Megan Gilge, 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.

Subscribe to e-TechTopics: majordomo@mtu.edu
message: [UN]SUBSCRIBE TECH-TOPICS-L

SENATE HOLDING NO-CONFIDENCE REFERENDUM

The University Senate Wednesday voted to conduct a no-confidence referendum on President Curt Tompkins. The Senate also called on the Board of Control to commission an independent review of the University's financial problems.

By a 29-4 vote, the Senate decided to ask its entire constituency of faculty and professional staff whether they agree or disagree with this statement:

"I no longer have any confidence in the leadership of Curtis J. Tompkins or in his ability to effectively or prudently manage the human and financial resources of the University."

The resolution will be mailed to the Senate constituency on Thursday, December 11, with votes due back to the Senate office by December 18.

Senators also adopted a proposal (#10-04) calling for the Board of Control to "set up an independent review of the systemic financial problems of the University."

The proposal also asks that the review recommend improvements "of our budgeting and financial structure, on the qualifications of persons needed in that structure, and on the process of deciding priorities of expenditures."

The proposal passed by a 31-2 vote.

_____________

SALARY, BENEFIT CUTS PROPOSED

Faculty and non-union staff would see a reduction in salary and health care benefits under a plan to cope with the University's revenue shortfall.

The proposed salary reduction would be equivalent to 4-6 days of work. In return, non-union staff would receive an equivalent number of vacation days and faculty would be allowed a reduction in non-teaching effort.

The salary reduction would be spread evenly over pay periods beginning January 4 and running through May 8 for faculty and June 19 for non-union staff.

Provost Kent Wray detailed the plan to the University Senate on Wednesday. Wray discussed the pending midyear cut in state appropriations and a tuition revenue shortfall that could approach $7 million.

Governor Jennifer Granholm has issued an executive order that cuts appropriations to state universities by 5 percent. However, the order also gives 3 percent back to universities that do not increase tuition for second semester this year, and hold increases next year at or below the rate of inflation (the Consumer Price Index).

Based on the this plan, Wray said Michigan Tech would not increase tuition for second semester.

The Provost also told the Senate of a shortfall in tuition revenue. This despite a slight increase in on-campus enrollment and no decline in the number of credit hours compared to last year.

Actual tuition collected for fall semester, and that expected for the spring and summer, is well short of budget projections. Dan Greenlee, chief financial officer, said the shortfall would probably exceed $7 million.

Wray said several people are trying to uncover how the projection could be so far off. "As of tonight, we still don't know what caused the problem," he said.

Senators were frustrated by the unanticipated shortfall.

"Perhaps the university needs to start looking at its budget in a different way," said Senator Ron Roblee (Technology). "Maybe we need to make decisions based on activities that pay and those that lose money, and not if the activity makes us a 'university of choice.'"

"I have no reason to trust that this administration will fix this problem," said Senator Cindy Selfe (Humanities). "Another $10 co-pay won't kill me, but I don't have faith that this administration will operate in a fiscally responsible manner."

Wray said the administration will propose to the Board of Control that $1 million of the shortfall, and the entire state cut, be made up this year. The rest of the shortfall would be deferred to next year.

"We have several budget reduction committees working on ways to make these cuts for next year," he said.

Wray said a number of steps are available to mitigate the shortfall:

*a reduction in health care benefits for employees.

*a reduction in salary for faculty and non-union staff.

*a $320,000 savings by changing the payment schedule to the state employee retirement program (MPSERS).

*an expected rebate from the state universities risk management consortium of $250,000.

*decreasing expenditures, including position control, travel reductions and equipment purchase deferrals.

The health plan changes include an increase in co-pays for prescriptions and office visits and a reduction in dental and vision coverage. The Benefits Liaison Group (BLG) developed the changes.

"Frankly, the decision is to cut health care or have layoffs," said Senator Larry Davis (SBE) a BLG member.

_____________

TECH SELECT BENEFIT CHANGES FOR 2004

This is a summary of changes in the Tech Select benefits program for the 2004 calendar year.

Premium plan:

*prescription co-pays increase from 10 percent to 15 percent with a $5 minimum and $15 maximum (generic) and to 20 percent with a $10 minimum and $30 maximum for brand name.

*office co-pays increase from 20 percent to 25 percent.

*all dental coverage switches to 50 percent co-pay.

*vision coverage pays for glasses and contact lenses every two years, as opposed to every year.

Standard and Deductible plans

*prescription co-pays increase to 25 percent for generic ($10 minimum/$30 maximum) and 30 percent brand name ($20 minimum/$60 maximum).

*office co-pays increase from 30 percent to 35 percent.

*dental coverage eliminated

Tech Select

*the Tech Select process will reopen to provide participants with the opportunity to change plans or increase their contributions to medical flex accounts.

____________

MICHIGAN TECH COMMENCEMENT DEC. 13: FREAM TO BE FEATURED SPEAKER

Michigan Tech will honor the achievements of 370 graduates at Midyear Commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 13.

A total of 255 bachelor's degrees are being awarded at the end of fall semester, as well as seven associate in applied science degrees.

Fourteen students will be receiving their PhD. A total of 93 master of science degrees and one master of engineering will also be awarded.

Julie A. Fream, vice president of Visteon Corporation's DaimlerChrysler North America customer business group, will be the commencement speaker. She earned her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech in 1983 at the age of 19, making her one of the youngest graduates in the university's history.

Fream worked in engineering, sales and marketing for General Motors, Ford and TRW before moving to Visteon in 1998. The Dearborn-based company is a leading supplier to automotive manufacturers and has 75,000 employees worldwide. Before assuming her current position as vice president, Fream led the sales activity for Visteon's $4 billion account with Ford in North America.

Fream has earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and in 2002 received a "40 under 40" award from Crain's Detroit Business.

She is a member of the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Trustees and has served two years as president of the Michigan Tech Alumni Association. Fream received MTU's Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1994.

____________

PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES REORGANIZATION

President Curt Tompkins has announced a reorganization in the university's administration, effective immediately.

Tompkins said the changes will allow the university's chief academic officer to focus on academic issues.

"These changes reflect the fact that we will not be able to fill a vice provost position that has been vacant," he said. "I want to relieve some of the workload and responsibility carried by Kent Wray."

Wray is the provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs. The vice provost for instruction position has been eliminated in anticipation of a mid-year reduction in state appropriations.

Under the new structure, Dan Greenlee, chief financial officer, will assume responsibility for the budget office, institutional analysis and information technology.

Three offices will now report directly to the president: enrollment management, the vice president for research, and educational opportunity.

Wray continues to have responsibility for all academic areas, distance learning, student affairs and the library.

____________

DON'T BLINK: TECH PROFESSORS STUDY FASTEST MOVING PARTICLES IN THE UNIVERSE

by Jana Jones, student writer

The romance and mystery of a shooting star has long caught the attention of the human race. Researchers at Michigan Tech have been looking to the sky lately to study falling lights as well. However, these particles aren't slow and dreamy like stars.

As Associate Professor David Nitz (Physics) said, "These are the most accelerated particles anywhere in the universe."

Michigan Tech is one of the institutions involved in the Pierre Auger Observatory, a collaboration involving 215 scientists and 14 countries devoted to examining highest energy cosmic rays. These rays are space particles--usually protons or heavier ions--that hit the atmosphere and create showers of secondary particles. Though they are invisible to the naked eye, the Pierre Auger Observatory, located in Argentina, can detect these particles through two methods: surface detectors, which are large water tanks, and fluorescence telescopes, which can see the ultraviolet glow emitted by the showers in mid-air.

These high-energy cosmic rays defy previous scientific theories. Scientists used to think that cosmic rays could not approach the Earth with energy greater than 10²⁰ electron volts; however, recent experiments in Utah and Japan have detected these ultra fast particles. For reference, 10²⁰ electron volts is 100 million times more powerful than the proton energy attainable in the most powerful particle accelerator in the world, faster than even supernovas can accelerate particles.

Michigan Tech is providing and certifying electronic components called front end boards, which collect the data in the water tanks at the Auger Observatory, as well as supplying a specialized telescope system that helps to calibrate the fluorescence telescopes used to observe the showers of particles on moonless nights.

To measure the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted by the particles, researchers also need to know how clear the atmosphere is at any given time. By measuring the light of stars with a known brightness, scientists can compensate for the clarity of the atmosphere and figure out how bright the particle showers are.

The highest energy cosmic rays are extremely rare. They hit the Earth's atmosphere at a rate of approximately once per year per square mile. That means that ground arrays need to cover a large area.

The Pierre Auger Observatory installed its 100th surface detector this October.

"The 100th surface detector puts us past a milestone," Nitz said. "That makes us the largest ground array ever built." However, the observatory is still only at six percent of its planned final size.

The Pierre Auger Project thus far covers 70 square miles of ground. Ultimately the array will have 1,600 detectors and cover an area the size of Rhode Island. However, there are plans to expand the project beyond that. Scientists are looking at establishing a site in the Northern Hemisphere.

According to Nitz, there are two sites under consideration, one in Utah and one in Colorado. The ideal location for an array is a flat and dry area with clear skies, with a supportive local population. Nitz hopes that the location of the northern site will be decided within the year. Until then, scientists will keep observing showers in Argentina.

"It's basic science," Nitz said. "When there's a problem you don't understand, you want to examine it. When you understand the science there are often applications that you can use."

____________

DEVLIEG FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

Bruce Rafert, dean of the Graduate School, has announced the recipients of this year's DeVlieg Foundation Scholarship awards. Four master's students will receive an award of $1,500 each, and three PhD students will receive an award of $3,000 each. The master's students are Keren Tischler, whose advisor is Professor Rolf Peterson (SFRES); Kristin Harvey, whose advisor is Assistant Professor Seth Donahue (Biomedical Engineering); Emily McCarthy, whose advisor is Associate Professor Gregg Bluth (GMES); and Kathy Strong, whose advisor is Associate Professor Carol MacLennan (Social Sciences). The PhD students are Deborah N. H. Beach, whose advisor is Associate Professor John Gierke (GMES); Brian Beachy, whose advisor is Assistant Professor Andrew Storer (SFRES); and Ron Pruse, whose advisor is Associate Professor Mohan Rao (MEEM).

Awards are made to graduate students on the basis of their academic records, the recommendations of their advisors and the value of the award to the students' research and professional development. The Graduate Faculty Council's Rewards and Recognition Committee makes the final recommendations for the awards to the Graduate School Dean.

The DeVlieg Foundation seeks to aid and promote education programs and experiences throughout the U.S. Its primary areas of focus are engineering and natural resource conservation, especially those that encourage respect and stewardship of the Earth.

____________

YOUTH PROGRAMS RECEIVES $120,000 NSF GRANT

Michigan Tech's Youth Programs has been awarded $120,000 as part of the National Science Foundation's Information Technology for Teachers and Students (ITEST) program administered by the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP). The award will fund a pre-college program to serve 60 tenth-grade Detroit-area students during the summer of 2005. This MTU youth program will cap a two year long after-school and weekend-based track of study for these students in which they discover and investigate information technology related careers and academic topics.

The Detroit area students will spend four weeks on Michigan Tech's campus, exploring different areas of engineering, computers, science and math. The program will include a one week overview of eight engineering disciplines and three weeks of intensive study in three disciplines of the students' choice. The MTU pre-college program will increase students' access to information technology within the context of engineering, increase opportunities for them to explore related college and career paths, as well as motivate and prepare them for college.

MTU Youth Programs has offered pre-college students (grades six to eleven) the opportunity to investigate careers and knowledge for over 31 years. Each summer, over 1,200 students visit the campus of Michigan Tech, many eventually enroll for undergraduate education.

Michigan Tech is an active member of DAPCEP, which is a nationally recognized leader in providing engineering, technology, mathematics and science enrichment courses for minority students. African American and Hispanic American are dramatically underrepresented in these professions. MTU Youth Programs has hosted DAPCEP students during summer programs since 1996.

Other partners in DAPCEP who contributed to this NSF proposal include UM-Ann Arbor, UM-Dearborn, Lawrence Technological University, University of Detroit Mercy, and the Ford Motor Company. The total NSF grant is for $950,000 over three years.

____________

MENTORS SOUGHT FOR PEER NETWORK

The Peer Network campus mentoring program will be recruiting students next semester to become mentors in the fall.

Mentors provide friendship, guidance and support to incoming first-year and transfer students.

Applications can be picked up in the Office of First Year Programs, Wadsworth Hall G09W. The deadline is Jan. 30. For more information, contact Hannah Mongiat at hemongia@mtu.edu or 369-1983.

Peer Network is coordinated with orientation, under the Office of First Year Programs.

____________

NEW MILEAGE RATES, AIRLINE TICKET POLICIES

Effective Jan. 1, the mileage reimbursement rate for university-related travel will be 37.5 cents per mile, an increase from the 2003 rate of 36.0 cents per mile.

Northwest Airlines will continue to allow changes to tickets. However, the changes must now be made on or before the departure time and date of the originally ticketed flight in order for the ticket to hold value. Changes requested after the departure of the originally ticketed flight are not permitted.

Contact Nancy Corrigan at njcorrig@mtu.edu or 487-2373 if you have any questions.

____________

TEACHING AT TECH: SMALL GROUP LEARNING IN SMET

by William Kennedy, director, Center for Teaching, Learning and Faculty Development

For years, higher education teaching gurus from across the academy have promoted the use of student collaboration techniques as a means of improving student engagement and encouraging deep and durable learning. Some science, math, engineering and technology (SMET) educators have tended to dismiss the efficacy of these methods in their classrooms. "We don't have time for touchy-feely teaching techniques," they suggest, "we've got too much material to cover as it is."

In a 1999 meta-analytic study of 39 research reports involving the use of small-group learning techniques in SMET courses, Professors Leonard Springer (UW-Madison), Mary Elizabeth Stanne (UMinn), and Samuel Donovan (UW-Madison) found that "various forms of small-group learning are effective in promoting greater academic achievement, more favorable attitudes toward learning and increased persistence through SMET courses and programs." *

In order to be included in this meta-analysis, a study must have 1) involved undergraduates taking SMET courses in accredited U.S. institutions of higher ed, 2) employed small group techniques in and/or out of class, 3) employed those techniques in actual classroom rather than laboratory settings, 4) occurred during or after 1980, and 5) must have reported enough statistical information to estimate effect sizes. Using these criteria the authors reduced their initial sample size from 383 studies to the final 39 they carefully examined. Of the 39 studies that met the criteria, 37 presented data on student achievement, nine on persistence or retention, and 11 on student attitudes (satisfaction).

Based on their analysis of these studies, Springer, Stanne and Donovan concluded that the effect of small group learning on achievement, persistence and student attitudes was significant and positive. Based on 49 independent samples, from 37 studies encompassing 116 separate findings, students who learned in small groups demonstrated greater achievement than students who were exposed to instruction without cooperative or collaborative grouping of students.* Similarly, students in small groups expressed more positive attitudes than those not exposed to these methods. Students in courses utilizing small group learning also enjoyed increased persistence when compared to courses not employing these methods.

The researchers note that the observed effect on student attitudes was highest in groups composed primarily of females. Interestingly, the effect on student achievement was highest for groups composed primarily or exclusively of African Americans and Latino/as especially when compared with groups primarily composed of white males.

The results suggest that incorporating these techniques into SMET courses might very likely improve achievement, retention and satisfaction. According to the authors, if the effects noted in this research hold in general implementations, small group learning would "move a student from the 50th to the 70th percentile on a standardized test," reduce attrition in SMET courses by 22 percent, and greatly improve student satisfaction indices.

A side benefit is that employing collaborative and cooperative small-group learning techniques might improve the success rates of students who traditionally struggle in SMET course work.

* "Measuring the Success of Small-Group Learning in College-Level SMET Teaching: A Meta-Analysis," Review of Educational Research (RER)  Vol. 69, No. 1 (Spring 1999)

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS: CELEBRATE NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE ROZSA CENTER WITH BEAUSOLEIL AVEC MICHAEL DOUCET

submitted by the Rozsa Center

In 2002 the U.P. ushered in the New Year to the Celtic tunes of Gaelic Storm at the Rozsa Center. The response was tremendous. This year we invite you to head to the bayou and add some Cajun spice to your holiday. Come inside out of the cold and celebrate Mardi Gras early with BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. Don't miss this special New Year's Eve concert and gala. The concert begins at 9 p.m. and is followed by a gala celebration you will not soon forget. Tickets are available from the Rozsa Center Box Office (487-3200; Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) or online at http://www.tickets.mtu.edu . Ticket prices are $25 for the concert; $45 for the gala; $70 for the concert and gala.

When BeauSoleil set out more than 25 years ago, there was no Cajun craze. There was no blackened redfish, no Cajun specials at the Red Lobster, and it was fairly difficult to get a good bottle of hot sauce outside of Louisiana. From their start in Lafayette, La., BeauSoleil has been at the forefront, bringing Cajun music and culture to a popular audience. They have appeared several times on public radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" and Garrison Keillor called his frequent guests "the best Cajun band in the world." He is not alone. New Orleans' Offbeat Magazine's Best of the Beat Awards honored BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet once again in 2003 as the best Cajun band. From Cajun festivals to Carnegie Hall, Grammy award winning BeauSoleil has brought audiences to their feet.

After the concert, the festivities will continue as gala patrons will be invited to the lobby, where they will see BeauSoleil up close. The Rozsa Center will set up a full stage and dance floor in the lobby, where BeauSoleil will play another set and help the U.P. ring in the New Year. Patrons will enjoy dancing, gourmet hors d'eouvres, a champagne toast, and a countdown to remember. As midnight approaches, patrons will be treated to a light show and pyrotechnics display. Whether you are looking for a formal night out with that special person, or a comfortable place to celebrate the New Year with friends, come inside and add a Cajun touch to your holiday with BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet at the Keweenaw's premiere New Year's Eve celebration.

The New Year's Eve concert and gala is presented by Michigan Tech Auxiliary Services and 97.7 WOLV Radio. The performance is coordinated by the Rozsa Center business office (487-3200) and is sponsored by TuMar Broadcasting and the Daily Mining Gazette.

____________

CLUB INDIGO FEATURES "BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S" DEC. 19

by Joe Kirkish

Mu Beta Psi's final Club Indigo for the year, on Friday, Dec. 19, becomes a happy dessert for the season, featuring the best of the golden oldie romantic comedies.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" is Truman Capote's amusing story of an endearingly eccentric NYC playgirl and her shaky romance with a young writer. Wide-mouthed, dark-eyed, pencil-slim Audrey Hepburn stars in this romantic comedy, and while the film along with Henry Mancini's unforgettable "Moon River" can stand on its own, it is the star who really skyrockets the fun. Her captivating charm and delivery (to say nothing of the stunning Givanchy gowns made especially for her) kept her at the top in a number of successful dramas, comedies and thrillers for over 15 years. She was nominated for three Oscars, including her part in this film, and was finally awarded a special Oscar in 1993 for her contribution to fine entertainment.

The movie begins at 7:15 p.m., and will be preceded by a Gotham buffet at 6 p.m., provided by Chef Eric Karvonen of the Eagle River Fitzgerald restaurant. Cost for both is $13, movie alone is $3.50. Due to limited seating, reservations are required for the buffet and can be made by calling the Calumet Theatre at 337-2610.

MEEM GRADUATE SEMINAR THURSDAY

Kenton R. Kaufman, director, Biomechanics Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, will present a MEEM graduate seminar, "Bioengineering: Challenges and Opportunities," Thursday, Dec.11, 3-4 p.m. in MEEM 112.

____________

PHYSICS COLLOQUIUM THURSDAY

Adrian E. Roitberg of the University of Florida will present a physics colloquium, "Folding a Mini-Protein Using Molecular Dynamics," Thursday, Dec. 11, 4-5 p.m., Fisher 139.

MTU NOTABLES

Associate Professor Douglas Swenson (MSE) is a guest editor of the November issue of the Journal of Electronic Materials. This "special topics" issue features articles on the subject "Phase Stability, Phase Transformations, and Reactive Phase Formation in Electronic Materials," which are based on papers presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.

Bruce Rafert, dean of the Graduate School, was honored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida as "Outstanding Alumnus of the Year" of the UF astronomy department for 2003. Rafert earned his PhD from the department in 1978 in the field of binary star systems.

____________

NEW FUNDING

Professor Patrick Martin (Social Sciences) has received a $104,036 award from the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc., for his project, "Archaeological and Historical Research, West Point Foundry, 2004."

____________

IN PRINT

Professor Glenda E. Gill (Humanities) published an article, "'Nothing But a Man': Leonard de Paur's Legacy of Subtle Activism in Theatre and Music," in the Fall 2003 issue of The Journal of American Drama and Theatre.

Professor Iosif Pinelis (Mathematical Sciences) published a paper, "Dimensionality Reduction in Extremal Problems for Moments of Linear Combinations of Vectors with Random Coefficients," in the series "Progress in Probability," Vol. 56, published by Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel/Switzerland.

Research Scientist/Engineer II Dana L. Richter (SFRES) coauthored a paper, "The Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome and the Eastern Tent Caterpillar: A Toxicokinetic/Statistical Analysis With Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Mechanistic Implications," in Veterinary Therapeutics, Vol. 4 No. 4, with University of Kentucky colleagues M. Sebastian, M. G. Gantz, T. Tobin, J. D. Harkins, J. M. Boskens, C. Hughes, L. R. Harrison, W. V. Bernard, and T. D. Fitzgerald.

____________

ON THE ROAD

Associate Professor Ulrich H. E. Hansmann (Physics) presented a talk, "Protein folding in Silico Using Tsallis Weights," at the international workshop "Trends and Perspectives in Extensive and Non-Extensive Statistical Mechanics" held at Angra dos Reis, Brazil, Nov. 19-21.

____________

CALENDAR: December

12--Friday

  7:05 p.m.--Men's Ice Hockey, Northern Michigan at MTU--MacInnes Student Ice Arena

  7:30 p.m.--Chamber Music Concert--McArdle Theatre

19--Friday

  7:15 p.m.--Club Indigo, "Breakfast at Tiffany's"--Calumet Theatre

____________

No New Positions This Week

No new positions are posted this week at Michigan Tech. 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 or visiting http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings/ . Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.

News  |  Entertainment and Enrichment  |   Seminars and Workshops  |  Regular Features  |  Calendar  |  Top

Tech Topics Home

[Top]

[Top]

[Top]