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1. Mroz Discusses Finances, Rankings, Enrollment at Forum |
President Glenn Mroz gave the University community an overview of Michigan Tech’s financial, enrollment and endowment trends Tuesday, as well as a snapshot of how the University compares to other institutions.
The most recent estimates show the University’s current fund, which encompasses all university funds, ending the 2007-08 fiscal year $1.4 million in the black. The balance in the general fund at the end of the year will probably be about a negative $300,000. While it’s preferable to have excess revenues, that figure represents very small percentage of the overall budget and is not a cause for significant concern, Mroz said.
He reviewed state appropriations over the last 40 years. Accounting for inflation, “what we’ve been getting from the state is about what we got in 1964, but we have more students and our expenses have doubled,” he said. “An education costs more now because it’s worth more.”
Revenue from tuition and fees last year totaled $66.8 million, compared to the $48.1 million state appropriation, showing how the cost of education at public universities is shifting to students and their families. The corrections budget now costs the state more than higher education, Mroz noted.
Enrollment has grown, he noted. “Over the last few years, our marketing efforts have been kicking in, and we have about 700 more students on campus than we did in 2002,” Mroz said. “That has helped us a great deal.”
The achievement is all the more noteworthy because interest in engineering has dropped significantly among Michigan’s college-bound high school students, while interest in science has been flat. In part, bad news from a single sector—the auto industry—drives those trends, with students assuming their post-college job opportunities will be bleak. With employers flocking to Michigan Tech Job Fairs, the opposite is proving to be true. “A Michigan Tech education is a good investment,” Mroz said.
For the upcoming year, undergraduate applications are up 16.6 percent, including a 40.9 percent increase in US minority and a 30.3 percent increase in female applications. “But we still have a lot of work to do,” particularly to attract minorities, said Mroz.
While the University has been expanding its graduate program, Michigan Tech still lags behind most Michigan schools, including Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and Oakland, in the proportion of graduate students in its student body, about 12 percent. “If we hit our targets, we’ll be more like Michigan State,” at around 20 percent, Mroz said. Graduate school applications are increasing this year, to 1,558, compared to 1,379 at the same time in 2007.
He stressed the importance of research and graduate education in driving national rankings, especially those in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” edition. “We’re a top 50 public university by virtually all measures except peer assessment,” said Mroz. The achievements of faculty drive the rankings, so rewarding high-achieving faculty through improved salaries will be key.
Michigan Tech’s endowment can support faculty salaries, especially through endowed chairs and professorships, but, at $11,715 per student, it currently lags behind those of institutions such as Michigan State ($29,619) and the Missouri University of Science and Technology, in Rolla ($22,643). Building the endowment is the primary goal of the upcoming capital campaign. “We have a lot of work to do,” Mroz noted.
In conclusion, he encouraged University Senate constituents to fill out the evaluation of the president. “Help me to learn to make things better,” he said. |
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2. From Bikes to Baghdad: Enterprise Team Works with Marquette Firm on Video for the Battlefield |
Michigan Tech’s Integrated Microsystems Enterprise has been tapped by Marquette firm V.I.O. Inc. to field-test the POV.1, a small, wearable video camera tailored for the military.
The ultimate goal is to develop a completely wireless transmission system, so what a soldier sees and hears on the battlefield can be viewed and recorded at a remote command post. The project is funded by the Army Research Lab.
The digital POV.1 (for “point of view”) is an offspring of V.I.O.’s earlier Adventure Cam analog video camera systems, long favorites of cyclists, snowboarders and other sporting enthusiasts. Users strap the cameras (which are about the size of a small microphone) to helmets, handlebars or about anything else, record the action, and then play back movies on their computers or other video equipment.
“We got into the military market when mountain bikers became soldiers,” said V.I.O.'s President Richard Anderson. “They wanted to bring this device with them on patrols to get information and do after-action reporting. Another big use has been to help train incoming troops.”
It’s serious business, but the students’ first assignment has been to have fun.
“We put the POV.1 on everything we could find,” said Lewis Sweet, a computer engineering senior and president of the Enterprise. “Mountain bikes, hockey helmets . . . We took it ice skating. We put it on a helmet for broomball and recorded the game.”
Anderson says college students, especially Michigan Tech college students, are a perfect fit for the project.
“Our founder was a mountain biker interested in capturing the ride,” he said. “It’s not surprising that students are comfortable with the technology and see its potential.”
The student team has the skills to investigate the POV.1 and adapt it to wireless technologies, said Senior Research Engineer II Rick Berkey, who helped set up the partnership with V.I.O. “Plus, they offer that fresh perspective, and they can focus all their energies on this project, while V.I.O. has a business to run. A nice way to for them to flex muscles, as well as build a better relationship with a nearby company.”
To understand the needs of a broader market, the team has also surveyed police and other first responders to determine what other technologies are available.
“There's motivation among police to get video of every action, so they don't have to rely on eye witnesses,” said Paul Bergstrom, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and the team’s advisor.
The Enterprise team has already recommended a few design changes and is working on the streaming video. “With some tweaking, this could be ideal,” says team president Sweet. “Plus, it’s giving us good exposure to how to work externally with a company. You get to see real engineering.”
The partnership is benefiting all parties, says V.I.O’s Anderson. “It’s been a great experience,” he said. “And ultimately, Michigan Tech’s work will help command centers more easily see battle centers in real time.”
To learn more about the POV.1, visit https://www.vio-pov.com/ . |
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3. Four UMC Publications Earn Admissions Advertising Awards |
Four publications developed by University Marketing and Communications have received Admissions Advertising Awards.
The globe-themed graduate recruitment brochures received a silver award in the brochure category. Creative Director Bill Tembreull developed the original template, with Senior Graphic Designer Clare Rosen designing the series. Senior Writer Marcia Goodrich edited text provided by departments and Jacque Smith, director of graduate marketing and advancement.
UMC also received merit awards in three categories. The "Emergency Procedure Guide," edited by Senior Editor Dennis Walikainen and designed by Tembreull, was recognized in the publication/internal category.
The YES! Expo Magazine, designed by Creative Graphic Designer Crystal Verran with text provided by UMC writers, was honored in the other/special category.
The 2007 Admissions DVD, by Video Reporter Justin Plichta, was recognized in the video/CD category.
Photography was provided by University Photographer Joe Pyykkonen and student photographers.
This year, the Admissions Marketing Report received 2,000 entries from over than 1,000 schools, colleges and universities for its 23rd annual competition. |
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4. Paper Recycling March 3 |
Recycle your paper from home at the first-Monday-of-the-month collection on Monday, March 3, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the Dow sixth floor loading dock off the main lobby (just west of where the Dow extends over Cliff Drive). Next month's collection is tentatively scheduled for April 7.
Please take this opportunity to recycle your paper when there are
volunteers to help. If you miss the collection, contact Bill Mitchell, wmitchel@mtu.edu or 487-1636, or email recyclinginfo-l@mtu.edu to make alternate arrangements. Please do not empty paper from home into the blue recycling bins or carts on campus because it increases the likelihood of contamination and creates more work for the custodial and grounds staff.
As always, departments or offices that have a large amount of paper to recycle at one time should contact recyclinginfo-l@mtu.edu to arrange a special pickup. If you're not sure what can be recycled, see the guidelines at www.esc.mtu.edu/WhatCanIRecycleAtMTU/Default.htm .
This recycling collection is sponsored by the Michigan Tech Environmental Sustainability Committee and Circle K in cooperation with Facilities Management's Building Operations and Grounds staff.
For more information, see www.esc.mtu.edu/ , contact your
departmental recycling liaison or email recyclinginfo-l@mtu.edu . To receive information and announcements related to environmental sustainability issues and activities at Michigan Tech and on other campuses, subscribe to greenmtu-l@mtu.edu . |
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5. Library's Digital Studio Offering New Multimedia Development Equipment |
submitted by the J. R. Van Pelt/Opie Library
The Van Pelt/Opie Library’s digital studio has added some new equipment. We invite the campus community to stop by and take a look at what we have to offer.
The Digital Studio is envisioned as a multimedia facility for Michigan Tech students, faculty and staff. Available software includes Adobe and Macromedia suites and various Nero programs for video, audio, photo and web editing. To facilitate editing, the computers have a dual monitor setup. Scanners, mini-DV to VHS converters, CD/DVD burners and printers are available.
The studio is always staffed during open hours, which follow for the spring semester:
Monday, 1-8 p.m.
Tuesday–Thursday, 1-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Friday, 1-5 p.m.
You can request time in the studio by filling out a request form located on the studio's webpage, www.lib.mtu.edu/services/DigitalStudio .
To find out more about the studio, email ds@mtu.edu , call 487-2148 or stop in room 243 in the library. |
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6. Preschool Cabin Fever Carnival March 8 |
submitted by the Michigan Tech Preschool
The Michigan Tech Preschool will host its annual Cabin Fever Carnival in the Horner Lobby of the Rozsa Center on Saturday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is fun for the entire family with games and prizes galore, plus a magic show featuring humanities professor Craig Waddell. Bring the kids out and beat the winter blues. |
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7. Pilates Dollar Days March 3, 5, 10, 12 |
submitted by Community Programs
For those who would like to try Pilates but aren't sure if they want to commit to an entire session, Community Programs will offer $3 "drop-in" sessions on March 3, 5, 10 and 12. The classes will be held from noon to 12:45 p.m. in the ROTC gym. There is no need to register for the class; you can simply pay at the door. Mats are not provided for the classes so please bring one.
Call 487-2975 for more information. |
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8. Work in Progress: Content Management and a New University Website |
University Marketing and Communications will host a campus-wide meeting on strategies for updating website content and navigation Thursday, March 6, at 2 p.m. in Fisher 133.
Topics will include the University content management system and its tie-in to development of a new website. Anyone interested is invited to attend. |
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9. Physics Colloquium Today |
Graduate students of the physics department will present a colloquium today, Thursday, Feb. 28, at 4 p. m. in Fisher 139.
Archana Pandey, advised by Associate Professor Yoke Khin Yap, will present “Toward Application of Vertically-aligned Carbon Nanotubes for Electron Field Emission and Biological Sensing”, and Partha Pal, advised by Assistant Professor Ranjit Pati, will present “Quantum Transport in a Molecular Device.”
For more information, contact Yoke Khin Yap, ykyap@mtu.edu or 487-2900, or Ranjit Pati, patir@mtu.edu or 487-3193. |
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10. Humanities Colloquium Tomorrow |
Visiting Assistant Professor Michael Bennett (Social Sciences) will present a colloquium, "The Normal and the Extraordinary: Science Fiction as Engineering/Legal Pedagogy," tomorrow, Friday, February 29, at 4 p.m. in Walker 109. A reception with music provided by JazTec will follow on the third floor of Walker.
For more information, contact Stephen Pluhacek, spluhace@mtu.edu or
487-3252, or Sue Niemi, seniemi@mtu.edu or 487-2540. |
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11. MSE Seminar March 3 |
Edward M. Sabolsky, senior research scientist at Saint-Gobain High-Performance R&D Center, will present "High-performance Piezoelectric Ceramics through Microstructural Engineering," Monday, March 3, 9-10 a.m. in M & M 610.
For more information or an abstract, contact Margaret Rothenberger at mproth@mtu.edu . |
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12. Grad Research Forum Friday on Ecology, the Environment, Biotechnology |
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The Fourth Annual Ecosystem Science Center/Biotechnology Research Center Graduate Research Forum will be held Friday, Feb. 29, from 3 to 4:30 in the atrium of the U. J. Noblet Building. Graduate students conducting research in ecology, the environment and biotechnology will present posters and will be available to discuss their research. An award ceremony will follow the poster session. |
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13. In Print |
Graduate student Feifei Cai, postdoctoral associate Cuihua Xue and Assistant Professor Haiying Liu (Chemistry) published a paper, "Ultrasensitive Fluorescent Responses of Highly Water-soluble Zwitterionic Boronic Acid-bearing Regioregular Head-to-tail Polythiophene to Biological Species," in Chemistry–A European Journal, Volume 14, Issue 5, 2008.
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