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Vol. XXXVII No. 33; Oct. 24, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu
Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_10242007.html.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Rochester campus will celebrate its grand opening Oct. 25.
--Gift from Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community to UMTC will
support stadium and scholarships.
--Public engagement: The U is helping Minnesota vineyards develop
new industries.
--People: New Duluth Medical Research Institute director, new MMF
VP for development, and more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Rochester | Twin Cities
THE U'S ROCHESTER CAMPUS will celebrate its grand opening Oct.
25 with a public reception and tours of its state-of-the-art
classrooms and interaction-friendly common spaces. The new campus
is located in the heart of a revitalized downtown area, with a
major partner--Mayo Clinic--a short walk away. Read more and link
to video in "Downtown
digs."
A GIFT FROM THE SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY to UMTC,
announced Oct. 19, includes $10 million for the new Gopher stadium
and $2.5 million to a matching endowment fund for scholarships that
will promote American Indian educational opportunities. Read the
news story.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SPOTLIGHT: Minnesota's 2007 grape harvest is in,
and the crop and its prospects are bigger than ever. The U's
Department of Horticultural Science has always been devoted to
applied research and outreach. Now, a century of grape breeding and
public engagement is helping to develop a new Minnesota crop and
related industries--grape growing, wine making, and agritourism.
Read more in "From
the grapes to the glass."
PEOPLE: The founding director of the Duluth Medical Research
Institute is Mustafa al'Absi; the Minnesota Medical Foundation's
new VP for development is Patricia Porter. Read about these and
more appointments and awards in People.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
THE NEW COURSE GUIDE SYSTEM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR UMM AND UMTC
spring 2008 undergraduate- and graduate-level courses, including
UMTC courses offered at UMR. UMD will begin using the system for
fall 2008 courses, including its courses offered at UMR. The new
guide is designed to give students more information for making
registration decisions. Instructors and department scheduling staff
can include course descriptions, syllabi, instructor photos and
bios, and short video clips and transcriptions. Departmental
scheduling staff can access the new system through PeopleSoft;
instructors can log in for UMTC
or UMM.
U OF M 2007 RETENTION SUMMIT will provide campuses an opportunity
to share information while developing a framework to meet U
graduation and retention targets. Keynote speaker will be James
Anderson, VP for student success and vice provost for institutional
assessment and diversity, State U of New York, Albany. Oct. 30,
Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center, UMTC. See the schedule.
The registration deadline has closed, but limited space is
available; contact Leslie Zenk, Office of the Vice Provost and Dean
of Undergraduate Education, zenklr@umn.edu.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: JOSIE R. JOHNSON HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE AWARD. Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 22. In
honor of Johnson's lifelong contributions to human rights and
social justice, the award recognizes one faculty or staff member
and one student who, through their principles and practices,
exemplify her standard of excellence in creating respectful and
inclusive living, learning, and working environments. Call
612-624-0594 or see the Johnson
Award.
DIRECTOR, U-WIDE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL COMPLIANCE: This position
is now posted. Applications should be submitted by Nov. 26. See the
description
and apply online.
CAMPUS FORUMS ON CREATING A VISION FOR THE NEW COMMUNITY AT UMORE
PARK: Faculty, staff, and students are invited to share ideas for
developing a community of 20,000-30,000 people on 5,000 U-owned
acres in Dakota County over 25-30 years. Nov. 8, 8-10:30 a.m.,
North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center; Nov. 9, 8-10:30 a.m.,
theater, Coffman Union. Register online or by
calling 612-626-3976.
THE THIRD ANNUAL MINNESOTA NANOTECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, hosted by the
Center for Nanostructure Applications, will include presentations
on nano energy, devices, sensors, and materials, with top
researchers from around the country and the U, a poster session,
and a reception. Nov. 13-14, Radisson University Hotel. Free, but
registration is required--by Oct. 29 to exhibit in the poster
session and by Nov. 8 to attend the workshop. See the schedule.
MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM AUTUMN EVENTS include Pumpkin Fest
(Oct. 27-28); a screening of Bill's Big Pumpkins, about a
Buffalo, Minn., pumpkin grower (Oct. 28, 2 p.m.); Ar-BOO-retum
(Oct. 31); AppleHouse and a naming contest for the new U apple
(through October); and Scarecrows on Parade (through Nov. 1). See
the MLA.
CAMPUS LEADERS RETURN TO CHINA Oct. 26-Nov. 3 to continue
conversations and build relationships with Zhejiang Economic and
Trade Polytechnic (ZETP) and Zhejiang Forestry U in Hangzhou.
Currently, under an agreement with ZETP, UMC faculty teach and help
develop courses in agriculture business management and information
technology management, and Chinese students may attend UMC to
complete a B.S. degree. The group traveling will include Chancellor
Casey, assistant professor Jingpeng Tang, career and counseling
services director Don Cavalier, and international programs director
Kimberly Gillette. See a summary of the visit
last summer.
URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM, approved by the regents Oct. 12, is a new
emphasis in the UMC horticulture program, joining production
horticulture and environmental landscaping. See the news
release.
FALL CONVOCATION guest will be Virgil Benoit, area history expert
and professor of French at the U of North Dakota. Minnesota
sesquicentennial pins will be given to those who attend. Oct. 24,
10 a.m., Kiehle Auditorium.
UNITED NATIONS DAY forum will feature local experts speaking on
aspects of UN work: Katherine Fuller, reference librarian, UMD
Library; Paul Sharp, head, political science; Bert Minewagen,
Citizens for Global Solutions; and Michael Zlonis, physician, St.
Luke's Hospital. Oct 24, 10:30 a.m.-noon, lounge, Kirby Student
Center. An information table with a DVD on the UN is available 9:30
a.m.-3:30 p.m. in front of the bookstore, and a literature display
is in the library foyer. All free and open to the public. Hosted by
the Alworth Institute for
International Studies.
"REPRESENTATION, CURRENCY, AND CULTURE: Exploring the Social and
Symbolic Functions of Money," presented by assistant professor of
composition Ken Marunowski, will focus on the European Union. Oct.
25, 3:15 p.m., fourth floor rotunda, Library. Free and open to the
public.
QUARTETTO GELATO, an international virtuoso ensemble, will perform
music by Ravel, Brahms, Rossini, Piazzolla, and Weber as part of
the Department of Music's Ovation Guest Artist Series. Oct. 25,
7:30 p.m., Weber Music Hall. All seats reserved; advance purchase
recommended. See event
information.
THE VIENNA BOYS' CHOIR will perform medieval, contemporary, and experimental music as part of the UMM Performing Arts Series. Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., Morris Area Concert Hall. See the news release.
U HOMECOMING will be celebrated at UMR with a social and dinner featuring head UMTC baseball coach and author John Anderson. Nov. 1. See more information.
UMTC HAS BEGUN A YEARLONG STUDY OF ATHLETICS PROGRAMS as part of
the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I
athletics certification program. Areas of study will include
academic integrity, governance, commitment to rules compliance, and
commitment to equity and student-athlete well-being. Associate VP
for internal audits Gail Klatt will head the committee responsible
for the study, which will include administrators, faculty, staff,
alumni, student-athletes, and the community. This is the only
higher education certification program that focuses solely on
athletics. The U's first certification was completed in 2001. Read
the
news release.
A PRELIMINARY DRAFT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REVISED LIBERAL
EDUCATION CURRICULUM will be presented by the Council on Liberal
Education in four public forums, Nov. 6, 8, 13, and 15. Feedback
and comments are requested and encouraged. See the draft and schedule and
give comments.
U WOMEN OF COLOR (UWOC) FALL WELCOME will feature a panel of women
of color addressing the topic, "Weaving the Tapestry: Building a
Vibrant Community Across Cultures." Oct. 31, 9-11 a.m., Mississippi
Room, Coffman Union. The UWOC Tapestry Award winner will be
announced. Space is limited and registration is requested: e-mail
uwoc@umn.edu. For more
information, contact uwoc@umn.edu
or 612-625-1105.
FREE FLU SHOTS: Flu season is here. Protect yourself and reduce the
spread of flu around campus. Get a free flu shot and a cookie. 10
a.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 25, W120 Boynton; Oct. 29, Java City in
Weaver-Densford Hall; and more dates and locations scheduled in
November and December. See the full schedule and
locations.
MINNEAPOLIS STREET CLEANING began Oct. 23 and will continue for
five weeks. Watch for temporary No Parking signs to avoid ticketing
and towing. Get more
information.
RIVER ROAD CAFÉ IS NOW OPEN in the new Education Sciences
Building, 56 East River Road. The Dunn Bros Coffee location, on the
north end of the ground floor, facing the river, is open
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. See the UDS announcement.
ST. ANTHONY PARK 2007 HOME TOUR, adjacent to UMTC in St. Paul, will
include homes that have historic or architectural significance or
have recently been remodeled. Tickets $15, $12 in advance. Oct. 27,
11 a.m.-4 p.m. See the St. Anthony
Park community site.
A DISCOVERY OF COSMIC PROPORTION--a gap in space 1 billion light
years across--is the next topic in the 2007-08 Headliners series,
featuring astronomy professor Lawrence Rudnick. Nov. 1, 7 p.m.,
Continuing Education and Conference Center, St. Paul. $10. See
Headliners.
"THE LOW-WAGE WORKER: LEGAL RIGHTS, LEGAL REALITIES," a symposium
of the Minnesota Law Review, will feature
interdisciplinary scholars on domestic work, immigration,
collective action by low-wage workers, community organizing,
workers' centers, the history of low-wage workers, the
international human rights implications of denying labor
protections to undocumented workers, legislative efforts to
regulate big-box retailers, social class definition, and the
economic effects of minimum wage laws. Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.,
Law School. Free to all U students and faculty. Registration is
required only to buy lunch. See more
information.
MINI-BIOETHICS SCHOOL topics will include the complicity of health
care professionals in interrogation, human embryonic stem cell
research, and preparation for pandemics. Tuesdays, Nov. 13-27, 6-8
p.m., Mayo Auditorium. See more information
and registration.
MORE EVENTS include "Staging Thirst: Environment (In)Justice and
Dancing Unrest" (Oct.
24); "Early Modern Religious Cartographies in the New World"
(Oct.
25); Changing Hands: Art Without Reservation, an
exhibit of contemporary Native American art from the U.S. west,
northwest, and Pacific (preview Oct.
25, exhibit Oct.
26-Jan. 13); University Theatre's The Crucible
(Oct.
26-Nov. 3); Battle in the Barn: Faculty and Staff Day at Gopher
Volleyball (Oct.
27); Field Trip: Knowing Fall and Winter Plants (Oct.
28); Breakthrough Series: DIABETES (Oct.
29); "White Girls Behaving Badly: Reality TV and Gender
Politics Post 9/11" (Oct.
29); Schulz and Peanuts biographer David Michaelis
(Oct.
30); "Between Prairie and Sea: The Mississippi River as a
Continental Transportation System" (Oct.
30); "More and Better: Preventing a 2010 Workforce Meltdown,"
the inaugural event in the U's Strategic Leadership Insights
series, with Edward Gordon (Oct.
31); and "The Global Biofuels Debate: Science, Policy, and
Ethics" in the Lecture Series on Law, Health, and the Life Sciences
(Oct.
31). 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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