- Regents special meeting update.
- Features: Unraveling the paradox; An engaged summer for students.
- People: Katy Backes Kozhimannil will lead a new aligned rural health initiative for OACA and CTSI; and more.
Regents special meeting update
In a special meeting on Aug. 24, the Board of Regents approved President Gabel’s proposal to delay on-campus move-in for at least two weeks on the Twin Cities, Duluth, and Rochester campuses. In addition, the first two weeks for undergraduates will be online only. For the Crookston and Morris campuses, move-in to University housing and formats for classes will proceed as scheduled. See the Fall 2020 plan at Safe Campus for more information.
Unraveling the paradox
Shortly after U of M professor Samuel Myers moved to Minnesota in 1992, he discovered a side of the state that was incongruent with the namesake of his Humphrey School of Public Affairs—Hubert H. Humphrey, the floor leader for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Myers has coined the term Minnesota Paradox: In terms of economic prosperity, Minnesota is one of the best places in the world for whites to live but, relatively speaking, one of the worst places for Blacks. Here, Myers talks about tangible ways to reduce racial inequities in Minnesota.
An engaged summer for students
Even though students were away from campus this summer, a new initiative kept them connected with their campus and greater communities. Nearly 300 University of Minnesota students logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours through the Office for Public Engagement’s pilot Summer of EngageMNt remote service initiative. The hundreds of service opportunities ranged from helping with social media, web development, and fund-raising efforts for local nonprofits to web-based research for University-community research and outreach projects.
People
Katy Backes Kozhimannil will lead a new aligned rural health initiative for the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute; the Humanities Without Walls consortium has received a $315,000 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation renewal grant; U in the News features highlights of U faculty and staff cited in the media. People
Generosity in a time of crisis
With the U of M community facing hardship, U of M faculty and staff have stepped up to help. Faculty and staff have responded generously to three COVID-19 funds that support research, frontline health care workers, and students—and to the University of Minnesota scholarship in honor of George Floyd. Systemwide, 38 percent of all gifts to these four funds have come from 735 current and former University employees.
COVID-19 campus dashboards
The University has created online COVID-19 dashboards for all five campuses. In the coming weeks there will be enhancements that will help illustrate trend lines, as well as other information that will provide some perspective on our community.
IAS 5x5 funding opportunity
The Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) is now accepting applications for its newest round of 5x5 funding. The 5x5 initiative brings together small groups of about five people from differing disciplinary backgrounds and positions within the University and off-campus communities for a short-term exploration (about five gatherings over several months). IAS is particularly seeking groups interested in incorporating current events into the curriculum, including the killing of George Floyd and the COVID-19 pandemic and response. Review of applications will begin soon.
Can a new treatment thwart COVID-19?
With few options for successfully managing COVID-19, Operation Warp Speed and the NIH chose School of Public Health (SPH) professor Jim Neaton to lead a collaborative global clinical trial to investigate a high-priority class of treatments—monoclonal antibodies, lab-created from the antibodies of patients who have recovered from COVID-19. SPH’s Coordinating Centers for Biometric Research will manage the data from the study, which may provide a way for patients to avoid the worst of the disease.
New research finds association between COVID-19 hospital use and mortality
Researchers at the University of Minnesota and University of Washington found a statistical relationship between the number of hospital beds (ICU and non-ICU) occupied by COVID-19 patients in a state and reported mortality. This research is believed to be the first to use actual, state-level data to examine this association. The estimates help provide a better understanding of the projections of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.
Native American leadership work starts with listening
When three colleagues set out to find ways to deepen University of Minnesota Extension’s connections with the state’s tribal communities, they knew the first step: listening. Dawn Newman, Jason Schlender, and Fawn Sampson came together in late 2019 to help form Extension’s Minnesota Indigenous Leadership Network. Working in Extension’s Center for Community Vitality, one of their tasks is to engage tribal leaders and other stakeholders to enhance tribal economic development capacity.
M Simulation trains health sciences students on PPE
Over a hundred fourth-year medical students needed to return to the clinical environment by the end of June, so they turned to M Simulation for training on personal protective equipment (PPE). The M Simulation team has gone above and beyond to support learners during the pandemic. They are expected to train well over 1,500 medical and nursing students by the end of the summer.
Google Meet premium features end Oct. 1
Beginning Oct. 1, University accounts will no longer be able to use the meeting recording and live-streaming functions of Google Meet. Google temporarily made these features available to the University to help with communications and remote work. Zoom’s recording functionality and webinars provide a similar experience. No action is required as a result of this change, and Google Meet and Chat will remain available to members of the Health Care Component until further notice.
Immerse yourself in nature and relaxation at the U of M Landscape Arboretum
Whether you miss vacationing, need a break from your hectic daily life, or are looking for a cool place for an Instagram photo shoot, the U of M Landscape Arboretum is the perfect place. The arboretum is a great way to destress and unwind by spending time among nature, with 16 miles of amazing nature trails to hike, 105 works of art (including outdoor sculptures and indoor pieces), 28 gardens (Japanese, Chinese, herbs, perennial, rose, prairie), the Apple House, and more.
Research Brief: Researchers 3D print lifelike heart valve models
Researchers from the University of Minnesota, with support from Medtronic, have developed a groundbreaking process for multi-material 3D printing of lifelike models of the heart’s aortic valve and the surrounding structures that mimic the exact look and feel of a real patient. Additional recent Research Briefs include “How genetics could impact COVID-19 treatments" and "Diversifying crop rotations improves environmental outcomes while keeping farms profitable."
Spotlight Series 2020-21: Polarization and Identities
The Institute for Advanced Study, Northrop, and the University Honors Program present the 2020-21 Spotlight Series: Polarization and Identities, a series of six events inspired by both the 2020 presidential election and the polarization that has appeared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Events begin on Sept. 24 with Depolarizing America, featuring William R. Fry Jr. and Rob Weidenfeld.
Sept. 29 - 2020 IEM annual conference
Registration for the 2020 Institute for Engineering in Medicine annual conference is now open. No charge, but registration is required. 9 a.m.-noon, online via Zoom.
U of M featured virtual events
Now on Mondays - Online Stress Busters sessions
Sept. 10 - Preserving Fall Vegetables
Sept. 14 - Weaponizing the Department of Justice?
Sept. 16 - Webinar: Designing a Successful Return-to-Work Plan
Crookston to end use of ACT, SAT test scores for admissions
In August, the University of Minnesota Crookston’s Office of Admissions announced it will not consider, nor review, a student’s ACT or SAT test scores, even if submitted, when making admission decisions for students who apply to enroll for spring and fall 2021. High school GPA, class rank, leadership, service involvement, co-curricular involvement, experiences overcoming obstacles to achieve goals, employment, and multicultural experiences and competencies are among many factors evaluated for admission.
New job, new product
UMD chemical engineering alumna Cally Hunt was recently hired as a process engineer at UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI). Hunt is working with a client to create environmentally friendly fire logs and fire starters using underutilized forest resources. She says her internship experience at Sappi’s Cloquet pulp and paper mill has proven “invaluable when learning quickly on my feet at NRRI’s Coleraine pilot plant.”
Examining the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Offspring of Hypertensive Pregnancies
Jean Regal, Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Emilyn Alejandro, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, have teamed up for a first-of-its-kind research project to examine the development of Type 2 diabetes in offspring of hypertensive pregnancies. The research is supported by a two-year R21 grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Community softball complex groundbreaking
The University of Minnesota Morris, Morris Area Schools, and the City of Morris are creating a softball facility that reflects the level of play of area high school and college athletes. The complex will be a community asset and a partnership for the future. Work began in August, with a groundbreaking celebration held on Aug. 24.
Musical mind
When Huy Tran ’22 joined choir in 10th grade, music became a major part of his life. Thanks to the Clyde E. Johnson scholarship, Tran is able to take lessons at Morris to become a better music educator. Read more in the latest issue of Legacy.
UMR explores health care solutions at BICB symposium
The University of Minnesota Rochester partners with UMTC faculty and others, knowing that the ever-growing complexity of modern health care demands imaginative, interdisciplinary, data-informed solutions. To showcase such exploration, UMR's Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BICB) program held its 7th annual BICB Industry Symposium on Aug. 20. BICB's director of graduate studies, Yuk Sham, shared, "We had an exciting virtual symposium featuring how scientists across various disciplines are tackling COVID-19." View the speaker biographies.
New racial justice resources site
The College of Liberal Arts’ Race, Indigeneity, Gender & Sexuality Studies Initiative has developed a collection of racial justice resources for students, staff, faculty, and community partners who are looking for support for their work, models from similar organizing efforts, and potential collaborators and coalition partners.
Libraries open Sept. 1
Wilson, Walter, the Health Sciences, and Magrath libraries reopened on Sept. 1. For now, library spaces will be open only to current U of M students, faculty, and staff with valid U cards, providing access to collections, computers, and spaces to study and work online.
New home for Health Sciences, Wangensteen Historical Libraries
The Health Sciences Library and Wangensteen Historical Library have moved into the Health Sciences Education Center. The new spaces offer contemporary and historical collections, along with a Virtual Reality Studio, Data + Visualization Lab, and Makerspace to support new ways of teaching and learning and prepare the next generation of health providers. Watch the library websites for phased reopening plans for fall.
Planned closure of the Veterinary Medical Library
Deans Laura Molgaard (College of Veterinary Medicine) and Lisa German (Libraries) recently announced plans to close the Veterinary Medical Library space. The Libraries will continue to provide all services to College of Veterinary Medicine faculty, students, and staff as well as access to collections. A planning group has been convened to ensure that the high level of collaboration between the Libraries and the College of Veterinary Medicine continues into the future.
Sept. 8 - Annual Transportation Fair
Join Parking & Transportation Services for a town-hall-style virtual Transportation Fair beginning at 9 a.m. Transportation experts, like regional transit providers, bike/scooter companies, and transportation advocates, will be on hand to discuss options for getting you to and around the University. Join at the top of each hour to participate in discussions. In the afternoon, the Hub Bike Co-op will host a Facebook Live event around bicycling. See the schedule online.
Animals are coming to the Washington Avenue Ramp
The Washington Avenue Ramp on the Twin Cities campus is getting a wayfinding makeover this month. Parking & Transportation Services is implementing the new system to make it easier for campus visitors to find their way back to their vehicles.
Richfield fire chief is a living testament to life-saving cardiac care
Supported by the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs, the Center for Resuscitation Medicine makes ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) accessible throughout the Twin Cities to improve outcomes for sudden cardiac arrest. Richfield fire chief Wayne Kewitsch is a living testament to CPR, first responders, and life-saving cardiac care.