Return to: U of M Home
Vol. XXXVII No. 35; Nov. 7, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu
Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_11072007.html.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Brief will not be published Nov. 21. The deadline to submit items for the Nov. 14 issue is Nov. 9; the deadline for the Nov. 28 issue is Nov. 21.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--A new international physics lab will be built near Ash River,
Minn., with a $45.6 million federal grant.
--Mellon Foundation grant will promote interdisciplinary research
and publication through Quadrant, a new program of the U of M Press
and IAS.
--Office of Public Engagement Seed Grants: 2007-08 cycle began Nov.
2.
--People: Associate VP Kvavik honored in Norway; Humphrey Institute
professor Sam Myers elected to the National Academy of Public
Administration; five McKnight Presidential Fellows named; and
more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Twin Cities
A NEW INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS LABORATORY will be built near Ash
River, Minn., about 40 miles southeast of International Falls, with
a new $45.6 million, four-year cooperative agreement from the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office of Science to the UMTC School of
Physics and Astronomy, announced last week. The lab is the first
step in a $250 million project on the study of neutrinos,
fundamental building blocks of matter than can help researchers
discover how the universe is developing. The NOvA project will
involve about 200 scientists and engineers from 33 institutions in
seven countries. Construction is scheduled from fall 2008 to spring
2010, and detector installation will take two more years. Read more
in "U
goes small-game hunting in far north."
A GRANT FROM THE MELLON FOUNDATION WILL ESTABLISH QUADRANT, a new
program to promote interdisciplinary research and publication. With
$672,000 to the U of M Press and Institute for Advanced Study,
Quadrant will develop a new model for press partnerships that
brings humanities and social sciences scholars together with those
in the sciences and professional schools. Four collaborative groups
will be formed on design and architecture, environmental
sustainability, global cultures, and health and society. Read more
in "Crossing
the lines."
OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SEED GRANTS, established in 2000, now
fund about 20 projects a year. Improving access for low-income
students and developing leadership in the nonprofit sector are the
aims of two projects funded last year. Proposals for the 2007-08
cycle are due Dec. 7. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects
related to broad U priorities and strategic initiatives. Read more
in "Seeds
of change."
PEOPLE: Associate VP Kvavik has been appointed First Knight of the
Royal Norwegian Order of Merit; Humphrey Institute professor Sam
Myers has been elected to the National Academy of Public
Administration; new McKnight Presidential Fellows are associate
professors Marco Peloso, J. Michael Oakes, Chris Leighton, Wilma
Koutstaal, and Andrew Scheil. Read about these and more awards and
appointments in People.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
BOARD OF REGENTS WILL MEET NOV. 8-9. Agenda items include review
of policy on intellectual property and copyright and of an Area
Health Education Center (AHEC) resolution; a report from the
Faculty Consultative Committee; and recognition of Nobel Prize
winner Leo Hurwicz. Action items include collective bargaining
agreements with AFSCME and IBEW and purchase of 2001 Plymouth
Avenue N., Minneapolis, for the Northside Partnership. See the
agenda.
2008 CAPITAL BONDING REQUEST VIDEOS: A series of high quality video
presentations about 10 projects has been produced by Government
Relations in partnership with other U offices. See the videos.
FALL 2007 ASSEMBLY OF THE NETWORK OF INTERDISCIPLINARY INITIATIVES
(NII), hosted by the Graduate School with support from the offices
of the provost and the VP for research, will be Nov. 19, 3-5 p.m.,
Mississippi Room, Coffman Union. The network is an advocacy group
for institutional transformation that seeks to identify and remove
institutional barriers to the U's ability to successfully engage in
interdisciplinary research, scholarship, education, training, and
creative work. Faculty, administrators, and postdoctoral fellows
who are participants and leaders in interdisciplinary initiatives
are invited to attend and join. Learn more at NII.
VICE PROVOST AND DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION CANDIDATE FORUMS
at UMTC will be presented by professors Peter Hudleston,
geology/geophysics, Nov. 7, 2-3 p.m., 402 Walter Library; Laura
Gurak, writing studies, Nov. 14, 2:15-3:15 p.m., Ski-U-Mah Room,
McNamara Alumni Center; and Robert McMaster, geography, Nov. 19,
noon-1 p.m., 402 Walter Library. Each will be broadcast live via
UMConnect
(formerly Breeze) for U-wide participation. See also search
information.
DIRECTOR SEARCH, U-WIDE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL COMPLIANCE: The
director provides independent oversight of operational compliance
units and collaborates to ensure U employees know policies,
procedures, and legal requirements relevant to their work and to
identify and address potential compliance vulnerability. Apply by
Nov. 26. See the position.
UREPORT is an independent confidential reporting service for
faculty and staff who are concerned about a possible violation of
law or policy and are uncomfortable raising it through normal
channels. Reports can be made online at Ureport or by phone
(866-294-8680), and follow-up is possible.
PRESIDENT'S FACULTY MULTICULTURAL RESEARCH AWARD (PFMRA) supports
research on issues related to people of color, particularly in a
North American context. Tenured and tenure-track faculty whose
research focuses on issues related to people of color are eligible
to apply. Award amounts vary, up to $7,000 per year for two years.
Deadline for 2008-09: Dec. 7. Sponsored by the Office for Equity
and Diversity. Get application information
and forms.
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION (IE) WEEK will be Nov. 12-16. Events will
include fairs, workshops, lectures, an exhibit of international
library collections, films, photo contests, and a reception for
current and past U.S. and international Fulbright recipients. See
the complete schedule
of events on all the campuses.
UMORE PARK: Faculty, staff, and students are invited to forums on
developing a new community in Dakota County. 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. Written suggestions are also welcome.
A PASSPORT DRIVE for students and the public will be held during
IE Week at UMC. Nov. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Northern Lights Lounge,
Student Center. See the news
release.
THE COLLEGE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL (CIHS) program at UMC received
national accreditation at the National Alliance of Concurrent
Enrollment Partnerships Fall Conference in Salt Lake City last
month. CIHS at UMC is one of only four programs accredited in
Minnesota. See the news
release.
THE ROY LaBOUNTY CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP has been
established to promote entrepreneurship and business development
initiatives in northeastern Minnesota.The center will be created
with a generous gift from Roy LaBounty, founder of LaBounty
Manufacturing and longtime UMD supporter. It will be administered
by the Labovitz School of Business and Economics dean's office. See
the news
release.
"SOWING SEEDS OF RESISTANCE: Colombia Flowers Unions, U.S. Policy,
and the Struggle for Dignity" will be presented by Lydia Lopez,
president of a Colombian flower workers union. She will speak about
anti-union campaigns against flower workers and specific attempts
to bust Untraflores in Columbia. Brown-bag
lunch, Nov. 8, noon, rotunda, Library. Free and open to the
public.
INTERNATIONAL TASTE OF UMD, featuring sample cuisines from more
than 40 countries, will be hosted by the International Club as part of
IE Week. Nov. 10, 2-4 p.m., Hope United Methodist Church, 301 W.
Marie Street. Free and open to the public.
THE 29TH ANNUAL UMM FESTIVAL OF THE WINDS will feature guest
artist Mark Davis Scatterday, professor of conducting, Eastman
School of Music, U of Rochester, with UMM's Symphonic Winds and the
2007 Festival High School Honor Band. Nov. 9-10, performances each
evening at 7:30 p.m., recital hall, Humanities Fine Arts. See the
news
release.
INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY FAIR will be hosted by the Center for
International Programs and the Study Abroad Advising Service as
part of IE Week. Students and faculty will discuss their study,
travel, and work experience abroad; opportunities for students will
be showcased. Nov. 12, 5-7 p.m., Oyate Hall, Student Center. See
event
information.
LAW SCHOOL DEAN SEARCH COMMITTEE has selected five finalists and
will begin interviews Nov. 12. See the
news release.
I-35W BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN NOV. 1, and loud pile-driving
begins this week. Find information about the construction published
by the Minnesota Department of
Transportation or call the I-35W bridge hotline at
612-236-6901.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR DIAL-UP SERVICE: The U modem pool will be
decommissioned Dec. 31. If you use the U modem pool for Internet
access, consider using one of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
offering discounted U rates through UMart. One vendor, Velocity, will
give new customers three months of free Internet access; to receive
this offer, you must make the conversion to Velocity by Dec. 1. If
you need assistance or have questions, call 1-HELP (612-301-4357)
or e-mail modem@umn.edu.
A PANEL ON GENDER AND PAY EQUITY will examine the persistence of
unequal pay for equal work, despite decades of attention. Panelists
will be Minnesota Women's Consortium executive director Bonnie
Watkins and Pay Equity Coalition president Patty Tanji. Nov. 7,
noon-1 p.m., 31 Rapson Hall. Cosponsored by the CSBU Woman's
Programming Planning Committee and the Office for U Women. Contact
women@umn.edu or 612-625-9837
for more information. See the
news release.
WORLD USABILITY DAY IS NOV. 8. The Office of Information Technology
and the Digital Technology Center will cosponsor a free program to
promote the benefits of usability engineering and user-centered
design. Events include speakers on usability (noon-1:30 p.m.) and
Web accessibility (1:45-3:15 p.m.) and an open house (11 a.m.-noon
and 3:30-5 p.m.) at the Usability Service Laboratory in Walter
Library. See more
information.
A SYMPOSIUM ON FRONTIERS IN PROTEOMICS AND NANOMEDICINE will
feature 2003 Nobel Prize winner and Duke U professor Peter Agre,
M.D. Free, but preregistration is required by Nov. 10. Presented by
the U, Mayo Clinic, and Sweden's Karolinska Institute. Nov. 12-14,
Mayo Auditiorium. To learn more, see the course calendar or call
612-626-7600.
THE ADA COMSTOCK DISTINGUISHED WOMEN SCHOLARS LECTURE for fall
2007, "Beyond the F Word: Fashion, Dress, and Cultural Meaning,"
will be given by Joanne Eicher, Regents Professor Emerita of
Design, Housing, and Apparel and renowned researcher of cultural
aspects of dress, with special interest and expertise in Africa and
Asia. Eicher is the editor of a forthcoming 10-volume encyclopedia
of dress and fashion. Nov. 13, 7 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey
Center. A reception will follow. Register by contacting women@umn.edu or 612-625-9837. See more
event information.
STUDENT VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY, Nov. 14, Northrop Plaza, will
include a chili lunch at 11:30 a.m. (in the atrium, while supplies
last); a program with Gov. Pawlenty, Regent Johnson, President
Bruininks, the ROTC joint-service color guard, and U of M Marching
Band at 12:15 p.m.; and an F-16 flyover salute by the U.S. Air
Force at 1 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students are invited. See
event information.
MORE EVENTS include an international expert panel on "Diplomacy and
Peacekeeping" in Africa (Nov.
7); Dispatches from the Color Line: The Press and
Multiracial America author Catherine Squires (Nov.
7); "Simulations of Time and Life in Medieval Automata: Islamic
Symbolism, Teleological Mechanisms, and Ontological Difference," by
Ayhan Aytes (Nov.
8); U Opera Theatre's double bill of Kurt Weill's Seven
Deadly Sins and Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica
(Nov.
8-11); "Subtitling Abusively: The Case of Memories of
Agano" with U of Michigan professor Markus Nornes (Nov.
9); Day of Learning, CEHD's sixth annual Saturday Scholars
program for personal and professional growth (Nov.
10); "The Silk Road," a concert with pipa soloist Gao Hong
(Nov.
11); "'Check All That Apply' and Then What? Working With the
New Race Question," a seminar on federal data collection policies
(Nov.
12); Fearproof Your Life author Joe Bailey (Nov.
13); Transgender Commission open house (Nov.
13); Third Annual Minnesota Nanotechnology Conference (Nov.
13-14); College of Design dean Thomas Fisher on "The Design of
a New Bridge" (Nov.
14); and Mayflower author Nathanial Philbrick
(Nov.
14). 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.
Brief is published by e-mail and on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief.html.
Notice: Brief is the official University of Minnesota staff and faculty weekly news digest, featuring human resource, employee benefit, administrative, legislative, budgetary, event, and other pertinent information. You may choose to unsubscribe from Brief, but please be aware that if you do, you will not receive this up-to-date information, compiled and delivered directly to you, in any other University communications. To unsubscribe, visit http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Subscribe.html.