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Past Issues
Editor: Pauline Oo, 612-624-7889, ooxxx003@umn.edu
House passed its bonding bill, which includes $138.7 million for capital improvements at the U, on
a 95-37 vote March 18. Disputed rail link between St. Cloud and the Twin Cities, which caused the bill to fail last week, was removed from the legislation. Bill will now go to conference committee, where the house and the senate will work out differences between their proposals. Senate is recommending $241 million in funding for the U; Gov. Ventura is proposing $85.6 million.
U ranks lowest in 5-year graduation rate in the
Big 10 and last in 6-year graduation rate among top 50 national public universities, according to report
by Graduation and Retention Subcommittee of the Council of Undergraduate Deans. Subcommittee examined assumptions said to be reasons for U’s low rates--urban setting, students work more and commute, students participate in more opportunities (such as study abroad and internships), and "Midwest factor" (students are less likely to be supported by parents)--and conclude that "even in aggregate they cannot fully account for the substantial difference in graduation rates" between the U and its peers.
Subcommittee recommends communicating clear and explicit institutional expectations, developing an institutional commitment to help students stay on track, reducing institutional barriers, developing incentives, and balancing access with success.
Senate Committee on Finance and Planning "strongly endorses" the comments and recommendations by undergraduate deans council. It further proposed mandating a minimum 13-credit load per semester, accompanied by a new 75% tuition discount option for 13 credits and above with no upper limits, effective fall 2002 for all undergraduate students--entering freshmen, entering transfer students, and returning students. Students currently receive a 50% discount on the 13th and additional credits.
Minnesota Senate passed a stadium bill March 13. Language in this bill, authored by Dean Johnson (D-Willmar), was amended. Sports facilities account that would partially fund a new Minnesota Twins stadium through user fees and other taxes, including taxes on most collegiate memorabilia, would only apply those taxes and fees in the 7-county metro area.
U will host the Minnesota Vital Aging Summit March 26, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Presentation topics include the meaning of aging, making healthful choices, lifelong learning, and personal enrichment. Cost is $40. For more information and to register, see www.van.umn.edu or call 612-624-4938.
Great Conversations series continues with "The Stem Cell Revolution," March 26, 7:30 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall. Featured speakers are Catherine Verfaillie, U Stem Cell Institute director, and Austin Smith, Center for Genome Research director at U of Edinburgh, Scotland. For tickets, call 612-624-2345.
Morse-Alumni Award recipients for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education are Patricia Bauer, child development; Andrea Berlin, classical and Near Eastern studies; Nancy Carpenter, UMM science and mathematics; Tom Isbell, UMD theater; Lary May, American studies; August Nimtz, Jr., political science; Leslie Schiff, microbiology; and Cathrine Wambach, GC psychology.
Award recipients for outstanding contributions to postbaccalaureate, graduate, and professional education are Peter Carr, chemistry; Hazel Dicken-Garcia, journalism and mass communication; David Hayden, veterinary diagnostic medicine; Paul Iaizzo, anesthesiology; Mary Jo Maynes, history; James Pacala, family practice and community health; Anthony Starfield, ecology, evolution, and behavior; and John Sullivan, political science.
John Tate Award recipients for excellence in undergraduate advising are Dian Rae Lopez, UMM science and mathematics; Patricia Neiman, GC student services; Thomas Soulen, plant biology; and Roger Wagner, UMC horticulture.
Nomination deadline for Josie R. Johnson Award for Human Rights and Social Justice is April 8. Award honors one faculty or staff member and one student who exemplify Johnson’s standard of excellence in creating respectful and inclusive living, learning, and working environments. Call 612-624-0594.
New China Center Web site (www.chinacenter.umn.edu) features description of training programs at center. Staff are currently working on a Chinese language version of the site.
CROOKSTON--UMC will establish a First-Year Honors Society as part of First-Year Experience Program, and 36 students have been invited to become founding members. Once established, society will apply to become chapter member of Alpha Lambda Delta, national nonprofit society that honors academic excellence across the nation.
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Annual Red River Valley Emerging Leadership social and dinner will be March 23, 4:30 p.m., sponsored by U of M Extension Services and Northwest Minnesota Foundation. Social is in Bede Ballroom and dinner is in Brown Dining Room; tickets are $15 per person. For more information, call 218-634-1664.
DULUTH--English department presents the 3rd annual Klaus Jankofsky Lecture in Medieval/Renaissance Studies March 29, 4 p.m., Tweed Museum of Art. Garrett Sullivan will present "In Praise of the Bohemian Shore, or the Cultural Logic of Shakespearean Geography." Reception will follow.
Urban Studies Noon Brown Bag Series will feature James McGinnis, head of Mayor’s Economic Steering Committee, presenting "A Businessman’s Perspective on What’s Right and Wrong with Duluth," March 27, 323 Kirby Student Center.
Guthrie Theater will perform Ah, Wilderness! March 26-27, 7:30 p.m., at Marshall Performing Arts Center. For tickets, call 218-726-8561.
MORRIS--Jim Severson, men’s basketball head coach, and Tad Banker, women’s basketball head coach, will not return next season. UMM graduate Severson took on position in 1995-96 season; Banker in 2000-01 season. Athletic director Mark Fohl said searches to fill positions will begin immediately.
Regent Lakeesha Ransom and Morris Mayor Carol Wilcox will attend ceremony to unveil new Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive, March 19, 1:30 p.m., at corner of University Drive and Cougar Circle. Ransom will also tour Social Science and new Science and Mathematics Buildings and LaFave House and meet with students, faculty, and staff.
TWIN CITIES--New One Stop Student Services Center has opened in 130 Coffey Hall. Center is similar to the one in 200 Fraser Hall; both offer enrollment, financial aid, and billing and payment services in one location.
Center for Teaching and Learning Services has extended deadline to April 19 for proposals from faculty who wish to integrate international content and perspectives into their undergraduate courses. For proposal guidelines, see www.umabroad.umn.edu/bush/faculty/umtc.html.
Poster proposal deadline for community-University partnerships celebration is March 29. April 30 event is sponsored by Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, and U Civic Engagement Task Force. For guidelines or event information, see webhome.crk.umn.edu/nwp/community or call 612-625-9040.
Relocation Assistance Program (RAP) can help departments conducting faculty and staff searches by providing information about the U and Twin Cities, aiding in spouse or partner employment, and connecting candidates and new hires with resources. RAP also maintains a database of sabbatical homes for rent. See www.umn.edu/ohr/rap or call Mary at 612-626-0775.
Events: "Flight Time: Moment and Momentum in the New Millennium," featuring scholarly and artistic works from various disciplines, will be March 22-24, Weisman Art Museum.
"Time Take," exhibit following the lives of women through time, runs through April 7, Weisman Art Museum. o "Moda Italiana" fashion exhibit runs through April 14, Goldstein gallery.
Russian Hamlet by Eifman Ballet, March 20-21, 7:30 p.m., Northrop Memorial Auditorium. Tickets are $23-$38.
Wayne Shorter Quartet features jazz artists Brian Blade, John Patitucce, and Danilo Perez March 23, 8 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall. Tickets are $33.
Lectures: Symposium on Technology Enhanced Learning, March 21, 7 p.m., Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center. Call 612-626-1601 or see www.coled.umn.edu/alum/symposium.html.
Nanotechnology Friday seminar series begins March 22 with Steven Girshick, "Hypersonic Plasma Particle Deposition of Hard Nanostructured Films," 2:25 p.m., 402 Walter Library. Call 624-7555.
"Effects of Public and Private Policies on Medical Group Practice in the U.S., March 25, 12:15-1:30 p.m., 2-260z Carslon School. Call 626-8795.
"The War Over Affirmative Action: Can Affirmative Admissions Policies Survive and Are There Viable Alternatives?" by Harvard U Civil Rights Project codirector Gary Orfield, March 26, 2:30 p.m., Weisman Art Museum. Call 625-0129.
Announcements: Edward Prescott, Regents Professor of economics, received the Erwin Plein Nemmers Prize in Economics from Northwestern U.
Shirley Everson, U Card Office director, will serve 3-year term as National Association of Campus Card Users Corporation president.
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