Vol. XXXVIII No. 3; Jan. 23, 2008
Interim editor: Pauline Oo, brief@umn.edu

Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_1092008.html.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--U moves up in research expenditure rankings.
--D2D commercial earns spot in NSF presentations.
--People: Former University Counseling & Consulting Services director named president-elect of the Minnesota Psychological Association; MMF staff snag award for annual report; and more.

Campus Announcements and Events
University-wide | Crookston | Duluth | Morris | Twin Cities

U MOVES FROM 10th to 9th AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES in research expenditures. At the Board of Regents meeting last month, VP for Research Tim Mulcahy reported that the U had $595 million in research expenditures in 2006—up from $549 million in 2005; the increase represents the second highest growth rate among top public universities. Mulcahy talks about why those numbers are important in "Research on the rise."

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) WILL HIGHLIGHT DRIVEN TO DISCOVER television ad, "Harnessing Brainpower," in presentations throughout 2008, inviting the general public and U.S. Congress to learn more about work supported by NSF. This ad features the work of professor of biomedical engineering Bin He and his students. Together, they have created a brain cap that enables users to control a computer with only their minds. Ultimately, this same technology can be used to help those with artificial limbs. To learn more and view the ad, see D2D.

PEOPLE: Harriett Copher Haynes, senior psychologist and former director of University Counseling & Consulting Services, has been named president-elect of the Minnesota Psychological Association; Minnesota Medical Foundation (MMF) staff were recognized by the Association of American Medical Colleges' Group on Institutional Advancement (MMF's 2006 annual report received an Award of Distinction from the group). Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

MEET LEGISLATORS AND U SUPPORTERS at district meetings across Minnesota. Dates vary and registration is required; see the complete schedule.

STATE OF THE ACADEMIC HEALTH CENTER address, "Fulfilling the Vision: Breaking New Ground," by Frank B. Cerra, senior VP for health sciences, is scheduled for Jan. 31, 3-4 p.m., Mayo Auditorium, UMTC. Address will follow the AHC Faculty Assembly. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend; both sessions will be telecast to campuses in Duluth (263 Med), St. Paul (280 VDL), and Rochester (388 University Square). Address will also include virtual groundbreaking of the new Medical Biosciences Building.

NEW DATABASE FOR ETHICS SCHOLARS. The U's Center for Bioethics, in partnership with the University Libraries and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, received a $517,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to develop and pilot "EthicShare," a Web site and bibliographic database for ethics scholars to share scholarly and popular press articles, multimedia objects, preprints, and archival documents. See news release.

REGISTER FOR QUALITY FAIR BY JAN. 24 FOR FREE BOX LUNCH. Registrations after that date and walk-in reservations are welcome, but there is no guarantee of lunch. Come and see change in action—39 poster displays, 14 best practice ideas and success stories, and 8 new projects—plus breakout sessions. Keynote address by Kentucky U president Lee T. Todd, Jr., who brought quality improvements to his university. Chance to win 1 of nearly 50 door prizes and iPhone grand prize. Jan. 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center, UMTC. Information and registration at Office of Service and Continuous Improvement.

2008 McKNIGHT LAND-GRANT PROFESSORSHIP recipients have been named by the Office of the Provost and the Graduate School: Taner Akkin, biomedical engineering; Alptekin Aksan, mechanical engineering; Elizabeth Beaumont, political science; Mark Bee, ecology, evolution, and behavior; Nicholas Hopper, computer science and engineering; Chris Kim, electrical and computer engineering; Kirill Martemyanov, pharmacology; Katsumi Matsumoto, geology and geophysics; Jason McGrath, Asian languages and literatures; Shana Sturla, medicinal chemistry; Elizabeth Wilson, public affairs; Michael Wilson, anthropology; and Hui Zou, statistics. The Board of Regents will honor them in April. For more information, see McKnight professors.

NEW UPLAN FITNESS REWARD. When you visit a participating fitness facility eight times a month, you can receive up to a $20-per-month reimbursement of your health club membership. Bring your UPlan health plan card (HealthPartners or Medica) when you register at a participating recreational facility. More information at Office of Human Resources.

UPLAN WELLNESS ASSESSMENT CONTINUES. If you have taken the Health Connections online assessment in the past, OHR encourages you to repeat the 20-minute questionnaire to measure how your health risks and lifestyle have changed. Both new and previous participants can earn a $65 Wellness Reward for completing the assessment by April 30. Go to Health Connections to take the assessment and learn more about additional health improvement programs. If you need help with the assessment, call StayWell Health Management at 1-800-926-5455.

TWO COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS for faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars will be presented by Howard Gadlin, ombudsman and director of the Center for Cooperative Resolution at the National Institutes of Health. Explore issues specific to collaborative and interdisciplinary research and scholarship, including how to resolve conflict, communicate effectively across disciplinary boundaries, and lead successful interdisciplinary teams. Presented at UMTC and by interactive TV at UMD, 410 Library. Feb. 4, 3-5 p.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union; and Feb. 5, 3-5 p.m., A. I. Johnson Great Room, McNamara Alumni Center. See details and register.

ENGAGING CONTROVERSIES: A Writing Pedagogy Discussion Series by the Center for Writing offers faculty members, TAs, and instructional staff a venue for discussing controversial issues related to teaching with writing. Brief, topical readings are sent to registrants in advance. Spring 2008 topics are "Disciplinary Differences #2," Feb. 1, 10:30-11:45 a.m.; "Writing = Skill or Ability?," March 7, 10:30 a.m.-noon; "Academic Writing Meets Digital Literacy," April 4, 10:30 a.m.-noon. To register or for more details, see Center for Writing or call 612-626-7579. All discussions will be held at 12 Nicholson Hall, UMTC.

Crookston:

MINNESOTA NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION (MNLA) FOUNDATION recently awarded $3,500 IN GRANTS to assistant professor of golf and turf management Rob Golembiewski. Funds will go toward the upgrade of the Horticulture Greenhouse Teaching Laboratory. Plant donations for the Golf Garden Teaching, Research, and Outreach Facility are currently being planned. Read the news release.

AG ARAMA will take place Jan. 25-26 in the University Teaching and Outreach Center. UMC alumni and friends are invited to take part in the activities. Read the news release.

AWARD-WINNING COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN Charlie Maguire will recognize Minnesota's history and 150 years of statehood in a series of special events sponsored by UMC Feb. 6-7. Maguire will perform in concert on campus Feb. 7, 7 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Student Center. Admission is $5 or $2 with donation of a canned good. Admission is free for UMC students. Read the news release.

A SERIES OF MEETINGS will be held in three locations in northwest Minnesota. Local food producers, processors, retailers, and consumers interested in selling or buying local foods are invited to learn about the Buy Fresh Buy Local Red River Valley chapter. Read the news release.

Duluth:

LECTURE ON FOREIGN POLICY AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. Chancellor Martin and the Royal D. Alworth, Jr. Institute for International Studies will present a lecture by former U.S. vice president and senator Walter Mondale, Jan. 31, 1:30 p.m., Weber Music Hall. Mondale's speech, "Foreign Policy Development and Presidential Candidates," is the 2008 Royal D. Alworth, Jr. Memorial Lecture. The public is invited; a reception will follow. Read news release.

BUS SERVICE FROM UMD TO THE TWIN CITIES will continue to be offered by Jefferson Lines. The bus departs daily from Kirby Student Center at 3:50 p.m. Riders with a U Card (student ID) will receive an additional 15 percent off the service. The MOVIE EXPRESS BUS will also resume after winter break and will be offered on Fridays and Sundays. Tickets are $24 one way and $45 round trip. Ticket prices include bottled water, snack, and viewing of a recently released DVD. For schedules and to purchase tickets, go online or visit UMD Stores (street level).

Morris:

HILDA LADNER has been named assistant to the chancellor for equity and diversity, as well as director of the Multi-Ethnic Student Program. Ladner will assume her new roles in March 2008. Read news release.

GREEN LECTURE. Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson; Lowell Rasmussen, associate vice chancellor for physical plant and master planning; and Sandy Olson-Loy, vice chancellor for student affairs, will present "Back to the Future: Reinventing a 'Green' Learning Environment," Jan. 25, 1:30 p.m., during the Association of American Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Twin Cities:

OPEN YOUR HOMES. If you're going to be away on sabbatical next year and would like to rent your home to a new or visiting faculty member, e-mail the Relocation Assistance Program (RAP) or call 612-626-0385. RAP maintains a temporary housing database in which U faculty and staff can list their properties. Properties for sale, open to students, or advertised elsewhere are not listed on or accepted for the database.

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION. The Chinese American Student Association of the University of Minnesota is holding its annual Chinese New Year celebration. (The Chinese New Year, aka the Lunar New Year, officially begins Feb. 7.) The event will feature traditional Chinese dance and music; a Chinese-style dinner will also be served. Jan. 26, 5 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman Union. Free for U students, staff, and faculty; $5 per person for general public. For more information, please e-mail casa@umn.edu.

TOUR FOLWELL AND JONES HALLS. Associate dean of space planning in CLA Mark Pharis will talk about the historical and architectural importance of Jones and Folwell Halls and plans for refurbishing Folwell. Jan. 26, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Freshman Welcome Center, 200 Jones Hall. Refreshments will be served in Folwell's Gerhard Weiss Library. RSVP to Erica Giorgi or 612-625-8837, with your name and the number in your party, by Jan. 23.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM. The U's Center for Excellence in Children's Mental Health and the Cultural Providers Network are cosponsoring a Symposium on the Intersection of Evidence-based Practice and Culture, Jan. 28-29. The keynote speaker, Ken Martinez of Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health and the American Institutes for Research, will speak about strategies to eliminate behavioral health disparities. For more information, see CECMH.

AMBASSADOR JOSEPH GLAUBER will present "Whither U.S. Agricultural Trade Policy" as part of the Minnesota Lectures on Applied Economics and Policy, Jan. 31, 3 p.m., Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genetics, 1500 Gortner Ave. As chief economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Glauber will discuss the issues surrounding trade and protection related to U.S. interests and those of other countries in the ongoing Doha Round multilateral trade negotiations. (The Doha Round, in the works since 2001, is a means to encourage free trade worldwide.) Free, but registration is encouraged. Reception will follow.

THE HISTORY OF ARGENTINE TANGO COMES ALIVE in Tango Fire by Estampas Porteñas. Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m., Northrop Auditorium. Tango demos by Twin Cities and Rochester teachers and a performance discussion by the artistic director precedes the show; milonga (aka tango dance) with live music, cohosted by the Tango Society of Minnesota, follows the show. More info and tickets, see show details. Two related events: "It Takes Two to Tango: An Exploration of Argentine Tango Through Performance and Analysis" by Bob Barnes, leader of the Twin Cities' Mandragora Tango Orchestra, and Emily McManus, U graduate student in ethnomusicology, Jan. 30, 4 p.m., Nolte Center; and tapas and wine with faculty and friends of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Jan. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Nicholson Hall lounge.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Librarians from the Givens Collection of African American Literature will share stories about contributions of prominent members of Minnesota's black community in "First Fridays," Feb. 1, noon-1 p.m., Elmer Andersen Library. Bring lunch; light refreshments served.

MORE EVENTS include "Reducing Harm to Minnesota Women Who Drink too Much: The Smart Women Smart Choices Program" (Jan. 24); "Words, Words, Mere Words: Links to Our Hearts, Souls, and Psychological States" (Jan. 25); "Dance of the Snowflakes"—Ballroom Dance (Jan. 26); Dialogue on the Intersections of Faith and Sexuality (Jan. 29); and Hated Ideas and the American Civil War Press book discussion with U professor Hazel Dicken-Garcia (Jan. 29). 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.