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Vol. XXXVII No. 40; Dec. 19, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu
Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_12192007.html.
Editor's note: Brief now takes a winter break. The next issue will be published Jan. 9. The deadline to submit items is noon on Friday, Jan. 4.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Faculty tenure policy revisions lead U accomplishments of
2007.
--Board of Regents review: Increases in research funding;
undergraduate education update.
--UMD Transformational Leadership Program: Developing emotional
competence.
--People: New Law School dean; new directors for the BioTechnology
Institute and Institute for Health Informatics; Tapestry Award
winner; and more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Twin Cities
FACULTY TENURE POLICY REVISIONS, approved by the Board of
Regents this year and implemented in October, are among the U's top
accomplishments of 2007. In a process led by the faculty, the U
gained a policy with criteria and standards more rigorous and
explicit and with greater flexibility for work-life balance.
Regents professor Tom Clayton, who chairs the Academic Freedom and
Tenure Committee, and vice provost for faculty and academic affairs
Arlene Carney talked this month about the process and results. Read
more in "Tenure
policy revised in historic effort."
BOARD OF REGENTS: The U won $595 million in research expenditures
and awards in 2006, an annual increase of 8.4 percent that moved
the institution from 10th to 9th among public research
universities, VP Mulcahy reported Friday. On Thursday, Vice Provost
Swan delivered a report on undergraduate initiatives to the
Educational Planning and Policy committee, including a
demonstration of the Graduation Planner, one of several tools to
encourage retention and timely graduation. At UMTC, graduation
rates increased in 2007 to 44.9 percent in four years, 60.5 percent
in five years, and 63.6 percent in six years. See the news release
about
research funding and read more about
graduation rates; see also the December meeting materials,
including video of the full board meeting Dec. 14.
UMD TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (TLP): EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE
was the theme of a workshop for current and former participants in
the UMD TLP last week. "Managing Yourself and Leading Others" will
be followed by personal assistance and coaching to create and carry
out a competency development plan. Read more in "Emotional
competence and breakthrough leadership."
PEOPLE: New dean of the Law School is David Wippman, a leading
scholar in international law and human rights at Cornell U; new
director of the BioTechnology Institute is regents professor Ted
Davis; director of the Institute for Health Informatics is Julie
Jacko from Georgia Tech and Emory U; the 2007 Tapestry Award winner
for promoting campus diversity is Silvia Álvarez, creator of
a bilingual show on UMTC's RadioK. Read about these and more awards
and appointments in People.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
University-wide:
STANDARD BUSINESS MILEAGE RATE CHANGES FOR 2008: The Internal
Revenue Service announced the following changes, effective Jan.
1:
--The standard business mileage reimbursement rate for personal
vehicle use on approved U business increases from 48.5 cents to
50.5 cents per mile. See the Rates section in Appendix P of the U
policy,
Traveling on University Business.
--The standard mileage rate for moving expenses decreases from 20
to 19 cents per mile.
--Business mileage incurred in 2007 but reimbursed in 2008 must use
the 2007 mileage rate.
The Employee Expense Worksheet (UM 1612) accommodates changes to
the mileage rates. See also
Financial Policies.
U OF KENTUCKY PRESIDENT WILL HEADLINE THE SECOND ANNUAL QUALITY
FAIR: Lee Todd, Jr., who developed a business plan to drive
improvements at the U of Kentucky, will give the keynote address.
Staff and faculty will present posters to share improvement
projects for teaching, learning, research, and work. Best practices
and projects-in-process will be highlighted. Prizes will be raffled
throughout the day, with a grand prize iPhone. Jan. 31, 10 a.m.-3
p.m., McNamara Alumni Center, UMTC. Sponsored by the Office of
Service and Continuous Improvement and the Improvement Liaison
Group. Register
and reserve a box lunch.
THE ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER (AHC) ACADEMY FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE
SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING AND LEARNING confers upon four AHC faculty
per year the highest recognition of excellence in the AHC
educational mission. It includes a salary/teaching augmentation of
$10,000 for five consecutive years. Nominations are encouraged from
all AHC colleges and departments. Deadline: Feb. 22. Send to Sara
Balick, U Senate Office, 424 Morrill Hall. See nomination
requirements.
GRANT-IN-AID OF RESEARCH, ARTISTRY, AND SCHOLARSHIP for faculty
members: The spring 2008 application deadline is Feb. 4. See the
request
for proposals.
FACULTY-LED SHORT-TERM STUDY ABROAD WORKSHOPS prepare faculty and
staff members who are planning to lead or administer a short-term
international program during the 2007-08 or 2008-09 academic year.
Topics will include benefits and challenges, predeparture
orientation, on-site support, health and safety, emergency
procedures, group dynamics, and student conduct; presenters will
include faculty who have led programs. Feb. 7, 9-11 a.m., West Bank
(room to be determined); register by Feb. 1 by contacting Mandi
Miller, mill3214@umn.edu or
612-625-8829. To request a one-to-one meeting about your
faculty-led short-term study abroad program in addition to the
workshop, call 612-626-9000. Sponsored by the Learning Abroad
Center.
A LIST OF TIPS FOR HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE is now
available. See the Office of Human
Resources and download the tip
sheet (PDF).
PLANT INFORMATION ONLINE (PIO), one of the world's largest database
resources for botanical and horticultural information, is available
free to the public. Sponsored by U Libraries and the Minnesota
Landscape Arboretum. See the PIO.
MINNESOTA TIGER SUMMIT: PREPARING FOR 2010. The Technology
Informatics Guiding Education Reform (TIGER) summit is an
opportunity to be part of Minnesota's overall strategy to prepare
health care providers to use interoperable electronic health
records, soon to be required by law. Jan. 11, Earle Brown Heritage
Center. See more
information or register.
DELIVERY OF A CAREER-ORIENTED ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE,
beginning in fall 2008, was approved by the regents Dec. 14. The
program will offer a solid background in the social sciences and an
interdisciplinary focus on human resource development skills geared
for multiple employment settings. The B.S. offers emphases in
industrial and production management as well as consumer service.
Read the news
release.
THE FIRST ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL HORSE SHOW was hosted by the equine
science program Dec. 14. Students in riding classes showcased
skills, knowledge, and horsemanship developed through the semester.
Students in the training and showing class demonstrated skills and
abilities in training young horses. See equine
science, one of UMC's top majors.
AN ENDOWMENT TO HONOR the legacy of longtime Crookston resident and
area baseball coach Jim Karn has been created by the Office of
Development and Alumni Relations. It will provide ongoing financial
support for future generations of UMC baseball players. Read the
news
release.
HOLIDAY TWILIGHT TOURS AT GLENSHEEN HISTORIC CONGDON ESTATE
include, on the first floor, a glimpse of a Congdon Christmas circa
1900 and, upstairs, a trip through time, with each room reflecting
a decade, from the homemade charm of the '20s to the nostalgic
kitsch of the '50s. Dec. 27-31, 2-6 p.m. See the calendar.
THE ALWORTH PLANETARIUM STAFF presents "Star of Bethlehem," a
dark-sky presentation and discussion. Dec. 19 and 22, 7 p.m.,
Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium. Free and open to the public. See
the planetarium.
UMM JAZZERS WILL TOUR NEW ORLEANS during winter break, under the
direction of James "Doc" Carlson. They will perform at the French
Market, Jan. 17, noon; Jack's Brewery, Jan. 18, noon; and the
Children's Museum, Jan. 19, 1 p.m. See the jazz
ensemble.
"FROM MOLECULAR DYNAMICS TO HEDGE FUND MATHEMATICS: The Career of a
UMM Physics Graduate" will be the title of the Joseph J. Latterell
Visiting Alumnus Program Lecture by Jeff Ulrich, '95. Jan. 31, 7:30
p.m., 2950 Science Building.
SEARCH: DIRECTOR OF DISABILITY SERVICES. The Office of the Vice
President and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity has launched a
national search for the next director of Disability Services, one
of the nation's leaders in providing progressive services to people
with disabilities. See the position
description and application instructions; see also Disability Services.
OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS HOURS WILL CHANGE DEC. 31. Visit offices will
be staffed Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and selected
Saturdays during the academic year. Several online tools are
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including the "Ask Us"
knowledge base, applications for admissions, and application status
check. For more information, see Admissions.
OPEN HOUSE FOR 717 DELAWARE STREET S.E., which will house more than
20 offices of the Academic Health Center, including the Office of
Clinical Research, will be held Jan. 16. A short program at 3 p.m.
will be followed by refreshments and tours of the $36.5 million
renovation until 5 p.m. For more information, call 612-625-4110;
see also the construction
update.
ORIENTATION PROGRAM AWARDS: The Office of First-Year Programs
(OFYP) won awards in three categories at the National Orientation
Directors Association (NODA) Publication and Media Showcase this
fall: outstanding Web site; outstanding multimedia/emerging
technologies for the Pieces of the Puzzle diversity video
on themes including respect and responsibility, wellness,
interpersonal skills, violence and harassment, and U resources; and
outstanding use of theme, applying the U's Driven to Discover
campaign in the Gopher Guide and orientation materials. See
OFYP or NODA or contact Bill O'Connor at
oconn301@umn.edu.
GOLDY GOPHER MADE IT TO THE MASCOT FINALS with final competition
for the top award against Zippy from the U of Akron. Voting has
ended, and the winner will be announced at the Capital One Bowl Jan. 1 in
Orlando. Goldy Gopher is part of the Spirit Squads in the Department of Athletics.
LAST CALL: MODEM POOL WILL CLOSE DEC. 31. Arrange for alternative
home Internet service at special rates for U community members
through UMart. If you need
assistance or have questions, call 1-HELP (612-301-4357) or e-mail
modem@umn.edu. See the ISP tab
at NTS Data
Services.
"WOMEN'S LIVES, WOMEN'S LEGACIES," an introductory legacy writing
workshop, will be sponsored by the Center for Spirituality and
Healing (CSH) as part of the Purpose Project. Jan. 15, April 3, or
July 17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. See the
CSH.
SAVE THE DATE: "FROM EVERY VOICE" ANNUAL CONCERT in honor of the
life of Martin Luther King, Jr., will feature the Steeles
gospel/soul quintet. Jan. 20, 4 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall. Free
and open to the public. See event
information.
MORE EVENTS include the Usability Lab open house (Dec.
20); Waste = Food in the Science on Screen series
(Dec.
20); and "Spend Your Life Wisely," a talk by The Wealth
Management Index author Ross Levin in the Carlson School's
First Tuesday luncheon series (Jan.
8). 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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