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1. Michigan Tech Selected for Federal Demonstration Partnership to Streamline Grants Administration |
by Jennifer Donovan, public relations director
Federal research grants are the lifeline of university research. But their lengthy, complicated application and administration requirements can drain the life out of the researchers.
Michigan Tech has been accepted as a member of a select group of research institutions and federal agencies in Phase 5 of the Federal Demonstration Partnership. The partnership's primary goal is to increase the time available for those performing research to perform the research and decrease the administrative burden while still maintaining effective stewardship of federal funds.
"What this means for Michigan Tech is that we can help streamline the process of managing federal research grants," said Anita Quinn, director of research and sponsored programs.
For Quinn, who says she has spent her entire career at Michigan Tech trying to streamline grants administration processes, this is an important step. "We actually can have an impact and help make changes and improvements in the way the federal government operates with recipients of federal funds," she said.
The Federal Demonstration Partnership began in 1986 as an experiment between five federal agencies and the Florida State University System. In 1988 it expanded to a national project.
Phases 1, 2, 3 and 4 implemented a number of improvements, including streamlining the terms and conditions for research grants, increasing budget flexibility, providing for pre-award costs and electronic research administration, simplifying cost sharing and sub-awards, and increasing participation of minority-serving and emerging research institutions.
Phase 5, which will start this fall and continue through 2014, focuses on two themes:
•maximize the time available for principal investigators and scientific staff to focus on research while reducing any unnecessary administrative burden
•increase the efficiency of administrative and compliance practices while reducing inefficient or redundant agency and institutional procedures and practices
"We want researchers doing science, not administration," the FDP Strategic Planning Committee noted in its strategic plan for Phase 5.
Michigan Tech will appoint administrative, faculty and technical representatives to work with the partnership, whose members include nine federal agencies and more than 100 research institutions across the country. |
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2. Distinguished Teaching Award Winners, Part Two: Mark |
by Karina Jousma, Tech Today student editor
Today's issue of Tech Today features the winner of the Distinguished Teaching Award in the lecturer/assistant professor category, Professor of Practice Robert Mark of the School of Business and Economics. For more information on the award or the other recipient, Professor Randall Freisinger of the Department of Humanities, see www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/ttoday/previous.php?issue=20080605 .
Robert Mark
Christa Walck, dean of the School of Business and Economics, said Mark is one of its first faculty members to be designated as a professor of practice, a title the School gives only to faculty with significant business experience. "He brings reality into the classroom—he can speak from lived experience," said Walck.
Mark is a seasoned entrepreneur who worked extensively in sales for 30 years. He was chief financial officer of Rowe Inc., a consulting civil engineering company, and helped grow the company from a $2-million, 35-person firm to a $150-million, 150-person corporation. For ten years he owned a computer software company that develops software to administer corporate pension plans.
"He has extensive business experience and does a good job of relating those experiences to the course material," said one student nomination from Mark's sales and sales management class.
"He turns learning into an enjoyable experience and uses teaching techniques that make learning the material easy," said another student.
Mark works magic in the classroom—he's a professional magician. He became an illusionist while he was giving seminars on business basics across the country. On a layover at Chicago-O'Hare Airport in 1988, a book on magic caught his eye in a gift shop. When he opened it, he saw an opportunity to use a rope trick in his seminar. Before his talk, he bought a section of rope at a hardware store and used the trick, which worked marvelously to support his material while entertaining his audience.
He has performed magic shows, mixed with humor for good measure, for all types of business groups, from proctologists to garbage collectors.
Now he conjures up lessons in the classroom using magic as a teaching aid. "I look at students like business owners—they like being entertained and learning something at the same time," he said. "Every time I do a trick, I tie it into what the lecture topic is that day to illustrate a point in a way they'll remember."
Students seem to like this method. "He keeps you awake, entertained and always thinking," said a student. "He not only does a great job teaching material, but he also makes it fun and interesting," said another.
Mark's tricks also work to promote attendance. "If I do a magic trick, I do it at the start of class," he said. "So if they don’t come to class on time, they miss the trick. And I don't do a trick every class—I only do about four or five per semester."
"Since coming to Michigan Tech just about two years ago, Bob has integrated himself into the University and has become a key player on campus," said another nomination.
Since January 2006, Mark has served as the academic advisor for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, of which he was president at Michigan Tech in 1970. He has helped the fraternity reach the goal of raising its average GPA. Out of the four semesters he has advised, the fraternity has gained top grades for three of them. Among all fraternities on campus, Sigma Phi Epsilon's spring 2008 and spring 2007 term GPAs ranked number one, and its fall 2007 term GPA ranked number two. Its spring 2008 and fall 2007 term GPAs topped the campus-wide undergraduate men's average, as well. In addition, Sigma Phi Epsilon was named Outstanding Fraternity of the Year for 2007.
Mark credits the fraternity members with achieving the goal: "It's nothing magical that I do."
A nomination said the following of his advising: "He's always presenting on . . . time management and personal development. I've seen him during late hours and on weekends reviewing resumes for students. He's always willing to lend a hand when students or his colleagues need his assistance. Michigan Tech is truly a better place today because of (him)."
"Although I have never had a class with Mr. Mark, he has helped me more than almost any other teacher on campus . . . He is always quick to respond if you have a question and more than happy to go out of his way to help you out," said a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
"He's had a major impact on my life. He's guided me in the direction to excel in my future," said a student. Others claim Mark is the best teacher they've ever had.
Mark is also the director of CenTILE, the Center for Technological Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship. CenTILE nurtures commercialization of early-stage technologies developed by Michigan Tech faculty, students and research staff and promotes entrepreneurial thinking and action.
"He has really moved CenTILE to the forefront and is working across campus to promote entrepreneurial activity," said Walck. In addition to teaming up with MTEC SmartZone, he launched the elevator pitch competition, in which students compete for cash prizes by pitching product or business ideas to professional judges in a short amount of time.
"He's a genuinely nice guy with a sincere interest in students, and I think they respond positively to that," said Walck. "I'd like to clone him—I'm just delighted to have him in the SBE. He brings vitality to the school, and students love him." |
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3. Minimum Wage to Increase July 1 |
submitted by Phyllis A. Clevenger, employment, classification and compensation manager
As part of the State of Michigan Senate Bill 1364, the state minimum wage will increase to $7.40 per hour effective July 1. However, employers have the option to pay 85 percent of the state minimum wage ($6.29/hour) to employees under the age of 18. The state 85-percent rate of $6.29 is valid only between July 1 and July 23, 2008.
Effective July 24, the federal minimum wage will increase to $6.55/hour; therefore, the rate for employees under the age of 18 will be $6.55/hour. Any changes to the hourly rate must be done on an employee status change form for regular employees who fall into this category and on a student status form for any student employees who fall into this category.
Please note that the hourly rate paid to employees under 18 will automatically increase to $7.40/hour (or the state minimum wage) on their 18th birthday.
Payroll will automatically change the hourly rate for employees whose wages will increase from $7.15/hour to $7.40/hour on July 1. |
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4. Important Year-end Closing Info from Accounting |
Accounting Services has posted a schedule and instructions on year-end closing (June 30) of the University's accounting records at www.admin.mtu.edu/acct/pdf/EOY/eoynotice08.pdf .
The document includes instructions and a schedule of important deadlines.
Controller Michael Hendricks asks that a copy of the year-end closing notice be posted in each department and/or distributed to the appropriate employees. |
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5. First Friday Social Today in the Alumni Lounge |
A First Friday University Social will be held today, Friday, June 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge.
All faculty, staff and grad students are invited. First Friday University Socials provide a casual setting for informal discussion and socializing. |
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6. In Print |
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Research Scientist Dana L. Richter (SFRES) coauthored a paper with PhD student Sara C. Robinson (SFRES), 2005 alumna Maria P. Beardslee (CEE) and master's student Maureen L. Habarth (CEE), "Differential Sensitivity of Fungi to Lithium Chloride in Culture Media," which appears in the journal Mycological Research, published by the British Mycological Society, Vol. 112 (2008). |
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