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Past Issues
State bonding bill passed by the legislature last week earmarked $48.7 million in funding for the U. Funding covers $24.7 million for the Translational Research Facility, $3 million for design planning of the Teaching and Technology Center, $2.5 million for Research and Outreach Centers, $8 million for reconstruction of Jones Hall, $1.5 million for renovation of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in St. Paul, $8.6 million for reconstruction of the Social Science Building and dormitory fire sprinklers on Morris campus, and $400,000 for predesign of a joint genomics research facility at Mayo Clinic. "I'm absolutely thrilled with the outcome of the bonding bill," President Bruininks said. "It will allow us to start on some critically important projects."
Regents will meet June 13 to review president's budget recommendations for the biennium. Board is expected to act on the budget June 26. For full agenda, see www.umn.edu/regents.
Regents will hear comments regarding U's fiscal year 2004 budget at annual open forum June 17, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 6th floor, McNamara Alumni Center, TC campus. Individuals wishing to speak must sign up by noon, June 10, by calling 612-625-6300 or writing to the regents office. Request must include speaker's name, e-mail address, group represented or relationship to U, and general presentation topic. Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. For information about the president's proposed budget, see www.umn.edu/urelate/govrel.
Forums for employees to hear about upcoming changes in UPlan health benefits will be June 16, St. Paul Student Center theater; June 17, Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey Center; June 23, A.I. Johnson Room, McNamara Alumni Center; and June 24, 215 Donhowe. All forums will run 12:15–1:15 p.m. For more information, see www.umn.edu/ohr/eb.
Velmer Burton was named new UMC chancellor by President Bruininks on May 23. "Dr. Burton combines the leadership, vision, and energy that will serve the Crookston campus well in the coming years," said Bruininks. Burton is currently dean of the Graduate School and professor of sociology at North Dakota State U in Fargo. Pending approval by the regents, Burton's appointment begins June 30. He succeeds Don Sargeant, who is retiring.
Regents have begun comprehensive review of U Auditor Gail Klatt, as is periodically required for all senior administrators. Review committee welcomes feedback from U community; send comments to Interim VP Hamilton at 612-624-5054 or dwh@umn.edu.
President Bruininks announced May 30 that the U is forming a Center of Excellence in Children's Mental Health. The privately funded center will work with Hennepin County and Minneapolis Public Schools to bring together experts on children's mental health from across the U and the greater community to develop research-based best practices models.
U will require all international students, visiting scholars, and their dependents to enroll in the Student Health Benefit Plan, effective fall 2003, unless they are covered by a U.S.-based, employer-sponsored health plan or the Graduate Assistant Insurance Plan provided by the U. For more information, call the Student Health Benefits Office at 612-624-0627 or e-mail studins@bhs.umn.edu.
2003 Outstanding Community Service Awards, which recognize members of the U community who are making substantial, enduring contributions to the community, have been presented to Thomas Augst, Patricia Crain, and Eric Daigre, Department of English; Brenda Child, American studies; Dan Dahlberg, physics; Carol McCannon, UMM Office of Community Service and Volunteerism; Nadifa Osman, epidemiology; and Kristi Rudelius Palmer, Human Rights Center.
Recipients of 2003 McKnight Research Awards are Daphne Berdahl, anthropology; Genevieve Escure, English; Diane Katsiaficas, art; and Mark Pedelty, General College. Award, sponsored by the U McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowment, provides $5,000 a year for 3 years to faculty for research and creative work in the arts and humanities.
Michael Perkins is new U associate vice president for capital planning and project management effective June 2. Perkins, a former VP with American Express, will oversee planning and delivery of the U's capital projects.
U will host a national conference on domestic violence prevention in African American communities June 5–6 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Attendees will include domestic violence advocates, social workers, foster parents, and law enforcement professionals. For more information, see www.dvinstitute.org.
Applications for 2003 Women's Leadership Institute are due June 23. For more information, see www.umn.edu/ohr/adp/wli.html.
Jim Boulger has received the 2003 National Rural Health Association's Award for Distinguished Teacher of the Year. Boulger, one of the founding faculty members of the School of Medicine, Duluth, has served as director of the Rural Preceptorship Program since 1972.
CROOKSTON—Stephanie Helgeson has been appointed interim director of athletics. Helgeson served as assistant director of athletics since August 2000. Prior to that she worked as UMC's sports information director.
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Festivities to recognize the retirement of Chancellor Sargeant and his wife, Mary Beth, will be June 6. Reception at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., in Brown Dining Room, is by invitation only. Dance at 9:30 p.m., Northland Inn, is open to the public.
DULUTH—"Looking North: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Illustrations–the Potlatch Collection" runs through June 22 at Tweed Museum of Art. Exhibit includes original illustrations and a northwoods cabin display. For more information, call 218-726-6139 or see www.d.umn.edu/tma.
William Wade, vice chancellor for University Relations, has been named interim athletics director. A nationwide search has been launched to fill the position left open when Robert Corran took a position at U of Vermont. A permanent director is expected in place by early October.
UMD's Upward Bound Program has received a $542,822 federal grant. The program provides assistance with college entrance exams and financial applications to low-income students and first-generation military veterans.
MORRIS—Chancellor Schuman recently offered to join Morris employees in various jobs around campus, including assisting with a psychology experiment, cleaning rooms in Pine Residence Hall, working in the minority student program office, and delivering mail in the campus post office. "I worry sometimes about the inevitability of a college president or chancellor drifting into a kind of executive isolation," Schuman said.
Musicians Peter Ostroushko and Dirk Freymuth will entertain on eve of first annual Small Towns Symposium, June 10–11 at UMM. Symposium offers opportunities to examine and discuss the changes in rural Minnesota over the last 100 years. For complete information, see www.mrs.umn.edu/services/cst/symposium
/index.htm.
TWIN CITIES—Parking reservations can now be made online at www.parkandtrans.umn.edu/deptsrvcs.htm. Faxed reservations are no longer accepted. For more information, call Parking and Transportation Services at 612-626-7275.
Two faculty members recently won Minnesota Book Awards: Ray Gonzalez, Department of English, won in the poetry category for The Hawk Temple at Tierra Grande, and Mark Umbreit, School of Social Work, won in the new age, metaphysics, and spirituality category for Pathways to Spirituality and Healing (co-written with Alexa Umbreit). Awards are sponsored by the Minnesota Humanities Commission in cooperation with the Library of Congress Center for the Book. For full list of winners, see www.minnesotahumanities.org.
Jean Forster, epidemiology, received the Defense Department's Outstanding Public Service Medal for her contributions to the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board.
Kay Thomas, director of International Student and Scholar Services, received the Marita Houlihan Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field of International Education from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Award is presented for imaginative activity and outstanding personal enterprise in the field.
U Blood Drive, sponsored by West Bank Office Building (WBOB), will be week of June 9 at the Minneapolis Blood Donor Center west of WBOB. To schedule a donation, call Gary at 612-252-1063 or e-mail ericksona@usa.redcross.org.
Campus Club summer hours: coffee and tea from 9 a.m.; lunch, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; summer bar and lounge open Monday through Wednesday until 6:30 p.m., Thursday until 9 p.m., and Friday until 8 p.m. For more information see www.umn.edu/cclub/index.html.
Virtual Museum of Minerals and Molecules Web site (soils.umn.edu/virtual_museum) recently won a Science/Technical award from Scientific American for best Web site. One of the site's curators is Ed Nater, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate.
Events: "Bats in My World," an interactive exhibit at Bell Museum of Natural History, runs June 8–Aug. 31. Opening party will be June 12, 7–9 p.m. For more information or tickets, call 612-624-9050 or see www.bellmuseum.org.
"Summer in Minnesota" picnic for Chinese students, scholars, and their families and friends will be June 15, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Como Park. For information or tickets, call China Center at 612-624-1002.
The free outdoor concerts of Summer at Northrop 2003 will kickoff with the modern jazz band Triplicate, June 4, noon–1 p.m., Northrop Plaza. Summer session will also feature 25 more concerts beginning June 16. For complete schedule, see www.northrop.umn.edu.
See more Twin Cities events online at events.tc.umn.edu.
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