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Past Issues
Interim president Bruininks will give State of the U address Oct. 3, 3 p.m., 25 Mondale Hall, TC campus. Broadcast locations are: UMC, 15 Hill Hall; UMD, 173 Kirby Plaza; UMM, Science Auditorium; UMR, CF 202; and 110 St. Paul Student Center. For video streaming link, see www.umn.edu.
U fall enrollment is 62,789, up 3.9% over last fall. Largest increases were on Duluth campus (9,815, up 4.6%) and the TC campus (48,677, up 4.5%). Craig Swan, vice provost for undergraduate education, said increase indicates that U remains an attractive and affordable option for many students.
Average credit load for new freshmen on the TC campus increased from 14.9 to 15.3 (entering students are required to register for a minimum of 13 credits every term), and average credit load for all TC undergraduate students rose from 13.3 to 13.9. According to report by Institutional Research and Reporting, ability level of entering freshmen is the highest in recent years, based on high school rank and test scores. Overall, 14.5% of the U's new freshmen are students of color, with TC campus (18.5%) and Morris campus (13%) enrolling the highest numbers. For enrollment report, see www.irr.umn.edu/stix/fall02.
Medtronic, Inc. will work with U on a $6.4 million stem cell research initiative to discover and develop new cardiovascular therapies. Stem Cell Institute director Catherine Verfaille will collaborate with yet-to-be named Medtronic Bakken Chair in Cardiovascular Repair. They will coordinate the basic and clinically targeted research that will focus on repairing diseased heart tissues and other cardiovascular systems.
U started international search to recruit a scientist with a leading presence in biological science and biomedical engineering for chair position. Initiative is supported by $5.3 million from Medtronic Foundation (for chair and projects since 1987), $1.1 million from the U's matching funds and investment income, and additional gifts by Medtronic Foundation to Campaign Minnesota over a 5-year period.
U and Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Mid-west honored Nathan and Theresa Berman Oct. 1 for providing a $500,000 endowment to maintain the society's archives and provide programming, conferences, and educational materials that spotlight contributions of Jewish people to their community and the region. Gift is largest received by U Libraries. Bermans are also responsible for initiating the idea of the historical archive. Collection was moved because of space limitations from Hamline U to the U's Andersen Library summer 2001.
U will take additional actions if it enters Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) contract, said interim president Bruininks in Sept. 27 letter to concerned parties of the project, which is under construction at Mt. Graham, AZ. Recommended actions include requesting that U of Arizona create a Native American Cultural Advisory Committee to guide ongoing activities on the mountain and appoint a cultural liaison to facilitate access for cultural and religious activities. Board of Regents Finance and Operations Committee will discuss issue at Oct. 10 meeting. For updated information on the LBT project, see www.umn.edu/urelate/thesource.
U plant biologist George Weiblen has received a Packard Foundation Fellowship, a $625,000 grant over 5 years to continue research on biodiversity in tropical rain forests. Weiblen was coauthor of a recent study that revised the number of arthropod species (including insects, crustaceans, and arachnids) worldwide from 31 million to 6 million. According to study, published in April 25 issue of Nature, realistic estimates of global species numbers are necessary to monitor the impact of human activities on the diversity of life.
U and MnSCU will sponsor "Workforce Minnesota Conference" Oct. 9–10 to analyze the state's workforce needs and encourage stronger partnerships between business, industry, and educational entities. Event at RiverCentre in St. Paul will feature presentations by Rebecca Yanisch, Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development commissioner, and Nancy Mills, AFL-CIO Working for America Institute executive director. Gubernatorial candidates Roger Moe, Tim Penny, Tim Pawlenty, and Ken Pentel will participate in panel discussion about the role of education in workforce development Oct. 9, 12:30 p.m. Cost is $250. Call 612-624-3745 or see www.cce.umn.edu/workforceminnesota.
CROOKSTON—UMC has 2 new areas for undergraduate students: natural resources aviation and law enforcement aviation. Academic content will be provided by UMC and current partnerships with U of North Dakota (aviation) and Bemidji State U (law enforcement). New course—natural resources aviation applications—will be developed in collaboration with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota State Patrol.
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DULUTH—UMD engineering program ranks among "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs in the Nation" (No. 46), according to U.S. News & World Report's 2003 rankings. UMD was ranked 9th among Midwest Public Universities That Offer a Master's Degree.
Spectrum Lecture Series will present former Minneapolis mayor Sharon Sales Belton speaking on "Looking Back, Moving Forward" at Kirby Student Center Ballroom, Oct. 9, 7 p.m. Sales Belton is currently a senior fellow at Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs on TC campus. Event is free and open to the public.
Tweed Museum of Art will present 35 contemporary glass works by noted international artists through Dec. 21. Collection belongs to Don and Carol Wiiken of Oak Park, IL, who will donate a gift to start a world-class contemporary glass collection unique to the Great Lakes region. During exhibition, museum will also display a glass installation by Joel Phillip Myers, who has led the contemporary studio glass movement for more than 35 years.
MORRIS—Biology professor Margaret Kuchenreuther and colleagues Dan Svedarsky (UMC), Greg Cuomo and Av Singh (West Central Research and Outreach Center), and personnel from Minnesota DNR and USDA have produced "A Landowner's Guide to Prairie Management in Minnesota." Publication is at www.crk.umn.edu/research.
ROCHESTER—UMR has initiated a new series of workshops for K–12 educators called "After School Snacks" to give local teachers and administrators access to U expertise in an informal setting. First workshop featured Professor John Manning, who talked about child literacy issues and his experiences in literacy development in rural Mississippi.
UMR is cosponsoring a series of 4 political debates during the weeks leading up to the election. First debate, featuring State Senate and House of Representatives candidates, will be Oct. 7, 7 p.m., CF 206-208.
Conference, "Forty Years After Silent Spring: Lessons Learned, Lessons Ignored," will be Nov. 9, Assisi Community Center. Cost is $75. Call 507-280-2819 or see www.r.umn.edu/cepd.html.
TWIN CITIES—TC campus ranks among the top 3 public research universities in the nation, according to The Top American Research Universities, 2002, a report by U of Florida. Report ranks public and private universities on 9 quantitative measures of quality, which include strength of faculty, research program, and private support. For 2nd consecutive year, the U ranks among the top 25 on 8 measures; only other public research universities that score as well are U of Michigan and U of California, Berkeley. U is one of only 3 public research universities to rank within the top 10 public and private research universities; top 6 positions are held by private institutions. For full report, see thecenter.ufl.edu.
Dedication of Molecular and Cellular Biology Building will be Oct. 9, 11 a.m., building plaza. Speakers will be interim president Bruininks, Regent Neel, senior VP Cerra, CBS dean Elde, Medical School dean Powell, and former governor Arne Carlson. Time capsule contents will be presented; tours and informal lunch will follow.
U Libraries is hosting its 3rd training institute Sept. 28–Oct. 5 for 24 early career librarians from under-represented groups in the profession. Institute combines training in leadership and organizational behavior with developing practical skills in key areas.
College of Human Ecology launched Campaign Human Ecology, a $27 million fund-raising drive that will focus on providing support for its faculty and students, Sept. 24. More than 275 alumni, donors, and friends attended the reception and dinner. College has raised 82% or $16.5 million of its $20 million Campaign Minnesota goal.
Events: Cinematographer Neil Rettig will give slide presentation with live harpy eagle Oct. 9, 9 p.m., Raptor Center. Tickets are $20; call 612-624-9753.
o Faculty Fulbright workshop will be Oct. 15, 3–4:30 p.m., 120 b-c Andersen Library. To learn more about Fulbright program and meet with past recipients, RSVP to international@umn.edu or call 624-5580.
Lectures: "Attack Iraq?," free public community forum on President Bush's policies regarding Iraq will be Oct. 3, 3–5 p.m., 210 Anderson Hall.
o "The Future of African American Art and Politics," free symposium devoted to the works of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson, will be Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., Whiting Proscenium Theatre, Rarig Center (reception will be 6 p.m.).
o "The Effects of Tertiary Education on Political Democratization," will be Oct. 11, 1–3 p.m., 1014 Social Sciences Building. Call 612-624-6333.
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