Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_12062006.html .
Vol. XXXVI No. 40; Dec. 6, 2006

Editor: brief@umn.edu

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

MORRIS ON THE MOVE: Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson discusses the future of University of Minnesota, Morris, and its role in the U's push to become a top-three public research university. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Morris_on_the_move.html .

BOARD OF REGENTS Dec. 7-8 MEETING PREVIEW: Agenda topics include interdisciplinary initiatives and University research reports, state of Minnesota economic update, and employee health care benefits update. For the complete Board of Regents agenda, see http://www1.umn.edu/regents/meetings.html .

CELEBRATING SEASONAL HOLIDAYS: Often, people are uncertain about the best way to celebrate the holidays in the office, and this leads to two kinds of mistakes. The first is to plan "holiday" celebrations that resemble Christmas parties in disguise; the other is to do nothing at all. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/A_party_for_all.html .

PEOPLE: Associate professor George Weiblen receives a fellowship from the Royal Botanical Gardens in the United Kindgom; U employees Zbigniew Bochniarz, Harry Lando, and Meredith McQuaid win the U's 2006 Award for Global Engagement; community program associate Lauren Gilchrist is part of a statewide task force on human trafficking. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/people.html .

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

SEEKING 12 FOUNDING FELLOWS: The Institute on the Environment is accepting nominations for 12 senior faculty or research fellows to participate in establishing the new institute. Appointments will be for 10 to 20 percent time, beginning Jan. 16, for up to two years. Compensation to the fellows' home departments will be made at the rate of up to $20,000 a year. Junior faculty will also be considered. Nominations are due by Dec 20. For more information, see http://www.academic.umn.edu/provost/interdisc/environment.html .

NEW 5-DAY DEADLINE FOR GRANTS.GOV PROPOSALS: The Vice President for Research announces a new 5-day deadline for grant proposals requiring submission through the new federal mechanism, Grants.gov, to Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), effective Jan. 30. For frequently asked questions about SPA deadlines, go to http://www.ospa.umn.edu/policiesandprocedures/deadlines/deadlineFAQs.html .

FUNDING FOR INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES are available to support international institutional partnerships and research circles for faculty and departments, and research and internships abroad for graduate and professional degree students. Provided by the Office of International Programs, with additional support for the research circle grants from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change. Proposal deadline is Jan. 29. (Graduate research fellowship deadline is March 9.) For guidelines and application materials, see http://www.international.umn.edu/funding/strategic.html . For more information, contact Karen Brown at 612-624-0832 or kbt@umn.edu .

Crookston:

RECENT FIRST-PLACE FINISHES by UMC's Collegiate Crops Team at two national competitions (Chicago and Kansas City) continue a legacy of success. Team members were Meagan McGrane, Wadena; Eric Proulx, Red Lake Falls; and Dan Pazdernik, Waubun. Amy Schwartz, Monticello, served as alternate for both contests. Charles Habstritt, UMC associate professor of agriculture, has served as the coach since the crops teams began participating in the contests 35 years ago. For more information, see http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story408.html .

PRODUCE YOUR OWN BIODIESEL and learn about the latest in corn, alfalfa, and sunflower production, including marketing, storage, and handling, at Crops College 2006. Dec. 19, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Seating is limited, especially in the lab sessions, and preregistration is strongly encouraged. Early registration by Dec. 12 is $40; registration at the door is $50. (Lunch is included.) For more information, call 218-281-8027 or seehttp://www.umcrookston.edu/events/cropscollege/registration06.pdf (PDF 664 KB).

RESULTS FROM "CONNECTING WITH OUR ALUMNI" survey are in, and alumni from UMC recognize that access to world-renowned teaching and research makes a difference. The survey results serve as a gauge for measuring impact and achievement and show UMC's significance as a regional hub in northwestern Minnesota for undergraduate education leading to a University of Minnesota diploma; technology applications in higher education; innovation and entrepreneurism; regional sustainability; and leadership development. For more information, see http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story409.html .

EMILY KNUTSON, formerly a personal banker for Wells Fargo Bank, joins Mary Feller, financial aid officer and scholarship coordinator, in the Student Financial Aid Office.

Duluth:

JOSEPH PROHASKA, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, was recently invited to become a contributing editor of Nutrition Reviews, published by the International Life Sciences Institute. The monthly publication is an international journal featuring authoritative and critical review of significant developments in the areas of nutrition science and policy. For more information, see http://www.d.umn.edu/medweb/biochem .

LAKE EFFECT AND CHILL FACTOR JAZZ ENSEMBLE, directed by Tina Thielen-Gaffey, performs in a vocal jazz concert. Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Weber Music Hall. Tickets are $6 adults, $5 seniors, and $3 students. Learn more at http://www.d.umn.edu/music/events .

"THE STARGAZING TONIGHT" series will be presented Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium. The series is a general introduction to the night sky, solar system, and current astronomical events and is held the first Wednesday of each month. Free and open to the public. For more information, see http://www.d.umn.edu/~planet .

WINTER JAZZ CONCERT by UMD Jazz I and II Ensembles and guest saxophonist Greg Abate, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., Weber Music Hall. Tickets are $6 adults, $5 seniors, and $3 students. For more information, see http://www.d.umn.edu/music/events .

Morris:

FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR STUDENTS from 27 sections presented their semester's work during the annual First-Year Seminar Jamboree, Nov. 30. A variety of formats were used, including skits, dance, and interactive, but all surrounded the general theme of human diversity. First-Year Seminar is a required course for all incoming freshmen at UMM that encourages informal discussion and nurtures critical thinking.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERISM in the Office of Student Activities is coordinating a number of volunteer holiday programs to assist Morris and regional residents. Projects include Adopt-a-Family, Toys for Tots, Tales for Tots, a mitten tree, and a first-holiday event for students who are parents. Read more at http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=1834 .

Twin Cities:

BE A CAMPUS CLUB MEMBER: For a limited time, new members can save 50 percent on membership dues the first year. Your membership will entitle you to bring family, friends, and colleagues to lunch or dinner in the Cafe Bar, one of our special monthly dinners, or other events designed for members. For membership benefits, see http://www.umn.edu/cclub/newsneverbeen.htm .

DIVERSITY THROUGH THE DISCIPLINES: First of three-part forum, featuring research conducted by some of the 2001-04 recipients of the President's Faculty Multicultural Research Award. Dec. 7, 2:30-4:30 p.m., Presidents Room, Coffman Memorial Union. Jennifer L. Pierce, "Narratives of Race and Innocence in Hollywood's Depiction of the White Messiah Lawyer," and Cheryl Robertson, "Developing Community-based Parenting Support for Refugee Trauma Survivors." Next sessions are Feb. 8 and March 8.

EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS at CCE Headliners event, Dec. 7. Scientist Meri Firpo will discuss the science behind embryonic stem cells and the results that can be expected from this line of research. Question-and-answer session follows. Tickets are $10; call 612-624-4000 or see http://www.cce.umn.edu/enrichment/headliners/whowhatwhenwhere.html .

LIVING CLOSE TO CAMPUS offers many financial and lifestyle advantages; University employees Judith Martin, Patti Franklin, Gordon Murdock, and Susan Larsonfleming present their perspectives on the many advantages of living near campus. Dec. 14, noon-1:30 p.m., 210 Donhowe. Other neighborhood representatives will also be available to provide information on housing-finance options and livability issues. Register at http://www.umn.edu/ohr/worklife/seminars.html . For more information, call Mary Everley at 612-626-0775 or e-mail rapland@umn.edu .

MEMORIAL SERVICE for Regents Professor Emeritus Robert Gorlin. Dec 16, 3-6 p.m., Campus Club. The internationally acclaimed clinician, researcher, and scholar died in August at age 83.

BOULDERING WALL at the Recreation Center will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to the Gear Sale this week. If you're interested in climbing, the climbing wall at the St. Paul Gym will be open 3-10 p.m., both days.

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. Gayla Marty, editor (on leave through Dec. 15); Pauline Oo, interim editor.

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 .

Brief is published by e-mail and on the Web at www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief.html. See also UMNnews, a U-wide Web publication, at www.umn.edu/umnnews .

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