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1. New Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning Appointed |
Mike Meyer has been appointed the new director for the Center for Teaching and Learning. He will start his new duties on July 9.
"I would like to thank the search committee for coming up with two strong finalists," Provost Max Seel said. "This was a difficult decision: both finalists for the director position demonstrated a unique perspective on goals and vision for the center. They were complementary."
Seel continued, "The selection was based on what must currently be the priority for the campus--the urgency and necessity of adopting technologies and other approaches to enhance teaching and active learning through blended learning techniques. This is also expected by many students. Mike Meyer is the person to provide urgent and enthusiastic motivation toward that end."
Meyer has been at Michigan Tech since September 2002. He joined the physics department as laboratory coordinator, was lecturer from 2006 to 2010, and has been senior lecturer since 2010. He developed online lab preparation and assessment materials, and he conducted online evaluations of curriculum and teaching assistants. In both his face-to-face and online classes, he made extensive use of online quizzes, simulations and videos for motivation, formative assessment and practice. Using blended techniques, he also revised the astronomy course and created new introductory labs and courses for premed students. He was elected to Tech's Academy of Teaching Excellence and won the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2011.
The expanded responsibilities of the new center director are an outcome of the recommendations of the Task Force on Blended and Technology-Rich Teaching/Learning Environment and Support Systems, which was convened by the provost in October 2011. Its summative report is on the provost’s website: see Task Force. |
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2. Walck Coordinates General Education |
As new chair of the General Education Council, Associate Provost Christa Walck will be assuming responsibility for coordinating General Education effective July 1.
In that role, Walck follows Brad Baltensperger, chair of the Department of Cognitive and Learning Sciences, who chaired the General Education Council since 2007 as representative of the Provost.
"I would like to thank Brad for his long-standing service and dedication to general education and for his efforts in leading general education reform," said Provost Max Seel. "The first changes of this reform were endorsed by the Senate last April. Christa Walck has my best wishes and full support to conclude the general education reform this coming academic year." |
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3. Little Huskies Scholarship Deadline is July 6 |
Apply now for the Access to High Quality Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fund, which allows Michigan Tech's most needy families access to Little Huskies Child Development Center.
Eligible families include undergraduates, graduate students and low-income employees.
Award amounts may vary from partial subsidies to full tuition.
For more information and the application, email eva@gretchenshouse.com , or see Child Care.
The scholarship deadline is July 6. |
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4. Free Rides on Tech's Research Vessel During Strawberry Fest |
The public is invited to venture onto Chassell Bay to learn how scientists assess the health of a lake during four free scientific excursions on the R/V Agassiz during the Chassell Strawberry Festival.
The research vessel leaves on the hour from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 7, from the Chassell Marina.
On each trip, a Great Lakes scientist will demonstrate the use of sampling equipment to collect plankton, sediment and other information that reveals the health of lakes, Chassell Bay or Lake Superior, in particular. Participants will also investigate the connection between land uses and the health of the Great Lakes, in general.
Register in advance by calling the Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education at 487-3341. Or go to the Chassell Marina; on-site sign-ups begin at 12:30 p.m. Half of the spaces will be saved for those signing up at the dock.
Each excursion is limited to 18 people. Participants must be at least 7 years of age. Life jackets are available for all passengers.
Displays on the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and educational materials will be available for those on shore, along with sampling kits to investigate the coastal wetlands. In addition, Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center will conduct demonstrations of how remotely operated vehicles are used to study underwater environments.
"We encourage Copper Country residents and visitors to learn how scientists study the Great Lakes and what factors contribute to a healthy lake," said Joan Chadde, education program coordinator. "These scientific excursions have been offered for the past five summers and have been extremely popular. Youths and adults enjoy the opportunity to interact with Great Lakes scientists and ask questions."
The event is sponsored by the Center for Science, Mathematics and
Environmental Education. The program is funded by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, the Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society and the Chassell Lions Club.
For more information, contact Chadde at 487-3341 or jchadde@mtu.edu . |
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5. Update on Incoming Freshmen, NHL Draftees |
by Wes Frahm, director, athletic communications and marketing
Edmonton Oilers draft pick Jujhar Khaira (Surrey, B.C.) and Winnipeg Jets draftee Jamie Phillips (Caledonia, Ont.) are both looking forward to joining the Michigan Tech Huskies this fall. The pair are among seven incoming freshmen on coach Mel Pearson's roster for 2012-13.
Khaira, as Edmonton's third-round choice (63rd overall), was invited to the Oilers' Development Camp. He's spending a week (June 26-July 2) in Edmonton working out with the team's coaches and other draft picks.
"It's an unreal feeling," said Khaira of being drafted. "It's one of the greatest experiences in the world getting your name called. Camp is going really well. It's a lot of fun working out and meeting the staff and other prospects."
Phillips was a little more surprised to hear his name called. The Winnipeg Jets' seventh-round selection (190th overall) was sitting at home when he received calls from friends congratulating him. "I had to check the Internet to make sure," he said.
"I'm very excited I was drafted, and really happy it was Winnipeg. It's a great city and organization."
Khaira and Phillips will arrive on campus in August. Both said they're looking forward to getting started in the classroom as well as on the ice. |
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6. Men's Tennis and Track and Field Teams Earn Academic Accolades |
Twenty-nine student-athletes recently receive academic honors from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Nineteen tennis and track and field student-athletes earned all-academic excellence honors (cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher) and 10 student-athletes earned all-academic honors (3.0 to 3.49).
To be eligible student-athletes can not be freshman or first-year transfers.
To see the list of those singled out, see MichiganTechHuskies.com and click on the GLIAC logo.
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7. Upcoming Canvas Workshops |
Canvas has replaced Blackboard/Web CT as the University's learning management system. eLearning is offering introductory and advanced workshops throughout 2012 and beyond to help instructors and staff use Canvas effectively to support instruction.
Workshops for the next two weeks are listed below. Tom Freeman, Jeff Toorongian and Jeannie DeClerck will lead these eLearning sessions in the Library's instruction rooms, located on the second floor behind the elevator, near the skyway to Rekhi Hall.
* Pages, Modules and Files in Canvas--Monday, July 9, 2 p.m.
* Canvas 101: Introduction to Canvas--Tuesday, July 10, 2 p.m.
Please refer to the eLearning website at mtu.edu/elearning for session descriptions. To register, send an email to elearning@mtu.edu with the topic, date and time of each session that you would like to attend. |
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8. Notables |
Gov. Rick Snyder has announced the appointment of Keith Creagh, an alumnus, as director of the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Creagh earned a bachelor of science in forestry from Tech in 1974.
He has extensive management experience, including policy development, strategic planning and operational leadership. Since January 2011, he has served as director of the state's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, where he worked for 30 years. He also worked in industry.
"I am honored to serve as director of the Department of Natural Resources and to work with such a dedicated group of professionals," Creagh said. "I will strive to uphold the department's great standard of excellence and build upon its past successes. As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, I understand the importance of the state's natural resources to Michigan citizens. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and other outdoor pursuits are not just hobbies in this state. They are a defining part of who we are as Michiganders." |
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9. Proposals in Progress |
Senior Research Scientist Nancy French (MTRI), Associate Professor Shiliang Wu (GMES) and Senior Research Scientist Brian Thelen (MTRI), "Statistical Modeling of Extreme Wildfire Events Under Climate Change to Inform Public Health Risk Assessment," NIH.
Assistant Professor Rupak Rajachar (BME/BRC), Associate Professor Keat Ghee Ong (BME/BRC) and Assistant Professor Bruce Lee (BME/BRC), "Mechanically Active Nano-rod Composite Materials for Real-time Controlled Therapeutic Drug Delivery," DoD/CDMRP.
Research Professor Rolf Peterson (SFRES/ESC) and Associate Professor John Vucetich (SFRES/ESC), "Risk Factors Associated with Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis under Conditions of Chronic Stress," DoD/CDMRP.
Associate Professor Keat Ghee Ong (BME/BRC) and Assistant Professor Rupak Rajachar (BME/BRC), "A Portable Actuation System for Providing Local Vibration at the Bone-implant Interface to Improve Osseointegration," DoD/CDMRP.
Research Engineer Jessica McCarty (MTRI), "Impact of Violent Conflict, Migration and Policy on Land-Cover/Land-Use Change Along the Rwanda-Tanzania and Rwanda-Burundi Borders," University of Louisville Research Foundation/NASA.
Professor Michael Roggemann (ECE/CISSIC), "CEDAR: Collaborative Research: Addition of a Station at L=4 to the Northeast Network," NSF.
Assistant Professor Hairong Wei (SFRES), "BCSP: Toward Trait Manipulation: Direct Identification of Genes Controlling Complex Traits Through a Combined Computational and Experimental Approach," NSF.
Professor Ching-An Peng (ChE), "Targeting Neuroblastoma Cells by Polymeric Drug/Gene Nanovectors," DoD/CDMRP. |
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