Inside This Issue
- Features: Bringing dental care to Minnesotans; Vaccines to treat opioid abuse and prevent fatal overdoses.
- People: Minnesota Masonic Charities will provide an influx of $25 million for the Masonic Cancer Center; and more.
Top News
Bringing dental care to Minnesotans
Finding a dentist can be a challenge in many rural communities. In Minnesota, roughly 10 to 15 percent of residents live within so-called Health Professional Shortage Areas. For more than 15 years, the UCare Mobile Dental Clinic has been serving people who lack dental services in their region. Last year it visited 11 sites--more than half in rural Minnesota--providing basic cleanings, fillings, and extractions to more than 1,000 patients.
Vaccines to treat opioid abuse and prevent fatal overdoses
A team of scientists from the U of M Medical School and Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation at Hennepin Healthcare is developing vaccines against heroin and prescription opioids, such as oxycodone and fentanyl. Vaccines offer a potential new strategy to treat opioid abuse and prevent overdoses, using the immune system to produce antibodies that target, bind, and prevent opioids from ever reaching the brain.
People
Minnesota Masonic Charities will provide an influx of $25 million for the Masonic Cancer Center to use over the next two years; Roli Dwivedi will become the U of M Community-University Health Care Center’s chief clinical officer; U in the News features highlights of U faculty and staff cited in the media.
U-Wide News
Five tips for fending off fake news
Misinformation and misconceptions have always been a part of our lives. However, since 2016 misinformation and orchestrated “fake news” on the internet and social media have added dimensions and intensity that we have not seen in the past. Associate Professor Panayiota Kendeou of CEHD's Reading and Language Lab is conducting research to help educators and parents understand the problem and help provide students with tools to identify and refute fake news and misinformation.
Next Generation Network information sessions
Join the Next Generation Network (NGN) team for an upcoming information session on Apr. 20, 26, or 30. At these community meetings the team will share updates on the NGN project and discuss the upcoming replacement of the University’s entire wired network. RSVP to learn how users, units, or buildings may be affected.
May 3 - Formal Community of Practice online meeting experience kickoff
A new Formal Community of Practice has been created and charged with improving the online meeting experience at the University. All members of the University community are invited to attend to learn what the group is working on and how to get involved. 1-3 p.m., live online.
May 14-15 - Redesign for Whole Families summit
Hosted by the Future Services Institute at the University of Minnesota, this summit will focus on sharing knowledge, ideas, and insights relevant to redesigning health and human services with families at the center. It will feature national scholars bringing their relevant research expertise, followed by discussions among program managers, nonprofit and public leaders, and elected officials. Humphrey School.
Bell Museum summer camps
With the grand opening of the newly reimagined Bell Museum comes a world of possibilities for the budding scientist in your life. Bell Museum camps offer kids a fun and enriching environment that encourages them to explore their scientific passions as well as new subjects. Bell camps include hands-on activities, planetarium visits, outdoor games, creative activities, field trips around campus, and more. And since camps begin before the grand opening, 2018 campers will be among the first to see the new museum.
Crookston
Student profile: Kennedy Resendiz
Senior Kennedy Resendiz has taken advantage of the opportunity to learn abroad--in fact, this summer she will complete her fourth such trip. For the animal science major, studying around the world is a powerful experience.
College rankings
The University of Minnesota Crookston has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Colleges for Returning Adults in Minnesota” for 2018 by College Factual, an online educational resource. The "non-traditional" student label refers to any student that falls outside the norm of first-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Earth Week activities
As part of Earth Week activities, the movie Farmers for America will be shown on Apr. 20, 7 p.m., Kiehle Auditorium.
Duluth
Snowmobile silver
UMD’s Clean Snowmobile Club took second place at the Society of Automotive Engineers International Clean Snowmobile Challenge in Houghton, MI. The 14-member team won the “Most Practical Solution” award with the best overall score for their design paper, lowest cost, and best reductions on emissions and sound output. The team began work in September 2017 by modifying a factory-fresh Polaris snowmobile.
Glensheen’s economic impact
A recent economic study by Rockport Analytics reveals that Glensheen, the historic Congdon estate, has a total economic impact of $7.5 million and generates $5 million in wages. Each year, about 90 percent of Glensheen visitors come from out of town, and they typically spend $149 at restaurants, hotels, and other tourism-related venues in the region. Glensheen is part of the U of M’s 2018 Capital Request.
Spring opera
Students in the Department of Music’s Opera Studio will present Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) with the UMD Symphony Orchestra on Apr. 27, 7:30 p.m., and Apr. 29, 3 p.m., Weber Music Hall. Instructor Alice Pierce is the director of the Opera Studio. Visiting Professor Benjamin Nilles will lead the UMD Symphony Orchestra.
Morris
Apr. 25 - Annie Humphrey concert
Anishinaabe singer/songwriter Annie Humphrey will give a concert performing music from her new album, which she wrote in resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline and proposed Line 3 Replacement Project. 7 p.m., Recital Hall, Humanities Fine Arts.
Learn more about this and other Earth Month events >
2018 Community Engagement Award winners
The Office of Community Engagement announces 2018 winners of its Community Engagement Awards: Andrea Wathanaphone '18, Heidi Meyer ’06, and Rilee Moulton '14. Winners make a big difference on campus and in the Morris community. They will also be recognized with Minnesota Campus Compact Presidents’ Awards.
Rochester
UMR talent show
UMR's 7th annual talent show was held Apr. 10. The show included singing, beatboxing, dancing, and a collaborative dance among the Rochester Dance Team, UMR Dance Team, UMR Ballroom Dance Team, Bollywood dancers, faculty, and staff.
UMR students attend Support the U Day
UMR students Lis Pearson and Mikayla Schmidt attended the Apr. 10 Support the U Day at the Capitol and met with Senator Carla Nelson. Pearson, a junior from Cottage Grove, stated, "Going to Support the U Day and hearing from student advocates from other system campuses was so humbling. I enjoyed hearing what drove other students to speak to their elected officials and raise awareness of issues at their school. The elected officials were so enthusiastic to listen to our thoughts on the future of UMR. I loved being surrounded by such passionate people, and it gives me hope that the future of the U of M is in good hands."
Twin Cities
'It Ends Here’ campaign
The Minnesota Student Association has launched the “It Ends Here" campaign which promotes healthy relationships and the process of obtaining consent, encourages bystander intervention, advocates for believing survivors, informs students of their rights and resources, and includes communities that historically haven’t been included in the conversation. The University will expand the work of this campaign in the fall as part of the President's Initiative to Prevent Sexual Misconduct.
Provost's Child Care Advisory Committee forums
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to two campus forums to help inform the work of the Provost's Child Care Advisory Committee: Apr. 26, 3-4 p.m., 335 Borlaug Hall (St. Paul); and May 3, 11 a.m.-noon, Shepherd Room, Weisman Art Museum. The committee is identifying options for the provision of high-quality child care for the campus community.
Apr. 21 - Eddie B: Teachers Only Comedy Tour
Through a comedic set characterized by original material and accented by physical comedy, Eddie B says what teachers everywhere are thinking but couldn’t quite say out loud in this comedy tour. $20 rush tickets are available for U of M faculty, staff, and students beginning Apr. 21 at 10 a.m. online, in person at Northrop, or by phone at 612-624-2345. 8 p.m., Northrop.
Apr. 25 - Apple faculty/staff sale
The University of Minnesota Bookstores will host a special Apple savings event for U of M faculty and staff. Faculty and staff are eligible to receive up to $350 off regular Apple retail prices and enjoy in-store refreshments and a complimentary gift bag with each order.
Apr. 26 - Creating Effective and Accessible Assignments
This Center for Educational Innovation workshop aims to aid instructors in writing assignments that both support and motivate students. Facilitators will provide strategies for instructors to help students understand the explicit (and implicit) requirements of assignments, as well as tips on how to design assignments that are both effective and accessible. 4:15-5:30 p.m., 444 University Office Plaza.
Apr. 26 - Lessons from Sovereign Debt: State and Local Financing
Manuel Amador, U of M professor of economics, and Mark Wright, senior VP and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, will discuss the latest economic research on sovereign debt. 5:30 p.m. lecture, 7 p.m. reception., Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School.
Apr. 30 - Discussion with Astronaut Pamela Melroy
Colonel Pamela Melroy will share her background and experiences serving with the U.S. Air Force and NASA. Melroy participated in multiple NASA missions, including being the second woman to command the space shuttle. 5:30 p.m., 101 Tate Hall.
May 15 - Covestro Lecture: The transition to a low-carbon world
The transition is here, and it’s OK. This lecture will explore the various sources of energy available to humanity and their scalability to respond to a doubling of energy consumption by 2050. 7 p.m., B50 Tate Hall.
May 19 - Energy and U spring public show
Flames, explosions, music, and screaming gummy bears--they're all part of a fun and high-energy show that aims to interest young people in science. Bring your kids and grandkids. 2 p.m., Rarig Center.
May 22 - Prairie Poets & Press: Literary Lives of the Upper Midwest
Celebrate Minnesota poets Robert Bly, Margaret Hasse, Bill Holm, and publisher Milkweed Editions with this event and exhibit from the University Libraries' Upper Midwest Literary Archives. 5:30 p.m., Elmer L. Andersen Library.
No charge, but reservations are requested >
UMTC Featured Events
Apr. 19 - Next Generation of Parks Lecture Series: Bruce Chamberlain
Apr. 20 - Undergraduate Research Symposium
Apr. 20 - The Korean Program Presents: Korean Art Day
Apr. 20 - STAR POURS: The 49th Annual University of Minnesota Iron Pour
Apr. 24 - 2018 Chase Lecture in Children's Literature featuring Kevin Henkes
Apr. 25 - OED Certificate Workshop: Race, Racism, and Privilege
Apr. 25 - 10th Annual Hunger Benefit with Charles Baxter