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Vol. XXXVIII No. 24; July 30, 2008
Editor: Adam Overland, brief@umn.edu
Inside This Issue
--U's Employee Orientation Program breaks new ground.
--Jonathan Foley named director of the Institute on the
Environment.
--People: Michele Chin-Purcell to be executive director of the
Office of Research Integrity and Oversight; Efi Foufoula-Georgiou
appointed director of the National Center for Earth-surface
Dynamics; Wayne Gladfelter named associate dean in the Institute of
Technology; and more.
Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston |
Duluth | Morris | Rochester | Twin Cities
THE U'S NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION PROGRAM broke new ground with the debut of "Discover Community" on July 22. Discover Community, the second of three main events new employees attend during their first year of employment, introduces employees to the diverse University community and addresses how differences contribute to transforming the U. For more information, see Discover Community.
JONATHAN FOLEY WAS NAMED PERMANENT DIRECTOR of the U's new systemwide Institute on the Environment and will begin duties Aug. 25. Created in 2006, the Institute on the Environment brings together top researchers from the natural and social sciences, design, engineering, law, health, policy, and other disciplines to identify and solve major environmental problems of local and global significance. For more information, see the news release.
PEOPLE: Michele Chin-Purcell accepted the position of executive director of the Office of Research Integrity and Oversight; Efi Foufoula-Georgiou, was appointed director of the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics; Wayne Gladfelter was named associate dean in the Institute of Technology; Irving Gottesman has received a top honor for his research productivity in severe mental illness and for effectively training and developing young scientists. Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.
CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
THE CENTER FOR ADOLESCENT NURSING AND CENTER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS each received $1 million from the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The centers are two of only five university-based nursing programs in the country to receive such funding. For more information, see grants.
THE U'S SOLAR VEHICLE PROJECT TEAM FINISHED FIFTH OVERALL in the 2008 North American Solar Challenge, a 10-day, 2,400-mile race from Plano, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta, which ended July 22. The team was one of the few that did not trailer their car throughout the race. Before the race, the team won three of five awards, including best-prepared, fastest figure-8 on the track, and fastest lap on the track. For more about the solar car, including reflections, see Centaurus. For event photos, see Flickr.
FLEET SERVICES HELD A GREEN OPEN HOUSE July 16 showcasing new hybrid additions to its fleet of vehicles, available for rent (or lease) by U employees and departments. Some employees, including the story's author, took the opportunity to take a test-drive. For more information, read "The model U."
THE U WILL BE AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR Aug. 21-Sept. 1, showcasing its work around the state and how that work impacts and improves lives. Volunteers are needed daily during three available shifts: 9:30-11:30 a.m., 1:30-3:30 p.m., and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Each volunteer will receive one admission ticket and a Tejas coupon for a burrito and a small drink. Contact Jessica Mooney to volunteer.
THE SOUTHERN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER (SROC) will hold its Seventh Annual University of Minnesota Open House at its Waseca location Sept. 11. The theme, "Ag for the 21st Century: Striking a Balance," will illustrate how agriculture is leading the way toward enhancing economic, ecological, and social value in the rural community. Open-house hours are 4-8 p.m., with a picnic supper from 4:30-7 p.m. SROC is located at 35838 120th Street, Waseca, MN 56093. For more information, contact Jeanette Williams.
THE NEW QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT AND LAND USE (JTLU) published its first issue July 21. JTLU is an open-access, peer-reviewed online journal publishing original interdisciplinary papers on the interaction of transport and land use. The Journal is housed at the U and sponsored by the Center for Transportation Studies. Subscriptions and submissions are free. For more information, see JTLU.
MARK HUGLEN RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD at the Seventh Triennial Conference of the Kenneth Burke Society. Huglen is associate professor of communication at UMC. The conference was held at Villanova University in Philadelphia in late June. For more information, see service award.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND, TARJA HALONEN, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for public service by UMD Chancellor Martin and University regents July 25 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena. The honorary degree is the highest award conferred by the U and recognizes individuals who have achieved eminence in cultural affairs, in public service, or in a field of knowledge and scholarship. President Halonen also took part in the FinnFest 2008 event. For more information, see the news release or "Finnish or not..."
UMD'S MALOSKY STADIUM IS UNDERGOING A $6.5 MILLION RENOVATION to be completed in time for the Bulldogs' nationally televised, Sept. 11, home football opener against Southwest Minnesota State. The renovated Malosky Stadium will feature a four-level building, with concessions, UMD stores, club room, and press box. Seating capacity will be about 4,500. For more information, see Bulldogs home opener.
THE "DECADE OF THE '60s REUNION" will be held July 31-Aug. 3 on the Duluth campus for all alumni who attended UMD anytime during the 1960s. Activities include open-house events, receptions, lectures, a Glensheen Mansion tour with UMD alumni authors of Will to Murder, a cocktail party, golf, and a campus tour. Reunion packages are $80 and $150. For more information, see UMD Reunion or call 1-866-726-7164.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN "SOCCER: A BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE," will travel to Brazil Aug. 5 to learn about the intricate role of soccer in Brazilian culture. The program is offered as a four-credit study-abroad opportunity. Students will have a chance to train with a professional soccer club, and will journal about their experience in a blog. For more information, see the program description and Trip of a lifetime.
THIS YEAR'S GATEWAY PROGRAM welcomed 25 students of color from six states and three countries, representing a wide range of backgrounds. The program was founded in 1995 to recruit, retain, and graduate talented students of color at UMM. The program encourages talented students to expand their educational and career aspirations. For more information, see Gateway.
THE U OF M SOUTHEAST REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP will host a free public dinner to discuss community-driven projects in southeast Minnesota that build citizen-University connections. The partnerships are based in five regions throughout greater Minnesota and work to foster active citizenship, achieve sustainability, and create a vital relationship between the citizens and their land-grant university. Aug. 11, 6-9 p.m. Ramada Inn, Rochester. RSVP by Aug. 4. For more information, see regional partnerships or the PDF brochure.
THE INSTITUTE ON COMMUNITY INTEGRATION (ICI) has been awarded renewed-five-year, $2.6 million funding from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Since 1985, ICI has been a federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), one of 67 in the nation funded to carry out the UCEDD mission of working toward a nation in which all Americans participate fully in their communities. For more information, see the institute.
MORE THAN 5,000 FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE in academic and student development programs over the six-day Welcome Week experience from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1. Faculty, staff, and students are working to make the week memorable through a number of unique experiences. For more information, see "The evolution of the welcome mat," or view volunteer opportunities.
"SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND IRBs: CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG?" is an awareness/discussion event sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research. The talk and subsequent conversation will address the issues surrounding IRBs, offer a novel rationale for IRB review of SBS research, and consider implications of viewing IRBs as peer-review bodies. Aug. 7, 10-11:30 a.m., 180 Humphrey Center. For more information, see Social Science Research. RSVP to Ted Peck if you plan to attend.
AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. IRMA McCLAURIN, associate vice president for system academic administration and executive director of the first Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC) aired July 27, on the public affairs program "Crossroads." The interview will be posted online at UROC. For more information about UROC, read "McClaurin helps U forge new partnerships."
MORE EVENTS include "What is Web 2.0? Discovering the Participatory Web" (July 30); Ukrainian American Health, Mortality and Demography Project (July 31); Curiosity Camp: In Pursuit of Happiness (Aug. 4); Curiosity Camp: Wine That's Found Its Time: Minnesota Vineyards (Aug. 6); Olympic Opening Ceremonies (Aug. 8); Nature Play: Trash Art (Aug. 9); Curiosity Camp: The Omnivore's Dilemma: Are We What We Eat? ( Aug. 11); "Speaking of Home: Immigration to Minnesota" (Aug. 12). 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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