Vol. XXXVII No. 10; March 21, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_3212007.html .

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TRANSFORMING THE U: At the Board of Regents meetings March 8-9, a major theme was transition from planning to implementation of strategic positioning initiatives, with reports from President Bruininks, Senior VP Sullivan, Senior VP Cerra, and VP Barceló. The 11 McKnight Land-Grant Professors for 2007-09 were also recognized. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Strategic_action.html .

SUPPORT THE U DAY AT THE CAPITOL WILL BE MARCH 28. Sign up now to join hundreds of U supporters including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and volunteers from across the state. Noon rally in the rotunda; 12:45 p.m. lunch in the Great Hall; 1 p.m. optional meetings with legislators. See the U tattoo and register at http://www.supporttheU.umn.edu .

CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE: Three members of the 15-member CSC--Cathy Marquardt, Linda Olcott, and Susan Rose--talked recently about benefits of being on the committee. Civil service staff members at UMC, UMD, and UMTC are invited to seek one of five seats open for 2007-08; apply by March 30 for first consideration. Terms begin July 1. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Civil_Service_Committee/Apply_now_for_the_CSC.html .

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS: A U Senate subcommittee is out to change the lingering perception that student-athletes are less dedicated to the classroom than to their sport. UMTC women's gymnastics is one of many sports at the U in which the student-athletes are highly successful in both. There's still time to see the gymnasts in action this season, and special faculty-staff discount ticket offers are coming up for baseball (March 24) and softball (April 14). Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Changing_perceptions.html .

PEOPLE: FOUR NEW REGENTS WERE ELECTED by the legislature March 8 for six-year terms, beginning immediately: Maureen Cisneros, Linda Cohen, Venora Hung, and Dean Johnson. The first meeting of the new board will be May 10-11. See more information about this and more recent U appointments and awards at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/people.html .

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

STATE OF THE U ADDRESS IS RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 5, 4-5 p.m. See http://www.umn.edu/pres/stateoftheu.html .

DISTINGUISHED McKNIGHT UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS for 2007, announced by the Office of the Provost and the Graduate School, are Gary Balas, aerospace engineering and mechanics; Bernardo Cockburn, mathematics; Uwe Kortshagen, mechanical engineering; Claudia Neuhauser, ecology, evolution, and behavior; Nikos Papanikolopoulos, computer science and engineering; and Eric Weitz, history. All are members of the faculty at UMTC. They will be honored by the Board of Regents in May. For more information, see http://www.grad.umn.edu/faculty-staff/mcknight/distinguished_recipients.html .

JOHN TATE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING for 2007 will be awarded to Pamela Holsinger-Fuchs, student services, UMC; Mary Moga, College of Liberal Arts, UMTC; Julie Johnson Westlund, career services, UMD; and Gayle Woodruff, Learning Abroad Center, UMTC. They will be honored at a ceremony April 20, Radisson University Hotel, Minneapolis. See http://www.irr.umn.edu/evpp/tateaward07 .

FACULTY INTERESTED IN EXPLORING ADMINISTRATIVE CAREERS are invited to attend one of two presentations to explore the experiences, challenges, rewards, and career paths of faculty now in U administrative roles. Sessions are March 26, 1-3 p.m., and April 4, 3-5 p.m., both in 401 Walter Library, UMTC. Each will feature a panel of U administrators; the April 4 session will focus on women. Panelists will share their experiences of moving into administrative roles within a university setting, talk about their career paths, and offer advice. Information about leadership development opportunities available to U faculty, within and outside the U, will be provided. To sign up, contact Cheryl Johnson, caj@umn.edu . Sponsored by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: The budget for fiscal year 2007, signed into law last month, includes a $260 increase in the maximum Pell Grant, from $4,050 to $4,310, and added funding for three major research agencies: National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy Office of Science. Minnesota delegation members helped pass these increases, which were among only a few augmentations in the budget. Read the U federal relations team's March 15 update, including prospects for the fiscal year 2008 budget, at http://www.umn.edu/urelate/fedrel .

WHAT ARE STRATEGIES UNIVERSITIES CAN USE TO RECRUIT FACULTY OF COLOR? How can universities create a welcoming environment to keep them? These key questions will be addressed by an estimated 400 professors, administrators, human resources professionals, and students at a national symposium, "Keeping Our Faculties IV: Recruiting, Retaining, and Advancing Faculty of Color," to be hosted by the U, April 12-14, UMTC. Early registration is $375 by March 29; one-day registration also available. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070315_3206&page=UMNN .

A CELEBRATION TO HONOR John Felipe, assistant director and 30-year staff member at the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, will be March 28, 3:30-5 p.m., Campus Club, Coffman Union, UMTC. The U-wide community is invited; RSVP to Felicia Franklin, eoaa@umn.edu or 612-624-9547.

Crookston:

RED TENT CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH will include a panel of women leaders--including staffers for Sen. Coleman and Rep. Peterson, a Marshall County commissioner, and the mayor of Park Rapids--in "Women's Voices in Public Policy." Other activities will include presentations on topics from women's health to the practice of veiling, an opportunity to write letters to troops, and more. March 22, beginning at 2 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Student Center. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story483.html .

Duluth:

THE FIRST DOCTORAL PROGRAM to be delivered entirely from the UMD campus will be the doctor of education (Ed.D.), with course offerings beginning in August 2007. The Ed.D. with a major in teaching and learning is an applied degree for professional development of K-12 teachers, community college and university faculty and administrators, human service professionals, and business professionals involved in education and training. June 15 is the application deadline for the first class. Read more at http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/March/14-B.html .

"THE GROUND RULES OF SCIENCE: Why the Judge Ruled Intelligent Design Creationism Out of Court" will be presented by Robert Pennock, professor, Lyman Briggs School of Science and Department of Philosophy, U of Michigan. Pennock has written extensively on the topic and was called as an expert witness in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Board. March 22, 7-8:30 p.m., 200 Chemistry. Sponsored by the Center for Ethics and Policy, Sigma Xi Society, and the departments of geology, biology, physics, and communications. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/March/13.html .

THE SIXTH ANNUAL STUDENT CONCERTO COMPETITION CONCERT, featuring the UMD Symphony Orchestra, will be directed by Jean Perrault, professor, and guest conductor Pierre Calmelet, Paris. March 25, 3 p.m., Weber Music Hall. See http://www.d.umn.edu/music/events/calendar/maraprmay.html .

Morris:

WORK BY ART AND NON-ART MAJORS, from photos and paintings to ceramics and mixed media, will be on view at the 2007 Juried Student Art Exhibition, March 22-April 14, gallery, Humanities Fine Arts. Opening reception March 22, 7 p.m. Juror was Wanda Schackmann-Flechsig, '79, founding director of Circa Gallery in Minneapolis. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=2608 .

Twin Cities:

HIGHLIGHTS OF UMTC PARTICIPATION IN A STUDY OF JUNIOR FACULTY will be the topic of a presentation today by Arlene Carney, vice provost for faculty and academic affairs. The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) at Harvard University surveyed junior, tenure-track faculty at institutions across the country, asking them to assess their experiences regarding promotion and tenure, the nature of their work, policies and practices, and the general climate, culture, and level of collegiality on their campuses. The U's participation is part of ongoing strategic positioning efforts to address recommendations in the May 2006 task force report on faculty culture. The presentation will be given twice: today, 1:30-2:30 p.m., 144 McNeal Hall, St. Paul; and May 4, 1-2 p.m., 2-215 Carlson School of Management, Minneapolis. Sign up to attend a session by contacting Cheryl Johnson, caj@umn.edu .

WORKSHOP ON ACADEMIC SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR VETERANS will include presentations on reintegration training and the family experience, as well as a student-veteran panel. Learn how to assist veterans and their families, whether as coworkers, students, or fellow citizens. March 27, 1-4:30 p.m., Bell Museum Auditorium. Free, but registration is requested: e-mail Janet Crittenden at veterans@umn.edu .

THE WEISMAN ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCED PLANS TO EXPAND with 11,000 square feet in three new wings designed by original architect Frank Gehry. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Expansion_in_the_wings.html .

GOPHER WRESTLERS WON THEIR THIRD NATIONAL TITLE SINCE 2001 on March 17. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Gopher_wrestlers_win_national_championship.html .

RACE, GENDER, AND PUBLIC POLICY POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS are sought to develop new research with support of the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Application deadline: April 15. See http://www.hhh.umn.edu/news/headlines/headlines2007/race_gender.html .

"SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL: TESTING STRUCTURES TO THEIR LIMITS," by professor of civil engineering Catherine French, will be the spring 2007 Ada Comstock Distinguished Women Scholars Lecture. French was a primary collaborator in developing one of the nation's six large-scale structural testing facilities, researching effects of earthquakes and other extreme natural and human-produced events on bridges, skyscrapers, and more. March 22, 7:30 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center; a reception will follow. See http://www.umn.edu/women/events.html .

GREAT CONVERSATIONS: "BRIDGING THE DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDE: THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION" will feature College of Biological Sciences dean Robert Elde and San Diego's High Tech High founder and chief executive officer Larry Rosenstock. March 27, 7:30 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070320_3214&page=UMNN .

POLISH YOUR ETIQUETTE SKILLS at the spring 2007 etiquette dinner for faculty, staff, and alumni. Profile Resource Organization VP Darcy Matz will show how to professionally handle any dining situation. $20 includes three-course meal by D'Amico. April 10, 5:30-8 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center. Register now at http://www.alumni.umn.edu/etiquette .

CLASSES WITHOUT QUIZZES: Water quality, Minnesota wines and apples, climate change, and high performance homes are some of the featured topics for short classes for students of all ages, taught by faculty experts in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. A keynote talk on climate change will be presented by climatologist Mark Seeley and WCCO-TV anchor Don Shelby. April 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., UMTC-St. Paul. Discount registration before March 23. See http://www.cfans.umn.edu/cwq or call 612-624-0822.

INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY University Symposium Research Awards deadline is March 23. Upcoming IAS activities include "Cosmologies: Perceptions of Time in China and South Asia" (today); "Philosophy and Kabbalah on the Pursuit of Happiness" (March 22); a symposium on "Art as Knowing: A Public Conversation About Art, Ideas, and Practice," (March 23-24); "'Father, Forgive Them': The Rhetoric of Mercy in the Violence of Supersession" (March 26); and more. See http://www.ias.umn.edu .

MORE EVENTS include "The Impact at Home: War and the National Guard," moderated by Tim Penny (today); Grad Fest 2007 (March 21-22); Spain's Consul General (March 22-23); Austria's Consul General (March 23); American Indian poet, linguist, and MacArthur Fellow Ofelia Zepeda (March 23); "Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan's Road From Minnesota to the World" (March 24-27); "Porous Sovereignty/Walled Democracy," by Berkeley political science professor Wendy Brown as part of the American Studies in the 21st Century Colloquium Series (March 26); Senior Send-off hosted by the U of M Alumni Association (March 27); and professor Harvey Sarles discussing his new book, Next Places (March 28). 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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