Connect@Home
( March 31, 2009) At any income level, it takes discipline and planning to save money. Extension educator Shirley Anderson-Porisch answers this by looking at saving basics and strategies.

Board of Regents talk economy, budget
(March 18, 2009) The March Board of Regents meeting took on a tone of seriousness as consequences of the souring economy become tangible. State Economist Tom Stinson provided Regents with an overview of the state economy and its effects on the U. The Regents approved an adjustment to the 2008-09 operating budget to reflect a $20 million unallotment from the state. The proposed Regents Scholarship changes were considered in committee. Newly elected members of the Board were sworn in March 12.

Positive change, one dollar at a time
(March 18, 2009) The success of a burgeoning charitable organization in a time of economic downturn might seem unlikely. But University of Minnesota staff member Eric Schnell is seeking to turn the tide of generosity one wave of a dollar at a time.

Job losses require family adjustments
(Brief) When a job loss occurs, families face new issues, such as spending habits. However, it is also a crucial time to rethink family priorities and goals.

Keeping your home
(Brief ) With the economy in doubt, individuals around the country may be confronted with job losses and home-ownership challenges. In the siege of uncertainty, families face new issues, and it becomes crucial to consider your financial strategy.

It is a jungle out there
(March 4, 2009) For some time, the U has been augmenting its tried-and-true tools like the news release, with new social media tools like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and blogs. The News Service recently had phenomenal success with a James Kakalios YouTube video about the physics professor's consulting role in the upcoming movie, Watchmen.

Game days on campus are just around the corner
(March 5, 2009) Twenty-seven football seasons and 1,447 weeks will have passed between that final game at Memorial Stadium and the first game at the new TCF Bank Stadium on Sept. 12. A lot has changed on campus in that time. And on Sept. 12, things will change again--dramatically. The U is expecting more than 50,000 people on campus game days, transforming the Twin Cities campus into an energized, spirited environment.

U researchers get real-time info on stimulus funding opportunities
(Brief) The Office of the Vice Presidnet for Research (OVPR) is creating a new Web site and several Listserves for University researchers interested in new funding opportunities within the fiscal stimulus bill. The infusion of these new, presumably one-time funds, will be tracked closely by the OVPR.

Customers pitch-in for custodial pilot program
(March 3, 2009) Customers pitch-in for custodial pilot program

U prepares for cuts in state funding
(February 25, 2009 ) The U continues to make plans to address a substantial budget reduction from the state for the coming biennium. The budget news from the state may grow worse with next week's new revenue forecast, but another factor in the mix is funding that may come to the U through the recently approved federal stimulus package. It might not be until much later this spring that the University discovers its final budget parameters.

Rewarding health
(February 25, 2009 ) The U's Wellness Program offers rewards both monetary and personal. More than 10,000 U of M employees and their family members are participating in a comprehensive approach to wellness available through the UPlan Medical Program. Through the program, a participant is awarded one $65 wellness reward when he or she completes an online wellness assessment. Another $65 reward is earned when the participant takes steps to improve his or her health.

Twenty-six dimensions: from Art to Z
(February 25, 2009 ) Art to Z is getting the message out that the U does not discriminate against your cultural or scholarly tastes. From the two-dimensional poster, showing twenty-six letters each embedded in a square of vivid imagery, to the 26 dimensions those events represent, Art to Z has something for everyone.

Regents focus on tuition, economy
( February 18, 2009) The Board of Regents addressed a number of topics at its Feb. 11-13 meeting. President Bruininks reported to the board on the critical challenge of the economy and its effect on the U. Robert McMaster presented the board with an overview of how students pay for college, present and future. The UMR campus master plan was approved.

Backaches, ballpoint pens, scholarships and the Quality Fair
(February 18, 2009) It is difficult to define quality, but it was obvious Feb. 5 at the McNamura Alumni Center, during the U's 3rd Annual Quality Fair.

Watch out for predatory credit
(February 18, 2009) Within our struggling economy, many consumers look for alternatives when managing personal finances. Consumers who find themselves in a fraudulent situation probably did not get the information they needed before "signing on the dotted line."

CAPA News January 2009
(January 2009) CAPA News for January 2009

From common sense to common practice
(February 4, 2009) The Economy and the U Web site was launched Jan. 14 as a resource for faculty and staff to stay up-to-date on emerging budget news. A key feature of the site is a suggestion box where employees are contributing solutions to questions that will change periodically to address budget challenges. The first question posed on the site has generated an outpouring of responses about ways to conserve energy to reduce costs.

Modern day Muir
(January 20, 2009) Nature requires a patience and attention difficult to pay in this age of deficit. To be sure, there is not a deficit of nature at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The sights, sounds, and smells inspire patience and observation with more than 1,000 acres of gardens and landscapes, 5,000 plant varieties, and natural areas from woodlands and wetlands to prairie. And it's a great place to take a walk--just ask arboretum research fellow Julia Bohnen and naturalist Matt Schuth. Or better yet, take a look at their ever-evolving creation--the Nature Notes blog.

Practical saving strategies
( January 20, 2009) Connect @ Home: Helping you connect the challenges you face at home with solutions

Fill 'er up!
(December 19, 2008 ) "Creative" is the operative word in University of Minnesota professor Brad Hokanson's "Creative Problem Solving" course. And the 84 students in his class were faced with a unique final assignment: to creatively fill, in 15 minutes, the four-story McNeal Hall atrium in any way imaginable.

University District Home Buyers Incentive Program
(Brief) The University is offering a home buying incentive program designed for U employees seeking to purchase a home in one of the University District neighborhoods, including, Cedar Riverside/West Bank, Marcy Holmes, Prospect Park East River Road, and Southeast Como. The incentive program provides down payment or closing cost assistance through a $10,000, two-percent interest loan that requires no monthly payments and is forgivable over five years. The program will launch Jan. 1.

Rick Moore on what it means to be a Gophers fan and what it takes to write a book
(Brief) Burning buildings, pandemonium, brown jugs and the point-a-minute squad: an intriguing set of words for a book about the history of Minnesota Gophers football. When University Relations writer Rick Moore sat down to research and write it he didn't know all the details, but the more he learned the more he burned to tell the tale. It's a history that spans from the leather helmets of old to the rigid plastic present, with a thousand touchdowns and a few tears in between.

University Board of Regents approves resolutions
(December 17, 2008) The Board of Regents meeting December 11 and 12 addressed a number of issues, including the U's response to the economy. Additionally, vice president Tim Mulcahy provided the Board with the annual report on the state of University research.

Connect @ Home
(Brief) Extension educator Shirley Anderson-Porisch says that the new year brings with it an opportunity for U.S. households to review their financial situation. In the column, Connect @ Home, Anderson-Porisch suggests reviewing finances now--before the end of the year--to give time to make decisions.

10 tips for integrating physical activity into your workday
( December 9, 2008) 10 Tips for Integrating Physical Activity into Your Workday

Transformational Leadership Program returns to Duluth
(December 2, 2008) The Transformational Leadership Program returned to Duluth for the third cohort of the leadership development opportunity for faculty and staff. TPL challenges participants and their executive sponsors to successfully lead teams in driving improvement projects that directly benefit groups of U faculty, students, or staff. Fourteen University staff and faculty members comprise this year's training class, including three participants from the Twin Cities campus and two from U of M Extension Services.

Opportunity in Africa
(December 2, 2008) Partnerships with sub-Saharan African Universities are developing as the University focuses its efforts there. Robert Jones, senior vice president, and Meredith McQuaid, associate vice president and dean for international programs, have made two recent trips to African nations to explore potential partnerships with universities and to work with leaders in those countries to secure funding for capacity-building projects.

Taking the PULSE of the University
(November 18, 2008) The PULSE survey results are used to continuously improve the workplace. This year, more employees than ever responded--42 percent of all employees, an increase of 5 percent over the most recent survey, conducted in 2006. Results of the 2008 survey indicate that faculty and staff satisfaction remains high, while overall, employee opinions of the U are moving in a positive direction.

U of M on iTunes
( November 18, 2008) Incredible things happen at the U every day. Thanks to a new partnership between the University of Minnesota and Apple, dynamic content from the University will be included in the global Apple iTunes Store, where it will be accessible from anywhere there is an internet connection. All units and departments are invited to submit content to the U of M iTunes U public site.

Duck tales
(November 10, 2008) Don Luce, curator of exhibits at the Bell Museum, put together the Bell's Art of the Wild show and judged the highly competitive annual Federal Duck Stamp Contest. The winner can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars from stamp and print sales, and the contest has generated funds to protect millions of acres of waterfowl habitat in the U.S.

Talk with children about holiday budgets
(November 10, 2008) Talk with children about holiday budgets

Picking a good apple
(From eNews, October 23, 2008) Scientists at the Horticultural Research Center are constantly out in the U's apple orchards and taste testing dozens of apples to find the next Honeycrisp or Haralson. Here, David Bedford offers some tips on picking the great from the so-so.

Crossing oceans for music
( ) Visiting associate professor Noriko Kawai is one of only two pianists in the world to have played "The Book of Elements" in its entirety. The solo piano in five volumes was written between 1997 and 2002 by University professor James Dillon.

Trendy, hip, or not?
(From eNews, October 23, 2008) Professor Joan Meyers-Levy in the Carlson School of Management has found that display fixtures at a store can affect our perception of the products.

Upgrading ... the healthy way
( ) A recent survey by the University of Minnesota Boynton Health Service finds that lack of sleep, excessive computer time, and stress--among other things--can negatively affect a college student's grades.

Where politics and psychology intersect
(From eNews, October 23, 2008) The U's political science faculty are looking behind the voting booth curtain and inside the oval office to examine how we vote and how the people we elect make decisions.

Motorcycles and alcohol
(From eNews, September 25, 2008) The HumanFIRST Program and Intelligent Vehicles Laboratory at the Twin Cities campus recently collaborated to examine the dangerous combination of drinking and riding a motorcycle.

Rochester campus announces first undergraduate degree
(October 21, 2008 ) The University of Minnesota, Rochester is continuing its trajectory of growth with the announcement of its first-ever undergraduate degree program: the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences.

CAPA announces winner of the Outstanding Unit Award
(October 22, 2008) The Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators recently announced the winner of the 2007-08 Outstanding Unit Award--the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. The Outstanding Unit Award recognizes units and departments at the U that are exemplary in their support of Professional and Administrative staff. For more information, see Outstanding Unit Award.

Expanding access to education at the U
(October 14, 2008) The U of M Digital Campus seeks to accommodate learners across the state, the nation, and even the world. It's a convenient clearinghouse to online course offerings, degree programs, and noncredit courses across the University system.

U joins 47 other colleges and universities in Upper Midwest Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
(October 15, 2008) The U will join the Upper Midwest Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (UMW HERC) in October. The U joins 47 colleges and universities in Minnesota and Wisconsin to launch UMW HERC. The collaboration is designed to enhance dual-career and diversity hiring and is a premier example of the higher education community working together to advance the region.

Community Fund Drive 2008
(October 14, 2008) The U's Community Fund Drive raises over a million dollars every year for Minnesota charities--building connections between the U and the community. The annual fund-raising effort, which runs Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, enables members of the campus community to pull together to raise awareness and money for hundreds of local charities.

In tough economic times-planning is key
( ) When financial times look bleak, a spending plan is a strategy needed by anyone who spends money ¿ no matter what the income.

Making the house a home
(n/a) "People think interior design classes are about choosing the right colors, but not this studio," says Tasoulla Hadjiyanni. The assistant professor of interior design teaches her students to celebrate differences and to create homes that would suit people from different backgrounds.

Body, mind, spirit
( ) The School of Nursing's decade-long collaboration with the Center for Spirituality & Healing on the Twin Cities campus is reshaping the way health care professionals are caring for their patients.

About face
( ) A University of Minnesota researcher is tracking the changing faces of outdoor recreation. In a recent survey, adults under 35 reported fewer recreation hours than those between the ages of 35 and 54.

Giving voice to voters
( ) The "My Voice, My Vote" program, created by the U's Institute on Community Integration, has launched a new Web site to help motivate and teach young adults with disabilities about voting and ways to participate in the political process.

From field to furnace
( ) The University of Minnesota, Morris unveiled a new biomass plant last week that promises to heat the entire campus. The facility will burn 9,000 tons of renewable fuel every year with such biomass as corn stover (stalks, leaves, cobs) and wood chips.

Federal funding flat
(October 7, 2008) Federal funding flat

A last hurrah
(October 7, 2008) Fall at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

A flying start for the arts
(September 26, 2008 ) A little kindling can start a great fire, and that's what the University's new Imagine Fund is poised to do for faculty in the arts, humanities, and design. The systemwide fund will spur the work of approximately half those faculty, with payoffs one can only imagine.

The language of luxury
(From eNews, September 25, 2008) Rohini Ahluwalia, a University of Minnesota associate professor of marketing, shows that whether an advertiser chooses to use English or a native language in another country can evoke different reactions in consumers.

The expatriate experience
(From eNews, September 25, 2008) A team of researchers at the U's Carlson School of Management is taking a close look at the first year of an expatriate's life.

Zip a doctor
(September 23, 2008) Forget about fighting traffic or taking the day off to visit a doctor; the 2008 Minnesota Cup student winner is developing a way for us to get a diagnosis and treatment decision via cell phone.

Program provides leadership opportunity
(September 24, 2008) The University wide President's Emerging Leaders program provides leadership development opportunities for high-potential P&A, Civil Service, and Bargaining Unit staff. The program features educational and experiential components, and promotes skill development to enhance leadership effectiveness.

Art to Z: Scholarly and cultural events Scrabble
( ) Scholarly and cultural events at the U this fall are some of the richest and most enlightening in the Twin Cities, but not everyone knows they're invited. To help solve that problem, the Office for Scholarly and Cultural Affairs asked University Relations' marketing department to help bring these events together under one theme. Out of their work emerged a concept: Art to Z.

Vet school finds gene for exercise-induced collapse
( September 21, 2008) U researchers have discovered a gene associated with exercise-induced collapse in Labrador retrievers and have developed a test for susceptibility to the debilitating syndrome.

From the recesses of their minds
(September 17, 2008) The Voice to Vision project captures on film and in art the horrific experiences of genocide survivors who have never before told their stories. Through October 2, the Katherine E. Nash Gallery will exhibit a collection of artwork from the project and host a series of related panel discussions.

Field of streams
(September 17, 2008 ) The U's new Outdoor StreamLab sits next to the Mississippi River, even borrowing some of its water. The one-of-a-kind facility will help researchers study such topics as the ecological roles of streams, flood control, and stream restoration.

An engine of growth
(September 16, 2008) President Bruininks presented the U's biennial budget request to the Board of Regents on Sept. 12. The proposed budget for the 2010-11 biennium (two-year budget period) requests $141.2 million in new state money to maintain the University's competitive position and strengthen Minnesota's economy.

Avoiding Identity Theft at the U
(September 16, 2008) Customized e-mail phishing attacks, known as "spear phishing," are on the rise. Some attacks against the U have been effective at tricking students, faculty, and staff into divulging personal information. A number of features are usually common to phishing attacks. Learn more.

U unveils plans for Minnesota Tribal Nations Plaza
(September 15, 2008) The University of Minnesota unveiled the design and name of a new plaza outside TCF Bank Stadium to honor Minnesota's American Indian nations, made possible through a $12 million gift from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

From smoke and rubble
(September 11, 2008) University of Minnesota professor Doug Geers composes music for a 9/11-inspired opera. It opens in New York City Septermber 12 and runs for three weeks.

U student presented scholarship by Apollo 15 astronaut
( September 10, 2008) Andrew Jones has been awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. His scholarship is the largest monetary award given in the United States to science and engineering undergraduate students based solely on merit.

Lawn renovation
(From eNews, September 11, 2008) University of Minnesota Extension horticulturist Bob Mugaas has some tips on turning a lifeless-looking lawn into one that's green and healthy next spring.

Super species
(From eNews, September 11, 2008) It's a bird...It's a plane...It's not from around here! A new program at the University of Minnesota, supported by the National Science Foundation, is recruiting students to research the effects of globalization on the spread of non-native insects, fish, and plants.

Corporate couplings
(From eNews, September 11, 2008) When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, bigger isn't always better. Managers usually blame corporate couplings that fail on a lack of synergy or clashing corporate cultures. Rarely, says U professor J. Myles Shaver, is consideration given to the fact that "companies become disproportionately more difficult to manage as they grow in size."

The end of physics as we know it?
(September 10, 2008 ) A new era in physics began on September 10, when a search for new dimensions and new forms of matter got under way near Geneva, Switzerland. Several U physicists helped make it happen.

Emergency preparedness and a safe U
(September 10, 2008) The technology used to communicate emergencies has evolved. The U maintains a comprehensive emergency preparedness Web site, and with so many new and returning students, faculty and staff can assist in creating a culture of safety by being a resource for students.

Presidential politics: take three
(September 5, 2008 ) This is the last of three reports on this week's University conference "America's Future: Conversations about Politics and Policy during the 2008 Republican National Convention."

Presidential politics: take two
( ) This is the second of three reports on this week's University conference "America's Future: Conversations about Politics and Policy during the 2008 Republican National Convention."

Mining the census data
( ) This year, four people have been elevated to Regents Professor, the highest faculty rank at the University. They include historian Steven Ruggles, whose most important contributions have focused on the transformation of the American family over the past 150 years.

Presidential politics in the crosshairs
(September 2, 2008 ) This is the first of three reports on this week's University conference "America's Future: Conversations about Politics and Policy during the 2008 Republican National Convention."

An unconventional week at the U
(August 29, 2008 ) The University of Minnesota rolls out the red carpet for the legion of national media descending on the Twin Cities for the Republican National Convention.

Former dean honored
(August 27, 2008 ) Neal Gault, dean of the U's Medical School from 1972-1984, was recently honored with the University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award.

Never too late
( ) Mary Nagan got her B.F.A. from the University of Minnesota in 2000--at age 82. And last year, she opened an online store called Mary Jane's Handmade to sell the aprons she makes with designs from the 1950s.

New Twin Cities faculty get a U welcome
(August 27, 2008) More than 230 faculty are new to the Twin Cities campus this year. Through three days of orientation, they began to get to know the U and each other with opportunities designed to help connect them to their new home.

Work made visible
(August 27, 2008) Randy Croce, a video producer in the labor education service at Carlson's Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies, helps the U's Labor Education Service create videos to encourage all parties in conflict to find common ground.

Exhibit focuses on U.S. presidents
( August 20, 2008) A new exhibit of Associated Press photos at the Humphrey Museum and Forum captures U.S. presidents past and present in both historic and playful moments.

An economist for the ages
( ) The passing of retired Regents Professor Vernon Ruttan leaves the world minus one of its most versatile and insightful economists. For the University, it means the loss of a true intellectual giant.

Discovering by doing
( ) The University of Minnesota Extension's 4-H offers out-of-school educational programs that encourage learning and community engagement. Last year 113,000 youth took part in 4-H.

Of road networks and travel patterns
( ) The I-35W bridge collapse over the Mississippi River has not only prompted greater study of bridges in general, but it has spurred transportation researchers, including those at the University of Minnesota, to look more closely at traffic flow patterns and driver behavior on major roadways.

Getting that vote
( ) The timing of political messages does influence voter preferences, says a University of Minnesota researcher. As the election date draws closer, voters will start paying attention to the nitty-gritty of the candidates' positions.

UMF names new CEO; U announces record year for giving
( August 14, 2008) On the day that the U announced another record year of giving by donors, the University of Minnesota Foundation named L. Steven Goldstein as its new president and CEO, effective immediately. He replaces Gerald B. Fischer, who is stepping down after 18 years in the position.

The genesis of an Olympic dream
(August 12, 2008) It all started with an innocent question, back in 1908: When would China host the Olympics? The current exhibit at Elmer L. Andersen Library offers a look at the YMCA's role in sports and the Olympic movement in China.

Exploring a new cancer therapy
( August 12, 2008) A two-step experimental procedure on a dog with brain cancer may one day improve treatment for brain tumors in animals and people.

In search of better bifocals
( ) The U and a Minnesota-based manufacturer of eyeglass lenses have signed an agreement that is leading to a significant increase in the accuracy and flexibility of progressive lenses--also called no-line bifocal lenses.

Mapping the road to safety
( ) How safe are the roads you drive on? Find out online. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have created a Web site that pinpoints where traffic fatalities have occurred and provides details on the individual accidents.

Gold (and maroon) in Beijing
( August 5, 2008) A number of University of Minnesota athletes--past, present, and future--will be competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics, and one is chronicling her experience in Beijing with a daily blog.

The model U
(July 30, 2008) Fleet Services held a green open house showcasing new hybrid additions to its fleet of vehicles, available for rental by U employees and departments. One U employee took the opportunity to drive a car that, unlike his own, not only had a gas/electric engine but a functional air-conditioner.

Get going now
(July 29, 2008) A U study shows that with immediate action, Minnesota's transportation sector can meet legislatively mandated greenhouse gas reduction goals for 2015 and 2025.

New U employees Discover Community
(From Brief, July 30, 2008) The U's new employee orientation program broke novel 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.

The evolution of the welcome mat
(July 30, 2008) More than 5,000 first-year students will participate in academic and student development programs during Welcome Week from August 27 to September 1. Faculty, staff, and current U students are working to make the week memorable through a number of unique experiences.

Freedom School students visit Twin Cities campus
( July 23, 2008) For a second year, the University of Minnesota's Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health has partnered with Kwanzaa Church and the Nia Imani Youth Development Center in north Minneapolis to bring students from the Kwanzaa Freedom School to the University of Minnesota campus.

Beyond slapping: fend off the mozzies
(From eNews, July 24, 2008) Summer is here and so are the mozzies! University of Minnesota entomologist Jeff Hahn has some tips to lessen mosquito annoyance around your home.

A gathering place for great minds
(From eNews, July 24, 2008) The U's William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute has had a distinctly cosmopolitan flavor since it opened more than 20 years ago. Its leading researchers come from Russia, and they study mathematical models and abstractions of physics that lay the groundwork for advances in a large number of technologies that affect our lives.

A life of leisure
(From eNews, July 24, 2008) University of Minnesota researchers are finding that giving livestock animals a more comfortable living situation may be worth the added costs.

McClaurin helps U forge new partnerships
(July 22, 2008) The U hired Irma McClaurin to develop and run its first Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center. An associate vice president, she brings commitment, enthusiasm, and expertise to the project.

Finnish or not, here we come...
(July 21, 2008) This weekend (July 23 to 27), the University of Minnesota, Duluth is celebrating "FinnFest 2008" with a textile exhibition and a ceremony to award Tarja Halonen, president of Finland, with an honorary degree. Proceeds from the festival support scholarships for UMD students of Finnish heritage.

Supplemental budget gives go ahead to NOvA, boosts science funding and GI Bill benefits
(From Brief, July 16, 2008) A $400 million increase in science agencies' funding and a major expansion of GI Bill education benefits were part of a $186.5 billion supplemental war-funding budget bill, H.R. 2642, signed by President Bush on June 30.

A decade of growth
(July 29, 2008) The Carlson Growth Fund, a small-cap growth fund, is one of two partnerships managed by students at the Carlson School as part of the Carlson Funds Enterprise, a program designed to give students real-world experience analyzing companies and investing their securities. The fund is celebrating a decade of growth with a fundraising campaign.

Upper Great Lakes fish boil
(From eNews, June 12, 2008) The fish boil--boiling fish, potatoes, and onions together in a large pot--is the Great Lakes' answer to the New England clambake. The University of Minnesota Sea Grant has some tips to help you prepare this tasty tradition.

Language program opens university study to international students
(From eNews, June 12, 2008) The Minnesota English Language Program at the College of Continuing Education works with foreign universities, schools, and businesses to tailor intensive courses for specific groups of students.

Shop before you drop
(From eNews, June 12, 2008) Pooling their expertise, two University of Minnesota researchers cast some light on impulse buying. One of their findings: we're likely to buy impulsively after we've spent a good deal of time making choices and regulating our behavior.

Leading the way
(June 10, 2008) The sixth annual Symposium on Small Towns was an occasion for concerned people from all walks of life--higher education and p-12 school professionals, engineers, elected city leaders, rural development industry specialists, and politicians--to talk about ways to become more energy self-reliant.

Embedded at Camp Ripley
(June 10, 2008) Last week, six journalism students from the U joined Minnesota soldiers in training exercises at Camp Ripley. Like embedded journalists, the students signed safety waivers and contracts restricting what they could report.

New digs at Cedar Creek
(June 9, 2008) Where else but the U's Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve can students rig heat lamps in a field to test the effects of global warming? Last week the U honored Raymond Lindeman, who revolutionized the field of ecology there 60-plus years ago, with a new laboratory at the site.

Former regent and UMC provost dies
(June 4, 2008; updated June 5, 2008) Stanley Sahlstrom, who helped transition the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus from a residential high school to a two-year technical college, has died. The former provost and U regent was 87.

Novel stem cell therapy gives hope to boy with rare disease
(June 3, 2008) A stem cell transplant at the University offers hope to toddler Nate Liao, born with a fatal disease that makes skin slough off at the slightest touch. After eight months, Jake is showing improvement and can now do things most kids take for granted, such as eating a snack.

Split Rock Arts Program celebrates 25 years
(June 10, 2008) 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the College of Continuing Education's Split Rock Arts Program, a nationally respected series of summer workshops in writing and the arts.

The poetics of cinema
( ) Hisham Bizri, U professor of film, creates his own films, which he calls "visual poems," that create a balance between technical skill and visceral intuition to reflect his Arab/Muslim upbringing and his Anglo/American culture.

Of trees and anniversaries
(June 2, 2008) The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's summer exhibit, "Treeology," is a playful tribute to trees. It is also the cornerstone of the Arboretum's yearlong celebration of two anniversaries--the centennial of the Horticultural Research Center and 50 years as a public display garden.

From Tanzania to U
(May 28, 2008) While Jane Goodall's research in Gombe and her outreach efforts have given the world a better understanding and appreciation for chimpanzees, University ecologists and computer scientists have teamed up to find new ways to use the data.

Home alone
(From eNews, May 29, 2008) Parents eventually have to face the decision of when to leave their child home alone for the first time. University of Minnesota Extension has some tips to help children develop skills for staying home alone.

Help for struggling readers
(From eNews, May 2008) The percentage of struggling readers has scarcely decreased over the last decade despite extensive research and interventions undertaken to help them. University professor Paul W. van den Broek and his colleagues set out to reverse this trend.

Brand stretching can depend on the consumer
(From eNews, May 29, 2008) Stretching or extending brands like Disney, Jeep, and Apple can mean more money for the company. (For example, you can buy Apple iPhones in addition to Apple laptops). A University of Minnesota professor studies how far a brand can and should stretch--so as not to confuse and alienate consumers.

Smaller schools and shared facilities
(From eNews, May 29, 2008) Smaller schools produce higher graduation rates and test scores, as well as fewer discipline problems, according to University of Minnesota researchers.

The unhealthy state of medical journalism
(May 28, 2008) In stories about new medical treatments, what the U.S. media leave out is often at least as important as what they leave in, says journalism faculty member Gary Schwitzer. Stories too often neglect to discuss factors like the cost of treatments, the quality of scientific evidence, and potential conflicts of interest by sources.

Art of the New Deal
(May 23, 2008) The work of more than 60 Great Depression-era artists is the subject of the Weisman Art Museum's new exhibition, "By the People, for the People: New Deal Art at the Weisman," which runs through July 27.

Bowling them over with economics
(May 20, 2008) U grad student and instructor Andrew Cassey has taken his lectures on economics to an interesting venue--the trendy Bryant-Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. The result is "Principles of Economics" meets performance art, and audiences are eating it up.

Researchers pinpoint first step in sun-induced skin cancer
(May 20, 2008) A "morning after pill" for sun exposure? Maybe someday. University of Minnesota researchers have found what could be the first event in the development of skin cancer.

Board Approves Retirement Incentive Option
(From Brief, May 21, 2008) The Retirement Incentive Option (RIO) was approved by the Board of Regents May 9. Interested employees must apply for the RIO between May 15 and August 1. Employee benefits counselors will present RIO information on the Twin Cities campus weekly throughout the period.

A failing grade for exit exams
(May 16, 2008) In 23 states, including Minnesota, high school students must pass a special exam to graduate. But the U's Rob Warren has found the exams don¿t boost student achievement--just the dropout rate.

Going to the vet?
(From eNews, May 15, 2008) If your dog or cat freaks out whenever you take it to the veterinarian, there are several ways that you can help it calm down. U professor Jane Armstrong suggests offering "positive rewards" and "rescue remedy," or even trying acupuncture.

The price of high school exit exams
(From eNews, May 15, 2008) New research coauthored by a University of Minnesota professor finds that state high school exit exams harm those who fail and provide no benefit for those who pass.

A very expensive tape measure
(May 16, 2008) A body scanner in the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel has opened doors for the University of Minnesota to conduct cutting-edge research and change the way apparel is designed.

Out from behind bars
(May 13, 2008) A major report entitled "Unlocking America," coauthored by nine leading criminology and penal experts--including the University of Minnesota's Joshua Page--explores the causes of the exploding prison population and offers suggestions for reversing the numbers.

Home is where the farm is
(From M, spring 2008) UMC professor Harouna Maiga returns to his native Mali every other summer to teach.

Pelletier honored at UMM
(May 13, 2008) The UMM alumni association honored professor Julie Pelletier for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education.

Empowered by the sun
(May 9, 2008) After a nail-biting year waiting for funding, students at the U will once again be able to compete in the North American Solar Challenge, July 13-22, with their handsome, high-tech car.

A threat to Minnesota fish
(May 8, 2008) The University is lending a hand to help stop a lethal fish virus that is capable of producing massive fish kills in some of Minnesota anglers' favorite game and eating fish including walleye, muskie, perch, sunfish, crappie, and smallmouth and largemouth bass.

U names 2008 McKnights
(May 6, 2008) The University has named four Distinguished McKnight University Professors and 13 McKnight Land-Grant Professors for 2008. The Distinguished McKnight award rewards mid-career faculty of note like Judith Berman, and the McKnight Land-Grant award supports promising junior faculty such as Katsumi Matsumoto.

Faster wireless Internet planned for Twin Cities and Rochester campuses
(From Brief, May 7, 2008) The Office of Information Technology has been working to upgrade the current wireless network on the UMTC and UMR campuses. The new network will have offer some of the fastest wireless service available and provide users with better security.

UMD graduates its second transformational leadership cohort
(From Brief, May 7, 2008) The U recognizes leadership programs and their role in driving a "culture of excellence."

U joins campaign to encourage saving for retirement
(From Brief, May 14, 2008) The University and more than 20 other Minnesota employers are part of a new statewide initiative that helps employees plan for their future. Financially Fit Minnesota has the support of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.

Iron Man takes physics for a ride
(May 2, 2008; updated May 14, 2008) As Iron Man soars at the box office, the U's James Kakalios ponders the physics of the superhero's suit--and says another U professor is making one of its features a reality.

U student wins medal for bravery
(May 2, 2008) A rare display of courage, heroism, and selfless action earned Nate Lund the Soldier's Medal, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Army. The award was presented Thursday during a special ceremony at the University of Minnesota.

Musical sights
(June 30, 2008) A picture may be worth a thousand words. But for students in the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts music classes, they are also worth a thousand notes.

On public opinion and health care
(From eNews, May 1, 2008) According to new University of Minnesota research, presidential candidates must understand public opinion on health care if they expect to woo voters. Americans ranked health care among the most important problems facing the country.

Fresh ideas for your lawn and garden
(From eNews, May 1, 2008) Looking for gardening tips? University of Minnesota Extension's Consumer Horticulture Team has organized a fresh Web resource featuring useful, research-based information in a gardener-friendly format.

Guggenheims galore
(April 30, 2008) Three U faculty are among the 190 artists, scientists, and scholars to win Guggenheim fellowships this year. Past winners include Martha Graham, Linus Pauling, and Ansel Adams.

A new way of doing business
(April 29, 2008) Over the past two years, the University has transformed its facilities management department into an operation that is more customer-focused, cost effective, and accountable.

Book reviews spring 2008
( ) Gayla Marty reviews The Florist's Daughter, The Truth About Garden Remedies, and Earthworms of the Great Lakes in this Spring 2008 edition of Book Reviews.

Not all who wander
(From M, spring 2008) Clyde Reedy is getting very accustomed to telling his story. What makes his story even richer is his experience with the University of Minnesota, both in the early 1940s as a student and in recent decades as a benefactor.

The art and the artist
(April 23, 2008) Arnold Newman photographed many of the icons of 20th-century art, science, and politics, including John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Earlier this year, Newman's son, Eric, a neuroscience professor at the U, approached the Weisman Art Museum to donate 40 of his late father's famous portraits.

One village at a time
(April 22, 2008) University of Minnesota student Katie Nelson has established the Nafula Foundation to help Kenyan families achieve self-sustainability.

Keeping up with traffic
(April 22, 2008) The U's Department of Civil Engineering recently opened the doors to the new Minnesota Traffic Observatory, a world-class lab featuring innovative technologies to help researchers design roadways that are safer and easier to drive.

Traits for greatness
(From M, spring 2008) Using data gathered from presidential biographers and historians, University psychologist Deniz Ones and her colleagues studied which personality traits have historically been associated with superior presidential performance.

Whole foods beat single nutrients
(From M, spring 2008) It's easy to study the effects of single-nutrient dietary supplements because the composition of pills and the like is known exactly. But an epidemiology professor urges that the focus of health and diet research switch to whole foods.

Connecting alumni, spring 2008
( ) The spring 2008 Connecting Alumni section features blurbs about telling your U story, the power of alumni, the upcoming UMAA annual celebration, and more.

When physics is a social science
(April 18, 2008) A University-sponsored program helps families discover the joy of science together. Through PACES (Parents And Children Experiencing Science), parents model scientific curiosity for their kids.

Westward expansion
(From M, spring 2008 ) The School of Dentistry's outreach program will stretch to west central Minnesota in response to the challenges rural communities face when recruiting health care professionals. The program hopes to bring long-term dental care to underserved regions.

A natural among museums
( From M, spring 2008) A recent $3 million commitment to the U's Bell Museum of Natural history is for a new museum facility to open in 2010. The remarkable gift comes from the James Ford Bell Foundation, which affirms the importance of the Bell Museum as the state's natural history museum.

Rebel with a cause
( From M, spring 2008) UMD alum Jim Swenson became a success with his company, Details, Inc. Today he focuses his entrepreneurial energy on enriching his alma mater with scholarships, and most recently, a new civil engineering building.

Giving hope
( From M, spring 2008) Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the newly opened Hope Lodge is a free living space open to any adult receiving cancer care in the Twin Cities.

Make eating more appealing
(From eNews, April 17, 2008) Many people are trying to adopt a healthier approach to eating. Is it any wonder? Research shows that 6 out of every 10 Americans are overweight and nearly one in three is obese. University Extension has some tips on how to make eating more appealing.

From hunch to hope
( ) If you're a clinician or biomedical researcher looking for a cure, you could start your search at the University of Minnesota. The fairly new Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development is bringing together sophisticated technology and some of the best and brightest players in drug discovery from academia and industry.

Why Miss Muffett skedaddled
(April 16, 2008) A U graduate student has helped uncover evidence that babies can quickly learn to recognize spiders. This may later help them develop a protective fear.

E20 and late-model vehicles
(From eNews, April 17, 2008) A 13-month study conducted by U professor Dave Kittelson shows that E20--a blend of fuel containing 80 percent gasoline and 20 percent ethanol--has no negative impact on the drivability and maintenance of late-model cars and trucks.

Ruby red slippers and Yellow Brick Road, with a twist
(April 16, 2008) The University Theatre and Dance explores the universal themes of courage, intelligence, love, and the importance of home in its version of "The Wiz," a 1975 Broadway musical adapted from L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Celebrating public engagement
(From Brief, April 16, 2008) The University of Minnesota will host its second annual Public Engagement Day April 22 on the Twin Cities campus. A number of changes have been made since the inaugural event. For example the addition of Public Engagement days at the University's other campuses; upcoming are Duluth, April 16 and Crookston, April 17.

Go, girl!
(April 14, 2008) A new study by the Tucker Center shows that girls are participating in sports more and more but engaging in physical activity outside of organized sports less and less.

Regents approve contracts with food and beverage vendors
(April 11, 2008) On April 11, the Board of Regents approved four long-term contracts with vendors for food and beverage service on University of Minnesota campuses.

Frostbite nips the competition
(April 11, 2008) Though small in size, it packs a wallop in the flavor department. Frostbite, the University's latest fruit release, is an apple for people with adventurous tastes.

University receives $65 million for Cancer Center
( ) The Masons have just given the University of Minnesota the largest gift in its history to support cancer research, treatment, and education. In recognition, the Cancer Center has been renamed the Masonic Cancer Center.

Bonding bill finalized
(April 7, 2008) The University of Minnesota received funding for most of its capital investment projects and the Minnesota Biomedical Research Program.

U inaugurates Rochester chancellor
(April 4, 2008) Stephen Lehmkuhle was formally installed as the first chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Rochester on April 4. He took over the reins of the downtown Rochester campus in fall 2007.

UMM chancellor speaks to Congress
(April 4, 2008) Chancellor Jacquie Johnson was chosen to testify before the U.S. Congress because of her leadership at the Morris campus, which is nearly energy self-sufficient.

Putting back the wild in the child
(April 4, 2008) Too many children are losing their connection to nature, a situation that bodes ill for both. A University-sponsored conference aims to reset the balance.

Happy birthday, Minnesota!
(April 2, 2008) To commemorate the state's 150th birthday, University of Minnesota faculty are leading four discussions this month on issues facing Minnesota's past, present, and future. Topics are the evolution of the suburbs, natural resources, demographic changes, and protecting the public's health.

Doing your part for the environment
(From eNews, April 3, 2008) Recycling offers opportunities for everyone to help reduce climate change, save energy, and conserve natural resources. Here are some tips from the University of Minnesota's Recycling Program.

Filling the need
(From eNews, April 3, 2008) A new dental clinic--a partnership between the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and Rice Memorial Hospital--offers students learning opportunities while bringing needed care to patients in west central Minnesota.

Ralph Rapson dies at 93
(April 1, 2008; updated April 3) Ralph Rapson, University of Minnesota's School of Architecture for 30 years, introduced Modernism to the U's program and left a legacy of integrated architecture.

March Madness goes hi-tech
(March 28, 2008) On March 28 and 29, Williams Arena is hosting the first-ever Minnesota Regional FIRST Robotics Competition from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) competition attracted more than 50 teams of students from the six-state region.

Every napkin counts
(March 28, 2008) Last fall, University Dining Services collected 78 tons of compost material from its kitchens and restaurants, and the UDS Green Team played a big role--helping the lunch crowd identify its compost-friendly waste.

Got more milk?
( ) University of Minnesota research is helping the state regain its competitive stride in the dairy business. Extension animal scientist Marcia Endres is looking at how changes in dairy cow housing can help increase profits.

Infectious enthusiasm
(March 25, 2008) Working together, legumes and bacteria supply the world with protein. University researchers are studying how this common, but nevertheless amazing, partnership works.

Documenting carbon storage and biodiversity
(March 25, 2008) A University of Minnesota professor's research in Costa Rica's dry tropical forests could help explain large-scale variations in the carbon cycle.

Partnering with Hope and Dreams
(From Brief, March 26, 2008) The U's partnerships with Hope Community and Learning Dreams are two examples of the most common types of U-community partnerships: partnering with an existing organization and partnering with a community to create a new organization.

New financial system continues progress toward July 1 go-live
(From Brief, March 26, 2008) CUFS is going away when the U unveils its new financial system July 1. Enterprise Financial System team members are now testing the new system, which offers more flexibility in gathering data. About 2,800 U employees will be trained to use the system.

Care for a lifetime
(March 20, 2008) A new grant gives the School of Nursing the tools needed to educate a new generation of geriatric nurses--and care for a rapidly aging population.

Pruning 101
(From eNews, March 20, 2008) Late winter, early spring means it's time to rejuvenate those large, overgrown shrubs in your garden. University of Minnesota Extension has some basic pruning tips for the green thumbs.

Secrets of the hive
(From eNews, March 20, 2008) Traditional healers from South America to Eastern Europe and China have valued bee propolis as a remedy for ailments such as skin problems, oral sores, and the common cold. Today, University of Minnesota researchers are looking at it as a possible inexpensive treatment for HIV.

Gecko tech: Evolution produces ideal adhesive
(From eNews, March 20, 2008) A researcher at the U's Bell Museum of Natural History is helping to complete an evolutionary history of the 1,100 species of gecko. The information will be useful to scientists hoping to develop a synthetic gecko adhesive.

Conscious collaborator
(From eNews, March 20, 2008) Some rock bands, like Black Eyed Peas, are known for espousing green causes. Others, for gas-guzzling tour buses and over-the-top consumerism. University of Minnesota student Erick Boustead is helping rock bands keep their shows as green as their words.

In search of the perfect human
(March 17, 2008) Through May 4, the U's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Science Museum of Minnesota are sponsoring an exhibit, "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race," and a series of public lectures that explore eugenics and the Holocaust.

A feline lifeline?
(From M, spring 2008) Sure, cats rip furniture to shreds and treat people as inferior beings. But a University study shows they may do our hearts good, in more ways than one.

Eco-friendly fronds for Palm Sunday
(March 12, 2008) The University of Minnesota works with communities in Guatemala and Mexico provide church congregations in the United States with eco-friendly fronds for Palm Sunday.

Well done
(March 11, 2008) Long before the hit documentary Super Size Me, the University experimented with the health effects of eating nothing but White Castle hamburgers.

Collaborating to lead
(From Brief, March 12, 2008) A new series of workshops--organized by the Graduate School's Office of Interdisciplinary Initiatives--aims to develop the collaborative leadership skills of those engaged in scholarship, research, creative work, and education and training programs. Mentoring is the theme of the next session on March 25.

Tilting toward turbines
(From M, spring 2008) The University's Morris campus has received bonding authority to add new wind and steam turbines. The campus is on track to energy self-sufficiency by 2010.

Strength through change
(March 10, 2008) In his sixth State of the U address, President Bruininks talked of the challenge of change and how it can motivate action.

A sickle-cell sleuth
(March 7, 2008) He was a political science major--until he discovered medical research. Now, Regents Professor of Medicine Robert Hebbel is a leading authority on sickle-cell and other blood-related diseases.

U professor dies at 65
(March 6, 2008) Stephen Feinstein, who died on March 4, built the U's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies into a premier educational, research, and outreach institution of international renown.

Extension helps nonprofits make case for public good
(From eNews, March 6, 2008) The University of Minnesota Extension's Public Value Program helps local government and nonprofits evaluate and articulate the public value of their programs.

Calming the storm
(From eNews, March 6, 2008) Three University of Minnesota top talents are launching a new era in epilepsy research and care: Aviva Abosch, Thomas Henry, and Steven Rothman. All are collaborating on translational research that ranges from enhancing the effectiveness of conventional drug therapies to venturing deep within the brain in novel ways.

Understanding the outdoors
(From eNews, March 6, 2008) U professor David Fulton studies why hunting and fishing passions are fading. A drop in these activities could threaten the well-being of America's wildlife because money from hunting and fishing licenses helps fund habitat conservation efforts.

Biomedical boom?
(March 4, 2008) This year the U is again renewing a request for its Minnesota Biomedical Research Program, and more than 100 faculty, staff, students, and other U backers attended a legislative hearing last week to show their support for the plan.

Champions of breakfast
(March 4, 2008) Teens who want to lose weight may be tempted to skip breakfast. It's a temptation they may do well to resist, though, says a new study.

Water works
(From M, spring 2008) The U's student chapter of Engineers Without Borders brings hope to small villages around the world.