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Vol. XXXIV No. 8; Feb. 25, 2004

Welcome to Brief Extra

Published once every month, Brief Extra features top U news, columns, and articles of special interest to University faculty and staff.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. Top Stories
    Metro bus strike looms: U commuters urged to find carpools; parking lots announced.
    Conference will address challenge of attracting economic development to communities.
2. Feature Stories
    The founders would be pleased: Nicholson Hall construction begins soon.
    Eating well is the best bet: Health and nutrition professor emeritus turns 100.
3. Work and Life Resources
4. Links

1. Top Stories

METRO BUS STRIKE COULD OCCUR AS EARLY AS MAR. 2. Parking and Transportation Services is working to support impacted students, staff, and faculty; approximately 14,000 students and 1,500 employees have U-Pass or Metropass cards. Faculty and staff are urged to find carpool options. If a strike occurs, Buckeye and Fairgrounds parking lots will be opened for $1.75 to drivers who can show a U-Pass or Metropass. For more information and updates, see http://www.parkandtrans.umn.edu .

"REINING IN COMPETITION FOR CAPITAL" will feature global experts addressing rising challenges faced by city and state officials in attracting new business and jobs to their communities. Hosted by the Humphrey Institute, Feb. 27-28. For more information, see http://www.ur.umn.edu/unsreleases/find.php?ID=1177 .

U CAPITAL REQUEST was presented by President Bruininks to the House Capital Investment Committee on Feb. 24. The Legislative Network needs help building public support for the University capital request throughout the state. To find out how you can help, call Mike Dean at 612-626-0913 or see http://www.umn.edu/groots/phone.php .

TODAY IS FOUNDERS DAY. On the Twin Cities campus, free chili will be served on Northrop plaza from noon to 1 p.m., and other events are planned. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/twincities/founders .

2. Feature Stories

THE FOUNDERS WOULD BE PLEASED: The U was a young 39 years old when Nicholson Hall was built for chemistry on the Twin Cities campus. With capital bonding support passed in 2002, rehabilitation starts next month. When it ends in 2005, Nicholson will join a humanities district emerging east of the historic knoll area. MORE: http://www.umn.edu/urelate/brief/extra/nicholson2004-02-25.html .

EATING WELL IS THE BEST BET: Health and nutrition professor emeritus Ancel Keys turned 100 last month. "He is simply a public health giant," says Mark Becker, assistant vice president and dean of the U's School of Public Health. "Few, if any, figures in the 20th century can match his contributions to the biology and epidemiology of coronary heart disease." Keys invented K-rations during World War II and, in the 1950s, began to advocate a Mediterranean diet. MORE: http://www.umn.edu/urelate/brief/extra/keys2004-02-25.html .

3. Work and Life Resources

Council of Academic Professionals and Administrators (CAPA) News
What do University Libraries, General College, and the School of Social Work have in common? They've all been honored as outstanding places for Professional and Academic (P&A) staff to work. Nominate U units that value P&A staff for the 2004 award by Mar. 18. MORE: http://www.umn.edu/ohr/capa .

Civil Service Committee News
On Dec. 18, the Civil Service Committee recommended a 2004-05 pay plan for civil service employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements. The plan includes a 2-percent across-the-board pay increase effective June 14 and a 1-percent adjustment effective Dec. 13. The plan will advance through the budget process and, pending approval, would become effective June 14. MORE: http://www.umn.edu/csc .

Apply to serve on the U-wide Civil Service Committee, a group of 15 members appointed by the president and approved by the Board of Regents. Six seats are open for the term beginning July 1--four for the Twin Cities campus and one each for Crookston and Duluth. The committee's mission is to represent the interests of civil service employees and participate in U governance to support the U's overall mission. Deadline to apply is Apr. 2. MORE: http://www.umn.edu/csc/application/application.html .

Resources from Human Resources

Work/Life: With the new year still fresh, many are sticking with their resolutions to exercise and eat well. Ruth Rounds, manager of the U's Wellness Program, describes what the U is doing to support faculty and staff in their health and wellness goals. Coming in 2004: a U-wide walking program, and a health survey in late spring. MORE: http://www.umn.edu/ohr/worklife/articles.htm .

Great Service: Teaming for great service is a concept being used to meet service goals in the College of Continuing Education, Housing and Residential Life, University Stores, and other campus units. It's an idea that can be applied in other U settings, too. What is teaming, and how can more departments and offices use it? MORE: http://www.umn.edu/urelate/brief/extra/teaming2004-02-25.html .

Brief is compiled by University Relations at the University of Minnesota. Gayla Marty, interim editor; Ann Freeman, managing editor. Please send comments, questions, or submissions to Gayla Marty at marty001@umn.edu . All Twin Cities event submissions are handled through the events calendar at http://events.tc.umn.edu .

To receive Brief as a text-only e-mail, contact Gayla Marty, interim editor, at marty001@umn.edu .

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