Brief (1-10-2007): UMNnews: U of M.

--Regents approved UMTC stadium design and revised cost Jan. 3.
--CAPA communications survey is now open: P&A staff invited to participate.
--Founding director of the new campuswide UMTC honors program is Serge Rudaz.
--People: VP for university relations Karen Himle began Jan. 9, and more.

THE BOARD OF REGENTS APPROVED A TCF BANK STADIUM DESIGN for UMTC in a special session Jan. 3. The 50,000-seat stadium will be a blend of brick, stone, and glass in a traditional collegiate horseshoe shape, open to the downtown Minneapolis skyline, with the potential to expand to 80,000 seats. A revised cost of $288.5 million was also approved--an addition of $39.8 million to be financed without added expense to taxpayers, students, or the U's academic mission. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Regents_approve_stadium_design.html .

COUNCIL OF ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATORS (CAPA): The 2006-07 CAPA communications survey is the central way for CAPA to improve communications with U academic professional and administrative (P&A) staff statewide. Committee chair John Borchert urges P&A staff to participate. Read more and link to the survey at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Council_of_Academic_Professionals_and_Administrators/ Survey_begins.html .

FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE NEW UMTC HONORS PROGRAM is Serge Rudaz, professor and director of undergraduate studies, School of Physics and Astronomy. He will work with colleges to integrate current, college-based honors programs into a single, more visible campuswide program. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070105_3087&page=UMNN .

PEOPLE: New VP for university relations Karen Himle joined the U Jan. 9; new federal relations team is Channing Riggs and Dan Gilchrist; and more. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/people.html .

2007 LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING AND RECEPTION is an opportunity for faculty, staff, students, and alumni to join President Bruininks for an insider's look at the U's 2007 legislative request. The U seeks $123.4 million in new state funds in its 2008-2009 biennial budget request, with stated goals of ensuring the U's continued excellence and helping to build for the future of the U and the state. Learn what you can do as an advocate and network with others who care about the U. Light dinner buffet followed by a program; short training sessions available. Jan. 24, 5:30-8 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center, UMTC. Register by Jan. 18, 5 p.m., at http://www.supporttheU.umn.edu or by calling Emily Johnston at 612-625-8739.

SAVE THE DATE: QUALITY FAIR, Jan. 25, 8 a.m.-noon, McNamara Alumni Center, UMTC. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/osci .

THE U WILL HOST "RISK AND RESPONSE TO GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: Lessons From Cross-National Social Science Research," an international conference of leading scholars. Free, but registration is requested. Jan. 25-26, Humphrey Center, UMTC. See http://igs.cla.umn.edu/research/conferences.html .

PRESENTATION PROPOSALS FOR THE SPRING TEACHING AND LEARNING CONFERENCE are now being accepted. On April 23, the U-wide Academy of Distinguished Teachers, UMTC Center for Teaching and Learning, and UMTC Digital Media Center, with support from the Bush Foundation, will sponsor a conference, "Enhancing Student Learning: Conversations About Research and Practice," at the McNamara Alumni Center, UMTC. The call for proposals and information about the conference, including keynote speaker, are posted at http://www.adt.umn.edu/conference07 . Online registration will open in March. For more information, contact Karen Zentner Bacig at kbacig@umn.edu or 612-624-5082.

PHARMACEUTICAL CARE EXPERIENTIAL CLINIC PATIENTS NEEDED: Appointments are now being accepted at UMD and UMTC. Clinic experience helps U pharmacy students learn how to deliver medication therapy management services--a new health benefit covered by some insurers and government programs. All U employees, relatives, and friends are encouraged to help prepare pharmacy students for this new professional responsibility. An advanced-standing pharmacy student, with an experienced faculty member present, conducts a comprehensive assessment of a patient's medication-related needs. Free, though donations are accepted. For more information or an appointment, call 612-625-7929.

APPROACHING DEADLINE: 2007 DISTINGUISHED WOMEN SCHOLARS AWARDS. These annual awards are made to two women faculty members: one in science and engineering, another in humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Nomination deadline to college deans: Jan. 19; final nominations to the Graduate School: Jan. 29. For more information, see http://www.grad.umn.edu/faculty-staff/funding/OUW .

INITIATIVE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (IREE) UPCOMING EVENTS include the Second Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Conference (Jan. 16-17); in the Energy Seminar Series, "Scientific Challenges in Sustainable Energy Technology," by Nate Lewis (Jan. 17) and "Will It Be Corn Ethanol or Prairie Biofuels?" by David Tilman (Jan. 24); a roundtable, "Minnesota's Stake in Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles" (Jan. 18); and a biofuels symposium, "Pathways Toward a Renewable Energy Future" (Feb. 1). For more information, see http://www.iree.umn.edu/events.html .

THE FUTURE OF UMC ATHLETICS will be announced today by Chancellor Casey. As part of UMC's strategic positioning process, an 18-member committee comprehensively reviewed the Golden Eagles program and filed a report Nov. 27. The report identified critical issues and options for conference affiliations. About one quarter of UMC students are involved in athletics on campus. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story426.html (today's schedule), http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story406.html (Nov. 27 news release), and http://www.umcrookston.edu/planning/strategic/arcindex.htm (athletic review committee report).

CHANCELLOR EMERITUS Donald Sargeant, who joined the campus in 1970, led UMC 1985-2003, and most recently directed UMC's international programs through a period of rapid growth, was honored at a retirement party Dec. 20. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story423.html .

"THE HISTORY OF PRINTMAKING" AND "THE LOUISIANA SERIES," collections of prints by U.S. printmaker Warrington Colescott, are on display in a suite presentation until Jan. 11, Tweed Museum of Art. The works are Colescott's tribute to his family roots and are presented as part of the 2006-07 National Print Biennial in Minnesota. See http://www.d.umn.edu/tma .

"TO 'D' OR NOT TO 'D'--IS VITAMIN D REALLY MAGIC?" by Michael Slag, Department of Endocrinology, St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic, is next in the Doc Talks lecture series sponsored by the U of M Medical School Duluth. Free and open to the public. Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m., 142 Medical School Duluth. See http://www.med.umn.edu/duluth/research/doctalks/home.html .

"REESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS TO OUR WATERWAYS," a three-part interactive speaker series by the Northern Minnesota component of the American Institute of Architects, will feature the U of M Sea Grant Program along with architects, city planners, water resource specialists, and community members. The series is funded by the AIA's new community service program, Blueprint for America. The first program will be Jan. 16, 7 p.m., Northern Lights Theater, Fitger's. For more information, see http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/news and http://www.aia-mn.org .

"MANY FACES OF ASIA" is the theme of Asian Awareness Week, Jan. 22-27. The cultural extravaganza will feature traditional dances, a silent auction, fashion show, and dinner. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=1963 .

THE UMR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE approved negotiations with Galleria Mall in downtown Rochester for temporary use of space to accommodate short-term U expansion, the first step in a long-term plan to develop the UMR campus. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070109_3091&page=UMNN .

HEADLINERS: "THE NEXT GENERATION OF BIOFUELS." Regents Professor of Ecology David Tilman will discuss his path-breaking research on converting prairie grass into renewable biofuels. Jan. 11, 7 p.m., Continuing Education and Conference Center, St. Paul. $10. Headliners are monthly discussions with U and community experts on topics in current events. See http://www.cce.umn.edu/enrichment/headliners .

MUSIC FOR MARTIN, the 26th annual concert to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be presented by the Office of the VP and Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity and the School of Music. Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness and local a cappella group 4given will perform. Free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations required. Jan. 21, 4 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=061219_3075&page=UMNN or http://events.umn.edu/event?occurrence=398936;event=115262 .

CENTER FOR WRITING spring workshops and panel discussions for instructors will be "In-Class Writing: Brief, Low-Stakes, and Potent" (Jan. 30); "Devising Effective Writing Assignments" (Feb. 7); "Portfolio Grading" (Feb. 15); "Online Response to Student Writing" (Feb. 21); "What's Grammar Got to Do With It?" (Feb. 28); and "Grading Student Writing" (March 7). The first session (Jan. 30) will be noon-1:30 p.m., 101 Walter Library; lunch will be provided to those who register by Jan. 26. To get details or register, see http://writing.umn.edu/home/events.htm or call 612-612-7579.

NOMINATE A STUDENT for the President's Student Leadership and Service Award, which recognizes accomplishments and contributions of outstanding student leaders at UMTC. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are eligible. Faculty, staff, and students can make nominations. Nominees also will become candidates for the 2007 U of M Alumni Association (UMAA) Student Leadership Award, 2007 Donald R. Zander Award for Outstanding Student Leadership, and 2007 Mary A. McEvoy Award for Public Service and Leadership; each is accompanied by a financial scholarship. Deadline: Feb. 14. See http://www.sao.umn.edu/leadership/awards or contact dussa001@umn.edu or 612-624-8697.

SAVE ON LANDMARK AND OTHER THEATER TICKETS: The Coffman Union information desk now carries discount tickets to Landmark theaters in addition to AMC, Mann, Muller, Regal, and Crown. Save $1.50 to $2.50 per ticket. See http://www.coffman.umn.edu/info/movies.php .

"SHOULD THE UNITED NATIONS BE ABOLISHED?" will be the topic of a lecture by renowned French journalist Pierre-Edouard Deldique. Jan. 22, 7 p.m., Wilkins Room, 215 Humphrey Center. In French; free and open to the public, but registration requested by Jan. 19: call 612-332-0436. Sponsored by Alliance Francaise, Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs, and Minneapolis-Tours Sister Cities Association (MTSCA). For more information, contact MTSCA representative Ed Coughlin, edcough@hotmail.com .

"DUAL USE AND NATIONAL SECURITY," presented by David Relman, Stanford U, will explore U.S. efforts to conduct scientifically sound risk-benefit analyses to craft regulation preventing the misuse of biological knowledge as a security threat while ensuring that legitimate research is not impeded. Third in the 2006-07 Lunch Series on the Societal Implications of the Life Sciences. Jan. 25, 12:15-1:30 p.m., Coffman Theater. For a free box lunch, register by Jan. 19: lawvalue@umn.edu or 612-625-0055. See http://www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/news_and_events .

MORE EVENTS include the annual Physics Circus (Jan. 11); "Touch the Sky: Prairie Photographs by Jim Brandenburg" (extended through Jan. 14); and Cafe Scientifique: "Human Hearing and the Frog Chorus," with ecology, evolution, and behavior facultymember Mark Bee (Jan. 16). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS ONLINE at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

NEWS RELEASES are posted daily at http://www.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/home.php .

Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu . All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

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