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1. EXECUTIVE TEAM TO PRESENT BALANCED BUDGETMichigan Tech's executive team will present a balanced general fund budget for 2004-05 (FY05) to the Board of Control this Friday, June 25. "We are getting our finances in line," said President Glenn Mroz. "But, more than that, we are beginning to align our budget with our strategic plan." Mroz emphasizes that the budget is a tool to help the university community pursue its strategic plan. “It helps us to make decisions that will set priorities for Tech’s future, in spite of dealing with a projected $7.9 million general fund deficit for 2004-05. "As we move Michigan Tech forward, our budget process will include making decisions on our core functions," he said. "What makes our economic engine work? What do we do better than anyone else? What do we have a passion for doing?" "We are not out of the woods and we have a lot of work to do for the FY06 budget and beyond in the coming months," Mroz said. "But I am encouraged by the work we have done for FY05. While there have been spending reductions, we have worked to make these decisions strategically." The general fund budget proposal incorporates some revenue enhancements and savings, including: - a 2.3 percent increase in undergraduate tuition for Michigan residents. - a 2.5 percent increase in undergraduate tuition for non-Michigan residents. - an 8.5 percent increase in graduate student tuition. - a one-time state allocation of about $1.5 million, in return for holding tuition to the rate of inflation. - a $450,000 net savings on health care and retirement costs. - a $400,000 savings by delaying spending of Research Excellence Funds until FY06. - a $485,000 savings based on a change in estimated financial aid distributions for FY05. The budget assumes no increase in state allocation and no significant increase in enrollment. The FY05 budget includes limited new spending, again aligned with the university's strategic plan. The plan restores the dean's position in the School of Technology, funds lecturer positions in sciences and arts, covers cost increases for library subscriptions, adds support to re-establish the Master of Science in Business Administration degree program and continues to support graduate school recruiting efforts. The budget balancing also includes a number of cuts: - an additional $500,000 reduction in the amount of financial aid available. - a $600,000 reduction in the information technology and auxiliary services areas. - a $609,000 reduction in salaries and fringe benefits through administrative reorganizations already completed. The remainder of the FY05 deficit reduction results from one-time transfers from auxiliary services, housing operations and the retirement and insurance fund. "We have accomplished a balanced budget by making about $4 million in reductions to the general fund base and with about $4.9 million in one-time revenue, transfers and reductions," said Dan Greenlee, chief financial officer. "Our budget job is not finished," Mroz said. "In some ways, FY06 will be more challenging, since the one-time funds will no longer be available. However, we are also developing plans to aggressively market the university, offer new programs, repackage existing programs and enhance our fundraising efforts." The Board of Control meeting begins Friday, June 25, at 8:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom. ____________ 2. BOARD AGENDA INCLUDES 14 NEW PROGRAMSMichigan Tech's Board of Control will be asked to give final approval to 14 new degree programs at its meeting June 25. The board has given preliminary approval to all 14 and the State Academic Affairs Officers have added their unanimous endorsement. The new undergraduate programs include: - a BS in Wildlife Ecology and Management - a BA in Communication and Culture Studies - a BS in Electrical Engineering, concentration in photonics - a BS in Mathematical Sciences, concentration in education preparation - a BS in Biological Sciences, concentration in fish biology - a BS in Engineering Technology, concentration in construction management The new graduate programs include: - a PhD in Industrial Heritage and Archaeology - a Master of Engineering, Civil Engineering - a Master of Engineering, Environmental Engineering - an MS in Forest Ecology and Management - an MS in Applied Ecology - an MS in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology - a graduate certificate in sustainability Final approval will mean that the programs take effect immediately. ____________ 3. OPPLIGER RECEIVES FACULTY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDFor lecturer Doug Oppliger (Engineering Fundamentals), coming to work every day is about much more than what goes on in a classroom or in the lab. The recipient of this year’s faculty distinguished service award, Oppliger is deeply involved in several university programs with which he has no ties outside of his own interest in the students of Michigan Tech. “It’s not his job,” said Mike Abbott (Auxiliary Services) of Oppliger’s extensive volunteer work. “It’s his passion and his interest; he’s very committed.” Abbott has worked with Oppliger on a number of projects relating to the development of the internationally-recognized Tech Trails, Michigan Tech’s own recreational trail system, located in the forest south of the Student Development Complex. Oppliger was instrumental, according to Abbott, in helping to garner the funding necessary to develop the trail system and to save the Nordic ski team after it was nearly cut in 2001 due to budget constraints. “The trails were in a state of neglect,” said Oppliger. “In order to save the team, we had to do something about those trails. Without the trail system, there would be no way any of this could have happened.” Although Oppliger isn’t directly involved with the ski team, it was his passion for the sport, as well as his status as an alumnus, that motivated his deep involvement in saving the team. Abbott, who chairs the committee for the 2006 Junior Olympics, the national cross-country ski championship for ages 14-19, being held at the Tech Trails, also said that Oppliger has been extremely involved in that endeavor. “He’s been my right-hand man in the early planning for the Junior Olympics,” he said. Oppliger also serves as advisor to the Robotics Systems Enterprise and the FIRST Robotics team. As a former science teacher at Houghton High School, Oppliger became involved with the FIRST Robotics program at Michigan Tech when he engaged MTU students to help his high school students with their robot. FIRST Robotics is a competition in which students must build a robot to complete a series of tasks as outlined by the competition guidelines. “Typically, the high school students would work with a corporate sponsor and industry engineers to develop their robot,” Oppliger said. “Here, the college students serve as the advisors on the project.” Oppliger is also involved with the Lego League in the local schools, which is a competition similar to FIRST Robotics, but on a simpler scale geared toward younger students. “For Doug, it’s about getting more students interested in coming to Michigan Tech,” said Abbott. “He gives up his nights and weekends to be a part of these extracurricular activities, all in the name of improving student life and learning.” Oppliger also volunteers throughout the community and is a lifelong advocate of physical fitness and well-being. “Just the other day, Doug stopped by to have me look at his daughter’s bike - she had damaged it while they were out riding on the trails,” said Abbott. “They’re very involved in sports and fitness.” “I work with tons of people who work really hard at things that are very important,” Oppliger said. “It’s an honor, and you’re proud, but you know without others, there’d be nothing.” The Faculty Distinguished Service award is given each year to one faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary service to the university and, by that service, has affected positive change in the university community. The award is given based on peer nominations reviewed by committee and carries a $2,500 cash prize. ____________ 4. CHANGES IN LIBRARY SERVICESEFFECTIVE TUESDAY, JUNE 15: There will be twice-a-day retrieval of the library's main collection material until further notice, due to the CILIT project. Please request material at the Circulation Desk. ____________ 5. MEMORIAL UNION PICNICS CONTINUEReminder that every other Wednesday of the summer, MUB Picnics take place on the southwest lawn outside the MUB. Remaining dates are: June 30th July 14th & 28th August 6th (Friday of Alumni Weekend) & 18th ____________ 6. MEMORIAL UNION HOLIDAY HOURSIn observance of the Fourth of July holiday, the Memorial Union will be CLOSED on the following days: Saturday, July 3rd Sunday, July 4th Monday, July 5th Regular summer operating hours resume on Tuesday, July 6th beginning at 7:00am
7. LOCAL HISTORY CONFERENCE SET FOR JULY 1 & 2A two-day symposium July 1-2 in Houghton will examine the rich history of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The event is set to coincide with the Copper Country Homecoming and Old Settlers Ball. Sessions for the conference, entitled "Michigan's Copper Country: History, People & Place," will be held on campus. A full listing of all symposium speakers and topics is available online at www.cchomecoming.org Speakers will examine a wide variety of culture, heritage and history of Michigan's Copper Country. There is a $10 fee to attend the two-day conference, and attendees can register at the door in the Materials and Minerals Engineering Building. Meal tickets will also be available for purchase each day for use at the Douglass Houghton Hall cafeteria. In addition, there will be two evening events which are free and open to the general public. On Thursday, July 1, Larry Lankton (Social Sciences) will provide a program entitled, "American Themes / Keweenaw Stories" in Calumet. The presentation, scheduled for 7 p.m. at the historic Calumet Theatre, will put the history of the Keweenaw Peninsula within the broader context of American history from the mid-19th century through the early 20th. The event is supported by the Calumet Theatre, which is located at the corner of 6th and Elm streets in Calumet. The Thursday evening event will be followed by a public reception at the Keweenaw Heritage Center at St. Anne's located at 5th and Scott streets. On Friday evening, the venue will shift south to Jeffers High School in Painesdale where Kim Hoagland (Social Sciences) will provide a talk entitled, "The Seeberville Murders: Death and Life in the Copper Country in 1913." The presentation details an incident during the 1913 strike when sheriff's deputies shot a volley of bullets into a small boardinghouse near Painesdale, killing two men and wounding a third. For further information about the symposium, contact program committee chair, Erik Nordberg, at the archives at 487-2505 or at copper@mtu.edu 8. MTU NOTABLESJim Cross, vice provost for information technology, has been nominated by his peers and selected by the Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education awards committee to receive the ACUTA 2004 Ruth A. Michaelecki leadership award. The award recognizes individuals who have innovatively affected the communications technology profession through leadership and have produced results directly benefiting ACUTA and/or the broader higher education community. Cross will accept the award at the 33rd Annual ACUTA Conference and Exposition in Chicago in August. ____________ 9. NEW STAFFJennifer Butkovich joins Army ROTC as secretary III. She comes to Michigan Tech from Somero Enterprises where she was an office assistant. A licensed massage therapist, Butkovich lives in Hancock with her husband Mark. Angela Johansen has joined the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science as a research associate. She was previously a graduate research assistant at Michigan Tech. Johansen holds her Master of Science in Forestry from Michigan Tech and resides in Houghton. Marlene Lappeus joins the MEEM department as office assistant N5. She comes to Michigan Tech from Peckham Engineering where she was an administrative assistant. Lappeus resides in Hancock with her husband Keith Kallio. They have three children, Francis, Jed and Vivienne. Susan Liebau joins the Educational Opportunity department as secretary IV. She was previously employed by The Home Depot as Category Advertising Coordinator. Liebau holds her Bachelor of Science in Business degree, with an advertising concentration, from Ferris State University. She and her husband Daniel live in Dollar Bay. ____________ 10. IN PRINTVernon P. Dorweiler, professor emeritus, and Mehenna Yakhou, professor of accounting, Georgia College & State University, have published a paper, “Environmental Accounting: An Essential Component of Business Strategy,” in the Journal of Business Strategy and the Environment. ____________ 11. PROPOSALS IN PROGRESSResearchers, their proposals and their potential sponsors are: Gregg Bluth and Samantha Reif (GMES) have submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation - International for Remote Sensing of Earthquake-Induced Landslides in El Salvador. Gerard Caneba (Chemical Engineering) has submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation for Development of Stiumuli-Responsive Photonic Hydrogels. Thomas Van Dam (CEE) and Lawrence Sutter (SOT) have submitted a proposal to the Innovative Pavement Research Foundation for Concrete Mixes and Pavement Construction for De-icing Facilities. Scott Huang (MSE), Jiann-Yang Hwang (MSE), James Hertel (Engineering Fundamentals), Shu-Zu Lu (MSE), Jong Lee (MSE) and Song-Lin Yang (MEEM) have submitted a proposal to the United States Department of Energy for Development of Innovative Aluminum-Based High-Performance Automobile Brakes. Margaret Gale (SFRES) has submitted a proposal to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service - North Central Station for Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle Research Support. Dave Reed (Vice President for Research), Ed Lumsdaine (MEEM) and Paul Nelson (SBE) have submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation for Creating an Entreprenurial Culture in a Rural Setting. Shuanglin Zhang and Huann-Sheng Chen (Mathematical Sciences) have submitted a proposal to the National Institute of Health entitled “Statistical Methods for Admixture Mapping.” Ann Maclean (SFRES), Barry Solomon (Social Sciences), David Flaspohler (SFRES) and David Hokanson (CEE) have submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation MUSES Program entitled “Renewable energy from forest resources: A planning grant proposal to lay the groundwork for investigating the complex interrelated issues associated with generating automotive fuels from lignocellulosic biomass.” Brad Baltensperger (Education) and Chris Anderson (Educational Opportunity) have submitted a proposal to the Michigan Department of Education for Educators’ Science and Mathematics Institute Series - Applied Mathematics and Applied Science. Bela Torok and Marianna Torok (Chemistry) have submitted a proposal to the National Institute of Health for Synthesis of Novel Inhibitors of Amyloid Fibrillogenesis. Jimmy Diehl and William Rose (GMES) have submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation for Collaborative Research: Paleomagnetism and geochronology of the Mono Lake Event recorded in the lava flow sequence of Santa Maria Volcano, Guatemala. Debra Wright (Biomedical Engineering) has submitted a proposal to the National Institute of Health for Layered Composites for Orthopedic Fracture Fixation. David Karnosky (SFRES) has submitted a proposal to the University of Alabama-Huntsville entitled “A genome-enabled approach to understanding aspen community dynamics under a changing global environment.” Roger Turpening and Wayne Pennington (GMES) have submitted a proposal to the United States Department of Enegery entitled “Permeability dependence of seismic amplitudes-data acquisition program - phase 1, design study.” Michael Roggemann and Timothy Schulz (ECE) have submitted a proposal to the United States Department of Defense - National Geospatial Intelligence Agency entitled “Subpixel Material Identification in Remotely Sensed Spectral Data.” W. Charles Kerfoot (Biological Sciences) has submitted a proposal to the University of Michigan Sea Grant entitled “Planktonic Biodiversity: Scaling Up and Down.” Gordon Parker (MEEM) has submitted a proposal to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University entitled “Virtual space structures with controllable material-like properties.” ____________ 12. NO NEW POSITIONS THIS WEEK
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