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Vol. XXVI No. 24July 3, 1996
http://www.umn.edu/urelate/brief/1996-07-03.html
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Editor: Maureen Smith (612) 624-2801

Avner Friedman and Edward Prescott have been named as new regents' professors. Friedman, director of the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications (IMA), is a native of Israel and held positions at several American universities before he came to Minnesota in 1987. He has been lauded for his leadership of IMA, which brings together academic and industrial representatives from around the world to apply mathematics to real-world industrial problems. As a scholar, he is known for his contributions to differential equations.

Edward Prescott, an economics professor at the U since 1980, has made major contributions to macroeconomic theory. In particular, he is known for his work in establishing the field of real business cycle theory, which deals with how changes in such things as technology and public finance affect economic fluctuations. Prescott has also made a name for himself as a mentor of graduate students. Friedman and Prescott replace retiring regents' professors Rutherford Aris, chemical engineering, and Frank Sorauf, political science.

Virginia Gray, political science, has been chosen as chair of the Faculty Consultative Committee for 1996-97. Vic Bloomfield, biochemistry, is vice chair.

President Hasselmo said June 24 at his monthly news briefing that the tenure issue seems to be "back on track." He and his executive council have "endorsed with some very minor questions" the reforms passed by the Faculty Senate, he said, and the regents had "a very good discussion" in June. He cannot predict what the regents will decide in July, he said, but he has "every expectation that we will move toward a resolution."

In his June 14 report to the regents, Hasselmo said that tenure should continue to be at the institutional level and tenured faculty "should not be laid off...for any reason other than institutional financial exigency." Some reasons: Experienced and talented faculty are "the most important resource of any university." Unit-based tenure would tend to emphasize local loyalty at a time when U-wide loyalty is "very much needed." Instead of fostering flexibility, unit-based tenure "might very well serve to eliminate flexibility altogether." Mergers and reorganizations would require retenuring of the affected faculty and possibly new searches. Normal turnover gives the U considerable flexibility. Over the past 6 years, 902 faculty members left the U (28% of the 1989-90 total of tenured and tenure-track faculty), and 668 faculty were hired.

First major presentation to regents on the biennial request will be in July, with review in September and action in October. Hasselmo said the request will be broad in scope and focus on institutional needs. Investments must be made in information technology, deferred maintenance, and faculty salaries, he said. The undergraduate initiative remains high on his list, he said, and investments will be made in some key disciplines.

Recent shooting incident in Hasselmo's office led to questions about security. "One thing about security is that you don't want to tell everybody what it is," Hasselmo said. "I feel very safe and secure." The name of Jennifer Joan May, the suspect who has been arrested, was unknown to him before the incident, he said; unfortunately his staff have to take troubling phone calls "with some regularity."

Revised guidelines for dealing with threats and violence in the workplace have been sent to deans and department heads on the TC campus. Any individual who observes violence or believes there is an immediate threat to someone's safety should call 911 for police assistance. All faculty, staff, and student workers should communicate to a supervisor any knowledge of violence or threatening behavior including possession of a weapon in the workplace. Administrators and supervisors should call (612) 625-2000 (then press 2) for consultation assistance if they believe there is an emerging potential threat to someone's safety. Caller should ask to be contacted by a member of the Threat Assessment Group and indicate if the situation is urgent.

National conference in Nashville June 24 on the challenges of balancing work and family life was moderated by VP Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, and sponsored by the U's Children, Youth, and Family Consortium and the Tennessee Legislature's Select Committee on Children and Youth. Several Minnesota community groups participated via satellite. Program was 5th in a series of annual family policy conferences moderated by the Gores.

Sponsored Projects Administration and the Office of Information Technology are developing an Internet-based system for creating grant proposals and managing sponsored funding. First priority for the Grants Electronic Management System (GEMS) is to simplify the creation of proposals and budgets for the NIH and NSF. Led by Professor David Hamilton and associate VP Tony Potami, GEMS is part of larger efforts to improve grants management at the U. For more information, contact project manager Winifred Schumi, gems@ortta.umn.edu.

Howard Foundation is offering awards for 1997-98 in history, history of science, archaeology, and political science. Award is for $20,000 and is intended to augment paid sabbatical leaves for faculty members in the middle stages of their careers, ordinarily assistant or associate professors. Office of VP for Research will coordinate the selection process; the U may nominate only 2 candidates. Call (612) 625-2356 or e-mail facgrant@tc.umn.edu.

Applications are being accepted for the position of controller. Requirements include demonstrated success in implementing change in a complex environment; bachelor's degree with significant accounting, finance, or management experience; CPA, CMA, or CIA certification; substantial financial leadership experience. For more information contact Sue Jackson, Box 23 UMHC, fax (612) 626-2111; e-mail sjackson@maroon.tc.umn.edu.

Updates to U-wide policy library were made in June. Paper version of Financial Policy Manual has been discontinued. Home page for all U-wide policies and What's New is http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/. Changes include a new policy on Compensated Absences, Payroll System Security, revisions to Effort Certification Reporting, and final versions of collective bargaining agreements. Paper index to all U-wide policies, including how to get WWW access, is available by calling Diana at (612) 624-1611. You may also get access at microcomputer facilities in 9 Walter Library, 50 Humphrey Center, and 305 McNeal Hall.

CROOKSTON--Sixth annual UMC/Northwest School of Agriculture community golf classic will be July 20 at Minakwa Country Club in Crookston. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., golf clinic at 10 a.m., tee off at 11 a.m. Evening social begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and awarding of prizes.

DULUTH--Chancellor Martin has ordered an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities involving a representative of the Cloquet Connection (an athletic booster club) and UMD Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. The investigation will be conducted by vice chancellor Greg Fox, with assistance from UMD Office of Human Resources, Office of General Counsel, and U auditors. Until the query is complete, Fox has suspended UMD's relationship with Fred Burnes, a fund-raising consultant, and Ken Holmstrand, a member of the Cloquet Connection.

Exhibition of contemporary Swedish art is on display through Sept. 22 in Tweed Museum of Art, as part of the sister city exchange between Duluth and Vaxjo, Sweden. For information call (218) 726-8222 or e-mail tma@d.umn.edu.

MORRIS--About 50 high school students from 35 schools throughout the nation will attend the nationally recognized Summer Scholars Program July 7-19. Two courses carrying college credit will be offered.

Events: Summer Arts at UMM will present a performance of "Women Through the Ages" July 11-12 at 8 p.m. in Humanities Fine Arts recital hall. To reserve tickets call 1-800-842-0030, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.Cast Metal Invitational Exhibit is now in the Humanities Fine Arts gallery. Closing reception will be Aug. 17, 4-6 p.m. Exhibit is being held in conjunction with the Herman (Minn.) Iron Pour and Public Sculpture Project.

TWIN CITIES--Widening the range of people who make decisions about community health care is the goal of a 3-year study funded by an $839,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Mary Jane Madden, assistant professor in the School of Public Health, is principal investigator.

Office of Human Resources has contracted with Adia Personnel Services to provide on-site staffing services for TC campus departments needing full-time temporary help. Office is on first floor of Donhowe Building, (612) 626-0797. Full-service office will screen, interview, test, and train potential temporary employees. Part-time temporary staffing needs will continue to be provided by STS in Student Employment Center.

Announcements: Minnesota English Center is matching American and international students for language exchange, and is looking for Americans interested in the language or culture of Namibia, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, China, Pakistan, and Japan. Deadline is July 11. Call (612) 625-4058.Parking and Transportation Services has introduced a new charter bus program. If your department wants to charter a bus for any occasion, call 625-3433.Because of budget cuts, 24-hour staffing of parking ramps has been eliminated; ramp access will not be restricted. Additional security measures are being implemented. Details are posted at ramp, or call 626-7275.Body Work, a noon series that explores body/mind/spirit connections, will be Tuesdays, July 16-Aug. 13, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Weisman Art Museum. Slide lecture on "The Trouble with the Body: Surveying the Body in 20th Century Art," by curators Patricia Briggs and Diane Mullin will be July 18, 7 p.m., at the Weisman.Weisman Art Museum is recruiting volunteers to provide museum tours. Training will begin in September, applications due Aug. 1. Call 625-9623.Coffman Union hours through Sept 20 are Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.