|
|
1. Open Forum on Assessment of Student Learning, April 25 |
Max Seel, provost, and Christa Walck, assistant provost and AQIP liaison, will hold an open forum on the assessment of student learning at 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 25, in Memorial Union Ballroom B2-3.
The session will review and solicit feedback on the University's process for assessment of student learning, in particular the eight University Student Learning Goals proposed by the Assessment Council and General Education Council to guide campus-wide assessment:
1. Disciplinary knowledge
2. Knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world
3. Global literacy
4. Critical and creative thinking
5. Communication
6. Information literacy
7. Technology
8. Values and civic engagement
These eight goals reflect the student learning assessment of professional accreditors (ABET, AACSB, SAF), as well as learning goals for liberal education, which is articulated by the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
The forum will also address the next steps in the process, including assessing learning goals across the curriculum; developing program goals for all degree programs; gathering direct and indirect evidence of student learning; the assessment cycle; and assessment currently underway for General Education core courses (Perspectives, Composition, World Cultures and Institutes). |
|
|
2. New Entrepreneur Support Center Includes Space for Tech Students |
by Dennis Walikainen, senior editor
The Entrepreneur Support Center (EDC) is making space for new businesses, and two Michigan Tech students are among the first tenants.
A collaboration among the MTEC SmartZone, Finlandia University and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the EDC is located in the Jutila Center in Hancock and allows access to office space, equipment, training and other start-up resources, according to a press release.
"The center provides entrepreneurs with a short-term office and professional guidance to launch their businesses," said MTEC SmartZone Program Director Jon Leinonen.
Jess Tompkins, a junior in management, is taking advantage of the space.
"I'm planning to start a business for women's outdoor apparel, Two Bows," she said. "The Entrepreneur Support Center provides a fully operating space that I couldn't afford otherwise. Within a couple of weeks, I will have my partnership set up and be planning my initial product launch."
Collin Stoner, an electrical engineering student, was also one of the first to register at the ESC. His Selene Photonics and Automation, which will manufacture drivers for electric motors, was just created, and he appreciates the business aspect of the center.
"I am an engineering student with little business experience. The ESC advisors have filled the gap in my business smarts, making my venture possible," he said.
Bonnie Holland, director of the Jutila Center, stressed the importance of access to expertise.
"Both Jon and I are located in the building to help," Holland said. "Partnership of the two landlords [Finlandia University and MTEC SmartZone] is bringing the entrepreneurship program forward."
Local business leaders and industry professionals will also be tapped to help the entrepreneurs start their businesses, the press release said.
"With assistance from business mentors, most entrepreneurs will be able to complete the start-up steps, then locate into one of the local business incubators to keep growing," Leinonen said.
For more information on the center, contact Jon Leinonen at 487-7004 or info@escenter.biz . |
|
|
3. Nanotech Filter Separates Oil and Water |
by Marcia Goodrich, senior writer
Water and oil may not mix, but, like two boxers nearing the end of the final round, they can get awfully tangled up.
Now, scientists Yoke Khin Yap (Physics) and Jaroslaw Drelich (MSE) have created a filter that separates the two substances as quickly and cleanly as a ref breaking up a clinch.
Their fine, stainless steel mesh is coated with carbon nanotubes about 10 microns across. "They have a super-honeycomb structure that repels water," says Yap, an associate professor. "But they like organic stuff, like oil."
The team poured an emulsion of water and gasoline over the filter to test it. Sure enough, the gas dripped through; all but 20 percent of the water stayed put.
It's not as if you could filter the Gulf of Mexico through the device, Yap cautions. Their prototype is about the size of a quarter. Plus, the water drops can actually clog the spaces between the nanotubes, making it hard for anything to get through. "But the attractive thing is that it's so simple," he says. "It runs by gravitation."
Drelich, an associate professor, thinks the filter has real-world potential. "These were just our first set of experiments," he says. "We could supply electricity to it to heat it up, reducing the oil's viscosity and evaporating the water. We could also create a vacuum that would suck oil through the filter to the other side. A good engineering design could get rid of clogging problem."
Such technology could help purify oil from Canada's tar sands, which is contaminated by traces of corrosive salt water. Or, it could be used to recover oil from the wastewater of ocean-going vessels. It might even be able to scrub the oil inside your car's engine.
"Our design would be completely novel, because it relies on nanotechnology, and it could be competitive," says Drelich.
Their work was published in the Feb. 2 edition of the journal Carbon and is funded by the National Science Foundation. |
|
|
4. Staff Council Meets Next Thursday |
The Staff Council invites all to attend the monthly meeting at noon, Thursday, April 21, in Memorial Union Alumni Lounge A
The meeting will include a presentation/discussion with Wendy Davis, manager of process improvement, regarding the Continuous Improvement Process being led by the Vice President of Administration Ellen Horsch.
The Council will also discuss the upcoming Campus Forum, Dean of the College of Engineering Search Committee, and the Senate's Presidential Evaluation Survey. Refreshments will be provided. For questions or comments, email the Staff Council at staffcouncil@mtu.edu . |
|
|
5. Flags Flown at Half-Staff |
|
Flags throughout Michigan will be flown at half-staff Friday, April 15, in honor of US Navy Hospitalman Benjamin Rast, 23, who died April 6 in the Helmand province, Afghanistan. He, of Niles, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Rast was stationed at Naval Medical Center, Expeditionary Medical Force Detachment, in San Diego, Calif. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Pistol Marksmanship Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Flags will return to full-staff Saturday, April 16. |
|
|
6. Reminder: Retirement Open House for Jimmy Diehl and Sue Beske-Diehl |
|
The Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences would like to invite the University community to a retirement open house for Professors Jimmy Diehl and Sue Beske-Diehl from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, April 28, in the sixth floor atrium of Dow (lake view). Cake, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. |
|
|
7. Khana Khanza Samples Fare from Three Countries |
Dishes from Japan, Thailand and Italy are on the menu this week at Khana Khazana (food treasure), a special ethnic lunch cooked by international students and served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday in the Memorial Union Food Court.
Lunchers and munchers will enjoy Sushi Rolls (a Japanese dish of vinegared rice topped with ingredients such as fish or other seafood); Pad Thai with Shrimp (a stir-fried rice-noodle dish with fish sauce, tamarind juice and chili peppers); and Tiramisu for dessert (a popular Italian cake).
A full meal costs $6, and each dish is available a la carte for $2. A free fountain soda, tea or coffee comes with a full meal.
Khana Khazana is a collaboration of international students and Dining Services. |
|
|
8. Reminder: Parking Lot Closes to Make Way for Motorcycle Stunt Show |
The Full Throttle Motorcycle Club will host a motorcycle stunt show during Spring Fling on Friday, April 15, in the Pay Lot (between the Memorial Union Building and Admin Building). This parking lot will be closed all day for the event.
Two groups will perform: Sick Air FMX, featuring freestyle motocross tricks; and the Smage Brothers, featuring trials riding.
Shows will begin at noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. The event is free for everyone.
For more information, contact Kaitlyn Bunker at kjreed@mtu.edu . |
|
|
9. Economics Professor from Australia to Present |
|
Professor Philip Maxwell, of Curtin University in Western Australia, will present "In the Path of a Super Cycle? An Editor's View of the State of Mineral Economics," at noon, Friday, April 15, in AOB 101. The presentation is sponsored by the School of Business and Economics. Bring your lunch. |
|
|
