Vol. XXXVIII No. 18; May 14, 2008
Editor: Adam Overland, brief@umn.edu

Read Brief on the Web at www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_05142008.html.

Greetings! This is my first issue as editor of Brief. I'm looking forward to serving U faculty and staff systemwide in this role. I welcome your suggestions, comments, and feedback, and you can contact me anytime through brief@umn.edu--Adam Overland.

Brief publication calendar
Beginning May 21, Brief will be published every other week, according to the summer schedule. The weekly schedule returns September 10. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Financially Fit Minnesota
--Board of Regents meeting
--People: Greg Lindsey named associate dean of Humphrey Institute; Misty Sato to receive the 2008 Young Scholars Research Fellowship; and more.

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

"FINANCIALLY FIT MINNESOTA": The U and more than 20 other Minnesota employers are part of a new statewide initiative that helps employees plan for their future and improve financial literacy and security. Financially Fit Minnesota has the support of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak, and St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman. To learn more, read "U joins campaign to encourage saving for retirement."

AT THE BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING ON MAY 9, President Bruininks discussed possible scenarios for the U's FY 2008-09 annual operating budget. The U has modeled different plans based on reductions in state appropriations being considered by the legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty. A reduction of $10 million would be addressed entirely through reallocations and delays in investments, but a reduction of $27 million--as proposed by Pawlenty--would require an increase in tuition above the planned 7.5 percent. A public forum on the budget will be held May 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m., boardroom, sixth floor, McNamara Alumni Center. Regents will vote on a final FY 2008-09 operating budget proposal at their June meeting. For more information, visit the Board of Regents.

PEOPLE: Greg Lindsey has been named associate dean of the Humphrey Institute; Misty Sato will receive the 2008 Young Scholars Research Fellowship; Charles Baxter's recent novel was voted a top book; Harouna Maiga was awarded the NACTA Teacher Fellow Award; Brian Buhr has been named head of the Department of Applied Economics. Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

THE OFFICE FOR TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION (OTC) LAUNCHED A NEW WEB SITE featuring enhanced navigation and access to information and resources about technology transfer. OTC redesigned its site presentation and organization to help researchers understand the technology transfer process and to connect companies to U discoveries. Visit the OTC Web site to learn more and to read this month's Inventor Spotlight about medicinal chemistry professor Philip Portoghese.

THE HUMPHREY INSTITUTE WILL HONOR Jane Freeman, Minnesota's former first lady, longtime political activist, and friend of the U, and the Honorable Al Quie, former governor of Minnesota, with the Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Award. Awards dinner June 3, McNamara Alumni Center, reception at 6 p.m., dinner and program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125, of which $75 is tax-deductible. Proceeds benefit a student scholarship initiative. Contact Dawn Fish at dawnfish@umn.edu. For more information, see awards dinner.

NEW INTERDISCIPLINARY INFORMATICS PROGRAM will draw from the biological, environmental, physical, mathematical, engineering, health, and agricultural sciences. The program is based at UMTC, but faculty from other campuses are encouraged to participate. Beginning this fall, the U will hire 21 new informatics faculty and up to 10 postdocs and offer 20 fellowships to the graduate program per year. See informatics.

Crookston:

A WOMEN'S SOCIAL/ALUMNI EVENT FOR UMC took place May 7 at Eastcliff, the president's official residence. Guests from UMC and around the state celebrated accomplishments of UMC women students, faculty, and staff.

Duluth:

UMD GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT will be held May 15, 7 p.m., Romano Gymnasium, with 185 students participating. Professor Matthew Andrews, noted hibernation researcher, head of the UMD Department of Biology, and founding director of graduate studies in the integrated biosciences program, will speak. For more information, see graduate commencement.

UMD's LARGEST EVER baccalaureate commencement ceremony is set for May 17, noon, Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. Nearly 1,100 graduates will march with over 100 faculty members. Student speaker will be Melissa Klajda, a magna cum laude honors graduate in the College of Education and Human Service Professions. World famous Arctic explorer Ann Bancroft will deliver the commencement address and be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree for public service by UMD chancellor Kathryn Martin. For more information, see ceremony.

UMD HAS ANNOUNCED THE RETIREMENT of nine faculty members in 2007-08. They include Stephen Adams, English; Thomas Bacig, cultural studies; Donald Collins, health, physical education, and recreation; William Fleischman, sociology-anthopology; Raj Karim, biology; J Clark Laundergan, sociology-anthropology; Raymond Raab, economics; Richard Seybolt, Spanish; John Voss, mechanical and industrial engineering.

UMD MASTER OF ADVOCACY AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM graduation ceremonies will be held May 16, noon, Kirby Student Center Ballroom. William Lucy, international secretary-treasurer of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, will be the featured speaker. For more information, see MAPL.

Morris:

A NINE-HOLE FRISBEE GOLF (FROLF) COURSE pioneered by UMM Students will hold its grand opening May 16, 11 a.m., Pomme de Terre Park. For more information, see frolf.

UMM WILL HOST ITS 45TH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY May 17, 2 p.m., campus mall. U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison will give the address. For more information, see ceremony.

UMM WILL HOST THE SIXTH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM ON SMALL TOWNS, featuring "The Power of Small: Building Solutions for Energy Self-Reliance." The renewable-energy-themed symposium will be held June 3-4 and will offer energy solutions for P-12 schools, higher education, and government agencies. For more information, see symposium.

Twin Cities:

PHASE ONE OF A NEW WIRELESS NETWORK begins tomorrow, and Office of Information Technology staff will continue the changeover throughout the summer. Expect some connection disruptions; signs will be posted at building entrances if work is being done there. To learn more, read Faster wireless Internet.

"TECHNO TEXTILES: INNER SPACE TO OUTER SPACE," is an exhibit highlighting concepts from intelligent buildings that respond to the environment to fabric balloons used to ensure that interplanetary vehicles land safely on Mars. Opening reception and panel discussion May 15, 7-9 p.m. Exhibit runs May 16-July 27. Goldstein Museum Gallery, St. Paul campus.

U OF M CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION STUDIES will host its 19th annual transportation research conference. Reducing congestion and lowering our carbon footprint will be among the topics addressed, covering all modes of transportation including highway, transit, rail, air, water, and others. May 20-21, RiverCentre, St. Paul. For more information, see CTS.

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE'S conference "Payers, Providers, and Politics, Oh My!" brings together IT professionals, hospital and health plan executives, nurses, physicians, and academia for a wide range of topics relevant to today's health care industry. Cost is $100 for HIMSS members; $130 for nonmembers; $25 for full-time students. May 21, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Carlson School of Management. For more information or to register, see event.

THE HUMPHREY INSTITUTE AND THE INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURE AND TRADE POLICY will cosponsor "Green Chemistry in Minnesota: Opportunities and Challenges for Leadership" to discuss how Minnesota can integrate green chemistry into its policies and industries. May 28, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Humphrey Institute. Registration is $25. For more information, visit Green Chemistry.

THE U OF M ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 2008 ANNUAL CELEBRATION will feature pioneering cardiac researchers Doris Taylor and Earl Bakken. May 29, 7:30 p.m., Northrop Auditorium. Tickets: $30 for members; $40 for nonmembers; $10 for students.

IVORY TOWER AND LUNA ARE NOW AVAILABLE. Ivory Tower is the UMTC undergraduate literary magazine. Luna is a journal of poetry and translation, edited by English professor Ray Gonzalez and MFA alumnus Alex Lemon. For more information, see Ivory Tower and Luna.

ENGAGE YOUR MIND AND REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT this summer with the College of Continuing Education's Curiosity Camps--unique daylong learning adventures for adults. Discounts are available for U faculty, staff, and full-time students. Twenty camps are offered June 11-Aug. 13. For more information or to register, visit Curiosity Camps.

WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES is the new book by American humorist David Sedaris. Sedaris will discuss and sign copies of his sixth essay collection following the reading. Free and open to the public. June 13, 7 p.m., U Bookstore, Coffman Union. For more information or to order a signed copy, visit Flames.

MORE EVENTS include Best DGS (directors of graduate studies) and Best DGS Assistant Awards Celebration (May 14); Promotion to Full Professor Workshop (May 15); Best-Selling Author Augusten Burroughs Discusses His New Book A Wolf at the Table (May 16); U of M Continuing Education Fair (May 17); Graduation Reception at Eastcliff (May 18); Campus Club Annual Meeting (May 19); "Cafe Scientifique: Can Darwin Make You Healthy?" (May 21). 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.

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