Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_5112005.html .
Vol. XXXV No. 18; May 11, 2005

Editor: Gayla Marty, 612-625-0552, marty001@umn.edu

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. Top Stories

THE BOARD OF REGENTS WILL REVIEW PRESIDENT BRUININKS'S RECOMMENDATIONS for strategic positioning, announced May 6, at meetings this week. Bruininks proposes to implement cost-saving administrative reforms; enhance diversity, writing, and international programs; and reduce the number of UMTC colleges by three, with major changes in the academic areas of design; education and human development; and food systems, environmental science, and renewable resources. Also on the regents' agenda: a review of tuition and financial aid trends, faculty salaries, employee health care benefits, and UMD's updated five-year master plan, and recognition of Distinguished McKnight University Professors and other award winners. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=2266&from=umnnews and http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/
President_Bruininks_releases_next_step_for_the_future_of_the_U.html .

THE U OF M ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (UMAA) National Board of Directors passed a resolution May 7 supporting the U's vision to become one of the top three public research institutions in the world. The UMAA national board represents 52,000 UMTC member alumni. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=2261&from=umnnews .

GENERAL COLLEGE AND STRATEGIC POSITIONING: VP Jones, who served on the committee that prepared academic recommendations for the strategic positioning plan, answered questions last week related to General College (GC), including access to higher education in Minnesota, diversity at the U, the impact of the change on current GC students and student-athletes, and expanding the role of developmental education across the U. Nine students were arrested May 4 in Morrill Hall while protesting recommendations for GC. To read the story in UMNnews, see http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Robert_Jones_talks_about_General_College.html .

2. News and Features

A TOP-RANKED DEPARTMENT: WORK, COMMUNITY, AND FAMILY EDUCATION (WCFE) tied for first among vocational and technical graduate education programs in the most recent U.S. News and World Report ranking, released last month. Positioned within one of the top colleges of education in the world, its faculty includes experts on issues from career and technical education in high schools to organizational memory in corporations. To read the story in UMNnews, see http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Exploring_the_frontiers_of_learning_and_work.html .

CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE (CSC) UPDATE: Vote for civil service representatives to the new U Senate seats through May 20; welcome new CSC members; and give input to the Merit Task Force, to the Rules Subcommittee (now taking suggestions on telecommuting and working on call), and to the CSC (for a presentation at the regents open forum on strategic positioning). To read the update in UMNnews, see http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/CSC_update_May_2005.html .

3. Campus Events and Information

University-wide:

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NAMED. The house and senate have both passed versions of the higher education bill, and the Higher Education Conference Committee met for the first time May 10. After reconciling differences in the bills, they will present a bill to the governor for signature. House conferees are representatives Atkins (DFL, Inver Grove Heights), Cox (R, Northfield), Eastlund (R, Isanti), Nornes (R, Fergus Falls), and Opatz (DFL, St. Cloud). Senate conferees are senators Kierlin (R, Winona), Pappas (DFL, St. Paul), Robling (R, Jordan), Solon (DFL, Duluth), and Tomassoni (DFL, Chisholm).

ACADEMY OF DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS (ADT) small grants to support teaching and learning have been awarded to Lisa Albrecht, social work, to continue development of the social justice minor; Jim Rothenberger, public health, and Leslie Schiff, microbiology, to send a small team to an upcoming conference on teaching and learning; and Patricia McCarthy Veach, educational psychology, for her project to enhance clinical supervision skills of students and supervisors in the genetic counseling and counseling psychology programs. For more information about the ADT, see http://www.adt.umn.edu .

KATHERINE SULLIVAN STUDY-ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS for 2005-06 are Christopher Gregory, CLA, UMTC (Japan); Sara Kloek, UMM (Ecuador); Oana Lungu, CBS, UMTC (Spain); Joseph Sand, School of Fine Arts, UMD (U.K.); Kathryn Schwaderer, UMM (Sweden); and Rebecca Vanasek, CLA, UMTC (South Africa). Sullivan scholarships provide a capstone year abroad. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=2258&from=umnnews .

AT AMERICA'S GATES: CHINESE IMMIGRATION DURING THE EXCLUSION ERA, 1882-1943, an award-winning book by Erika Lee, associate professor of history, UMTC, is the next selection of the Friends of Eastcliff Book Club. The book tells the story of U.S. laws that marked a permanent shift toward restriction in the nation's immigration policy. June 2, Eastcliff. Anyone can join the Friends of Eastcliff, which supports the preservation of the U president's home. For more information, see http://www.bookstore.umn.edu/eastcliff.html .

Crookston:

FACULTY AND STAFF AUTHORS of books, chapters, and papers were honored in a celebration of scholarship May 2. The work of 11 UMC faculty members and 26 staff members of the Northwest Research and Outreach Center was displayed at the UMC library through May 9. For more information, see http://www.umcrookston.edu/research .

Duluth:

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES FOR THE $13 MILLION SPORTS AND HEALTH CENTER ADDITION were held May 3. The two-story complex will house fitness and conditioning areas, locker rooms, offices, and a climbing wall. Students voted in April 2002 to fund a third of the costs through student fees. Target completion date is October 2006. For more information, see http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2005/May/01.html .

FIVE RETIRING FACULTY MEMBERS include Bernard DeRubeis, environmental health and safety; June Kreutzkampf, education; Edmond Lundstrom, health, physical education, and recreation; Donald Steinnes, economics; and Neil Storch, history. For more information, see http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2005/May/03-B.html .

Morris:

A GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH CAPITAL NORMAL UNIVERSITY, BEIJING, was signed by Chancellor Schuman last month to continue exploring possibilities for a student exchange. Jennifer Falzerano, UMM admissions, and Hong Yang, U China Center, joined Schuman on the China trip, which focused on exchange opportunities and UMM student recruitment.

A MINNESOTA STATE STUDENT SERVICE AWARD will be presented by Gov. Pawlenty to Paula O'Loughlin and students in her American government class for their involvement in the Kids Voting program in Morris. They were nominated by the program's community partner, Cheryl Kuhn, service-learning coordinator with the Morris Area School District. May 12.

THE CESAR CHAVEZ AWARD was presented to Multi-Ethnic Student Program director Aida Martinez and graduating senior Isaiah Brokenleg in a campus ceremony May 6. The award honors those who "embody the principles, leadership, and humanitarian qualities of the late legendary labor and civil rights leader."

Twin Cities:

THE 2004 EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY REPORT, with information about how UMTC students experience educational technology, is now available. For more information, see http://dmc.umn.edu/surveys .

A $500 REWARD is being offered for information leading to the identification of anyone responsible for the April 17 or 18 theft of items from an exhibit in Rarig Center developed by the Coalition for a Respectful U. Twelve 24-by-36-inch foam-core boards and five other pieces, including a Declaration of Tolerance signed by more than 300, focused on the importance of being an ally to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=2252&from=umnnews .

THE LARGEST BOOK EVER PRINTED has been donated to U Libraries. Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Himalayan Kingdom, by technology pioneer Michael Hawley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, required a roll of paper longer than a football field and more than a gallon of ink. Hawley will speak and show slides at the book's debut. May 12, Willey Hall auditorium, 4 p.m. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/A_book_no_backpack_could_hold.html .

A LANDMARK IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE, "Immigration History and the University of Minnesota: Where We've Been, Where We're Going," will include a keynote by Midwest immigration scholar Jon Gjerde; a Yiddish film festival; a celebration of the career and contributions of retiring Immigration History and Research Center director Rudoph Vecoli; and panel sessions on topics such as law, public policy and the immigrant experience, and gender and family in immigration communities. Free and open to the public. May 12-14, Elmer Andersen Library. For more information, see http://www.ihrc.umn.edu .

"SOCIAL SECURITY: COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES" will present five national experts. Sponsored by the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum. May 17, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=2256&from=umnnews or http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/policy-forum/calendar.html .

"WHOLE GRAINS AND HEALTH: A GLOBAL SUMMIT" will feature Food and Drug Administration acting commissioner Lester Crawford and whole-grain researchers, manufacturers, educators, and regulators from around the world. May 18-20, Radisson Plaza Hotel, downtown Minneapolis. For more information, see http://www.wholegrain.umn.edu/conference .

"WHERE ARE LAW, ETHICS, AND THE LIFE SCIENCES HEADED? FRONTIER ISSUES," a conference for researchers, academics, students, policy makers, and the public, will include plenary speakers addressing issues in genetics, environmental law, neuroscience, biotechnology, and health care. May 20, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 25 Mondale Hall. For more information, see http://www.jointdegree.umn.edu/conferences/lawlifesci.php .

SUMMER CAREER ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS, sponsored by the Center for Human Resource Development, are now scheduled. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/schedule.htm .

MORE EVENTS include Evolutionary Anthropology Laboratories open house (May 11); Women's Health Celebration 2005 (May 12); U Tourism Center showcase for National Tourism Week (May 12); "The Future of the Information Systems Academic Discipline" Gordon B. Davis symposium (May 13-14); new Lake Home and Cabin Kit, presented by Extension educators at U Bookstores (May 14); CitySongs 13th annual free spring concert (May 14); a chess lecture by grandmaster Pablo Zarnicki (May 16); and "Drugs and Delivery: Designs for This Millennium," a grand opening of the U Center for Drug Design (May 17). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES EVENTS ONLINE at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

4. Links

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Today's News Headlines: To subscribe to Today's News Headlines, a daily e-mail update of media coverage that is either about or references the U, see http://www.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/todaysnews.html .

Brief is published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to Gayla Marty, editor, at marty001@umn.edu .

All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

Notice: Brief is the official University of Minnesota staff and faculty weekly news digest, featuring human resource, employee benefit, administrative, legislative, budgetary, event, and other pertinent information. You may choose to unsubscribe from Brief, but please be aware that if you do, you will not receive this up-to-date information, compiled and delivered directly to you, in any other University communications. To unsubscribe, visit http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Subscribe.html .