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Past Issues
In memo to faculty and staff Feb. 3, President Bruininks reaffirmed that U budget reduction decisions will be guided by the U's missions and values. He urged employees to seek cost savings in their areas of responsibility. "We will work hard to limit the impact of this budget problem on faculty and staff," said Bruininks. "However, given the size of the problem we are facing, all options must be considered, including some changes in employee benefit packages." Bruininks has begun a series of consultations with representatives from U employee groups, including the Benefits Advisory Task Force, which will continue over the next few months. Suggestions on cost savings should be sent to upres@umn.edu.
Senate Higher Education Committee heard testimony Jan. 30 from business community representatives supportive of a proposal by the Private College Council to provide additional funding for the state grant program.
Bruininks gave overview of U to House Higher Education Committee Jan. 29. He also addressed questions related to undergraduate tuition in the Big 10 and salary freezes as a budget-cutting strategy. Bruininks stressed need for maintaining the U's flexibility in managing any potential budget cuts.
Early last week, Senate Republican caucus proposed a salary freeze for public employees statewide (about 300,000 people) and a funding cut to force the same at the U. U's position: U should be allowed the maximum flexibility on managing any future budget cut. While consideration of salary limits may be part of future discussions at the U, such a measure would be considered among a variety of budget management strategies.
Regent Candidate Advisory Council has recommended 3 candidates for each of the 4 Board of Regents seats up for election this year. First district finalists are Al DeBoer, Dwight Gourneau, and Patricia Simmons; 4th district are Gregory Filice, Marcia Hanson, and current Regent Metzen; 6th district are John Frobenius, Steven Hunter, and current Regent Reed; and 7th district are Clyde Allen, Jr., Art Brandli, and former Senate majority leader Roger Moe. Regents will be selected by a joint committee of House and Senate members later in the legislative session.
Dependent Care and Health Care Reimbursement Account claims received through Feb. 12 will be processed before PeopleSoft goes down for upgrade Feb. 14–21; reimbursements will be made on Feb. 18 on the normal schedule. No claims will be processed during week of upgrade. Regular weekly claim reimbursements will resume March 4. Questions, call Employee Benefits at 612-626-1555.
New UPlan benefit added on Dec. 30, 2002, offers emergency medical and travel assistance when traveling internationally or at least 150 miles from home. If you and your dependents are in one of the UPlan medical options, you are automatically enrolled at no extra cost. Questions, call 612-624-9090.
Jan.–Feb. Kiosk features include U's state budget proposal strategy, opening of Coffman Union, and U's Uruguay connection. Find Kiosk in your mailbox or on the Web at www.umn.edu/urelate/kiosk.
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs is accepting applications for 2003–04 Fesler-Lampert Chair in Urban and Regional Affairs. Endowed one-year position supports faculty research activities related to urban and regional affairs in Minnesota. Deadline is March 7; see www.cura.umn.edu/chairapp.html.
CROOKSTON—Snow Daze, annual winter festival for students, will be Feb. 3–8 with coronation of Snow Daze royalty Feb. 6, 8 p.m., Kiehle auditorium. Week will culminate with Snow Daze Dinner and Dance Feb. 8, Bede ballroom.
UMC's notebook computer initiative and lessons learned from the past 10 years are featured in a chapter of newly published book, Ubiquitous Computing: The Universal Use of Computers on College Campuses. Chapter was written by Chancellor Sargeant and Andrew Svec, UMC director of communications. Book details notebook initiatives on several campuses.
Seventh and 8th graders from 15 northwestern Minnesota schools will participate in MATHCOUNTS Feb. 7, Bede ballroom. Event is both a coaching program and series of math competitions at regional, state, and national levels. Sponsors in northwestern Minnesota include UMC, Lake Agassiz Chapter of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers, engineering consulting firms, and private individuals.
DULUTH—Alfred "Mick" McComber is new director of Recreational Sports and Outdoor Programs, replacing Richard Haney, who retired Dec. 3. Tim Bates is new assistant director. McComber was formerly associate director and coordinator of intramural and club sports, and Bates was coordinator of natural history and environmental education.
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Department of Theatre will present The School for Scandal by Richard Sheridan Feb. 13–16 and 19–22 at 7:30 p.m., Marshall Performing Arts Center. For tickets, call 218-726-8561.
UMD celebrates Black History Month in February with series of activities and presentations, including Multicultural Valentine's Dance and Auction Feb. 8,
7 p.m., Kirby Student Center ballroom. For event
list, call Multicultural Learning Resource Center at 218-726-6187.
MORRIS—Art exhibit "Small Matters of Great Importance" will run through Feb. 8 in HFA gallery.
Committee has been appointed to launch a national search for a new director of alumni relations and annual giving. Members are Mike Korth (chair), Les Bensch, Ken Crandall, Walter Fisher, Blaine Hill, Katherine Gonier-Klopfleisch, Elicia Kouba, and Maggie Larson. Committee staff is Janell Kolden. Application review will begin Feb. 14 and continue until position is filled. For more information, see www.mrs.umn.edu/alumni.
Sandra Steingraber, Ms. magazine's 1997 Woman of the Year will give UMM's Women's Week keynote address on environmental links to cancer and reproductive health Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m., Edson Auditorium.
Susan Granger '80 of Gemini Research will present research surrounding the nomination of UMM as a National Historic District Feb. 9, 1:30 p.m., at Stevens County Historical Society meeting at Prairie Inn.
Freshman legislator, UMM alumnus Cy Thao '95 (DFL-St. Paul) is Minnesota's first Hmong member of the House and only 2nd Hmong elected to Minnesota Legislature. Artist, actor, and teacher, Thao is cofounder of Center for Hmong Arts and Talent. His priorities for district 65A are developing the economy and renovating rundown homes and businesses. Rep. Thao is at rep.cy.thao@house.mn.
ROCHESTER—Rochester Area Alumni and Friends of the University of Minnesota will host "The New Economy and Old Economics: What 19th Century Railroads Can Tell Us About the Future of E-Commerce" by Andrew Odlyzko, U's Digital Technology Center director. Lecture Feb. 10, 7 p.m., B-117 Heintz Center, is free. Call Amy at 507-281-7791.
TWIN CITIES—Carlson School's executive MBA program in Warsaw was named Poland's best by BusinessWeek Polska, Polish counterpart to the American magazine. Program is a collaboration between Warsaw School of Economics and Carlson to provide Polish business students with a joint MBA.
Fund-raising efforts to save Gopher golf teams and men's gymnastics raised $2.8 million ($100,000 more than needed) to meet Feb. 1 deadline that would extend teams through June 30, 2005. About 1,700 donors gave gifts ranging from $5 to $300,000. "Save Gopher Sports" campaign will continue with new long-term goal of endowing scholarships for all intercollegiate athletics.
People who have influenced theater, dance, music, studio arts, and architecture at the U are focus of new "Arts on Campus" exhibit in Heritage Gallery at McNamara Alumni Center. Among them are Ralph Rapson, head of School of Architecture for 30 years, and U of M Marching Band. Gallery hours are M–F
7 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sa 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Healthy 22- to 65-year-olds are needed for dietary fiber study. Participants will be asked to continue regular diet and exercise habits and consume dietary fiber 2 times daily for 6 weeks. For more information, call 612-296-6074 or 296-6128.
Lectures: "Our Relationships: To Self and To Others, and on Creating Support Systems" will be Feb. 12, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 238a Morrill Hall. RSVP by Feb. 7; call 612-625-2385.
o "Boltzmann, Loschmidt, and Ehrenfest: Three Viennese Physicists on Entropy and Statistics" will be Feb. 13, 3:30 p.m., 710 Social Sciences.
o Workshop, "How to Research a Company," will be Feb. 13, 8:30 a.m.–noon, School of Journalism. Cost is $25 (includes materials, breakfast, and parking). See www.mjc.umn.edu/jjhill203 or call 625-8095.
Announcements: Beth Zemsky, director of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Programs, is stepping down after nearly 10 years. B. David Galt, former assistant director, will return as director.
o Joseph Warthesen, head of Department of Food Science and Nutrition since 1997, died Jan. 31. Warthesen, 54, had been a faculty member since 1974. Memorials may be sent to the Warthesen 21st Century Graduate Fellowship at 500 McNamara Center.
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