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Past Issues
Regents will meet Dec. 12–13, 600 McNamara Alumni Center. Agenda topics include U plan, performance, and accountability report; state economic update; and policies and issues related to student credit card usage. For full agenda, see www.umn.edu/regents.
U is part of the solution to states's economic challenges, said President Bruininks following Gov.-elect Pawlenty's announcement of the $4.56 billion state budget deficit, but the state must be a partner in funding the U to ensure that the U has, and grows in, strengths that can help the state. "The U is a revenue generator, attracting more than $525 million in research funding to Minnesota each year and creating new knowledge and technology that fuel the economy over the long term," he said. In light of state's budget woes, U administrators have prepared the U's lowest request in 10 years, which includes a 50-50 funding responsibility. For U budget information or updates, see www.umn.edu/govrel.
College of Pharmacy expansion program to Duluth is first in the college's 110-year history. Program, which will admit its first class of 50 students in September 2003, will be headed by senior associate dean Stephen Hoag, who served for 7 years as dean and pharmacy professor at Drake U College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. U's College of Pharmacy is the only such college in Minnesota; goal of expansion is to address the shortage of pharmacists in greater Minnesota.
Policy on faculty responsibility in academic governance was discussed at Faculty Senate meeting Dec. 5. Goal of proposed policy is to clarify the role of tenured and tenure-track faculty in the functioning of their departments. Concerns were raised that policy may be perceived as threatening to nontenure track staff and may inadvertently create a 2-class track for faculty. Further discussions will be held; for policy information, call Gary Engstrand at 612-626-0884.
Recommendations for faculty postretirement health care savings plan were discussed in Faculty Senate meeting. (Proposed plan for CS/BU staff is outlined in the December Kiosk, or see www.umn.edu/urelate/kiosk.) Plan, to counteract the concerns of present and future retirees about increasing costs of health care, would provide similar benefits to 401a, 403b, and 457 plans but would also provide tax-free withdrawals to pay health insurance premiums and other health care costs upon retirement or termination of employment. Plan, especially contribution amount, would be evaluated every 3 years based on health care costs. "Our hope is for the plan to be in effect July 2003," said Faculty Retirement Subcommittee chair Dick Goldstein. "People are generally supportive of the idea, but maybe not the details." Committee will meet with U administration Dec. 12 to discuss plan.
U senior David Simon has been awarded a 2003 Rhodes Scholarship. Simon, who will pursue a graduate degree in international relations at Oxford for a career in foreign affairs, is the 2nd U student to win the scholarship in recent years. Simon is also a 2002 recipient of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
U catalogs are available on a newly designed Web site, www.catalogs.umn.edu. Based on usability testing, improvements have been made to site navigation, links, and pdf downloads of current catalogs. (New search function will be available soon.) Site includes information about faculty, academic programs, and courses for colleges and schools on all U campuses.
College of Continuing Education will launch 2 new certificate programs beginning spring 2003: Paper Science and Engineering, to give students a basic background in engineering and industry-specific knowledge of paper products, processes, and technologies; and Construction Management, which will give students a design and technology framework and communication and management skills. For more information, see www.cce.umn.edu/certificates.
Effective Jan. 1, 2003, mileage allowance for personal vehicle use on approved U business decreases from 36.5 cents to 36 cents per mile. Standard rate for moving expenses has also decreased from 13 cents to 12 cents per mile.
Nominations are being accepted for the 2003 Northern Stars Leadership Conference, which recognizes Minnesota high school sophomores who are have demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to academics. Selected students will attend a daylong leadership conference on the TC campus April 12, 2003. Send nominations to Maureen Cisneros at 612-626-0515 or ramir015@umn.edu.
CROOKSTON—Music department will give 2 holiday concerts in the newly renovated Kiehle Auditorium: Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Both programs are free and open to the public.
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UMC competed at the Collegiate Crops Contest Nov. 17–21 in Kansas City, MO. Team placed 2nd overall, 3rd in identification, 2nd in seed analysis, and 3rd in grain grading. Individual members—Ben Loll, Jeremy Sather, and Kevin Jacobson—also placed in several categories.
Mark Huglen, assistant professor of speech communication, was panel respondent at the National Communication Association's (NCA) "Top Competitive Papers on Kenneth Burke" in New Orleans. Huglen will serve as program planner for the Kenneth Burke Society (an NCA division) at the 2003 convention in Miami and 2004 convention in Chicago.
DULUTH—Chancellor Martin has been appointed to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Presidents Council effective January 2003. The 13-member council oversees the Division II Management Council, which consists of 25 athletics administrators and faculty representatives across the nation.
UMD accepted an invitation to join the North Central Conference (NCC) Division II; it is the first institution NCC has admitted for membership since 1981. Bulldog athletic teams will compete in the 8-member NCC starting in the 2004–05 season.
MORRIS—UMM will participate in the 63rd annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematics Competition, most elite math contest for undergraduates, Dec. 7. Each year, more than 2,000 students spend 6 hours trying to solve 12 problems. Individual and team winners are recognized with monetary awards.
Tutoring, Reading, Enabling Children (TREC) program has recognized its outstanding tutors for fall semester 2002. The 40 UMM students who participated in the program worked with Morris Area School students in 8 program areas, including the Homework Helping Center, in-class tutoring, story time at the library, early childhood family education, Head Start, and Morris Area Child Care Center.
ROCHESTER—UMR was recognized at the Rochester Area Math Science Partnership's annual meeting for its leadership role in supporting improvements dedicated to helping students achieve world-class standards in math, science, and technology. Recent UMR masters of education graduate, Mike Greve, received the Partnership's Teacher of the Year award.
TWIN CITIES—U has 3 parking ramps designated for SnOasis, free overnight parking during a snow emergency cleanup. Ramps are 4th St. (Dinkytown), Oak Street (Stadium Village), and 21st Ave. (West Bank). U community may use these ramps only on the first day of an emergency, which runs from 9 p.m.–8 a.m. Enter ramps after 8 p.m. and exit before 8 a.m. Those who leave their vehicles past 8 a.m. must pay the maximum daily rate, including overnight hours.
At "Legislative Advocacy at the U" event Dec. 5., President Bruininks outlined the 2004-2005 biennial budget proposal philosophy and made a direct appeal for U community-wide involvement. About 70 people gathered to learn about the current budget situation and grassroots advocacy strategies. To attend the 2003 Legislative Briefing on Jan. 21, 5:30–7:30 p.m., see www.alumni.umn.edu/legnetwork.
Gopher football team will play against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2002 Music City Bowl Dec. 30,
1 p.m., Nashville. Gophers finished the season 7-5 overall. This will be the U's 3rd appearance in a bowl game in the past 4 seasons. For ticket information, see www.gophersports.com/Bowl2002.
Twin Cities Public Television (channel 17) will air "We Watch the City" Dec. 15, 8 p.m. Documentary, produced by U's Research and Training Center on Community Living, features stories of 9/11 through the eyes of people with developmental disabilities and those who support them.
International Student and Scholar Services will be open only from 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 because of an afternoon staff meeting.
Five-year comprehensive performance review of General Counsel Mark Rotenberg has been completed. He will continue as legal support to the president, Board of Regents, and U community; his next review is scheduled for 2007.
Human Resources-sponsored, West Bank At-Work Weight Watchers group will hold informational open house and registration Dec. 16, Humphrey Center. For more information, e-mail Vicki at vlund@csom.umn.edu or call 612-624-9575.
Announcement: Laurie McLaughlin is the new director of Housing and Residential Life. As assistant director for the department from 1989 to 1997, she was instrumental in developing the U's initial Living Learning Communities, including the First-Year Student Residential Experience program.
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