Vol. XXXVII No. 28; Sept. 19, 2007
Editor: Gayla Marty, brief@umn.edu

Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_9192007.html.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
--Transforming the U: Community-based research.
--The U and Hennepin County sign master cooperative agreement.
--Strike update.
--People: New equal opportunity and affirmative action director, and more.

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

TRANSFORMING THE U: COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH is a growing priority, presenting new challenges to universities across the nation. The U's Research Subjects' Protection Programs, Institutional Review Board, and Sponsored Projects Administration are working to remove real and perceived barriers. Read more in "The research give-and-take."

THE U AND HENNEPIN COUNTY SIGNED A MASTER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT in support of community-based research, shared expertise among academics and practitioners, and expanded student opportunities to gain experience in areas of public health, transportation, education, and social sciences. Hennepin is Minnesota's largest county, with 22 percent (1.1 million) of the state population. See "Clearing the way to collaborate."

STRIKE UPDATE: The U's Sept. 14 offer to the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) was described in an e-mail message to all faculty and staff from VP Carrier Sept. 17. Answers to frequently asked questions about funding for U wage increases are also posted.

PEOPLE: New director of the U Office for Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action is Kimberly Hewitt Boyd, formerly at Hamline U; Doug Ernie, electrical and computer engineering, has been named associate dean in the Graduate School responsible for review of academic programs and U-wide academic interdisciplinary centers. Read about these and more appointments and awards in People.

CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

University-wide:

CIVIL SERVICE STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE for training to enhance workplace skills, including conferences and workshops for career advancement at the U. Non-bargaining unit civil service staff members employed at least 75 percent time are eligible. Funds may be used for registration fees for one seminar, workshop, conference, or course. Applicants may apply for a one-time grant of up to $200 within a 12-month period. Applications must be received four weeks before the event. Get the guidelines and application from the Civil Service Committee.

"CHINA AND THE MIDDLE EAST: FROM REVOLUTION TO STABILITY...TO CHALLENGE?" presented by Jeffrey Bader, Brookings Institution, will be the next Bob and Kim Griffin Building U.S.-China Bridges Lecture, hosted by the U-wide China Center. Sept. 20, 4 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall, UMTC. A reception will follow. See more lecture details.

CHINA CENTER MOON FESTIVAL CELEBRATION WILL WELCOME NEW DIRECTOR Yongwei Zhang. Sept. 25, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Wilkins Room, Humphrey Center, UMTC. See China Center staff.

SYSTEMWIDE GLBTA SUMMIT has been postponed. It had been planned for Sept. 23-24 at UMD.

A PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE U'S PROPOSED PHYSICS LABORATORY AT ASH RIVER will be held Sept. 26, VFW Hall, Hwy. 53, Orr, Minn. See the news release.

SAVE THE DATE: GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL DAY, a free U-wide event where students can talk to representatives of more than 100 graduate and professional programs, will include workshops on how to apply and pay for programs. Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman Union, UMTC. See the schedule.

"FROM NEURONS TO NEIGHBORHOODS: Making the Link Between Science and Service," by Thomas Insel, director, National Institute of Mental Health, will be the Graduate School's 2007 Guy Stanton Ford Memorial Lecture. Oct. 16, 12:15 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall, UMTC. See lecture details.

MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM fall activities include the AppleHouse (through Oct. 31), Scarecrows on Parade (through Nov. 1), botanical art show on wildflowers of Tibet (Sept. 26-Jan. 6), Auxiliary quilt raffle (Sept. 29), bulb and harvest sales (Sept. 29-30), and more. The Art to A-Maze exhibit ends Sept. 30. See September events and news.

Crookston:

GOLDEN EAGLE ALUMNI WEEKEND for alumni, family, friends, and the campus community will be Sept. 21-23. Events include alumni golf and social, tailgating, Golden Eagle football against Bemidji State U, and Golden Eagle soccer against Northern State U and the U of Mary. Men's and women's alumni basketball games will also be held. See the schedule.

FOUNDING UMC PROVOST Stanley Sahlstrom was honored Sept. 11 by the St. Cloud Rotary Club for 52 years of service. See the news release.

UMC AND CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL worked together to host the first annual Crookston Fall Sport Festival Sept. 14-15 at UMC. Golden Eagle and Pirate athletes volunteered.

Duluth:

"THE CHANGING BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST: The Impact of the War in Iraq," a lecture by Marina Ottaway, Middle East program director for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, will be presented as part of the Alworth International Lecture Series. Sept. 26, 7 p.m., 200 Chemistry; a reception will follow. Free and open to the public.

"BIRD FLU AND YOU," a lecture and workshop by Jim Skoog and Jo Thompson, will present basics of the virus; differences between seasonal flu, avian flu, and pandemic flu; and information on how to prevent the spread of seasonal and pandemic flu and be prepared to work during a pandemic. Sept. 25, noon, Garden Room. Sponsored by UMD Human Resources; free and open to the public.

Morris:

A FILM BY UMM FACULTY AND STAFF--Echoes of the Cry of the Marsh, by Media Services director Roger Boleman, assistant director of marketing communication and design Mike Cihak, and English faculty member Chris Butler--has been nominated for an Upper Midwest Emmy Award in the documentary category. The awards gala will be Oct. 20. Read more about the film.

HOMECOMING 2007: Everybody will receive star treatment during "A Red Carpet Affair," Sept. 24-29.

Rochester:

UMR HOSTED A PARTY AND OPEN HOUSE Sept. 18 for other tenants of University Square in downtown Rochester, where UMR now occupies the third and fourth floors. More than 100 owners, managers, and employees of 15 shops--from clothing stores and cafés to Barnes & Noble and Games by James--enjoyed a Greek picnic, ice cream, and a guided tour "upstairs," where construction has been under way for months. Watch for UMR updates.

Twin Cities:

UNIVERSITY NORTHSIDE PARTNERSHIP (UNP) INFORMATION MEETINGS for those interested in learning more or being involved will introduce this strategic collaboration seeking to advance the quality of life in north Minneapolis through a sustained, mutually beneficial, and invested relationship between the U and the northside community. College of Education and Human Development dean Darlyne Bailey will roll out next steps. Sept. 26, 4-5 p.m., 140 Nolte Center, and Oct. 8, 11 a.m.-noon, 144 McNeal Hall. Registration is requested.

THE OCCASIONAL-USE PARKING PROGRAM (formerly called limited-use) for faculty and staff has been extended for the 2007-08 academic year. The program is designed for those who usually bus, bike, or walk to campus but sometimes need to drive. It allows for 22 parking uses in one of four locations (4th Street Ramp, East River Road Garage, Gortner Avenue Ramp, and West Bank Office Building Ramp) between Oct. 1, 2007, and Sept. 30, 2008. See details and sign up.

STAR PERFORMERS NOMINATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED. University Services recognizes departments, teams, or individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Star Performer Award recipients will be honored at the Leadership Forum in November. Deadline for nominations: Oct. 5. See the guidelines.

A WORKSHOP FOR SPOUSES AND PARTNERS OF NEW FACULTY AND STAFF, "Conducting a Job Search in the Twin Cities," will be hosted by the Relocation Assistance Program. Sept. 27, 9-11:30 a.m., 215 Donhowe Building. Register by Sept. 21 to raprequests@hr-mail.ohr.umn.edu or 612-626-0774. See the workshop description.

FARMERS MARKET CONTINUES ON WEDNESDAYS THROUGH SEPT. 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., along Church Street in Minneapolis. Still available: locally grown fruits and vegetables, including apples developed by U researchers and sold by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. An informal on-site survey of about 300 market visitors, conducted Aug. 29 by the Employee Wellness Program, reported that 8 out of 10 buyers are very satisfied with the market. Learn more about the market and how to make the most of produce in season.

UNIVERSITY DINING SERVICES' (UDS) FIRST SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENT, "Eat Well, Live Well," will showcase more than 35 UDS partners, including Minnesota Heartland Food Network, Urban Ventures, Pepin Heights Farm, Thousand Hills Cattle Company, Davanni's Pizza & Hot Hoagies, and Sawatdee Thai Restaurant. See and taste local and healthy foods available on campus. Sept. 24, 11 a.m-3 p.m., Great Hall, Coffman Union. See UDS.

SAVE THE DATES:
--TRANSGENDER COMMISSION SOCIAL EVENT. Learn about the commission, find out how to get involved. Oct. 3, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Nolte Center lounge. For more information, contact Ross Neely at neely010@umn.edu.
--U WOMEN OF COLOR (UWOC) FALL WELCOME. A panel of women of color will address the topic, "Weaving the Tapestry: Building a Vibrant Community Across Cultures." Oct. 31, 9-11 a.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Union. Registration is requested: e-mail uwoc@umn.edu. Call 612-625-1105 for more information.

UNIVERSITY STORES ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE is today, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Radisson University Hotel-Minneapolis, 615 Washington Ave. S.E. Lunch 11 a.m.-1 p.m. See U Stores.

MORE EVENTS include "Breaking the Barriers to Biomass Conversion" symposium (Sept. 19); "New Ethnic Notions: Race and Identity in a Global Arena," by Harlem curator and visiting scholar Lowery Stokes Sims (Sept. 19); Time Symposium lunch (Sept. 20); Oceanaire Seafood Room chef Rick Kimmes at Bistro West (Sept. 20); "American Mediterranean: Southern Slaveholders in the Age of Emancipation" (Sept. 20); inaugural Sawyer Series lecture, "Humanitarianism and World Order," by NYU professor and SSRC president Craig Calhoun (Sept. 20); U professors debate use of public funds to subsidize inner city neighborhoods (Sept. 21); "Exploring National Identity in the European Union" workshop (Sept. 22); a cross-country bike trip in From Sea to Shining Sea, part of the Sunday Nature Films series at the Bell Museum (Sept. 23); "Before Their Time: Child Labor and Health" seminar (Sept. 24); campuswide blood drive (Sept. 25); and a panel discussion on the works of writer, teacher, and activist Cherrie Moraga (Sept. 26). SEE THESE AND MORE TWIN CITIES CAMPUS EVENTS.

Published by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to the editor at brief@umn.edu. The deadline for submissions is noon on the Friday before publication. All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu.

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