXXVII No. 21; June 27, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu
Editor's note: Brief summer publication dates are July 11 and 25, and August 8 and 29. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication.
Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_6272007.html.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--New regents professor profile: Peter Reich, forest
resources.
--Transforming the U: Five 2006-07 President's Emerging Leaders
projects presented.
--People: Eight student Fulbrights for 2007-08, endowed chair named
for Carl Osborne, and more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Rochester | Twin Cities
REGENTS PROFESSOR PROFILE: PETER REICH, professor of forest
resources, is known for combining data sets from around the world
and finding patterns no one else has seen. Among his findings: a
universal continuum of plant lifestyles from fast (weeds) to slow
(pine trees) and a way to compute a key variable in models of
climate change. Read more about Reich in the first profile in a
series on five new regents professors named this month at
http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/The_whole_world_in_his_hands.html.
TRANSFORMING THE U: FIVE 2006-07 PRESIDENT'S EMERGING LEADERS (PEL)
PROJECTS were presented in a celebratory poster display June 20--on
faculty mentoring, UMR positioning, internationalizing the U, staff
engagement, and managing change. The 26 participants were honored
for their achievements during a year of leadership development.
Read more at
http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Office_of_Human_Resources/PEL_200607.html.
PEOPLE: U students have won eight Fulbrights for 2007-08--to
Australia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Senegal, and Tunisia;
an endowed chair has been named for veterinary medicine professor
Carl Osborne; Daniel Garry is the new Lillehei Heart Institute and
cardiology division director in the Medical School; UMTC has hired
10 new faculty members in economics. Read about these and more U
awards and appointments at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/people.html.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
University-wide:
THE BOARD OF REGENTS will meet today at 1 p.m. to act on the
proposed annual operating budget for 2007-08. See the schedule at
http://www.umn.edu/regents/meetings.html
and the news release at
http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070625_3387&page=UMNN.
MINNESOTA-WISCONSIN TUITION RECIPROCITY will continue with
modifications to address U concerns, Gov. Pawlenty announced June
22. See the governor's announcement at
http://www.governor.state.mn.us/mediacenter/pressreleases/PROD008202
and the University's statement at
http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070622_3385&page=UMNN.
MSRS CONTRIBUTION RATE INCREASE: A bill passed by the 2006
Minnesota State Legislature included a pension provision to build
up the Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) funding level. As a
result, the general plan rates for employee and employer
contributions will increase from the current rate of 4 percent to 5
percent over four years. Beginning with Aug. 1 paychecks, civil
service and bargaining unit employees will contribute 4.25 percent
of their salaries and the U will contribute 4.25 percent to pay for
monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. See also the
MSRS legislative update at http://www.msrs.state.mn.us/info/Legislat.htmls.
TEN U UNITS WON SERVICE AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT FUND (SPIF) GRANTS
totaling $469,688 for 11 projects in fiscal year 2008. The winners
include U of M Extension, Office of the General Council, Office of
Human Resources, Sponsored Projects Administration, Learning Abroad
Center, UMTC Office of Admissions, and five UMTC colleges (CEHD,
CLA, Design, Humphrey Institute, and Nursing). Applications for
next year will be due in March 2008. See http://www.umn.edu/osci/spif.html.
NOMINATE A FACULTY MEMBER FOR A DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD. If
you know a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to
undergraduate or graduate education at the U, consider nominating
him or her for the Horace T. Morse-U of M Alumni Association Award
for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education or the
Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate,
and Professional Education. Exceptional faculty members in all U
units are eligible. Nominations may be made by students, faculty,
or administrators, in coordination with collegiate deans' offices
or (at UMC and UMM) the vice chancellors' offices. Guidelines for
2007-08 nominations will be available in September, but 2006-07
guidelines and other nomination materials may be reviewed now at
http://www.irr.umn.edu/evpp/morseaward07/
(Morse) and http://www.irr.umn.edu/evpp/gradprofaward07/
(graduate/professional), or contact Robin Matross Helms at rmhelms@umn.edu or 612-626-5598.
THE U FEDERAL RELATIONS TEAM UPDATE, e-mailed June 20, is now
posted. Topics include the major role higher education will play in
the budget reconciliation process this year, research and student
aid in appropriations bills, patent reform, action against illegal
downloading of music and movies on university computer networks,
accreditation regulations, support for study abroad,
competitiveness, immigration, the farm bill, and representatives'
recent campus visits. See http://www.umn.edu/urelate/fedrel/dc_updates.html.
THE JUNE ISSUE OF THE RECORD features information on two
new enhancements to instructors' My Classes reports; the UMACRAO
conference to be held Nov. 7-9 in Okoboji, Iowa; and three new
employees in Academic Support Resources. See
http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/Services/News_Events_and_Activities/Record.html.
OPERATION MILITARY KIDS, created by U of M Extension, the U.S.
Army, and others, reaches out to nearly 15,000 Minnesota children
affected by the military deployment of a loved one. See the U of M
Moment feature at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/urelate/radio
or http://www.operationmilitarykids.org.
TWO CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL OF
PUBLIC HEALTH this summer include the national Maternal Nutrition
Intensive Course, July 25-27, Humphrey Center, UMTC (register by
July 6); and the Public Health Mini-Institute, with several course
and event options, two to four days each, July 17-27, Bismarck,
North Dakota (register by July 10). See http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/events/mnic/home.html
(nutrition) and http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/mini-institute/home.html
(mini-institute).
FOURTH ANNUAL WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH CONFERENCE registration is
now open. Presented by the Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's
Health, Sept. 17, UMTC. See the program and register at
http://www.wmhealth.umn.edu/wmhlth/profed/upcoming2/research07.html.
THE MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM AUXILIARY'S 23RD ANNUAL GARDEN
TOURS will begin with brunch (July 8) or lunch (July 10, 11) and
continue by coach to private gardens in the Minnetonka/Excelsior
area. Space is limited, so reserve soon. Download a reservation
form at http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/calendar/july.htm
or call 952-443-1400, ext. 7052, to request that a form be mailed
to you.
Crookston:
MORE THAN 200 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS of the former Northwest School of
Agriculture (NWSA) will return June 29-30 for an annual reunion at
UMC. Read more at http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story540.html.
SHAVER BUTTERFLY GARDEN, a unique horticultural display of plants
selected to attract butterflies, will be dedicated during the NWSA
reunion. June 30, 9:30 a.m., between Owen and Hill Halls. Read more
at http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story552.html.
SECOND ANNUAL GAME DESIGN CAMP will put math and physics center
stage for high school students at UMC. June 24-30. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story548.html.
Duluth:
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, directed by Chancellor Martin,
will kick off the 2007 Sieur Du Luth Summer Arts Festival tonight,
7:30 p.m. The jazzy musical is known for clever characters and the
spirit of friendship. Music director is assistant professor Ryan
Frane; choreography is by assistant professor Rebecca Katz Harwood.
Various dates and times through July 8, Marshall Performing Arts
Center. See http://www.umdartsfest.com/home.php.
PROMOTION AND TENURE of 15 faculty members was announced June 20.
They are Dalibor Froncek, Mary Caprioli, Emmanuel Enemuoh, Ryan
Frane, M. Imran Hayee, Mary Hermes, Dahui Li, Mary Ann Marchel,
Michael Pfau, Yongcheng Qi, Maureen Tobin Stanley, Joyce Strand,
Craig Stroupe, Steve Vanderheiden, and Josef Werne. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/June/20.html.
Morris:
AN INFORMAL, PUBLIC GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW BIOMASS
FACILITY is scheduled for July 27. The reactor will convert corn
stalks and other residual materials into a syngas--similar to
natural gas--that can be burned to produce clean energy for heating
and eventually cooling the campus. The facility also will serve as
a platform for UMM research partners to identify tradeoffs and
opportunities surrounding gasifying other agricultural residues. 11
a.m., construction site next to the UMM heating plant. Read more at
http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=3493.
Rochester:
CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE PUBLIC FORUMS AND RECEPTIONS continue this
week with Stephen Lehmkuhle, senior VP for academic affairs, U of
Missouri, today, 3:30-5 p.m.; and David Chang, chancellor,
Polytechnic U, Brooklyn, New York, June 29, 3:30-5 p.m. On June 25,
Allan Myerson, provost and senior VP, Illinois Institute of
Technology, presented. All in the Radisson Plaza Hotel, 150 S.
Broadway, Rochester. Resumes and the position announcement are
posted at http://www.r.umn.edu/01_about-chancellor.html
; see also the news release at
http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070620_3383&page=UMNN.
Twin Cities:
CAMPUS FARMERS MARKET WILL RETURN for the third season on
Wednesdays, July 11-Aug. 29, with flowers, herbs, and produce grown
in the Twin Cities campus vicinity. Get acquainted with gardeners
and farmers, pick up a free canvas tote bag, help yourself to free
iced tea compliments of the Campus Club, get a chair massage
courtesy of Boynton Health Service, get nutrition and fitness tips
from members of the U Wellness Collaborative, and enjoy free
outdoor concerts on Northrop Mall on select dates in July.
Sponsored by the Employee Wellness Program, Office of Human
Resources. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Church Street mall near Tate Lab of
Physics. See http://www.farmersmarket.umn.edu.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Significant delays near UMTC in Minneapolis are
expected throughout construction on I-35W between Stinson Boulevard
and I-94 until late September. See http://www.mndot.gov or http://www.511mn.org.
PARKING RATES at public UMTC lots will increase by $.25 July 1. See
all the new rates at http://www.pts.umn.edu/parkingrates.htm.
FACULTY AND STAFF ADVISERS FOR 46 individual fraternity and
sorority chapters, including 10 multicultural organizations, are
sought in a new initiative sponsored by the Office for Student
Affairs and the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life. See
http://www.umn.edu/fsl and
contact Chad Ellsworth, ellsw017@umn.edu or
612-624-7659.
STUDENT WRITING SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE DURING THE SUMMER at the
Center for Writing, face-to-face in 15 Nicholson Hall and online
with the support of a grant from the College of Liberal Arts Office
of Information Technology. See http://writing.umn.edu/sws or call
612-625-1893.
KWANZAA FREEDOM SCHOOL is being held at UMTC for the first time
through a partnership of the Konopka Institute for Best Practices
in Adolescent Health and two community organizations. More than 20
high school students will benefit from U faculty expertise and
facilities for three hours a day on two days a week throughout the
summer. Read more at
http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070606_3358&page=UMNN.
HEALTH CARE AND INNOVATION: The third annual American and German
trans-Atlantic experts roundtable will include leaders in all major
health care sectors. July 16-17, McNamara Alumni Center. Register
by July 5. Read more at
http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070620_3382&page=UMNN.
MORE EVENTS include the Minnesota International Conference in
Ethics (I.C.E.), sponsored by the Department of Philosophy (June
29-July 1); "Your Heart's Desire: Sex and Love in Jewish
Literature," a discussion with English professor Maria Damon (July
3, 10, 17, 24, and 31); "Catastrophe: Imaging and Imagining
Disruptions of Time," an interdisciplinary workshop of academics
and artists (July 6); rebroadcast of Juan Cole's April 5 talk, "The
Internet, the Public Intellectual, and the War on Terror" (July 8);
and the 15th annual SHARP conference, "Open the Book, Open the
Mind" (July 10-15). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS
ONLINE at http://events.tc.umn.edu.
Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. 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.
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