Vol. XXXVII No. 17; May 9, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

Editor's note: The May 16 issue of Brief will be the last of the academic term. Summer publication dates will be May 30, June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, and August 8 and 29. The deadline for submissions is the Friday before publication.

Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_5092007.html.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Board of Regents will meet May 10-11.
--Transforming the U: MyLibrary--a personal, virtual librarian--is rolling out now at UMTC.
--For the next generation: UMTC program promotes access and success for students with children.

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

BOARD OF REGENTS, meeting May 10-11, will welcome four new members; honor several groups of faculty and staff award winners; hear reports on topics including tenure code revisions, UMD and UMR strategic positioning, and schematic plans for the new Bell Museum; and vote on the six-year capital improvement plan. See http://www.umn.edu/regents/agendas/2007/may/text (agenda) and http://www.umn.edu/regents/docket/2007/may (docket).

TRANSFORMING THE U: With millions of volumes now available in online stacks, students and scholars need a personal librarian. That concept has guided the Digital Library Development Laboratory at UMTC in creating MyLibrary. Graduate students got access last December, and deployment for all UMTC audiences is scheduled by summer's end. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Go_with_the_flow.html.

FOR THE NEXT GENERATION: More than 100 teen parents from area high schools visited the U May 1 and heard from UMTC student-parents who are thriving. The event was sponsored by the Student Parent Association and the Student Parent HELP Center, which is a national model for delivering comprehensive services to students with children. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/For_the_next_generation.html.

PEOPLE: Bell Museum of Natural History board member Ford Bell will head the American Association of Museums; professor Henry Balfour has won the Pan-American Clinical Virology Award for 2007; UMM computer science professor Andy Lopez and junior Miracle Obeta have won the campus César Chávez Award; nine Communicators Forum Maroon & Gold Award-winning teams were named May 2. Read about these and more U awards and appointments at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/people.html .

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: The Higher Education Conference Committee completed its work Monday night. The Senate passed the conference committee report (44-21) Tuesday afternoon, and the House was expected to vote Tuesday evening. The bill includes $149.8 million in new funding for the U, plus $25 million in one-time funding and $8 million in recurring funds (beginning in 2010) for the U-Mayo partnership. It is unknown whether the governor will sign the bill. Sign up for updates and find ways to support the U's request at http://www.supporttheU.umn.edu.

FEDERAL RELATIONS UPDATE: Ongoing issues related to student loans and renewed interest in campus safety in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy are moving Congress toward reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, a task left over since 2003. Accreditation, textbook costs, and financial aid are other issues in the latest update from the U Federal Relations team. See http://www.umn.edu/urelate/fedrel.

U-WIDE PUBLIC FORUM: INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. Members of the U community statewide are invited to discuss a vision for the future of science and engineering research at the U and share ideas on this new systemwide interdisciplinary institute. Interactive live broadcast will be available on the Web at https://breeze5.umn.edu/iase. Sponsored by the Office of Senior VP for Academic Affairs and Provost. May 10, 11 a.m-1 p.m., 2-520 Moos Tower, UMTC. For more information, including the roster of advisory committee members, see http://www.academic.umn.edu/provost/interdisc/sci_tech.

NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR THE ASSOCIATE VP FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT are invited and encouraged. This is an annually renewable, 12-month academic administrative position, 50-100 percent time, beginning July 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. The AVP supports public engagement activities by faculty, staff, and students and provides oversight for the Office for Public Engagement and the Council on Public Engagement. Applications and nominations will be reviewed beginning May 21 and accepted until position is filled. For more information, see http://www.academic.umn.edu/system/engagement/avp.html.

A RECEPTION TO HONOR C. Eugene "Gene" Allen for 40 years of distinguished U-wide service will be held upon the occasion of his phased retirement. Allen joined the College of Agriculture faculty in 1967; he has served as dean, VP, Ag Experiment Station director, provost, and executive director and associate VP for international programs. May 17, 3:30-6 p.m. (program at 4 p.m.), Memorial Hall, McNamara Alumni Center. The U-wide community is invited; RSVP requested, and reminiscences and tributes welcome, to Susan Miranda at schla025@umn.edu . For disability accommodations, call 612-626-8839.

COMPLETE THE UPLAN WELLNESS ASSESSMENT--OR TAKE IT A SECOND TIME--BY MAY 31 to earn $65 for participation in Health Connections. UPlan members who take 20 minutes to answer a confidential questionnaire about health habits and fitness goals can qualify to receive the reward. Faculty and staff are eligible to receive another $65 wellness reward in 2007 by (1) connecting to a health coach by phone, (2) enrolling in an online health improvement program, or (3) participating in a UPlan Wellness-sponsored health action program to be announced later this year. A spouse or same-sex domestic partner who is also a UPlan member may also qualify to earn wellness rewards. Log on to http://www.healthconnections.umn.edu.

Crookston:

NATURAL RESOURCES CLUB was honored by the U.S. Forest Service during the last weekend in April for 25 years of annual tree planting in Chippewa National Forest. Since 1983, students, faculty, staff, and alumni have planted more than 155,000 trees, helping to restock areas logged for forest products. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story526.html.

A DELEGATION FROM TAIWAN'S LUNGHWA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY joined another from Nan Kai Institute of Technology visiting UMC at the beginning of May. Discussion topics included cooperative academic degree-completion programs, joint research, ESL programs, and faculty and student exchanges.

Duluth:

BACCALAUREATE COMMENCEMENT: More than 1,000 students and 100 faculty members will march. Regent Baraga and Chancellor Martin will present honorary doctor of humane letters degrees to two internationally recognized Duluthians: cookbook author Beatrice Ojakangas and architect David Salmela. Both will give acceptance remarks. Speakers will also include honors graduate Kristin Zinsmaster. May 12, noon, Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/May/01-A.html.

GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT: New student regent Maureen Cisneros will be among the 150 participating graduates. Cisneros will receive her degree from the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) program. MAPL director and political analyst Wy Spano will speak. May 10, 7 p.m., Romano Gymnasium. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/May/01-B.html.

SIX RETIRING FACULTY MEMBERS this year include Bo Casserberg, physics; Jonathan Conant, German; Tom Hedin, art history; Richard Lichty, economics; Roger Lips, English; and Jerrold Peterson, economics. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/May/01-D.html.

FACULTY AWARD RECIPIENTS honored April 30 included two Outstanding Faculty Adviser Award winners whose names were omitted from the May 2 Brief: Jean Stevenson, education, and Janelle Wilson, sociology/anthroplogy. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/May/01-C.html.

Morris:

STUDENT HONORS AND AWARDS DAY will be May 11. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=3313.

COMMENCEMENT: Updated program information is now posted for UMM's 44th annual commencement, in which more than 300 students will receive bachelor's degrees. May 12, 1:30 p.m., campus mall. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=3315.

ECHOES OF THE CRY OF THE MARSH, a new documentary that chronicles a citizen's dedication to wetland restoration in Minnesota, researched and written by English faculty member Christopher Butler and produced by Media Services, will be broadcast on Pioneer Public Television, May 10, 9 p.m., and May 16, noon. Read more at http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=3205.

Twin Cities:

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL was recognized by the American Academy of Family Physicians as one of the top 10 medical schools in the nation for training physicians interested in family medicine. See http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/fammedaward042707/home.html.

AN OPEN FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC EDUCATION BUILDING, 147 Pillsbury Drive S.E., will give the public an opportunity to give input and ideas for the U to consider for the final reuse study report. May 14, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 155 Nicholson Hall. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070502_3320&page=UMNN.

FIRST NATIONAL AMERICORPS WEEK RECRUITMENT FAIR for students seeking national service opportunities in Minnesota will be May 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Christensen Center, Augsburg College, 720 22nd Avenue S. See http://ici1.umn.edu/msip/ .

UPCOMING EVENTS THAT REQUEST OR REQUIRE REGISTRATION:
--"Crafting Environmental Policy in the Teeth of Possessive Individualism: Whose Land Is It?" the second Philip M. Raup Lecture on Land and Environmental Policy. May 17, 3 p.m., Cargill Building. See http://www.apec.umn.edu/rauplecture07.html.
--"The Future of IT: Implementation of Technology," the Sixth Health Information Technology Institute, for IT professionals, hospital and health plan professionals, and academics. May 17, all day, Carlson School of Management. See http://www.himss-mn.org.
--"What Does It Mean to Be a Citizen?" 13th annual international conference on Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed. May 31-June 3, Rarig Center. Registration discounts through May 13. See http://www.ptoweb.org.

"PREPARING GLOBAL CITIZENS" is the theme of the 59th annual conference of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, to be held in Minneapolis, May 27-June 1. About 7,000 from 90 countries are expected to attend. All further registrations must be made on site; one-day registrations available. Speakers will include Gen. Colin Powell, Humphrey Institute dean J. Brian Atwood, author Jack Weatherford, and Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani. See http://www.nafsa.org/annual_conference.

"REBUILDING AFTER KATRINA" will be presented by Institute of Technology alumnus Craig Johnson, VP, Stanley Consultants, and senior project manager for Task Force Guardian, which was charged with restoring the New Orleans hurricane protection system before the next hurricane season. May 16, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. lecture, theater, Coffman Union. See http://www.it.umn.edu/alumni/itas/lecture.html.

MORE EVENTS include the U Child Care Center's Kami M. Talley memorial collection open house (May 9); "Revving Up Global REM (Race, Ethnicity, Migration)," meetings on a new U initiative (May 10-11); "Out Loud!" by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus (May 12); "Global Justice and Human Rights Trials" on TPT (May 12); A Life Among Whales (May 13); Sen. Norm Coleman in a public forum as part of the "Connecting With Government" series (May 14); local author Arthur Phillips signing his new book, Angelica (May 14); Theory Slam II (May 15); Penumbra's 30 Years: A Foundation for the Future (exhibit May 15-25); and "Backstage With Bellamy" (May 16). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS ONLINE at http://events.tc.umn.edu.

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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