Sue McDaniel, Tech Topics editorial assistant, 906-487-2343

You can reach us via e-mail at ttopics@mtu.edu The deadline for submitting information for Tech Topics is 5:00 p.m. the Friday before anticipated publication.

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TOMPKINS' BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY

President Curt Tompkins' budget recommendations for the next fiscal year will be available on the Web the afternoon of Monday, June 16.

He will present his recommendations to the Board of Control June 25. The draft budget was developed in consultation with the Budget Reduction Advisory Committee.

Tompkins' proposal will be posted at http://www.mtu.edu/budget . A message will be sent to the alldepts-l e-mail list when the Web page is available.

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AFTER 30 YEARS, MTU GETS RE-WIRED

Last November, the electrical current flowing through Michigan Tech's copper power lines found tiny cracks in the rubber insulation. Instead of driving MTU's computers and lights, it poured out of MTU's electrical grid, right into the ground.

In the wake of the ensuing power outage, the campus was closed, students went home early for Thanksgiving and crews worked for hours to find the failure. While unexpected, the blackout was something less than a total surprise to those familiar with MTU's electrical grid.

"The insulation has been breaking down," said Bill Blumhardt, director of facilities management. Microscopic cracks are forming "trees" in the rubber sheath surrounding the heavy copper wire. "Once that tree is formed--boom!--you have a power failure."

Tests last summer showed that the campus's wiring was showing its age. Most of the current system was installed between 1967 and 1971, and that cable is in bad shape, Blumhardt said.

This summer, Michigan Tech crews are working with Ontonagon contractor Northland Electric on a $1.9 million project to upgrade MTU's main electrical distribution system, replacing about 35 miles of electrical cable. Until they are done, the MTU community should expect a few bobbles.

"We've had a two-line system, and in the past we've been able to put the campus on one line if there was an outage on the other," Blumhardt said. "For now, we have the campus on one line only."

If there's a failure, therefore, there's no backup. "We could be down for a day or more.

"We're pretty precarious."

Thus, even more than usual, Facilities Management is recommending that, at the end of the work day, everyone turn off equipment that could be damaged by power outages or surges.

In addition to unplanned power failures, crews will have to shut the power off a few times as part of the repair process. At least one campus-wide power outage will be necessary, as well as several building outages.

When it's done this November, the new system will be worth the hassle. In addition to replacing the two-cable system, a third cable will be added, increasing the system's reliability and upgrading its capacity by 30 percent. Plus, new switching equipment will be installed.

"This should see us through the next 15 to 20 years," Blumhardt said.

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DIGNITARIES LAUD ATDC AT GROUNDBREAKING

The Advanced Technology Development Complex will be a catalyst for development of many kinds, speakers said June 10.

"It's all about education, research, business, high-tech jobs and community development," President Curt Tompkins said.

The 27,500-square-foot ATDC is being built by Michigan Tech as a cooperating site of the Michigan Tech Enterprise SmartZone (MTEPS) and is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) and a $1.1 million Ford Motor Company gift. The complex will house the Ford Student Design Center, a Keweenaw Research Center testing facility, lease spaces for high-tech business start-ups and MTU Corporate Services office.

"It will create value for the university and for the community," said Alan West, CEO of the MTEPS. Noting that he is a devoted New Englander, West said he couldn't resist coming to the Copper Country. "The mission and promise of the SmartZone was something I could get passionate about," he said. Both Michigan Tech and Finlandia University, with its ties to Finland, will be key to the success of MTEPS, he said.

"This is exactly the kind of thing we've been looking for," said John Peck, an EDA representative. "The EDA is about assisting economically distressed areas, and the Upper Peninsula is one of the most chronically distressed sections of the country."

However, he said, it is home to a world-class university, and many students who come to MTU come here in part for the area's quality of life and would like to remain after they graduate.

Peck said the EDA was pleased that the ATDC involves so many partners committed to its success. "This is an important milestone," he said. "The most difficult work lies ahead." While the EDA can provide funding, "your [role] is to make it work."

Daniel Kapp, chief engineer of powertrain operations at Ford, noted that his company employs about 600 MTU graduates who are well-prepared "to hit the ground running" when they come to Ford. The ATDC, by providing much-needed high-bay space for senior design and Enterprise projects, will give students an even better preparation for the workplace.

The complex "will be in the business of helping business," Tompkins concluded. As a focal point for innovation and corporate development, it should play a prominent role in restoring economic prosperity to the Upper Peninsula, he said.

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IT AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

IT is now accepting nominations for the Information Technology Recognition Award.

This award is given annually to an MTU employee for major accomplishments in or outstanding contributions to the development of information technology on campus. The winner will receive $1,000.

Nomination forms are available via e-mail as a Word document or via campus mail from Chuck LaPointe, clapoint@mtu.edu, 487-1792. The deadline for submitting nominations is June 25.

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BARIL RETIRING, CHRIS GALE TO ASSUME STUDENT RECRUITMENT IN SFRES

Dennis Baril, the SFRES recruiting and job placement specialist, is retiring at the end of June after a distinguished career of teaching and service at Michigan Tech, SFRES Dean Glenn Mroz has announced.

Chris Gale, the SFRES director of development, will be taking on some of Baril's duties as the School's new director of development and student recruiting.

Gale earned a BS degree in Forestry with a land surveying option from MTU in 1975 and a juris doctor from William Mitchell College of Law, in St. Paul, Minn., in 1986. He is a licensed attorney and licensed land surveyor in Michigan and has been serving as director of development for the School and planned giving officer for the Michigan Tech Fund since 1998. Prior to joining Michigan Tech, he served as a real estate consultant to telecommunications companies, a real estate representative for Universal Oil Products and a laboratory technician at Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company. He also held the position of director of student recruitment and retention in the School in 1990-91.

Gale's additional responsibilities will make him the point person in the School for dealing with development, recruitment and student employment issues, as well as with youth programs. "This puts him in a position to aggressively pursue the synergistic relationships among student recruiting, student career development, alumni relations and advancement for the School," Mroz said. "He will work with Denny over the next few weeks to ensure a smooth transition on recruiting issues."

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MICHIGAN TECH TO OFFER ENGINEERING DEGREE THROUGH NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

Students from throughout northwestern Michigan will soon be able to get an engineering degree from Mich Tech without moving to the Upper Peninsula.

This fall, Michigan Tech is offering a Bachelor of Science in Engineering through a new partnership with the Northwestern Michigan College University Center, in Traverse City. Students will be able to specialize in either product design or municipal engineering.

"Michigan Tech's participation in the NMC University Center is a significant next step in the NMC-MTU relationship, which has been built on teaching excellence and outstanding student performance," NMC president Timothy J. Nelson said. "We are pleased that this inaugural engineering degree program is not only our first major venture in the areas of science and engineering at the University Center, but that it also represents a national model for community college and university collaboration in distance education."

Michigan Tech has a long history of delivering quality education from a distance. Students have been able to earn associate, bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees from MTU through partnerships with corporations such as Ford and General Motors. However, this is the university's first distance-learning endeavor with a community college.

"Northwestern Michigan is a top-notch institution with excellent facilities and a strong faculty," said Bruce Rafert, dean of the graduate school and distance learning. "We feel we've formed an exceptionally strong partnership."

The program has already drawn interest locally.

"The response from the Michigan Tech engineering alumni in the five-county area has been exceptionally enthusiastic," Rafert said. "We expect that these programs will be very attractive to individuals in the workforce who'd like to upgrade their skills."

Engineering students at the NMC University Center will see the same lectures as their peers in Houghton. Michigan Tech courses will be delivered via the Internet to the center, where they will be shown to the class as a group. Class materials will be available on the Web through the popular instructional software WebCT.

Students will be able to phone, fax and e-mail their professors in Houghton, and will be encouraged to form study groups. Exams will be held at the NMC University Center. Some lab courses may be taken locally, though some could involve one- or two-week visits to Michigan Tech.

For more information, contact the Office of Extended University Programs, 487-3170.

RETIREMENT

William B. Chapel, a business administration lecturer in the SBE, has retired after 18 years at Michigan Tech.

He came to MTU in 1985 as an academic staff assistant and instructor in the SBE. In 1989, he was named assistant to the dean and from 1990 to 1995 served as the School's director of administrative and academic services. He has served on the SBE's management faculty since 1995 and on the Center for Technological Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship (CenTILE) faculty since 2001.

"I have countless fond memories of the people at Tech: faculty colleagues and advisors, staff members and students," Chapel said. "In my position, I had the opportunity and privilege to work with staff and administration in Student Affairs, the Athletic Department, the Campus Store, the Career Center, Enrollment Management, the Graduate School, the library, Student Records and University Relations (just to name a few). Also, my greatest memories will always be the students I taught, advised, mentored and formed permanent relationships with. Of special note also are those persons I came to know in my research in India and the Far East."

Chapel will be teaching part-time, writing, volunteering, traveling, enjoying his family "and what ever else turns up along the path.

"I will see what is in store for me and am excited to enter the next chapter of my life," he said.

Chapel's last full-time day as a regular employee will be June 28.

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NEW STAFF

Kerri Sleeman has joined the Educational Opportunity staff as the ExSEL coordinator. She was previously an estimator/engineer at Gundlach Champion, Inc., and spend four years with DCT as a mechanical design engineer. She holds a BSME from Michigan Tech. She and her husband, Tom Sleeman, life in Hancock.

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IN THE NEWS

A letter by Glenn Mroz, dean of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, was published June 1 in Crain's Detroit Business as part of a special section, "Ford Memories." Mroz gave a brief history of the village of Alberta, founded by Henry Ford and now the site of the Ford Forestry Center. The letters are at http://www.crainsdetroit.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?articleId=22924&a=a&bt=Alberta&searchResults=YoXByB4YbUeAQ

Detroit Free Press editorial columnist Barb Arrigo wrote an opinion piece, "Rules of Wilderness Change with Mere Presence of Humans," appearing in the May 29 edition, which includes a discussion of Professor Rolf Peterson's (SFRES) work, as well as a photo. You can read the article at http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/ebarb29_20030529.htm . Unfortunately, she called us Michigan Technology University.

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FACULTY AND STAFF RECEIVE FUNDING

Graduate student Emily McCarthy (GMES) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for her project, "Multispectral Analysis of the August 2000 Eruption Clouds of Miyakejima, Japan."

Graduate student Leonard Mankowski (GMES) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for his project, "Bringing a 'Virtual' Field Experience to the Classroom."

Graduate student Heidi Sherman (GMES) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for her project, "Quantification of Hydrogeologic Controls on Elevated Uranium in Sandstone Aquifers."

Assistant Professor Seth Donahue (Biomedical Engineering) has received $2,500 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for his project, "The Effects of Annual Hibernation on the Mechanics and History of Black Bear Bones."

Graduate student Yvonne Branan (GMES) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for her project, "Investigating Data Patterns in an Attempt to Better Understand the Factors that Lead to Volcanic Events."

Graduate student Michael Larsen (Physics) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for his project, "Radar Reflectivity and Rainfall Estimations from Space."

 Visiting Assistant Professor Eric Blough (Biological Sciences) has received $2,500 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for each of his projects, "FAK/MAPK Signal Transduction with Mechanical Loading of Muscle in vivo" and "JAK/STAT Signaling in Muscle Mechanotransduction."

Assistant Professor Bela Torok (Chemistry) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for his project, "New Bifunctional Catalysts for Carbon Dioxide Recycling."

Research Assistant Professor I. Matthew Watson (GMES) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for his project, "Development and Deployment of a Mini-UV Spectrometer for Volcano Monitoring Based Upon Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS)."

Assistant Professor Will Cantrell (Physics) has received $5,000 from the University of Michigan-Michigan Space Grant Consortium for his project, "Infrared Spectroscopic Study of Ice Nucleation by Long Chain Alcohols."

Associate Professor Ulrich Hansmann (Physics) has received $328,000 from the National Science Foundation for a three-year research project, "Development and Application of Generalized Ensemble Algorithms for Protein Studies."

Associate Professor William Endres (MEEM) has received $6,060 from the United States Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology for his student-support project, "NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program."

KRC Director Jay Meldrum has received $291,630 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for his project, "Matching Funds for the Alternative Energy Enterprise."

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IN PRINT

Physics graduate student Da Gao and Associate Professor John Jaszczak (Physics) published a paper, "Monte Carlo Simulations of Surface Phase Transitions in a Modulated Layered Structure," in the May 15 issue of Physical Review B.

Assistant Professor Yoke Khin Yap (Physics) co-authored a book chapter, "Growth and Development of Nonlinear Optical Borate Crystals for Generation of Visible and UV Light," in the book "Crystal Growth Technology," which is now available in the JBVP library (QD921.C79-2003). He also authored an encyclopedia chapter, "Boron-Carbon Nitride Nanohybrids," in the "Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology." For more information, visit http://www.aspbs.com/enn.

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ON THE ROAD

Assistant Professor Dana M. Johnson (SBE) presented a paper, "Integrated Manufacturing Strategic Initiatives," at the Industrial Engineering Research Conference sponsored by the Institute of Industrial Engineers and held May 18 in Portland, Ore. At the same conference, Assistant Professor Mark A. Johnson (School of Technology) presented a paper, "Work Group Satisfaction as a Predictor of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Performance Outcomes."

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MICHIGAN TECH POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Job descriptions will be available at 1 p.m. on Friday, or by e-mail at <JOBS@MTU.EDU>.

The following positions will be posted Friday, June 13, 2003, at 1 p.m. through noon, Friday, June 20, 2003, in the Human Resources Office or at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings/

Administrative Aide (N7)--School of Technology (UAW internal posting only)

Head Cross Country/Nordic Ski and Assistant Track and Field Coach--Athletic Department

Head Track and Field Coach--Athletic Department (Regular, part-time position; January-June annually)

University employees are reminded to apply in writing prior to noon, Friday, June 20, 2003, to be considered as internal candidates for bargaining unit positions only. Applicants from the recall pool will be given first consideration for non-bargaining-unit positions only. Vacancy announcements are normally posted every Friday at 1 p.m. in the Human Resources Office. Complete job descriptions are available in the Human Resources Office or by calling 487-2280. More information regarding employment opportunities is available by calling the Job Line at 487-2895. Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.

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