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1. Update on Electrical Safety Program |
The Electrical Safety Program has moved to its next phase, said Jonathon Stone, occupational safety and emergency response specialist.
In November, employees from units throughout the University inspected their offices and other space to identify potential safety violations, such as improper use of extension cords, uncovered electrical outlets, etc.
Their reports have been submitted to Campus Facilities Management, which is developing a plan to address any remaining problems.
"OSHS really appreciates the quality of the inspections," Stone said. "Tech employees took valuable time away from their normal job responsibilities to pitch in and help the University become a safer place for all of us.
"We are the only University in the state that's working with MIOSHA to improve our safety program, and this effort is a big part of that." |
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2. MSE Student Wins Ellwood Group Scholarship |
by Jennifer Donovan, public relations director
Kenneth Brooks, a fourth-year major in materials science and engineering, has been named the winner of a $25,000 metallurgy scholarship awarded by the Ellwood Group Inc. The scholarship will be presented on campus on Jan. 30.
Brooks is president of the Innovative Casting Enterprise (ICE) at Michigan Tech. After graduation, he wants to work in specialty casting, producing low-count, high-quality, detailed parts.
Brooks was a mechanical engineering student when he attended an ICE casting demonstration. "I was immediately hooked," he recalls. "I changed to a materials science and engineering major within a week, and I've found metal casting to be particularly interesting because it requires plenty of technical know-how, but also allows me to use my hands."
Next summer, Brooks will intern at the Ellwood Group Inc. Last summer, he worked for Ford, making custom aluminum plaques for historic homes in Detroit. |
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3. Applications Now Accepted for Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships |
Applications for the 2009 Summer Undergraduate Fellowships (SURFs) are now open.
Fellowship winners will spend between seven and 14 weeks on an individual research project under the guidance of a Michigan Tech faculty mentor. SURFs are open to all Tech undergraduates who have at least one semester remaining after the summer. Amounts up to $4,000 will be awarded. Applications are due no later than noon on Friday, Feb. 27.
For more information, visit www.mtu.edu/research/references/awards-management/internal-awards/surf/ .
Questions should be addressed to the SURF coordinator, Will Cantrell, at cantrell@mtu.edu . |
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4. Visual and Performing Arts Students Place in American College Theatre Festival |
submitted by Visual and Performing Arts
José Cordero-Medina, a senior majoring in sound design, won first place in the Regional Design Projects Competition (in sound design) at this year's Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival for Region III, held at Saginaw Valley State University Jan. 5-10. Nicole Kirsch, a sophomore in audio production and technology, placed second in the contest.
Students and faculty from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts attended the five-day intensive session of displays, contests, workshops and performances that brought together students and faculty from theater programs in a five-state area.
Cordero-Medina's first-place project involved an innovative sound design for the classic tragedy "Dr. Faustus," by Christopher Marlowe. Kirsch designed sound featuring Native American music and instruments for a modern comedy, "Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth," by Drew Hayden Taylor.
Corinne Gilbert, a senior in theatre and entertainment technology, placed third in the Realized Designs competition for the set of "The Memorandum," built in McArdle Theatre in spring 2008 for Michigan Tech's production of the Vaclav Havel play. Mike McKellar, a senior in entertainment design and
technology, got rave reviews for his lizard costume for this fall's production of Edward Albee's "Seascape." First place in the annual Design Storm competition went to a team including Kyle Van Howe, a senior in sound design.
"The KC/ACTF Festival puts our students among their peers from some of the best programs in the country, so it's an exciting and very affirming experience," said Assistant Professor Patricia Helsel (Visual and Performing Arts). "Michigan Tech students really do stand out for their creativity, skill and great common sense, and they also learn so much from a week of nonstop theater performances, hands-on demos and theater talk."
Faculty members Helsel, M. C. Friedrich, Roger Held, Dennis Kerwin, Kalen Larson and Christopher Plummer presented workshops including an interactive demonstration of the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series, the innovative project that introduces first-year sound design students to McArdle Theatre each fall.
Ultimately, a few plays and designs are selected from the 11 regions to be displayed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, at a national festival and awards ceremony celebrating the vitality of college theater in America. |
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5. Open House Jan. 21 for New Service Centers on Library's Second Floor |
submitted by the CTLFD
The J. R. Van Pelt and Opie Library will host an open house for the Michigan Tech academic community on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
As part of the library's transformation, three new service centers have been added to the second floor of the library: the Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development (Room 219); the Blackboard/WebCT Help Center (Room 207); and the Digital Studio (Room 243).
Join us for a progressive luncheon buffet as you learn about how these service centers can help you with your teaching and research efforts, and visit with the people who'll be providing services to you. If you're joining us for lunch, please RSVP by Friday, Jan. 16, to 487-2046 or jklogue@mtu.edu . |
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6. January's DiversiTea Set for Thursday |
The first DiversiTea of 2009 will be held tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 15, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge.
The session is a natural fit for the new initiative: the diversity minor at Michigan Tech.
Featured speakers are Associate Professors Craig Waddell and Vicky Bergvall, both of humanities.
DiversiTeas were instituted last fall after a campus survey indicated such opportunity for social dialogue would be welcome. They blend the interchange of ideas and the enjoyment of refreshment and teas from around the world. The monthly event will continue until April and is open to the public.
Diversity is one of Michigan Tech's strategic goals--that is, a community of scholars whose intellectual, social and professional development is enriched by the diversity of our students, faculty and staff. |
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7. Play Volleyball at Noon on Tuesday, Thursday |
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If you like to play volleyball and have an SDC membership, you are invited to join a group of faculty and staff to play on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon in the SDC Multipurpose Gym. For more information, email Mary Ann Klooster at klooster@mtu.edu . |
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8. Library to Host Visiting Speaker: Presentation on e-Science |
The J. R. Van Pelt and Opie Library will host James L. Mullins, director of libraries and professor of library science at Purdue University, on Tuesday, Jan. 20. His visit supports the library's strategic planning process and will include a public presentation, "Enabling Access to Scientific and Technical Datasets in e-Science: The Role of Library and Archival Sciences," scheduled for 11 a.m. in Rekhi G05.
Mullins' recent research and publications place him in a small group of library leaders whose staff are actively addressing issues of information usage in science and engineering schools. His career has included positions at MIT, Villanova and the Indiana University library system, and his professional service includes work with the National Science Foundation, the Association of Research Libraries, the American Library Association, and the International Federation of Library Associations. He currently serves on the board of International Association of Technological University Libraries.
Under Mullins' leadership, Purdue has developed an innovative "e-Scholar" initiative ( http://e-scholar.lib.purdue.edu ), which collects and shares traditional library and archival information alongside their institution's scholarly publications and research data collections. The program is assisting Purdue in addressing new federal guidelines for the retention and management of scientific data gathered using public grants.
The presentation will be followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to interact with Mullins. |
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9. In the News |
Jim Turnquist, director of the Career Center, was quoted in "10 Hot Professions for 2009," by Joy Victory of Payscale.com, displayed on the Yahoo! HotJobs website. Click here to read what Turnquist had to say about the engineering field, on the list of the top 10.
The Great Lakes IT Report ( view here ) and Crain's Detroit Business ( view here ) both ran stories on the partnering of Michigan Tech, General Motors and the Engineering Society of Detroit to offer a course in advanced propulsion technology that will retrain displaced automotive engineers. |
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10. New Staff |
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Karen Hext has joined Human Resources as benefits coordinator. She comes to Michigan Tech from Fine Line Tire, where she was employed as office manager. Hext holds an associate degree from Suomi College (now Finlandia University). She is married to Dennis Hext, has three children, Miles, Cordell and Steven, and lives in Atlantic Mine. |
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11. Free Furniture in SBE |
The School of Business and Economics has the following furniture available for free.
• one four-drawer, letter-sized file cabinet
• one four-drawer, legal-sized file cabinet
• one two-shelf, wooden bookcase
• one brown leather chair with armrest and rollers
If you are interested, contact Phyllis Williamson at pcwillia@mtu.edu or 487-2669 by Friday, Jan. 16.
University property may only be transferred between departments; it may not be given or sold to individuals. |
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