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Vol. XXXVII No. 32; Oct. 17, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu
Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_10172007.html.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Nobel Prize awarded to Leonid Hurwicz, Regents Professor Emeritus
of Economics.
--State capital bonding request approved for a total capital
investment of $308.3 million.
--Board of Regents approved Minnesota-Wisconsin reciprocity
agreement, Bell Museum plans; U Foundation reported a record year
of giving.
--UMD's second cohort begins Transformational Leadership
Program.
--Civil Service Committee is accepting requests for professional
development funds.
--People: An honorary doctorate for Maya Angelou; Hampl, Hellman,
and Sullivan inducted into the AAAS; faculty and staff Fulbrights;
U of M Extension changes; and more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Rochester | Twin Cities
THE NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS has been awarded to Leonid Hurwicz,
Regents Professor Emeritus of Economics, along with economists Eric
Maskin, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and Roger Myerson,
U of Chicago. The three developed a theory that helps explain
situations in which markets work and others in which they don't.
Hurwicz received his law degree in Poland in 1938; he joined the U
faculty in 1951. Read the
story with a link to video.
A STATE CAPITAL BONDING REQUEST of $238.9 million was approved by
the regents Oct. 12. When combined with a U investment of $69.4
million, it would give a total capital bonding investment of $308.3
million. Projects include $100 million in asset preservation and
replacement; a new civil engineering building at UMD; the
renovation of a gateway center at UMM; and, at UMTC, a new science
teaching and student services building along the Mississippi River,
a new home for the Bell Museum of Natural History, the renovation
of historic Folwell Hall, and infrastructure improvements for the
Academic Health Center's ambulatory care and learning center. See
the
news release.
DURING MEETINGS AT UMM OCT. 11-12, THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED a
revised Minnesota-Wisconsin reciprocity agreement and schematic
designs for a new home for the Bell Museum. They heard reports from
the U Foundation on a record year of fund-raising, with $251
million in private gifts, and from Chancellor Johnson. See pp.
189-200 of the Oct. 12 docket
for information about the reciprocity agreement; see news releases
about the
museum and
record-level giving. Video and audio of
the Oct. 12 meeting will be posted.
UMD'S SECOND COHORT IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
began work this month, with a major focus on improving retention
and graduation rates. Read more in "Improving
student persistence."
CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS are helping
civil service staff develop their knowledge and skills, off campus
as well as on. Apply now--funds are limited. Read more in "Even
a little helps a lot."
PEOPLE: Renowned poet Maya Angelou was awarded an honorary
doctorate by the School of Nursing Oct. 14; UMTC professors
Patricia Hampl, Geoffrey Hellman, and John Sullivan were inducted
into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Oct. 6; faculty and
staff Fulbright winners include Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, history of
science, technology, and medicine (New Zealand), Elizabeth Bradford
Lightfoot, social work (Namibia), and Deanne Silvera, International
Student and Scholar Services (Germany); and U of M Extension
announced administrative team changes Oct. 15. Read about these and
more awards and appointments in People.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL
EMPLOYEES' (AFSCME) collective bargaining agreement was ratified by
members Oct. 15 and will be presented for review and approval at
the Board of Regents meeting in November. See the
news release and information on the labor negotiating
process.
"BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESSFUL NOMINATIONS" WORKSHOP will help
participants create a toolkit for developing successful nominations
for the U's honorary degree, Outstanding Achievement Award, Award
of Distinction, Alumni Service Award, and naming of a building.
Nov. 6, 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union. To get more
information or register, contact Vickie Courtney, program director,
University Awards and Honors, courtney@umn.edu or
612-625-4805.
TEKNE AWARD FINALISTS, announced by the Minnesota High Tech
Association, include two U of M units, both in the category of
innovative collaboration. One is the Academic and Corporate
Relations Center, St. Paul; the other is Project Lead the Way, a
partnership that includes the UMTC Institute of Technology,
Minnesota Department of Education, and Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities. The winners will be announced Nov. 1. See the
news release, ACRC, and Project Lead
the Way.
"CHANGING LIVES AND CHANGING TIMES: American Life Courses in
Historical Perspective," a mini-conference sponsored by the Life
Course Center, Department of Sociology, UMTC, will feature panels
of national experts on topics from how U.S. families have changed
over the past century to young adulthood as a factor in social
change around the world. Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 1114 Social
Sciences Building, UMTC. Free. See the schedule.
E3 2007, THE MIDWEST'S PREMIER ENERGY, economic, and environmental
conference, will feature more than 40 speakers, with keynotes by
Pew Center on Global Climate Change president Eileen Claussen, Xcel
Energy CEO Richard Kelly, and POET (formerly Broin) VP of research
and development Mark Stowers. Breakout session topics will be
biofuel feedstocks, solar energy advancements, business and
industry's role in addressing climate change, energy-efficient
buildings and industries, wind energy, policy scenarios,
transportation, and more. Nov. 27, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Coffman Union,
UMTC. Space is limited; see the schedule and register now.
THE TORCH AND SHIELD AWARD--UMC's highest honor--will be given to five individuals who, through exceptional leadership, have helped to develop the Crookston campus, U of M Extension, and the Northwest Research and Outreach Center: regional extension educator Cindy Bigger, '79; Clay County commissioner Jon Evert; U senior VP for academic administration Robert Jones; educator Ardell Knudsvig; and state senator Keith Langseth. The Torch and Shield recipients and donors to UMC will be recognized in a ceremony Oct. 23, Bede Ballroom, Student Center. See the news release.
INTERIM HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES is James
Boulger, named by Medical School Duluth senior associate dean Gary
Davis. See the
announcement.
THE SATIRICAL MUSICAL COMEDY URINETOWN pokes fun at local
government, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and small-town
politics. Presented by UMD Theatre. Oct. 18-21 and 24-27, Mainstage
Theatre, Marshall Performing Arts Center. See more
information.
"GOVERNMENTS AND POVERTY" will be presented by U of York politics
professor Adrian Leftwich, codirector of the Department for
International Development's research consortium on Institutions and
Pro-Poor Growth (IPPG). His research currently focuses on
state-business relations and the politics of economic policy making
in developing countries. Oct. 22, 7 p.m., fourth floor rotunda,
Library. See lecture
information.
"THE POLITICS OF IMMIGRATION TODAY: Addressing Root Causes" will be
presented by immigrant-rights activist Flor Crisostomo and the
Mexico Solidarity Network. Hosted by the Multicultural Center; sponsored by
the Hispanic/Latino/Chicana Learning Resource Center,
Latino/Chicana Student Association, and Women's Resource and Action
Center. Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Kirby Student Center Ballroom. See
more
information.
THE 2007 SCHOLARSHIP JUBILEE to honor UMM scholarship donors and recipients, hosted by the Office of External Relations, Oct. 6, was attended by more than 200. Associate vice chancellor Maddy Maxeiner welcomed everyone, and Chancellor Johnson gave remarks. Speaking on behalf of students were Alex Carlson and Laurel Cutright; Susan Keskinen spoke on behalf of donors.
UMR HOSTED A WELCOME for Chancellor Lehmkuhle at the official
opening of the new campus, Oct. 16. About 200 people came from
across the state to attend, including Regent Simmons, President
Bruininks, Senior VP Jones, and Rochester mayor Ardell Brede.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO UMR'S GRAND OPENING at its new location.
Tour the building, learn more about UMR, enjoy refreshments, and
register for door prizes. Oct. 25, 4-8 p.m., University Square, 111
S. Broadway. For more information, contact Julie at 507-280-3104;
see also the UMR home
page.
A PUBLIC FORUM ON STEM-CELL RESEARCH Oct. 11 was sponsored by Mayo
Clinic, the U Center for Bioethics, and the U Consortium on Law and
Values in Health, Environment, and the Life Sciences. About 150
attended the presentation by Zach Hall, founding president of the
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
A NEW URBAN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH/ENGAGEMENT CENTER (UROC) will
be developed as a model for how urban research and land-grant
universities can be more strategic, intentional, and effective in
efforts to help urban communities resolve complex problems. The new
UROC model, which borrows from the successful rural Research and
Outreach Center model, will be supported with a grant from the Fund
for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) beginning in
November. The grant of $750,000 over three years was awarded to
Senior VP Jones and Associate VP Maruyama to develop collaborations
as part of the Northside Partnership. Long-term partnerships,
focused on health, education, and economic development, will be
formed to address key issues identified by the Northside community
and will be matched by a long-term U presence. See System Academic Administration
and University
Northside Partnership.
SYMPOSIUM ON TIME: The Institute for Advanced Study will host a
three-day symposium on issues raised in Harvey Brown's Physical
Relativity: Space-Time Structure From a Dynamical Perspective
(2005), Oct. 25-27, including a debate on "What Einstein Did to
Time." See the symposium.
"COMMUNITY APPROACHES TO CONFLICT FOR JUSTICE AND CHANGE" is the
title of the inaugural Creative Conversations Film Series on
selected dates, Oct. 18-Nov. 15. A local organization will host a
discussion after each film. The series begins with The Fire
Next Time on conflict in Flathead Valley, Montana, around
issues of rapid growth and talk radio. Hosted by sponsoring offices
at the U, Hamline U, and William Mitchell College of Law. See the
schedule.
MORE EVENTS include "The Sound Creates the Space: Time and Place in
Aural Art" on the art of timing in improvisational performance
(Oct.
17); "Why Were the Templars Arrested in 1307?" (Oct.
18); "The Public Life of History: An Argument out of India"
(Oct.
18); La Ciudad film and discussion (Oct.
19); "Cultures of Democracy? Germany and the USA at Home and
Abroad" (Oct.
19-20);
School of Music's Collage Concert, with 500 student and faculty
performers (Oct.
20); Habitrot 5K run/walk through the campus to benefit
affordable housing in the Twin Cities (Oct.
21); Feminist Waves, Feminist Generations authors
Jennifer Pierce and Karla Erickson (Oct.
22); "What Would Justice Powell Do? The 'Alien Children' Case
and the Meaning of Equal Protection," a Law School distinguished
lecture by long-time U.S. Supreme Court correspondent Linda
Greenhouse (Oct.
22); "Biofuels, Carbon, and Trade: Leadership Challenges for
the Interdependent Americas" (Oct.
22-23);
Bio-Medical Library open house (Oct.
23); Center for Transportation Studies 20th anniversary program
and reception (Oct.
23); "Where Does the Water Actually Go? The Mississippi River
is a Connected Bio-physical System," by professor Christopher Paola
(Oct.
23); "Navigating Conflict: Planned Parenthood's Strategy in
South Dakota," by CEO Sarah Stoesz in dialogue with Humphrey
Institute lecturer and former legislator Steve Sviggum (Oct.
24). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS.
Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication. All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu.
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