- Jan. 28 - Attend the U of M Legislative Kickoff Breakfast.
- Walz proposes strong investment in University of Minnesota.
- Features: A better way to get there; Called to give.
- People: Sri Zaheer has been named chair of the board of directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; and more
Jan. 28 - Attend the U of M Legislative Kickoff Breakfast
Join President Joan Gabel, faculty, staff, alumni, and student leaders for the 2020 University of Minnesota Legislative Kickoff Breakfast (register). Attendees will learn about the University's capital request, find out how legislative proposals will affect the University, and learn how to influence lawmakers. A continental breakfast will be served. 7:30-9 a.m., McNamara Alumni Center.
Walz proposes strong investment in University of Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz on Monday proposed investing $224.2 million in infrastructure upgrades and capital improvements at the University of Minnesota. State lawmakers will consider capital investment measures during the upcoming legislative session, which convenes Feb. 11. President Joan Gabel released a statement in response. Learn more about the University’s 2020 capital request.
A better way to get there
Maps have the potential to transform our ways of seeing and understanding the world. At the University of Minnesota’s geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial research center, U-Spatial, students learn to make provocative, innovative maps that do more than just show us where to go. Alysha Alloway’s award-winning map explores how the homeless interact with transit in the Twin Cities, and how a community can create a transit system that meets the needs of all its citizens.
Called to give
Larwin and Kristina Kauffman’s paths first crossed at the University of Minnesota Foundation Student Call Center in 2005. Both were undergraduates from Wisconsin, and both were committed to raising money for the University. He was a supervisor, and she was a caller. Now married for 10 years and the parents of three sons, the Kauffmans recently made what they call their first “gift of substance” to the U of M.
People
Sri Zaheer has been named chair of the board of directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; Bobbi Daniels has been appointed associate vice president in the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs; Don Dengel was awarded an annual grant of $300,000 from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Sylia Wilson has been named a “Rising Star” by the Association for Psychological Science; U in the News features highlights of U faculty and staff cited in the media. People
Clery Act and emergency response plans
The Clery Act requires U.S. colleges and universities to disclose information about crime and safety on and around campus. The University takes seriously its many related requirements, including SAFE-U notifications and the publication of an annual security report. Another requirement is to report on the testing of emergency response procedures and protocols. This message serves as a notification that on Dec. 18, 2019, all five campuses conducted an interactive exercise to prepare for weather emergencies. Learn more about Clery Act compliance and emergency response plans.
Policy update: Animals on Campus
Animals serve an important role, both in teaching and therapy capacities, and as support for individuals with apparent and non-apparent disabilities. The Animals on Campus policy outlines where and under what circumstances animals are permitted on campus. If you bring an animal to campus, or work with animals on campus, make sure you are familiar with the policy to ensure the health and safety of the animals and the community.
Rollout of mass email authentication protocol
In the coming months, the Office of Information Technology will begin implementing a University-wide mass email authentication protocol called DMARC. DMARC is a protocol standard used across educational and government entities for the purpose of combating phishing scams and increasing email security. If you are using an approved email service to send mass email, you will not need to take any action as a result of this change.
Training health providers abroad to meet the needs of refugees
Since 2012, the University of Minnesota has partnered with the United Nations Migration Agency (IOM) to build the agency’s capacity to perform health screening and health assessments for U.S.-bound refugees. The IOM project ensures health care workers receive the training necessary to understand the unique needs of displaced patients.
Stem Cell Institute turns 20
For two decades, research and discoveries at the Medical School’s Stem Cell Institute have helped unmask the secrets behind stem cells and their potential for treating diseases. Along the way, dozens of researchers at the University of Minnesota have helped guide new medical discoveries that have impacted studies around the globe in the uncharted domain of stem cells.
Need pilot data fast? Reserve research space at the 2020 Minnesota State Fair
Faculty, students, and staff are invited to take advantage of this unique opportunity to quickly and efficiently recruit fairgoers for on-site research at the Driven to Discover Research Facility. The building annually attracts 60,000 visitors, with over 25,000 fairgoers enrolling in studies in 2019. An online application is due Jan. 21.
Feb. 11 - Building a Publishing Pipeline: Concrete Strategies for Increasing Your Writing Productivity
Professor Erin Furtak (University of Colorado, Boulder) will present a workshop for faculty on establishing strategies for increasing your writing productivity. The workshop, which will be livestreamed, is presented by the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity and hosted by the U of M Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy. Register and learn more.
Due Feb. 21 - Nominations for U of M Community-Engaged Scholar Awards
The Office for Public Engagement and Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs seek nominations for the 2020 University of Minnesota Community-Engaged Scholar Awards. These annual, systemwide awards recognize faculty or academic professional and administrative employees (P&A) for exemplary community-engaged scholarship in their respective field(s) of inquiry.
Feb. 28 - Sustainability Education Summit
The third annual Sustainability Education Summit is an online and in-person event that shares tools and stories on teaching sustainability. Participants will go home with an understanding of common struggles, tools, and successes in teaching sustainability topics. Events will be held simultaneously on all University of Minnesota campuses as well as streamed online.
Research Brief: 3D movies reveal how cuttlefish determine distance when striking at prey
While cuttlefish wearing glasses is an unexpected sight, a University of Minnesota-led research team built an underwater theater and equipped the cephalopods with specialized 3D glasses to investigate how cuttlefish determine the best distance to strike moving prey. Their research revealed cuttlefish use stereopsis to perceive depth when hunting a moving target. Additional recent Research Briefs include “In U.S., premature death rates highest in rural counties with majority black or indigenous populations,” and "Diners want better access to restaurant inspection information."
Jan. 25 - Ag Arama - 45 years of competition and fun
Contests in agronomy, animal science, horticulture, agricultural business, and natural resources will highlight Ag Arama weekend. The event serves as an opportunity for students to interact with alumni and faculty and showcase their knowledge and skills.
The continuation of a calling
Professor Tadd Johnson has been named the University of Minnesota’s first director of American Indian Tribal Nations Relations. Through this new position, he will continue the work he has done for many years: listening to the tribes in order to shape academic programs that better serve tribal nations. Johnson helped to shape UMD’s Master of Tribal Administration and Governance program by consulting with tribal members.
Stewarding former donors experiencing dementia
Jolene Hyppa-Martin, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, along with three students, is working to create guidelines to help development officers and fundraisers recognize dementia and communicate more effectively with persons who have dementia. The guidelines will also serve to prevent unethical or illegal transactions, while promoting the social inclusion of former donors who are experiencing dementia.
Can humans help bats recover?
Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) scientist Ron Moen has been studying bats since 2009, long before they began to dramatically decline due to white-nose syndrome. Moen and his team are looking at human-made hibernation locations (for bats that stay the winter), migration routes (for those that go south), and DNA for clues about which bats are surviving white-nose syndrome and how human activity may actually help bats survive.
Jan. 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
The Morris campus and community will take part in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 20. Unlike previous years (which focused on serving area nonprofits), this year's day of service will focus on providing a full day of programming for area students. Students will engage in music, art, and mini theatre activities.
Johnson named director of intercollegiate athletics
U of M Morris has announced Matthew Johnson '03 as the new director of intercollegiate athletics. Johnson has been serving as interim director since August 2018 after holding coaching, assistant AD, and associate AD roles on campus. Johnson has been active in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, NCAA national conventions, and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
My UMR with Samantha Herrick
As an admissions representative who works primarily with students from Wisconsin and Illinois, Samantha Herrick’s advice to students is to get involved in their campus and community.
BRRN: Responding to bias at the U of M
The Bias Response and Referral Network (BRRN) responds to reports of bias incidents on the Twin Cities campus. The BRRN’s goal is to contribute to a campus climate that is welcoming, inclusive, and respectful for all. If you witness or experience a bias incident, report it to the BRRN.
Join the Epigenetics Consortium
Epigenetics is a novel, rapidly growing field of biology and medicine that is transforming our understanding of life. The U of M Epigenetics Consortium, created in 2015, holds monthly seminars and is leading the way in epigenetics research. The interprofessional group spans the College of Pharmacy, College of Biological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Science and Engineering, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the Medical School.
Jan. 19 - MLK Tribute Concert
This annual concert is a multi-disciplinary celebration intermixing the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with musical performances. President Joan Gabel will be the program speaker. No charge and open to the public. 3-4:30 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall.
Wafaa Bilal: Library as a Social Sculpture
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to collaborate with the internationally renowned, Iraqi-born artist Wafaa Bilal, and help reimagine the once-besieged library of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad. Bilal will be a WAM artist-in-residence this fall. His goal is to gather an interdisciplinary, collaborative team from the U of M to reimagine the library, which was destroyed during the 2003 U.S. invasion. Bilal will present this project to the public Jan. 22, 3-5 p.m., Weisman.
Feb. 6 - Headliners: What’s on Baby’s Mind? The Developmental Origins of Adult Mental Health and Disease
Hosted by LearningLife in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, join Michael Georgieff, Martin Lenz Harrison Land Grant Chair in Pediatrics, who will present evidence that supports how one of the greatest opportunities to influence an individual’s trajectory of mental health across the lifespan begins in early childhood. 7–8:30 p.m., Continuing Education and Conference Center, Saint Paul. Seating is limited; find tickets.
UMTC Featured Events
Jan. 16 - ‘A Woman’s Place’ exhibit reception
Jan. 18 - Physics Force Public Show
Jan. 22 - From Alexa to CRISPR: Making Sense of Controversial Science in an Age of Polarized Politics
Jan. 23 - Webinar: The Art of Negotiation: Achieving Your Worth and More
Jan. 24 - Programming & Pizza January - Research Consultations Served with a Slice
Jan. 25 - Guest Recital: Issam Rafea, Syrian Oud Master