Vol. XXXVII No. 18; May 16, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

Editor's note: This is the last issue of Brief for 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 noon on the Friday before publication.

Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_5162007.html.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Transforming the U: Board of Regents approves visionary six-year capital plan.
--Four new regents were sworn in May 10.
--CAPA update: New committee and P&A senators announced.

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

TRANSFORMING THE U: THE BOARD OF REGENTS approved the U's six-year capital improvement plan May 11. With components designed to attract and support exceptional faculty, staff, and students, the plan will put the U at the forefront nationally in creating modern learning spaces. Also during meetings May 10-11, reports included a discussion of tenure code revisions, passed unanimously by the faculty senate April 5, in preparation for the Board of Regents vote next month; schematic plans for the new Bell Museum; and more. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Creating_the_best_places.html.

FOUR NEW REGENTS took the oath of office May 10 at the onset of the board's monthly meetings. Maureen Cisneros of West St. Paul, Linda Cohen of Minnetonka, Venora Hung of Golden Valley, and Dean Johnson of Willmar were sworn in by Minnesota Supreme Court justice Lorie Gildea, UMM, '83, in a brief ceremony before an audience of about 70. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Meet_the_new_regents.html.

CAPA UPDATE: 2007-08 executive officers for the Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators, elected April 20, are Pamela Stenhjem (chair), Mary Laeger-Hagemeister (vice-chair), David Bernstein, John Borchert, Ingrid Nuttall, and Bill Roberts. Nine senators were also elected. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Council_of_Academic_Professionals_and_Administrators/ CAPA_2007_transition_begins.html.

PEOPLE: The UMTC College Bowl team won its sixth national title this month in Los Angeles; UMM students were on the Anishinaabe Quiz Bowl winning team; three faculty members will receive FDA honors for contributions to national food safety and defense; Julie Schumacher has won a Minnesota Book Award. 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:

RECIPIENTS OF THE 2007 PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE are Jacqueline "Jaki" Cottingham-Zierdt, Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action; Bill DeJohn, MINITEX Library Information Network; Jigna Desai, Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies; Joycelyn Dorscher, M.D., Center of American Indian and Minority Health and Department of Family Medicine, Medical School Duluth; Melissa Hansen, Cancer Center; Sande Hill, Department of Educational Psychology; John Look, School of Dentistry; Jan Morlock, University Relations; Duncan Okello, Boynton Health Service; Gyles Randall, Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca; Philip Raup, Department of Applied Economics; and Lynne Schuman, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. They will be recognized by the Board of Regents June 8 and honored at a reception at Eastcliff June 26. The award honors active or retired faculty or staff members who have gone well beyond their regular duties and have demonstrated an unusual commitment to the University community. See http://www.umn.edu/honors/Awards/Presidents_Award_Outstand.html.

APPLICATION FEE FOR ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS will be waived for undergraduate applications to all U of M campuses. The change was effective April 23. Read more in the May issue of The Record at http://www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/U_Resources/News2C_Events2C_and_Activities/The_Record/Record_200705.html.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE U-WIDE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT AWARD for faculty and staff members, active or retired, are invited in recognition of outstanding contributions to global education and international programs at the U in any field or discipline. Recipients receive a cash prize and honorary title. See http://www.international.umn.edu/awards/global.

A DELEGATION TO ICELAND will be led by President Bruininks May 23-25, celebrating the 25th anniversary of U of M-Iceland educational exchange. An honorary doctor of laws degree will be awarded to Iceland's prime minister, Geir Haarde, '77.

IREE-INSTITUTE ON THE ENVIRONMENT INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS: Two meetings for faculty are scheduled to help clarify information, address questions, and informally discuss concerns related to the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) transition to the Institute on the Environment with interim Institute director Deb Swackhamer and IREE director Dick Hemmingsen. Today, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 115 Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics; 10:30-11:30 a.m., 404 Walter Library.

IREE WILL HOST ITS MOST AMBITIOUS RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE, "E3 2007," Nov. 27 at UMTC. The event aims to raise the U's profile for its work at the intersection of energy, the economy, and the environment. See http://www.iree.umn.edu or contact Sarah Schmitz at schmitz@umn.edu or 612-624-6566.

CONFERENCE ON COSTS AND BENEFITS OF RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, originally scheduled for May 31-June 1, has been postponed. See http://www.research.umn.edu/events/rcr_conference/about.html.

NEW GARDEN MARKET and gift store in the western metro, featuring locally grown fruits and vegetables, will open at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. SummerHouse--building on the success of the arboretum's popular AppleHouse--will include food, plants, meat, gardening and cooking aids, furniture, and items for kids. May 18-Aug. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Hwy. 5 and Rolling Acres Road (one mile west of the arboretum entrance). See http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/whtsnw/press%20releases/release3_20_summerhouse.htm or call the SummerHouse hotline, 952-443-1409.

LAKE SUPERIOR EDUCATIONAL CRUISES will begin June 19; preregistration is required, and tours fill quickly. A View From the Lake cruises take citizens along with U of M Sea Grant water-quality specialists on three-hour trips to hear the latest information about low water levels, warming lake temperatures, invasive species, and storm-water runoff. Participants collect water samples and view lake life. $20 per person. Ports of departure are Bayfield, Wis. (June 19-20); Superior, Wis. (June 20-21); Washburn, Wis. (June 21-22); Ashland, Wis. (June 23-24); Two Harbors, Minn. (July 13-14); and Duluth (July 27-28). For more information, see http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/vfl or call 218-726-8106.

Crookston:

NATURE NORTHWEST PROJECT: A comprehensive source book with 1,000 entries related to nature-based recreation in the 21 counties of northwestern Minnesota is now available. The project was funded in part by a grant from the U's Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership to raise residents' and visitors' awareness of opportunities. The database includes searchable descriptions and photographs. See http://www.NorthernMinnesota.org.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA recognized UMC for campus support May 2 with the presentation of two prints by North Dakota artists Tom Saubert and Jeff Hoff. The prints will become part of UMC Library's permanent collection of prints. The Northern Lights Council's Voyageur Trails District presented the gift. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story527.html.

Duluth:

MINNESOTA INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE SYMPOSIUM III will be hosted by UMD's Center for Indigenous Knowledge Revitalization. Presentations, movies, and discussions will focus on international language revitalization initiatives. Open to the public; registration is required. May 17-18, Kirby Student Center. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/May/03.html.

THE 19TH ANNUAL NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA BOOK AWARDS will feature a book fair, program, keynote address by fiction writer Will Weaver, and awards in four categories: fiction/poetry/drama, nonfiction/memoir, art/photography, and children's literature. Presented by UMD Library and Friends of the Duluth Public Library. May 17, 5:30-9 p.m., Weber Music Hall. See http://www.d.umn.edu/lib/nemba.

THE 2007 OUTSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL ADVISING PROGRAM AWARD will be presented to the College of Liberal Arts Student Affairs and Advising Center by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) in October. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/May/02.html.

Morris:

THE FIRST MORRIS RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOUR will take 35 ninth-grade students from Osseo Junior High School to the U's West Central Research and Outreach Center; an ethanol plant, USDA-ARS North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, Denco, LLC; and UMM. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=3373.

THE CONCERT CHOIR's 36 members arrive in northern Europe this week with director Ken Hodgson, as part of May session. They will give eight performances while visiting more than 12 cities, including combined concerts with the Royken Vocal Ensemble Choir, Copenhagen Christian Church Congregation, and Musikgymnasium Choir. The itinerary begins in Bergen, Norway, today. See http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=3281.

"LEVERAGING RESOURCES TO IMPROVE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES," the fifth annual symposium on small towns, will be June 5-6. Hosted by the Center for Small Towns in partnership with the Minnesota Campus Compact, Minnesota Public Radio, and the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. See http://www.centerforsmalltowns.org or call 320-589-6451.

Twin Cities:

WIRELESS 2008 is a new project to replace UMTC's current wireless network access with the newest technology and provide seamless access. Townhall meetings to gather input for the request for proposals will be held May 29, 1-3 p.m., 110 St. Paul Student Center; and May 31, 9-11 a.m., 325 Coffman Union. Please register by e-mailing wireless2008@umn.edu . More information will be posted as it becomes available at http://www.umn.edu/nts.

EAST BANK TELEPHONE OUTAGE, MAY 25, 6 P.M.-MAY 26, 6 P.M., will occur as cable and wire of UMTC's central service is updated. Ethernet connections will not be affected. Phones in the following buildings will have no dial tone, but calls will go to voicemail: Akerman, Amundson, Architecture, Armory, Bell, Civil Engineering, Church Street Garage, Fieldhouse, Ford, Fourth Street Ramp, Klaeber Court, Lind, Mechanical Engineering, Morrill, Murphy, Nolte, Nolte Garage, Northrop, Physics, Pillsbury, Shepherd Labs, Vincent, Newman Center, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (partially). For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/nts.

CAMPUS CLUB SUMMER HOURS, beginning this week, are lunch 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; full-service lunch 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (reservations required); and Café Bar 1:30-7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 1:30-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday. See http://www.umn.edu/cclub/news.html.

THE FIRST ANNUAL TONY DIGGS EXCELLENCE AWARDS, given April 19, honored 16 new and established student groups for innovation, philanthropic efforts, outstanding events, and overall achievement. The awards are named for the former director of student activities, a 16-year employee of the U who died in 2006 after a long battle with cancer. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Continuing_a_legacy_of_action.html.

U LIBRARIES' ACQUISITION OF PENUMBRA THEATRE COMPANY'S ARCHIVES will be celebrated with an evening of performance by Penumbra favorites and conversation with founder and artistic director Lou Bellamy, associate professor in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Free and open to the public. Today, 7:30 p.m., Willey Hall auditorium. An exhibit of archive materials is on display in Andersen Library through May 25. See http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Going_backstage_with_Bellamy.html.

MORE EVENTS include Thirty Days: Off the Grid in the Science on the Screen series (May 17); "Scholars, Scrolls, and Scandals: The Dead Sea Scrolls and the History of Judaism" (May 17); "Genomics and Risk-based Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia," the 16th annual Nesbit Lectureship in Pediatric Oncology, by William Carroll, M.D., New York U (May 18); a demonstration of CareerPath, the College of Continuing Education's new free, online career management tool (May 19); MFA exhibition at the Nash Gallery (through May 19); Campus Club annual meeting (May 21); and Rep. Jim Ramstad in "Connecting With Government" (May 30). 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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