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Past Issues
President Bruininks announced his Initiative on Children, Youth, and Families Monday at Baby Space, a child care program in Minneapolis supported by the U. The privately funded initiative aims to focus U resources, including faculty expertise and research, on issues facing children, youth, and families. Bruininks said Baby Space is an example of how the U can work with community partners to help children. "Children are Minnesota's most valuable resource, and even in tight financial times we need to invest in children. They are our future," Bruininks said.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty toured the Academic Health Center on March 17, visiting Catherine Verfaillie and the Stem Cell Institute, Dave Redish (neuroscience), Steve Ekker and Scott Selleck (genetics, cell biology, and development), and Matt Mescher (laboratory medicine and pathology). The governor, who requested the visit, asked about the importance of the Translational Research Facility and how quality research and collaboration at the U attracts top researchers.
VP Cerra presented the AHC response to the Governor's budget proposal Tuesday in the House Higher Education Committee. Committee members were interested in how tuition at the medical school affects application rates, the ranking of the school, and the role of the U in training health care professionals.
Over the next 2 to 3 weeks legislators will address the U's budget for the next biennium, and volunteers are needed to call U supporters at the alumni association's phone bank. Training and dinner will be provided. To sign up, go to www.alumni.umn.edu/callingnights or call Nicole Bennett at 612-626-8371.
A set of budget principles was recommended to the administration by U Senate's Faculty Consultative Committee. Recommendations include using tuition models based on demand for various academic programs, urging the U to maintain its teaching and research quality, reducing overhead and administrative costs (including administrative staffing at all levels), and considering a systemwide admissions process to eliminate competition between campuses.
Minnesota Court of Appeals on March 20 blocked a district court judge's order for the U to identify the finalists for the president's job.
Several thousand students protested on Northrop Plaza on March 21 and 24 against the war in Iraq. The protests were peaceful, with U police both providing security and staying in communication with protesters. According to VP Maziar, the handling of student absences due to participation in demonstrations is at the discretion of the faculty. However, she added that "in the interest of maintaining the U as a safe harbor for dissent—safe both physically and intellectually—the deliberate disruption of classes should not be tolerated. I encourage faculty, staff, and administration to help create a climate supportive of vigorous but respectful debate and discussion."
Faculty and staff scheduling travel overseas should know the Office of International Programs does not recommend travel to any country on the State Department's travel warning list, accessed at travel.state.gov/warnings_list.html. The Global Campus Study Abroad office also has staff and contacts in many countries and can provide current, in-country feedback. For more information, call 612-626-9000.
The Academy of Distinguished Teachers is sponsoring a conference on teaching and learning at a research university on April 21 at McNamara Alumni Center, TC campus. Events include an opening keynote address by Clay Jenkinson, a noted humanities scholar, and a number of concurrent sessions exploring issues that impact teaching and learning excellence. This conference is free and open to all interested U faculty, instructional staff, and graduate students. For more information and to register for the conference, go to www.irr.umn.edu/adt/adtconference03.
The deadline for completing HIPAA training is March 31. "I want to be as clear as possible: this is not an optional training," said VP Cerra. Every AHC employee, except those in the College of Veterinary Medicine, must complete the training. For more information, go to privacysecurity.umn.edu/training.
Robert Hudec, professor emeritus of law, died in his sleep at his vacation home near Fort Myers, FL, March 12. He was 68. A memorial service is scheduled May 3, 2–4 p.m., 25 Mondale Hall, TC campus.
Several vacancies on the Civil Service Committee need to be filled. Application deadline is April 4. For information, contact John Felipe at 612-624-9547.
American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant applications are being accepted until May 1. Grant is for instructors and assistant professors engaged in cancer-related research with no independent national funding. Up to $20,000 in funding is available. For application forms, call 612-626-1926 or e-mail micek003@umn.edu.
School of Dentistry faculty, staff, and students just returned from Jamaica where they treated patients from March 8–21 as part of the school's 17th annual Jamaica Dental Mission. Dental students and faculty are now in Cuba for a weeklong cultural exchange.
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Bill Schafer has been appointed interim head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition pending a national search for a permanent head.
CROOKSTON—UMC faculty and staff members are invited to take part in the Student Awards Reception April 15, with 6 p.m. social in Kiehle rotunda and
6:30 p.m. program in Kiehle auditorium. Anyone planning to present awards should contact Andrew Svec, 218-281-8435, asvec@umn.edu, by April 1.
UMC is the host of MACT*FEST 2003, the biennial play festival of the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres. Productions by 18 community theater companies will be presented April 2–6. For more information, visit www.MACT.net.
DULUTH—The 10th annual Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration will be April 4–13. Events include lectures by Holocaust survivors, films, panel discussions, and educational workshops. The keynote lecture, by noted child psychiatrist Dr. Robert Krell, will be April 7 at 4:30 p.m. in the Kirby Student Center ballroom. An original contata titled With Perfect Faith, written and conducted by Duluth native Allen Friedman, will be performed at Weber Music Hall April 13 at 3 p.m. as part of commemoration activities.
UMD Techfest 2003 will be April 4, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. in Kirby Student Center ballroom. Event will include ongoing demonstrations of how the latest technology is being used by UMD faculty, staff, and students.
Scott "Skeeter" Moore has been appointed director of development for UMD Athletics.
Klaus Jankofsky Lecture in Medieval and Renaissance Studies will be April 4, 4 p.m., Library rotunda. Subject will be "Race and the New Medievalism."
MORRIS—Jazz Fest's 25th anniversary will be April 3–5, featuring student jazz musicians, director James "Doc" Carlson, and several guest artists. For tickets or information, call 320-589-6080.
Peh Ng, associate professor of mathematics, was named to a 77-member committee by the Minnesota Commissioner of Education to develop new academic standards to replace the Profile of Learning.
UMM Continuing Education will sponsor a dinner conference on March 31 for area K–12 educators. For more information, visit www.mrs.umn.edu/cerp/conferences/tbd.
TWIN CITIES—Raptor Center's annual spring open house will be April 6, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at the center's hospital and clinic, exhibits, and various birds of prey.
Plant sale by Plant Biology Phytograds and the College of Biological Sciences greenhouse will be April 2 and 3, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. in 108 St. Paul Student Center.
GradFest 2003, the U's official graduation event that promises graduates "no hassle for a tassel" will be held at the Great Hall of Coffman Union on April 2, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and April 3, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Event information is available at www.bookstore.umn.edu.
Theater professor Vern Sutton will conclude his 36-year U career by staging the regional premiere of Conrad Susa's opera The Dangerous Liaisons, April 4–6, Ted Mann Concert Hall. Sutton has directed the University Opera Theatre since 1967 and will retire this May.
Tunnel and stair-elevator tower connecting the Radisson Hotel to McNamara Alumni Center will be closed March 31 for electrical work.
Times for Teaching Enrichment Series Workshops have been changed and will now run daily 9 a.m.–
12:15 p.m., Aug. 25–28. In addition, the annual New TA Orientation Workshop will be held Aug. 26, 8:30 am–12:30 pm, with the opening session in the Ted Mann Concert Hall, and two New Faculty Orientation Sessions will be held Aug. 26 and 28, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Carlson School of Management. For more information, e-mail Ilene Alexander at alexa032@umn.edu.
Events: Uli Stein, the most successful cartoonist in Europe, makes his United States debut at the U of M Bookstores, April 3, 2 p.m.
The awards program Celebrating Women: A University of Minnesota Tradition, is April 3, 3–5 p.m., Weisman Art Museum.
"Curtain Up! Treasures from the Archives," will run through April 25, Elmer L. Andersen Library exhibit gallery.
Lecture: Dr. Maria Reicher of the University of Graz on philosophy, March 28, 3:30 p.m, Ford Room, 710 Social Sciences.
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