Tompkins outlines new directions for Michigan Tech
Staff, faculty, and students honored at Convocation
Twenty-two National Merit Scholars Enter MTU this Fall
Peacemaker: A Smart Movie by a Smart MTU Grad
Pay Increase, TIAA-CREF Contribution, in Oct. 24 Paychecks
Campus Campaign Reminder
Tompkins Cites University's Economic Impact
Want Info on Immigration Issues? INS Official Here Oct. 2
Parade of Nations Saturday (and more about those dinosaurs)
Tech Tea: Coffins, Zippers, and Cymbals--The Art and Science of Lake Superior in Winter
Chem Engg Undergrad to Give Piano, Organ Concert Sept. 28
Club Indigo Features First Phantom
Daniell Heights Open House
Guest Speakers to Talk on Geometric Computing Issues
More Workshops on Teaching with the Internet
LEAD Workshops for Supervisors: Register ASAP
Seminar Oct. 2 on Microchip Packaging
GEM Center Offering Workshops on Shaping Copper Country's Future
Companies coming
In print
On the road
Positions available at MTU
Calendar
Bill Curnow, director, University Relations
Dennis Walikainen, manager, Editorial Services
Marcia Goodrich, Tech Topics editor
Gail Sweeting, composer
Information to be included in Tech Topics should be submitted to the Tech Topics editor in one of the following ways:
By electronic mail--send information to ttopics@mtu.edu
By interdepartmental mail--send double-spaced, typed copies to the attention of Tech Topics editor, University Relations.
Each week, the deadline for submitting information is Friday at 5:00 p.m. for the following Friday distribution.
Twenty-two National Merit Scholars enter MTU this fall
Samuel Neis had narrowed his list of possible colleges down to three when he visited Michigan Tech last year.
"I liked this place better than State," he said. And the private college in Indiana he was looking at was really expensive. So Neis registered at Michigan Tech.
He is one of twenty-two National Merit Scholars who enrolled as freshmen this fall, compared to fifteen last year. Every year, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation identifies 7,000 finalists from the top graduating U.S. high school seniors as Merit Scholars, based in large part on the scores they earn as juniors taking the PSAT. They are then considered for Merit Scholarships funded by National Merit, corporations, and the colleges and universities in which they enroll.
MTU's 50 percent increase in the number of new Merit Scholars is no accident. The quality of a university can hinge on the quality of its students; President Curt Tompkins and Provost Fred Dobney both backed measures to attract more Merit Scholars to Michigan Tech. Thus, in addition to fifteen MTU-funded Merit Scholarships, the University also offered some Scholars a two-year room scholarship to support part of the cost of living in a residence hall.
Michigan Tech now has a total of sixty-six Merit Scholar undergraduates enrolled, a remarkable number for a university with so many scientists- and engineers-to-be.
National Merit scores its finalists not on the raw total of their PSAT score but by multiplying the verbal score by two and then adding the math score. "To have any National Merit Scholars at a technological school is amazing," said Tim Malette, director of financial aid. "What this means for Michigan Tech is that our Merit Scholars tend have very good communications skills, as well as strengths in science and engineering."
Peacemaker: A smart movie by a smart MTU grad
Suzanne Jurva '82 did her research for the new Stephen Spielberg movie The Peacemaker by tracking down experts and doing a lot of reading. What she didn't do was surf.
"I used to use the Web," she said. "But I found a lot of the stuff was inaccurate, junk."
Jurva, a feature development executive for Spielberg's Dreamworks Studio, visited MTU September 22 to host the honest-to-goodness world premiere (Houghton beat out New York by about 25 minutes) of Peacemaker, the studio's first feature film. This happened because Lisa Dietlin (advancement) was gutsy enough to suggest to Jurva that Houghton would be a swell place to premiere a major Hollywood blockbuster.
Jurva, apparently gauging the situation and deciding she had nothing to lose, passed on the request. "And they said yes!" she said, still amazed.
"They really don't understand where Houghton is," she confided. "Since it's in Michigan, they probably think it's Detroit."
It's a long road--a couple thousand miles at least--from Houghton to Hollywood, but Jurva doesn't seem surprised to have survived and prospered. She now researches and develops ideas for Dreamworks movies, and works with writers on screenplays. "I always knew I would do something like this," she said, even as an undergrad studying scientific and technical communication. "I just didn't want to say it."
"You have to be willing to work harder than anyone, especially if you're a woman," Jurva said. "And your work has to be four times better."
Peacemaker was inspired by an article on the threat of post-Cold War terrorism. Dreamworks snatched the story from the jaws of Vanity Fair before publication could launch its ideas into the public domain. A political thriller, the movie showcases Jurva's research abilities nicely--she deserves an A on her homework, which obviously did not rely on a willy-nilly wander through the Web. From reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of satellite imaging to providing a short course on detonating thermonuclear devises, Peacemaker is a very scary primer on terrorism in the atomic age.
"The research was very good," said Bruce Rafert, chair of the Department of Physics. "And it was a great film. Not only was there technical realism, but also, to my perception, the political and cultural portrayals also rang true. It was a very smart movie."
Pay Increase, 1-plus-1 TIAA-CREF program in October 24 checks
The 1 percent pay increase for faculty and nonunion staff approved by the Board of Control, including cumulative back pay, will appear in employees' October 24 paychecks. The raise is effective June 28 for twelve-month employees and August 24 for nine-month faculty positions. Union wage increases are subject to contract negotiations.
Employee contributions to the new 1-plus-1 TIAA-CREF matching program will also be reflected in the October 24 paychecks and will be retroactive to the start of this fiscal year's pay increase.
Michigan Tech's employees contributed to the Campus Campaign in unprecedented numbers last year--309 employees donated over $80,000 to help the University.
Please consider joining this group, even if you can only afford a small donation. Your gift of even $1 per week may not seem like much, but it can mean a lot to corporations and foundations. Big donors often ask about the number of employees who donate to the University; it's a measure of how committed we as employees are to the institution.
Thanks for considering a gift to the Campus Campaign! And don't forget: The state offers a 50 percent tax credit on donations up to $100 ($200 on a joint return), so your gift costs you half as much as the University gets.
Tompkins cites University's economic impact
Submitted by the News Bureau
President Curt Tompkins told the MTU Board of Control Friday, September 12, that the school contributes more than $250 million annually to the local economy.
"And this does not include the impacts of our graduates who work in the state, or our faculty who work as consultants for Michigan business and industry, or of the MTU-related intellectual properties that are commercialized in the state."
Tompkins explained how the economic impact of Michigan Tech is calculated.
"Locally, our 1,300 full-time employees and 2,800 student employees earn and spend more than $72 million each year. Additionally, the University spends about $10 million a year locally for travel and the purchase of goods and services. And each year we pay almost $3 million to local utilities that employ area residents. That totals about $85 million that flows directly from the MTU budget into the local economy each year.
"It is estimated that another $25 million is generated annually into the community by our 6,200 students and hundreds of MTU visitors, including corporate recruiters, donors, alumni, parents and families of students and prospective students, and others. That accrues to $110 million being pumped into the local economy each year by MTU. On top of that, the construction projects on campus add significantly to the local economy."
Tompkins said regional economists say that a multiplier of three should be applied to direct budgetary expenditures to estimate the real economic impact of an institution on the local economy. He said that, on a regular basis, MTU may be said conservatively to contribute over a quarter of a billion dollars annually to the local economy.
Want information on immigration issues?
INS official here October 2
Mary Ellen O'Shea, supervisory immigration inspector from the Immigration and Naturalization Office in Sault Ste. Marie, will be visiting campus on Thursday, October 2. O'Shea will be available to discuss topics such as naturalization, permanent residency, working in the U.S., and student issues. To schedule an appointment, contact the International Services Office at 487-2160 or mbrunner@mtu.edu
Parade of Nations Saturday (and more about those dinosaurs)
With a greeting in sixty-five languages, the eighth annual Parade of Nations begins at Hancock High School on Saturday, September 27, at 3:15 p.m., winding through Hancock and Houghton until it reaches the parking deck in Houghton.
In addition to human representatives from seventy-one nations, dinosaurs will be in the parade (not the dinosaurs; more on them later). Students at the Goodwill Farm, with help from Tosh Gallery owner Tom Ex, created wooden dinosaurs that will be trucked along the route. The parade will also feature its first-ever float, a Chinese-themed creation by the Houghton Middle School.
After the parade, the annual Multicultural Festival begins at 4:00 p.m. under the parking deck. The festival features authentic ethnic foods from around the world, arts and crafts, international vendors, and live music and entertainment. "It's a good idea to bring a large appetite," parade co-chair Mary Anne Brunner (international services) said. "We plan to have about thirty food booths." T-shirts--the event's primary fundraising tool--will also be on sale. "Please buy t-shirts," parade cochair Betty Chavis (educational opportunity) said. "It helps us keep this thing going. We beg a lot."
And first through eighth graders can participate in a coloring contest using the dinosaur posters (cost is 25 cents to help pay for the posters), and prizes include a bicycle and a $25 savings bond.
Entertainment includes the Echoes from Heaven Gospel Choir, local singing sensation Jan Arnold (Chavis: "She sounds just like K. D. Lang"), a demonstration by the Keweenaw Martial Arts Club, and song and dance by several international student groups.
Mixed media and photography by Irish poet/artist Patrick Anderson-McQuoid will be on display at the Tosh Gallery in downtown Houghton. Also at Tosh, a reading of his poetry, "Swimming in the Zoo," will be held Thursday, September 25, at 7:009:00 p.m.; and a reception for his art exhibit, "Mirrored Memories," is set for Friday, September 26, at 7:009:00 p.m.
The parade and festival, which began in 1990, provide an "excellent opportunity to experience things that are not usually available in this area," Brunner said. "Some students note it as the highlight of their year. . . . We encourage people to join the parade as it passes them if they want to. This is a celebration."
Sponsors include MTU, Suomi College, the Houghton Business Association, and the cities of Houghton and Hancock.
About the Dinosaurs
You'd think Michigan Tech was giving away free Beanie Babies.
Close to 6,000 schoolchildren, from Wisconsin and all over the U.P., have visited the University since those three mechanical dinosaurs came to campus September 15. "We've had to stop accepting anymore tours, so schools are coming on their own without any tour guides," said Chavis, who came up with the improbable idea of bringing the Dinamation models to MTU. "The traffic has been humongous."
Never has Michigan Tech been so awash in little kids, and never did the University realize how much it has to offer them.
"Most of them have never been on the Tech campus, never been on elevators, never seen a mineral museum," Chavis said. "It's been wonderful."
In addition to the Seaman Mineral Museum's obvious attractions (that great fluorescent display, the pretty crystals, etc.), it has a nifty collection of dinosaur remnants.
"The children get to learn about dinosaur bones, eggs, and, their favorite, fossil poop," Chavis said.
The dinosaurs seem to have broken through Michigan Tech's reputation as an aloof institution for very smart people only. Before the tours, the children are asked if they'd like to attend MTU someday. The response is equivocal. Afterwards, a guide asks: "Now how many want to come to Michigan Tech?"
"The hands go up and they shout yay!" Chavis said.
The dinosaurs will be leaving Saturday, September 27. Until then, you can visit them by the EERC, the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building, and the under-construction Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building.
Tech Tea: Coffins, zippers, and cymbals--
The art and science of Lake Superior in winter
Submitted by University Cultural Enrichment
Combining science and the art of photography, Drew Pilant and Mike Bohn have created a beautiful slide presentation of satellite images, air photos, and commentary on Superior's winter ecology. At the first Tech Tea Time of the year, on Wednesday, October 1, they'll tell their story about the remote and mysterious world of Lake Superior ice. Tech Tea Time is at 4:00 p.m. in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge. The event is free and open to all.
Pilant, a research assistant professor in physics, is particularly interested in coffins, zippers, and cymbals--names given to complex and beautiful ice forms found on the lake in winter. Bohn, a PhD student in mechanical engineering, describes himself as "addicted to all things photographic." His fascination with the wide variety of astonishingly complex, ever-changing geometric patterns and marvellous textures in the ice forms has resulted in a series of stunning images.
The two were brought together by Ashok Agarwaal, a graduate student in geology, who was working with Pilant on his grant to use satellite imagery to study ice and snow in the Lake Superior ecosystem. Agarwaal suggested that Bohn should be the official project photographer. "Ashok told me," Bohn said, "it would only be two flights, and that sounded O.K., as I was very busy. Actually it turned out to be thirteen flights plus a few aborted ones, but I enjoyed every minute of it."
"Ice is a major part of the lake's annual cycle," Pilant said. "It affects a host of issues spanning lake-effect snow production, navigation, shoreline erosion, circulation, wildlife habitat, and fisheries." He uses satellite images to study the ice under a NASA grant to better understand the role of ice in climate and lake processes. In order to interpret the satellite images, aerial and on-ice photo reconnaissance is performed, resulting in the fascinating photo documentary of ice shapes, textures, colors, and phenomena to be shown at this Tech Tea Time.
Tech Tea Time is coordinated by the University Cultural Enrichment Department. Call 487-2844 for further information or to offer proposals for future Tech Tea Times.
Chemical engineering undergrad to
give piano, organ concert September 28
Ana Tontcheva, an undergraduate studying chemical engineering, will present a piano and organ concert on Sunday, September 28, at 4:00 p.m. at Portage Lake United Church.
Tontcheva came to Houghton in 1991 from Sophia, Bulgaria, with her parents, Professor Vladimir Tonchev (mathematical sciences) and his wife, Mariana. At age 15, already an accomplished pianist, she studied piano locally with Isabelle Hagen and by 1994 was playing piano for local church services.
In October 1996, Tontcheva began organ studies with local organist Jan Dalquist. And, while on co-op at Dow Chemical, she studied with Midland organist Kent Dennis.
The recital will include works by Couperin, Buxtehude, Bach, Mendelsson, and Franck. The organ, an electronic Saville Sovereign, is the equivalent of a 23-rank pipe organ and was installed in 1976.
Tontcheva's concert is sponsored by the Portage Lake United Church congregation and the Organists of Keweenaw. Admission is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow.
Club Indigo features first Phantom
Club Indigo, sponsored by Mu Beta Psi Music Fraternity, opens its annual film and food series Thursday, October 2, at the Calumet Theatre with the original silent version of Phantom of the Opera, with Lon Cheney.
The 7:00 p.m. movie is preceded by a 6:00 p.m. buffet supplied by the Keweenaw Co-op. The film is completely restored and hand-tinted with a musical background. Admission to the movie is two for $5 or $3 per person; the buffet is an additional $6.50.
Daniell Heights is holding an open house to showcase its new concept apartments on Thursday and Friday, September 2526.
Apartments in the 2000-block were remodeled to create studios and three-bedroom apartments from the old one- and two-bedroom units. Apartments 2007A and 2007B will be open to the public from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday.
"Come and see how all the best ideas from residents and staff came together," organizers said.
Guest speakers to talk on geometric computing issues
Two internationally known researchers are coming to Michigan Tech to discuss issues related to computing with geometry. Their visits are part of a proposal to include geometric computing in the undergraduate computer science curriculum.
Christoph Hoffmann, of the Computer Science Department at Purdue University, will speak on "Solid Modeling" Friday, October 3. Mike Pratt, a senior research associate in the Center for Advanced Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who currently has a visiting position in the Manufacturing Systems Integration Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will speak on "The 'STEP' Standard for Product Data Exchange," Friday, October 10. Both talks begin at 9:00 a.m. in Fisher 135 and focus on applications of geometric computing to engineering design and manufacturing. The morning talks are geared for a broader audience, including engineers, scientists, and mathematicians.
In addition, the computer science department will host seminars by the speakers during the afternoons of their visits. Hoffmann will speak on "Geometric Constraint Solving" on October 3, and Pratt will present "Applied Computational Geometry: A Personal View" on October 10. Both seminars will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Fisher 101.
The researchers' visits are funded through a $98,000 NSF grant awarded to Associate Professor John Lowther and Assistant Professor C. K. Shene (computer science) to design a geometric computing course for second-year undergraduates in computer science, math, and engineering. The course is intended to provide students with basic skills for handling geometric problems and understanding the limitations of finite precision on geometric problem solvers. Graduates with these skills should be well suited for employment in product design and manufacturing-related software development.
Through the grant, researchers are developing courseware and interactive animation software systems to explore aspects of geometric computing. The course with the new software will be offered for the first time during winter 199798; it will be open to computer science, engineering, science, and math majors with some background in linear algebra and programming experience.
The talks and seminars are open to everyone. For more information, contact Shene at shene@mtu.edu or 487-3431.
More workshops on teaching with the internet
More than fifty faculty attended the "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the World Wide Web, E-Mail, and Electronic Discussion Groups for Teaching . . . But Were Afraid to Ask" computer workshops held recently. They were so successful, and the waiting lists were so long, that IT and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Faculty Development are planning another series for Monday and Tuesday, November 2425. Watch your mailbox for details.
The workshops provided an introduction to the Internet, the use of e-mail and newsgroups for instruction, and an introduction to the "Web Course in a Box" software, which allows instructors to easily set up Web pages for their courses. Key presenters included Karla Kitalong (humanities), Dave Poplawski (computer science), and Kurt Paterson (civil and environmental engineering), who discussed how they use electronic teaching tools in their classes. The hands-on workshop sessions were conducted by Center Director William Kennedy, Ann West, Renee Greenley, Cynthia MacDonald, and Mick McKeller (IT).
Workshops for supervisors: Register ASAP
Michigan Tech has instituted the LEAD (Leadership Effectiveness And Development) program to equip supervisors with the skills and knowledge to lead people and manage functions effectively. It is the most comprehensive, work-oriented supervisory training program to be offered at the University.
Supervisors and managers are expected to attend at least three sessions of their choice during the 199798 academic year. The half-day sessions will be offered several times during each month so that everyone who expresses an interest will have the opportunity to attend.
The target audience for the first round of offerings is primarily staff, but others may attend sessions with the permission of their supervisor, if there is room in the session.
Courses and the month in which they are offered are Charting the Course, October; Effective Delegation, November; Stress Management, December; Dynamic Planning, January; Managing the Time of Your Life, February; Resolution Solutions, March; "Are you listening to me?" April; High Impact Leadership, May; Navigating Change, June; Managing Magnificent Meetings, July; and Creating Champions, August.
For a registration packet, call Mavis in Human Resources, 487-2280. Packets must be returned by Friday, September 26.
Seminar October 2 on microchip packaging
David Crouthamel, of Lucent Technologies, will present a seminar, "Mold Compound Evaluation for Improved IC Packages Performance," on Thursday, October 2, at 3:004:00 p.m. in ME-EM 302.
A plastic encapsulation is used to provide strength and protection to a microchip, and proper encapsulation is essential for a chip's long-term reliability. Crouthamel will discuss performance limitations of current low-stress plastics for IC encapsulation, as well as improvements offered in newer compound formulations. In addition, he will outline the methodology of a typical mold compound evaluation and the use of acoustic microscopes to assess interfacial integrity within the IC package.
For more information, contact Mahesh Gupta (487-3566) or Craig Friedrich (487-1922).
GEM center offering workshops on shaping Copper Country's future
Submitted by the GEM Center
Are you concerned that suburban-type sprawl may soon obscure the unique character that sets the Copper Country apart from everywhere else? To address those concerns, the GEM Center for Environmental Outreach will offer a workshop, "New Designs for Shaping Our Future," Thursday, October 9, at 7:0010:00 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock. The workshop will be repeated Friday, October 10, at 9:00 a.m.noon at the Franklin Square Inn in downtown Houghton.
These workshops are based on "New Designs for Growth," an innovative rural land-use management and planning program developed by the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with leading business, educational, and environmental organizations. At the heart of that partnership is workshop presenter Keith Charters, a consultant with the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the chairman of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. The ultimate aim of the Chamber, through New Designs, is "to ensure that the economic opportunity and quality of life in northwest Michigan are not swept away in a torrent of haphazard development."
Here is an excellent opportunity to learn how to prevent the undesirable consequences of rapid, unmanaged growth.
Registration for either workshop is $5 on or before October 3 or $8 at the door. Students may register at no charge by October 3 or pay $5 at the door. For more information or a registration form, contact the GEM Center at 487-3341.
Funding for these workshops is provided by the Michigan Economic and Environmental Roundtable and the Michigan Environmental Council through a mini-grant to the GEM Center. Project partners include the League of Women Voters of the Copper Country, the Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, the Western U.P. Planning and Development Regional Commission, the Keweenaw Land Trust, the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, and the Keweenaw Community Foundation.
Representatives from the following employers will be recruiting on campus next week. If you'd like to meet with any, contact the University Career Center at 487-2313.
Associate Professor Bruce Seely (social sciences) published an article, "Visions of American Highways, 1900-1980," in the book Geschichte de Zukunft des Verkehrs: Verkehrskonzpete von der Fruhen Neuzeit Biz Sum. He also published "Urban Freeway Development and the Bureau of Public Roads, 1930-1950," in the spring 1997 edition of the Society for Commercial Archaeology Journal.
Assistant Professor Hugh Gorman (social sciences) published a paper, "Manufacturing Brownfields: The Case of Neville Island, Pennsylvania," in Technology and Culture, Vol. 38.
An article by Professor Terry Reynolds, "A Narrow Window of Opportunity: The Rise and Fall of the Fixed Steel Dam," originally appearing in the Journal of Industrial Archaeology, was translated into Japanese and republished in the June 1997 edition of Kyosei.
Professor Vladimir Tonchev (mathematical sciences) coauthored a paper with M. van Eupen (University of Technology, The Netherlands), ``Linear Codes and the Existence of a Reversible Hadamard Difference Set,'' in the Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Ser. A, Vol. 79.
Research Scientist II Dana Richter (IWR) gave an invited presention, "Puffballs that Make Mycorrhizas and Those that Don't," at the Annual A.H. Smith Lake States Mushroom Foray, held September 1113 at Treehaven Field Station in Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
Associate Professor Chuck Van Karsen (ME-EM) attended the International Modal Analysis Conference held August 26September 3 at Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan. At the conference he chaired a session entitled "Rotating Machinery" and presented a paper "Research Activities at MTU" coauthored by Assistant Professor Gordon Parker and graduate student Matthew Spisak (ME-EM).
Associate Professor Ghatu Subhash (ME-EM) presented the paper "Dynamic Hardness of Metals," coauthored by graduate student Brian Koeppel (ME-EM), at the International Union of Theoretical & Applied Mechanics held August 1930 at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany.
Assistant Professor Bruce Mork (electrical engineering), along with Professor Ned Mohan (University of Minnesota) and Hans Kristian Hoidalen (Norwegian Electric Power Research Institute), taught a one-day tutorial, "Modeling Power Electronics in Power Systems Using EMTP," at the 1997 European Power Electronics Conference, held September 710 in Trondheim, Norway. On behalf of the International Programs Office, he also had meetings at Agder College in Kristiansand, Bergen College in Bergen, the Norwegian University of Science & Technology in Trondheim, and with the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad in Oslo to recruit students and develop research and student exchanges.
Professor Karol Pelc (SBE) presented a paper, "Patterns of Knowledge Generating Networks," at the Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, PICMET '97, held July 2731 in Portland, Oregon. The paper has been published in the book Innovation in Technology Management, which includes selected and refereed papers from that conference.
Professor Larry Lankton (social sciences) gave a talk, "Life and Landscapes," at the MSU Extension Service meeting "Cornerstones of Community: Small Town and Rural Preservation," held September 19 in Marquette.
Associate Professor Willie Melton (social sciences), with Brenda Hoke (Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia) gave a presentation, "American Values: A Computer Demonstration Session," at the American Sociological Association meetings held August 813 in Toronto.
Associate Professor Bette Sellars (fine arts) is exhibiting her oil paintings in a one-person show, "Home Body," from September 1 through October 1 at the Sound Gallery in Milwaukee.
Job descriptions are available from Human Resources starting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.
You can e-mail us at JOBS@MTU.EDU and we will e-mail you the job description you request.
The following positions will be posted Friday, September 26, 1997, at 1:00 p.m. through noon, Friday, October 3, 1997, in the Human Resources Office.
Food Service Helper--Dining Services (Regular, part-time, variable hours, internal AFSCME posting)
Food Service Helper--Dining Services (Regular, full-time, internal AFSCME posting)
Staff Assistant (N6)--Benefits (Regular, full-time, internal UAW posting)
Administrative Aide (N7)--School of Technology (Regular, full-time, internal UAW posting)
Senior Advancement Officer for College of Engineering--Advancement
Research Engineer I--Civil & Environmental Engineering
University employees are reminded to apply in writing prior to noon, Friday, October 3, 1997, 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 1:00 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.
September
Hispanic Heritage Month
| 25 | Thursday |
| 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m.--Art Loan Collection display--J. R. Van Pelt Library | |
| 1:305:30 p.m.--Daniell Heights Open House--Apartments 2007A&B | |
| 2:006:00 p.m.--Harold Meese Center Open House | |
| 6:00 p.m.--Staff Faculty Bowling League Fun Night--Memorial Union | |
| 26 | Friday |
| 9:00 a.m.1:00 p.m.--Daniell Heights Open House--Apartments 2007A&B | |
| 10:00 a.m.4:00 p.m.--Art Loan Collection display--J. R. Van Pelt Library | |
| noon--Homecoming recess begins | |
| 2:006:00 p.m.--Harold Meese Center Open House | |
| 7:00 p.m.--Volleyball, Grand Valley State at MTU--SDC | |
| 27 | Saturday |
| noon--Football, Indianapolis at MTU (Homecoming)--Sherman Field | |
| 3:00 p.m.--Volleyball, Ferris State at MTU--SDC | |
| 3:00 p.m.--Parade of Nations--Hancock to Houghton | |
| 8:00 p.m.--Second City--Fisher 135 | |
| 28 | Sunday |
| 4:00 p.m.--Piano and organ concert by Ana Tontcheva--Portage Lake United Church | |
| 29 | Monday |
| 11:00 a.m.--Willes Weber, "Using Raman Spectroscopy for Materials Characterization"--M&M 610 | |
October
National Disability Awareness Month
| 1 | Wednesday |
| 4:00 p.m.--Tech Tea: Drew Pilant and Mike Bohn on Lake Superior ice--Memorial Union Alumni Lounge | |
| 2 | Thursday |
| 3:00 p.m.--David Crouthamel, "Mold Compound Evaluation for Improved IC Packages Performance"--ME-EM 302 | |
| 6:00/7:00 p.m.--Club Indigo: Buffet and Phantom of the Opera--Calumet Theatre | |
| 3 | Friday |
| 9:00 a.m.--Christoph Hoffman, "Solid Modeling"--Fisher 135 | |
| 2:00 p.m.--Christoph Hoffman, "Geometric Constraint Solving"--Fisher 101 | |
| 7 | Tuesday |
| 7:00 p.m.--Volleyball, Northern Michigan at MTU--SDC | |
| 9 | Thursday |
| 7:00 p.m.--"New Designs for Shaping Our Future"--Finnish American Heritage Center | |
| 10 | Friday |
| 9:00 a.m.--Mike Pratt, "The STEP Standard for Product Data Exchange"--Fisher 135 | |
| noon--"New Designs for Shaping Our Future"--Franklin Square Inn | |
| 2:00 p.m.--Mike Pratt, "Applied Computational Geometry: A Personal View"--Fisher 101 | |
| 7:35 p.m.--Hockey, Silver/Gold Intrasquad Game at MTU--MacInnes Student Ice Arena |
Tompkins outlines new directions for Michigan Tech
The anticipatory theme of the President Curt Tompkins' State of the University Address was "Building for the Twenty-first Century," but there's plenty going on here in the dusk of the 1900s.
MTU's major building projects--the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, the Performing Arts and Education Center, the Meese Center, and the forestry addition--are proceeding apace. Tompkins told the crowd at Convocation September 24 that 44 percent of the funding for these facilities comes from other than state government.
"No other public university in Michigan is doing as well in brining private funds to match state funds," he said. "Very few public universities anywhere have done as well."
Other capital improvements under consideration include
All projects will depend in part on state support, Tompkins said, as well as private funding. The Capital Campaign Task Force has developed a rough pie chart of how monies raised should be allocated, assuming a $100 million goal. About 20 percent would be used for matching funds to support anticipated building projects, with 40 percent going to "current needs" such as computing and lab equipment. The remaining 40 percent should fund permanent endowments for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, and distinguished chairs.
The Capital Campaign Task Force, led by Board of Control Chair Jim Mitchell '65, will meet October 10 to develop a preliminary case statement, and then take it on the road to alumni and friends to determine what donors are interested in supporting. And in 1999, the campaign will focus on major donors, followed by a more-public fundraising effort in 2000, Tompkins said.
Michigan Tech has many generous supporters, but the state legislature still provides the largest share of the University's budget. And with the implementation of term limits, the legislature will see at least seventy new state representatives in early 1999. "If these individuals are appreciative, knowledgable, and supportive, MTU will do well," Tompkins said.
He proposed forming an MTU Alumni Network "to assure good communication and fast responses to legislative activities that could affect MTU." With Vice President for Government Relations Dale Tahtinen.
"This might sound far removed from some of your interests," Tompkins said. "But let me assure you that your tuition as a student, your paycheck as a faculty or staff member, the value of your MTU degree as an alumnus, and your facilities and equipment and travel budget are all going to be affected by the changes taking place in Lansing."
Further from home, Tompkins noted the Michigan Tech has been actively reaching out to international alumni. Of the state's fifteen public universities, MTU is second only ot the University of Michigan in the proportion of nonresident students. Michigan Tech students come from more than sixty countries. "I think this is healthy," Tompkins said. Our world needs more mutual understanding and less insularity."
The academic calendar is another area of flux. The Board of Control will receive recommendations on a calendar change, which should include improvements to curricula, genral education and student advising; creation of an honors program and first-year program; enhancement of the summer term; a smoother transition to graduate programs; and "a change in the academic calendar as recommended by the faculty."
Tompkins stressed the importance of going beyond a simple change to semesters. "I think it is more than fair to say that . . . changing the academic calendar without accomplishing other changes and improvements would be a hollow and misbegotten action," he said, particularly in light of the recommendations coming to light as part of the NCA Self-Study.
Melvin Calvin Nobel Laureate Series--Tompkins used the State of the University Address to announce the formation of the Melvin Calvin Nobel Laureate Series. Named in honor of the late Melvin Calvin '31, who received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, the series will support annual visits to campus by Nobel Laureates. Ishpeming native Glenn Seaborg will be the first lecturer, on June 10, 1998.
A tree will be planted to honor each Nobel Laureate who comes to campus, eventually forming a Nobel Laureate Grove.
In conclusion, Tompkins noted that during the last decade, the rate of change has escalated exponentially, and that higher education is not exempt.
"I believe the Michigan Tech will face challenges in the century ahead as issues of cost, accountability, added value, and tougher competition congront us," he said. "It is essential then that we unite with a common purpose, to make Michigan Tech even greater for the generations to come as we build for the twenty-first century."
Staff, faculty, and students honored at Convocation
Calling him "the Cal Ripkin of building attendants," Provost Fred Dobney presented an Employee Excellence Award to Don Anderson during the President's Convocation, held September 24. "He's never late," Dobney said. "And he rarely misses work."
Anderson accepted his award with grace and speed. "You've said enough about me, so I ain't gonna say nothin' but thank you," he said before stepping down from the podium.
Several exemplary MTU employees and students were honored at Convocation. Humanities department chair Cindy Selfe received the Research Award for her work on the integration of technology in the classroom and the writing process. She crediting the University for taking a broader view of technology in choosing her to receive the award, and, noting their accomplishments, accepted the honor on behalf of her departmental colleagues.
Employee Excellence Award winner Janet Kaarto (advancement) thanked her husband for his patience, especially when she has to take her work home. And she thanked the many who nominated her. "I read the nominations, and I sat down at my dining room table and cried," she said. "I accept this with deep appreciation."
Sue Stimac DesRochers (library) also received an Employee Excellence Award, based on the many and varied commendations submitted by her co-workers. "With great humility and honor, I say, thank you," she said.
"If I'm a distinguished teacher, it's only because I have distinguished students," Lecturer Dennis Lewandowski (mathematical sciences) said upon receiving the Distinguished Teaching Award. "They really deserve this award, but I'm forced to spend the $2,500 on myself," he laughed.
Associate Professor Fredrick Williams (chemistry) accepted his Distinguished Teaching Award on behalf of all faculty teaching huge, required classes to students who are majoring in other subjects. He also considered distributing his award among his students, "but if I actually shared the award, they would each get about 14 cents," he said. "I'll keep the award and share the honor."
In addition, Dee Vincent (IT) received the Information Technology Award, in part for implementing the Voyager system at the library, the BANNER finance system, and the BANNER Human Resources payroll system.
Student award winners were Jennifer Prochaska (civil and environmental engineering, Dean's Award for Service; Steven Sy (mathematical sciences/physics) and Joseph Drenth (electrical engineering), Provost's Award for Scholarship; and John DeVol (civil and environmental engineering).
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