Vol. XXXVII No. 21; June 27, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

Editor's note: Brief summer publication dates are 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_6272007.html.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--New regents professor profile: Peter Reich, forest resources.
--Transforming the U: Five 2006-07 President's Emerging Leaders projects presented.
--People: Eight student Fulbrights for 2007-08, endowed chair named for Carl Osborne, and more.

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

REGENTS PROFESSOR PROFILE: PETER REICH, professor of forest resources, is known for combining data sets from around the world and finding patterns no one else has seen. Among his findings: a universal continuum of plant lifestyles from fast (weeds) to slow (pine trees) and a way to compute a key variable in models of climate change. Read more about Reich in the first profile in a series on five new regents professors named this month at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/The_whole_world_in_his_hands.html.

TRANSFORMING THE U: FIVE 2006-07 PRESIDENT'S EMERGING LEADERS (PEL) PROJECTS were presented in a celebratory poster display June 20--on faculty mentoring, UMR positioning, internationalizing the U, staff engagement, and managing change. The 26 participants were honored for their achievements during a year of leadership development. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Office_of_Human_Resources/PEL_200607.html.

PEOPLE: U students have won eight Fulbrights for 2007-08--to Australia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Senegal, and Tunisia; an endowed chair has been named for veterinary medicine professor Carl Osborne; Daniel Garry is the new Lillehei Heart Institute and cardiology division director in the Medical School; UMTC has hired 10 new faculty members in economics. 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:

THE BOARD OF REGENTS will meet today at 1 p.m. to act on the proposed annual operating budget for 2007-08. See the schedule at http://www.umn.edu/regents/meetings.html and the news release at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070625_3387&page=UMNN.

MINNESOTA-WISCONSIN TUITION RECIPROCITY will continue with modifications to address U concerns, Gov. Pawlenty announced June 22. See the governor's announcement at http://www.governor.state.mn.us/mediacenter/pressreleases/PROD008202 and the University's statement at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070622_3385&page=UMNN.

MSRS CONTRIBUTION RATE INCREASE: A bill passed by the 2006 Minnesota State Legislature included a pension provision to build up the Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) funding level. As a result, the general plan rates for employee and employer contributions will increase from the current rate of 4 percent to 5 percent over four years. Beginning with Aug. 1 paychecks, civil service and bargaining unit employees will contribute 4.25 percent of their salaries and the U will contribute 4.25 percent to pay for monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. See also the MSRS legislative update at http://www.msrs.state.mn.us/info/Legislat.htmls.

TEN U UNITS WON SERVICE AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT FUND (SPIF) GRANTS totaling $469,688 for 11 projects in fiscal year 2008. The winners include U of M Extension, Office of the General Council, Office of Human Resources, Sponsored Projects Administration, Learning Abroad Center, UMTC Office of Admissions, and five UMTC colleges (CEHD, CLA, Design, Humphrey Institute, and Nursing). Applications for next year will be due in March 2008. See http://www.umn.edu/osci/spif.html.

NOMINATE A FACULTY MEMBER FOR A DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD. If you know a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to undergraduate or graduate education at the U, consider nominating him or her for the Horace T. Morse-U of M Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education or the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education. Exceptional faculty members in all U units are eligible. Nominations may be made by students, faculty, or administrators, in coordination with collegiate deans' offices or (at UMC and UMM) the vice chancellors' offices. Guidelines for 2007-08 nominations will be available in September, but 2006-07 guidelines and other nomination materials may be reviewed now at http://www.irr.umn.edu/evpp/morseaward07/ (Morse) and http://www.irr.umn.edu/evpp/gradprofaward07/ (graduate/professional), or contact Robin Matross Helms at rmhelms@umn.edu or 612-626-5598.

THE U FEDERAL RELATIONS TEAM UPDATE, e-mailed June 20, is now posted. Topics include the major role higher education will play in the budget reconciliation process this year, research and student aid in appropriations bills, patent reform, action against illegal downloading of music and movies on university computer networks, accreditation regulations, support for study abroad, competitiveness, immigration, the farm bill, and representatives' recent campus visits. See http://www.umn.edu/urelate/fedrel/dc_updates.html.

THE JUNE ISSUE OF THE RECORD features information on two new enhancements to instructors' My Classes reports; the UMACRAO conference to be held Nov. 7-9 in Okoboji, Iowa; and three new employees in Academic Support Resources. See http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/Services/News_Events_and_Activities/Record.html.

OPERATION MILITARY KIDS, created by U of M Extension, the U.S. Army, and others, reaches out to nearly 15,000 Minnesota children affected by the military deployment of a loved one. See the U of M Moment feature at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/urelate/radio or http://www.operationmilitarykids.org.

TWO CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH this summer include the national Maternal Nutrition Intensive Course, July 25-27, Humphrey Center, UMTC (register by July 6); and the Public Health Mini-Institute, with several course and event options, two to four days each, July 17-27, Bismarck, North Dakota (register by July 10). See http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/events/mnic/home.html (nutrition) and http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/mini-institute/home.html (mini-institute).

FOURTH ANNUAL WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH CONFERENCE registration is now open. Presented by the Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health, Sept. 17, UMTC. See the program and register at http://www.wmhealth.umn.edu/wmhlth/profed/upcoming2/research07.html.

THE MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM AUXILIARY'S 23RD ANNUAL GARDEN TOURS will begin with brunch (July 8) or lunch (July 10, 11) and continue by coach to private gardens in the Minnetonka/Excelsior area. Space is limited, so reserve soon. Download a reservation form at http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/calendar/july.htm or call 952-443-1400, ext. 7052, to request that a form be mailed to you.

Crookston:

MORE THAN 200 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS of the former Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) will return June 29-30 for an annual reunion at UMC. Read more at http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story540.html.

SHAVER BUTTERFLY GARDEN, a unique horticultural display of plants selected to attract butterflies, will be dedicated during the NWSA reunion. June 30, 9:30 a.m., between Owen and Hill Halls. Read more at http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story552.html.

SECOND ANNUAL GAME DESIGN CAMP will put math and physics center stage for high school students at UMC. June 24-30. See http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/stories/story548.html.

Duluth:

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, directed by Chancellor Martin, will kick off the 2007 Sieur Du Luth Summer Arts Festival tonight, 7:30 p.m. The jazzy musical is known for clever characters and the spirit of friendship. Music director is assistant professor Ryan Frane; choreography is by assistant professor Rebecca Katz Harwood. Various dates and times through July 8, Marshall Performing Arts Center. See http://www.umdartsfest.com/home.php.

PROMOTION AND TENURE of 15 faculty members was announced June 20. They are Dalibor Froncek, Mary Caprioli, Emmanuel Enemuoh, Ryan Frane, M. Imran Hayee, Mary Hermes, Dahui Li, Mary Ann Marchel, Michael Pfau, Yongcheng Qi, Maureen Tobin Stanley, Joyce Strand, Craig Stroupe, Steve Vanderheiden, and Josef Werne. See http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2007/June/20.html.

Morris:

AN INFORMAL, PUBLIC GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW BIOMASS FACILITY is scheduled for July 27. The reactor will convert corn stalks and other residual materials into a syngas--similar to natural gas--that can be burned to produce clean energy for heating and eventually cooling the campus. The facility also will serve as a platform for UMM research partners to identify tradeoffs and opportunities surrounding gasifying other agricultural residues. 11 a.m., construction site next to the UMM heating plant. Read more at http://www.morris.umn.edu/ummnews/View.php?itemID=3493.

Rochester:

CHANCELLOR CANDIDATE PUBLIC FORUMS AND RECEPTIONS continue this week with Stephen Lehmkuhle, senior VP for academic affairs, U of Missouri, today, 3:30-5 p.m.; and David Chang, chancellor, Polytechnic U, Brooklyn, New York, June 29, 3:30-5 p.m. On June 25, Allan Myerson, provost and senior VP, Illinois Institute of Technology, presented. All in the Radisson Plaza Hotel, 150 S. Broadway, Rochester. Resumes and the position announcement are posted at http://www.r.umn.edu/01_about-chancellor.html ; see also the news release at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070620_3383&page=UMNN.

Twin Cities:

CAMPUS FARMERS MARKET WILL RETURN for the third season on Wednesdays, July 11-Aug. 29, with flowers, herbs, and produce grown in the Twin Cities campus vicinity. Get acquainted with gardeners and farmers, pick up a free canvas tote bag, help yourself to free iced tea compliments of the Campus Club, get a chair massage courtesy of Boynton Health Service, get nutrition and fitness tips from members of the U Wellness Collaborative, and enjoy free outdoor concerts on Northrop Mall on select dates in July. Sponsored by the Employee Wellness Program, Office of Human Resources. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Church Street mall near Tate Lab of Physics. See http://www.farmersmarket.umn.edu.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Significant delays near UMTC in Minneapolis are expected throughout construction on I-35W between Stinson Boulevard and I-94 until late September. See http://www.mndot.gov or http://www.511mn.org.

PARKING RATES at public UMTC lots will increase by $.25 July 1. See all the new rates at http://www.pts.umn.edu/parkingrates.htm.

FACULTY AND STAFF ADVISERS FOR 46 individual fraternity and sorority chapters, including 10 multicultural organizations, are sought in a new initiative sponsored by the Office for Student Affairs and the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life. See http://www.umn.edu/fsl and contact Chad Ellsworth, ellsw017@umn.edu or 612-624-7659.

STUDENT WRITING SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE DURING THE SUMMER at the Center for Writing, face-to-face in 15 Nicholson Hall and online with the support of a grant from the College of Liberal Arts Office of Information Technology. See http://writing.umn.edu/sws or call 612-625-1893.

KWANZAA FREEDOM SCHOOL is being held at UMTC for the first time through a partnership of the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health and two community organizations. More than 20 high school students will benefit from U faculty expertise and facilities for three hours a day on two days a week throughout the summer. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070606_3358&page=UMNN.

HEALTH CARE AND INNOVATION: The third annual American and German trans-Atlantic experts roundtable will include leaders in all major health care sectors. July 16-17, McNamara Alumni Center. Register by July 5. Read more at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/news_details.php?release=070620_3382&page=UMNN.

MORE EVENTS include the Minnesota International Conference in Ethics (I.C.E.), sponsored by the Department of Philosophy (June 29-July 1); "Your Heart's Desire: Sex and Love in Jewish Literature," a discussion with English professor Maria Damon (July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31); "Catastrophe: Imaging and Imagining Disruptions of Time," an interdisciplinary workshop of academics and artists (July 6); rebroadcast of Juan Cole's April 5 talk, "The Internet, the Public Intellectual, and the War on Terror" (July 8); and the 15th annual SHARP conference, "Open the Book, Open the Mind" (July 10-15). 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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