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1. Benefits Posts Updated Leave Policies |
The policies addressing the new sick leave, short-term disability and maternity leave have been updated and posted here at Policies.
These changes were effective January 1.
For more information, contact Renee Hiller, Benefits, at 487-2517 or rlhiller@mtu.edu .
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2. Clarkson, Alaska Fairbanks Win Clean Snowmobile Challenge |
by Marcia Goodrich, senior writer
Clarkson University, of Potsdam, N.Y., captured first place in the 2012 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, which drew to a close March 10.
"This is our second year in a row, and it's a crazy feeling," said team captain Ben Edwards. "We knew it was close. But the team was awesome. We came prepared, and I can't say enough about our sponsors who made it all possible." Their winning four-stroke sled revolved around a 2011 Ski-Doo MX Z chassis.
Kettering University, of Flint, placed second, with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville earning third place in the internal-combustion category.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks won the zero-emissions category after a fourth-place finish in 2011. "It feels nice," said team captain Isaac Thompson. "We learned a lot from our mistakes last year, and we made a lot of them." Using a stock chassis, the team added their own parts, including small-format lithium polymer batteries.
Earning second in the zero-emissions category was McGill University of Montreal, with Michigan Tech finishing third.
The Clean Snowmobile Challenge is the newest collegiate design competition of the Society of Automotive Engineers. Engineering students from participating schools reengineer a stock snowmobile to reduce emissions and noise and increase fuel efficiency--all while preserving the riding excitement demanded by snowmobile enthusiasts.
The Challenge's zero-emissions category, for battery-powered sleds, is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. NSF uses electric snowmobiles while conducting atmospheric research in pristine arctic locations.
"I think it's been the best Challenge since we began hosting it 10 years ago," said co-organizer Jay Meldrum. "We had the best snow, everything ran smoothly and the teams all put in a great effort."
Johannes Haas, a department head at the University of Applied Sciences, in Gratz, Austria, traveled to Houghton to experience the Challenge and how participants apply what they've learned in the classroom to real-world engineering. "This is a fabulous place for learning," he said.
Clarkson also captured several special awards, including the Polaris Industries Award for Best Handling, the PCB Group Award for Quietest Snowmobile and the DENSO Corporation Award for Best Ride. It also received the Emitec Award for Best Value, which recognizes the best balance between cost, fuel economy and performance; and the BlueRibbon Coalition Award for Most Practical Solution, for the best balance between cost and noise and emissions reduction.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks received the SAE Award for Best Design, the Aristo Intelligent Catalyst Technology Award for Most Improved Snowmobile and the Keweenaw Research Center Draw Pull Award. It was also recognized for submitting the best paper on a hybrid design snowmobile.
North Dakota State University took the SAE Award for Best Design in the internal-combustion category and the Mahle Powertrain Award for best engine design, as well as the Sensors Inc. Award for Lowest In-Service Emissions.
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's zero-emissions entry received the Caterpillar Corporation Award for Innovation, and the team earned the Bill Paddleford Founders' Award for Most Sportsmanlike Conduct.
McGill University nabbed the Talon Research Safety Award and the CH2M HILL Polar Services Range Event Award, given to the electric sled that travels the longest on a single charge.
Waterloo (Ontario) University earned the International Engineering and Manufacturing (Woody's) Award for Best Acceleration in its four-stroke sled by achieving a speed of 72 mph in 500 feet. Waterloo also received the HB Performance Systems Award for having the best implementation of the HB Trail Trac system.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville received the Gage Products Award for Best Fuel Economy, for achieving mileage of 19.57 mpg on the Challenge's Endurance Run.
The University of Idaho earned the Land and Sea Award for Best Performance, given to the team that garners the highest total score in the acceleration and handling events.
The Clean Snowmobile Challenge is sponsored at Michigan Tech by the Keweenaw Research Center and the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics.
Photos are accessible at the Clean Snowmobile site. |
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3. Student Entrepreneurs Move On |
Two students, organized as AsfalisMed, are headed to North Carolina for the next level of an entrepreneurs' competition on March 24.
Travis Beaulieu, a senior in applied physics, and Joel Florek, a first-year in mechanical engineering, join the Wake Forest Elevator Competition, with 20 other student teams from around the world.
Their product is a service for medical personnel to quickly obtain pertinent medical information--such as allergies, medical conditions, medications, and emergency contacts--via a mobile device. The service will help first responders get important information at an emergency scene where, for example, there are no medical records immediately available. (Asfalis is Greek for safe and secure.)
Beaulieu and Florek will participate in the Elevator Pitch Round, taking an actual elevator ride with an investor to the top floor of a skyscraper, pitching their idea in two minutes.
If they make it into the top five, they will advance to the Boardroom Presentation Round, where they will have the opportunity to present a 15-minute Powerpoint presentation to a panel of judges to compete for $22,500.
If the duo make it to the final two, they will have to opportunity to pitch for an investment of up to $500,000.
Jonathan Leinonen, of the MTEC SmartZone, has collaborated closely with the endeavor. |
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4. Reminder: Call for Student Leadership Award Nominations |
submitted by Student Affairs
Student Affairs is seeking nominations for the President's Award for Leadership, Vice President for Student Affairs Service Award, and various other student leadership awards. The recipient of each award will be honored at the spring student leadership awards ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, April 12.
Nominations for the President's Award for Leadership and the Vice President for Student Affairs Award for Service need to be submitted by 5 p.m., Friday, March 2. Nominations for all other student leadership awards need to be submitted by noon, Friday, March 16.
Please take a minute to nominate a student or colleague today. Each nomination will enter you into a drawing for one of four $50 gift certificates from the Campus Bookstore.
For more information, see Awards or contact Lynda Heinonen at 487-1832 or lheinone@mtu.edu .
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5. Take Advantage of TechFit |
submitted by Renee Hiller, director, Benefits
To support the health of faculty and staff, the TechFit program provides $150 annually for each eligible employee (and $85 for dependents) who take part in a variety of wellness activities, from skiing to yoga. You can use this taxable benefit at many local providers, including the following:
* Student Development Complex
* Portage Health Fitness Center
* Curves
* Snap Fitness
* Mont Ripley Ski Hill
* Gates Tennis Center
* Portage Lake Golf Course
* Organized exercise classes (yoga, karate, etc.)
Please consider taking advantage of this benefit if you haven't already. It's a great start toward living an active, healthy lifestyle.
Here's how it works:
* Get a TechFit form from the Benefits Office, or print one from the Benefits website at TechFit.
* Bring the form to your provider, who will bill the University. You will be responsible for any costs over the maximum allowed by the TechFit benefit. The dependent's benefit can be used by any of your eligible dependents (spouse and children).
It is the employee's responsibility to know their TechFit balance before purchasing a membership with an eligible provider. If the employee's balance does not provide enough money to cover the invoice from the provider, the employee will be responsible for payment directly to the provider. You can view your TechFit balance at any time through your Employee Self Service (banweb.mtu.edu) under Employee Services/Benefits and Deductions.
For more information, contact Benefits Office at benefits@mtu.edu . |
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6. Lecturer Exhibits in Marquette |
Lecturer Susanne Kilpela (VPA) is part of an exhibit at Northern Michigan University's DeVos Art Museum--"UP Focus: Susanne Kilpela, Carol Phillips and Russell Prather."
The exhibit runs through Sunday, April 8, and there will be a closing reception at 6 p.m., Friday, April 6.
For more information, see Exhibit. |
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7. Tech Hockey to Face No. 9 Denver at WCHA Final Five |
by Wes Frahm, director, athletic communications and marketing
Michigan Tech will play Denver in the quarterfinal round of the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn., at 3:07 p.m. CT, 2:07 ET, Thursday, Mar. 15. The Huskies, the only road team to win a WCHA first-round playoff series, will be making their first WCHA Final Five appearance since 2007.
The teams were re-seeded following the completion of the first round. Tech earned the No. 6 seed and will face the third-seeded Pioneers, who needed three games to advance past Wisconsin in their first-round series. No. 4 North Dakota and No. 5 St. Cloud State will square off in the other quarterfinal matchup Thursday.
With a quarterfinal win, Tech would play No. 2 seed Minnesota Duluth at 3:07 p.m ET, Friday, Mar. 16. No. 1 Minnesota awaits the North Dakota/St. Cloud State winner Friday at 8:07 p.m. ET.
The WCHA championship game is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 17.
All five games of the WCHA Final Five will likely be televised live on Fox Sports North. The official TV schedule will be released by the WCHA. Radio broadcasts of all of Tech's games can be heard on WKMJ Mix 93.5 FM.
Tickets for the 2012 WCHA Final Five will be available from SDC Ticketing Operations, starting at noon today. Ticket packages start as low as $75.
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8. Tech's Flanders Wins National Championship in Relay |
Alice Flanders won a national championship as a member of the winning 3x3-kilometer freestyle relay at the USSA Mariott Junior National Championships Saturday, March 10. The relay, which included members Sharmila Ahmed and Elizabeth Simak, finished in a time of 20:00.
"This is awesome for Alice," said head coach Joe Haggenmiller. "She is the first national champion we have had at Michigan Tech, and it is great way to end her career at the junior national championships."
Rachel Mason joined Felicia Gesior and Evelyn Delong for an eighth-place finish in 20:47.
Michigan Tech's team of Sam Holmes, David Joda and Mike Fleming finished 15th in the men's race in 18:08. The team of Nathan Foster, Thomas Kendrick and Brad Allen finished 17th in 18:26.
"Kelsey Boyer deserves a lot of credit for the hard work he put in all week with the waxing duties," said Haggenmiller. |
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9. Sports in Brief |
by Wes Frahm, director, athletic communications and marketing
Thursday, March 15
WCHA Final Five Quarterfinal, St. Paul, Minn.
* Hockey vs. Denver, 3:07 p.m. (Live Television, Fox Sports North; Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)
Friday, March 16
WCHA Final Five Semifinal, St. Paul, Minn.
* Hockey vs. Minnesota Duluth, 3:07 p.m. (Live Television, Fox Sports North; Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)
Saturday, March 17
Men's Tennis hosts Ferris State, 10 a.m.
WCHA Final Five Championship, St. Paul, Minn.
* Hockey vs. TBD, 8:07 p.m. (Live Television, Fox Sports North; Live Radio, Mix 93.5 FM)
Sunday, March 18
Men's Tennis hosts Grand Valley State, 10 a.m.
*With win in previous round
All times Eastern; home events are italicized.
Last Week's Results
Hockey (16-18-4, 11-13-4 WCHA)
March 9--Michigan Tech 3, at No. 18 Colorado College 1
March 10--Michigan Tech 4, at No. 18 Colorado College 3, OT
Nordic Skiing
March 7-9--Michigan Tech 18th at NCAA Championships (at Bozeman, Mont.)
Men's Tennis (2-4, 0-0 GLIAC)
March 5--Newberry 6, Michigan Tech 3 (at Hilton Head, S.C.)
March 5--Michigan Tech 7, St. Joseph's (Ind.) 2 (at Hilton Head, S.C.)
March 7--Brevard 8, Michigan Tech 1 (at Hilton Head, S.C.)
March 8--Michigan Tech 5, Ashford 4 (at Hilton Head, S.C.)
Women's Tennis (3-11, 3-9 GLIAC)
March 5--Michigan Tech 7, St. Joseph's (Ind.) 2 (at Hilton Head, S.C.)
March 7--Brevard 6, Michigan Tech 3 (at Hilton Head, S.C.)
March 8--Ashford 5, Michigan Tech 4 (at Hilton Head, S.C.)
Top News of the Week
Harju and Irwin at NCAAS
Mikko Harju and Deedra Irwin each competed at the NCAA Skiing Championships. Harju finished 38th in the freestyle and 35th in the classic races. Irwin finished 29th in the freestyle and 36th in the classic.
Tennis Concludes Spring Trip
The men's tennis team went 2-2 and the women went 1-2 as the Huskies wrapped up their spring break trip to Hilton Head. The men's team will see action again on Mar. 17 vs. GLIAC foe Ferris State. |
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10. Skier Mason Earns All-American |
Rachel Mason earned her third All-American honor at the USSA
Mariott Junior National Skiing Championships on Friday, March 9. She finished eighth in the five-kilometer classic race in a time of 15:11.
Teammate Alice Flanders finished 18th in 15:42.
Other finishes for the Huskies in the men's 10-kilometer classic race included David Joda 38th (28:45), Sam Holmes 44th (29:21), Mike Fleming 49th (29:42) and Brad Allen 57th (33:09). |
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11. ECE Seminar |
Charles Middleton, a principal investigator in the photonics department of Harris Corporation in Palm Bay, Fla., will present "Microwave Photonics" at 2 p.m., Thursday, March 15, in Dow 642.
For more information, see Photonics. |
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12. Job Posting |
Staff job descriptions are available in Human Resources or at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings . For more information regarding staff positions, call 487-2280 or email jobs@mtu.edu .
Faculty job descriptions can be found at www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/facpers/facvac.htm . For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.
Staff Assistant N6
UAW internal posting only
Compliance, Integrity, and Safety
Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer. |
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13. In Print |
Associate Professor Joshua Pearce (MSE/ECE) coauthored a paper, "Effects on Amorphous Silicon Photovoltaic Performance from High-temperature Annealing Pulses in Photovoltaic Thermal Hybrid Devices," in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 100, pp.199-203 (2012). See Silicon.
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14. In the News |
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Associate Professor Joshua Pearce's (MSE/ECE) insight into solar photovoltaic quality was covered in "Solar Installer Insight: What Is the Best PV Panel for Your Roof?" in GreenTech Media. |
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