Vol. XXXVII No. 32; Oct. 17, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_10172007.html.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Nobel Prize awarded to Leonid Hurwicz, Regents Professor Emeritus of Economics.
--State capital bonding request approved for a total capital investment of $308.3 million.
--Board of Regents approved Minnesota-Wisconsin reciprocity agreement, Bell Museum plans; U Foundation reported a record year of giving.
--UMD's second cohort begins Transformational Leadership Program.
--Civil Service Committee is accepting requests for professional development funds.
--People: An honorary doctorate for Maya Angelou; Hampl, Hellman, and Sullivan inducted into the AAAS; faculty and staff Fulbrights; U of M Extension changes; and more.

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

THE NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS has been awarded to Leonid Hurwicz, Regents Professor Emeritus of Economics, along with economists Eric Maskin, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and Roger Myerson, U of Chicago. The three developed a theory that helps explain situations in which markets work and others in which they don't. Hurwicz received his law degree in Poland in 1938; he joined the U faculty in 1951. Read the story with a link to video.

A STATE CAPITAL BONDING REQUEST of $238.9 million was approved by the regents Oct. 12. When combined with a U investment of $69.4 million, it would give a total capital bonding investment of $308.3 million. Projects include $100 million in asset preservation and replacement; a new civil engineering building at UMD; the renovation of a gateway center at UMM; and, at UMTC, a new science teaching and student services building along the Mississippi River, a new home for the Bell Museum of Natural History, the renovation of historic Folwell Hall, and infrastructure improvements for the Academic Health Center's ambulatory care and learning center. See the news release.

DURING MEETINGS AT UMM OCT. 11-12, THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED a revised Minnesota-Wisconsin reciprocity agreement and schematic designs for a new home for the Bell Museum. They heard reports from the U Foundation on a record year of fund-raising, with $251 million in private gifts, and from Chancellor Johnson. See pp. 189-200 of the Oct. 12 docket for information about the reciprocity agreement; see news releases about the museum and record-level giving. Video and audio of the Oct. 12 meeting will be posted.

UMD'S SECOND COHORT IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM began work this month, with a major focus on improving retention and graduation rates. Read more in "Improving student persistence."

CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS are helping civil service staff develop their knowledge and skills, off campus as well as on. Apply now--funds are limited. Read more in "Even a little helps a lot."

PEOPLE: Renowned poet Maya Angelou was awarded an honorary doctorate by the School of Nursing Oct. 14; UMTC professors Patricia Hampl, Geoffrey Hellman, and John Sullivan were inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Oct. 6; faculty and staff Fulbright winners include Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, history of science, technology, and medicine (New Zealand), Elizabeth Bradford Lightfoot, social work (Namibia), and Deanne Silvera, International Student and Scholar Services (Germany); and U of M Extension announced administrative team changes Oct. 15. Read about these and more awards and appointments in People.

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' (AFSCME) collective bargaining agreement was ratified by members Oct. 15 and will be presented for review and approval at the Board of Regents meeting in November. See the news release and information on the labor negotiating process.

"BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESSFUL NOMINATIONS" WORKSHOP will help participants create a toolkit for developing successful nominations for the U's honorary degree, Outstanding Achievement Award, Award of Distinction, Alumni Service Award, and naming of a building. Nov. 6, 10-11:30 a.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union. To get more information or register, contact Vickie Courtney, program director, University Awards and Honors, courtney@umn.edu or 612-625-4805.

TEKNE AWARD FINALISTS, announced by the Minnesota High Tech Association, include two U of M units, both in the category of innovative collaboration. One is the Academic and Corporate Relations Center, St. Paul; the other is Project Lead the Way, a partnership that includes the UMTC Institute of Technology, Minnesota Department of Education, and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The winners will be announced Nov. 1. See the news release, ACRC, and Project Lead the Way.

"CHANGING LIVES AND CHANGING TIMES: American Life Courses in Historical Perspective," a mini-conference sponsored by the Life Course Center, Department of Sociology, UMTC, will feature panels of national experts on topics from how U.S. families have changed over the past century to young adulthood as a factor in social change around the world. Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 1114 Social Sciences Building, UMTC. Free. See the schedule.

E3 2007, THE MIDWEST'S PREMIER ENERGY, economic, and environmental conference, will feature more than 40 speakers, with keynotes by Pew Center on Global Climate Change president Eileen Claussen, Xcel Energy CEO Richard Kelly, and POET (formerly Broin) VP of research and development Mark Stowers. Breakout session topics will be biofuel feedstocks, solar energy advancements, business and industry's role in addressing climate change, energy-efficient buildings and industries, wind energy, policy scenarios, transportation, and more. Nov. 27, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Coffman Union, UMTC. Space is limited; see the schedule and register now.

Crookston:

THE TORCH AND SHIELD AWARD--UMC's highest honor--will be given to five individuals who, through exceptional leadership, have helped to develop the Crookston campus, U of M Extension, and the Northwest Research and Outreach Center: regional extension educator Cindy Bigger, '79; Clay County commissioner Jon Evert; U senior VP for academic administration Robert Jones; educator Ardell Knudsvig; and state senator Keith Langseth. The Torch and Shield recipients and donors to UMC will be recognized in a ceremony Oct. 23, Bede Ballroom, Student Center. See the news release.

Duluth:

INTERIM HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES is James Boulger, named by Medical School Duluth senior associate dean Gary Davis. See the announcement.

THE SATIRICAL MUSICAL COMEDY URINETOWN pokes fun at local government, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and small-town politics. Presented by UMD Theatre. Oct. 18-21 and 24-27, Mainstage Theatre, Marshall Performing Arts Center. See more information.

"GOVERNMENTS AND POVERTY" will be presented by U of York politics professor Adrian Leftwich, codirector of the Department for International Development's research consortium on Institutions and Pro-Poor Growth (IPPG). His research currently focuses on state-business relations and the politics of economic policy making in developing countries. Oct. 22, 7 p.m., fourth floor rotunda, Library. See lecture information.

"THE POLITICS OF IMMIGRATION TODAY: Addressing Root Causes" will be presented by immigrant-rights activist Flor Crisostomo and the Mexico Solidarity Network. Hosted by the Multicultural Center; sponsored by the Hispanic/Latino/Chicana Learning Resource Center, Latino/Chicana Student Association, and Women's Resource and Action Center. Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Kirby Student Center Ballroom. See more information.

Morris:

THE 2007 SCHOLARSHIP JUBILEE to honor UMM scholarship donors and recipients, hosted by the Office of External Relations, Oct. 6, was attended by more than 200. Associate vice chancellor Maddy Maxeiner welcomed everyone, and Chancellor Johnson gave remarks. Speaking on behalf of students were Alex Carlson and Laurel Cutright; Susan Keskinen spoke on behalf of donors.

Rochester:

UMR HOSTED A WELCOME for Chancellor Lehmkuhle at the official opening of the new campus, Oct. 16. About 200 people came from across the state to attend, including Regent Simmons, President Bruininks, Senior VP Jones, and Rochester mayor Ardell Brede.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO UMR'S GRAND OPENING at its new location. Tour the building, learn more about UMR, enjoy refreshments, and register for door prizes. Oct. 25, 4-8 p.m., University Square, 111 S. Broadway. For more information, contact Julie at 507-280-3104; see also the UMR home page.

A PUBLIC FORUM ON STEM-CELL RESEARCH Oct. 11 was sponsored by Mayo Clinic, the U Center for Bioethics, and the U Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment, and the Life Sciences. About 150 attended the presentation by Zach Hall, founding president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Twin Cities:

A NEW URBAN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH/ENGAGEMENT CENTER (UROC) will be developed as a model for how urban research and land-grant universities can be more strategic, intentional, and effective in efforts to help urban communities resolve complex problems. The new UROC model, which borrows from the successful rural Research and Outreach Center model, will be supported with a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) beginning in November. The grant of $750,000 over three years was awarded to Senior VP Jones and Associate VP Maruyama to develop collaborations as part of the Northside Partnership. Long-term partnerships, focused on health, education, and economic development, will be formed to address key issues identified by the Northside community and will be matched by a long-term U presence. See System Academic Administration and University Northside Partnership.

SYMPOSIUM ON TIME: The Institute for Advanced Study will host a three-day symposium on issues raised in Harvey Brown's Physical Relativity: Space-Time Structure From a Dynamical Perspective (2005), Oct. 25-27, including a debate on "What Einstein Did to Time." See the symposium.

"COMMUNITY APPROACHES TO CONFLICT FOR JUSTICE AND CHANGE" is the title of the inaugural Creative Conversations Film Series on selected dates, Oct. 18-Nov. 15. A local organization will host a discussion after each film. The series begins with The Fire Next Time on conflict in Flathead Valley, Montana, around issues of rapid growth and talk radio. Hosted by sponsoring offices at the U, Hamline U, and William Mitchell College of Law. See the schedule.

MORE EVENTS include "The Sound Creates the Space: Time and Place in Aural Art" on the art of timing in improvisational performance (Oct. 17); "Why Were the Templars Arrested in 1307?" (Oct. 18); "The Public Life of History: An Argument out of India" (Oct. 18); La Ciudad film and discussion (Oct. 19); "Cultures of Democracy? Germany and the USA at Home and Abroad" (Oct. 19-20); School of Music's Collage Concert, with 500 student and faculty performers (Oct. 20); Habitrot 5K run/walk through the campus to benefit affordable housing in the Twin Cities (Oct. 21); Feminist Waves, Feminist Generations authors Jennifer Pierce and Karla Erickson (Oct. 22); "What Would Justice Powell Do? The 'Alien Children' Case and the Meaning of Equal Protection," a Law School distinguished lecture by long-time U.S. Supreme Court correspondent Linda Greenhouse (Oct. 22); "Biofuels, Carbon, and Trade: Leadership Challenges for the Interdependent Americas" (Oct. 22-23); Bio-Medical Library open house (Oct. 23); Center for Transportation Studies 20th anniversary program and reception (Oct. 23); "Where Does the Water Actually Go? The Mississippi River is a Connected Bio-physical System," by professor Christopher Paola (Oct. 23); "Navigating Conflict: Planned Parenthood's Strategy in South Dakota," by CEO Sarah Stoesz in dialogue with Humphrey Institute lecturer and former legislator Steve Sviggum (Oct. 24). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS.

Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication. All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu.

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