- Board of Regents meets Sept. 9-10.
- Features: A better environment, not slower aging, increases life expectancy; Pennycress makes cover cropping viable; Meet Michael Oakes, interim VP for research.
- Awards and Recognition: The U of M has been named a partner in an NSF-funded $15M Great Lakes innovation hub; and more.
Board of Regents meets Sept. 9-10
At its September meeting, the Board of Regents will discuss how the University is investing in safety on its Twin Cities campus, as well as with partners off campus in the neighborhoods where students, faculty, and staff live and work. The Board is also expected to review the president’s recommended six-year capital plan and 2022 state capital request, receive the annual update on academic program changes, discuss the latest updates on the systemwide PEAK Initiative, receive an update on ongoing operational impacts related to COVID-19, and more. See the news release for more details.
A better environment, not slower aging, increases life expectancy
Since the mid-1800s, the maximum human life expectancy has increased by about three months per year. Many people would like to see lifespans continue to increase, and scientists have been asking how easily it can be achieved. A recent report by College of Biological Sciences professor Craig Packer, along with colleagues from many other institutions, presents evidence that nature has placed constraints on how much the underlying rate of aging can be slowed. This implies that the recent increase in life expectancy had nothing to do with slower aging.
Pennycress makes cover cropping viable
Corn and soybeans may be Minnesota’s mainstay crops, but they present an issue. Their growing seasons leave farm fields bare for long stretches of the year, leaving the soil to erode from the forces of wind, snow, and water. On paper, the solution is clear: plant “cover crops.” In practice, however, the method is extremely unpopular. That’s starting to change, thanks to years of research led by Professors Don Wyse and David Marks.
Meet Michael Oakes, interim VP for research
Michael Oakes has held a wide variety of roles since he arrived at the University of Minnesota two decades ago. This summer, he added another to that list, becoming leader of the University’s $1 billion-plus systemwide research enterprise. Oakes was named interim vice president for research in June, following Chris Cramer’s departure earlier this year.
Awards and Recognition
The University of Minnesota has been named a partner in the new NSF-funded $15M Great Lakes innovation hub; more than 230 Medical School faculty have been honored as “Top Doctors” by Minnesota Monthly; U in the News features highlights of U faculty and staff cited in the media.
University extends COVID emergency paid leave
The University will continue its policy of providing emergency paid leave for eligible employees and student workers affected by the pandemic. The extension will continue until further notice. For information on situations that qualify, the number of paid hours available, and how to request time off, visit the Office of Human Resource’s Emergency Leaves page.
Engaging with minors within a sponsored program/department
Youth programs, activities, and events engaging with minors (under the age of 18) must comply with the University of Minnesota's Safety of Minors policy and must be registered (annually) on the Youth Central Registration System. The University continues to follow Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, including COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Youth and Student Programs. Email Youth Safety and Compliance Manager Jazmin Danielson for more information.
Wellbeing Program now underway
The U of M’s Wellbeing Program began on Sept. 1 this year, not October as in previous years. Learn about new activities, a new point structure, and more, or visit the Virgin Pulse Wellbeing Portal.
Group health coaching
Online group health coaching offers a convenient way to learn about a variety of health topics from subject matter experts in a lunch-and-learn format. Sessions are open to faculty and staff systemwide who are enrolled in Medica’s UPlan health insurance. This month learn about the history of vaccinations (Sept. 15) and strategies for harnessing your inner voice (Sept. 23). You earn 25 points for each session you attend through the Wellbeing Program.
Online leadership development program for individual contributors
Discover your leadership potential and build your skills through the online Leading on All Levels leadership program. Whether you informally manage projects or are looking to advance your career at the University, this course will help individual contributors systemwide to learn about their strengths and how to use them to progress in their leadership journey. Leading on All Levels consists of six live virtual-learning sessions and begins on Oct. 6. Learn more and apply.
Medical School launches trial to study COVID-19 vaccine efficacy among 18- to 29-year-olds
The University of Minnesota Medical School has joined a national study working to understand how well COVID-19 vaccines prevent infection and the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among young adults between the ages of 18 and 29. It is the only trial site in the four-state border region—among 40 sites in the nation.
New Center for Learning Health System Sciences
United States per capita healthcare spending is more than two times the average of other developed nations, yet health outcomes are generally no better. This is where learning health systems, a model where research, care delivery, and continuous improvement are seamlessly integrated to create new knowledge and improve care, can help. The new Center for Learning Health System Sciences, a partnership between the Medical School and the School of Public Health, aims to address critical issues in healthcare by rapidly implementing evidence-based care improvements and innovations into patient care.
Apply for hands-on food production training at the arboretum
The Farm at the Arb Apprenticeship program provides hands-on technical training in local food production. The unique University-sponsored program offers trainees a combination of classroom, lab, and field experience at the U of M Landscape Arboretum and partnering farm sites. This includes a 14-week paid work experience in vegetable production. Applications are welcome for the 2022 program through Oct. 22.
Sept. 10 - Webinar: Canvas Gradebook Setup
Faculty and instructors can join Academic Technology Support Services consultants for a one-hour online demonstration on how to set up your course gradebook using Canvas assignments, discussions, and quizzes; how to use Speedgrader and rubrics; how to hide and release grades; and a few other tips for grading success. 10-11 a.m.
Fall 2021 IAS Thursdays schedule
Join the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) on Thursday afternoons this fall for a wide-ranging discussion series. The IAS Thursdays series also includes the acclaimed Spotlight Series, a collaborative partnership between the IAS, the University Honors Program, and Northrop. The 2021–22 series, hosted in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, focuses on reconsidering patriotism, public service, and civic engagement. Fall guests include Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, independent journalist Georgia Fort, NASA scientist Kate Marvel, Pulitzer Prize finalist and composer Lei Liang, and many others.
U of M Retirees Association virtual forums
The University of Minnesota Retirees Association will host September virtual forums with Professor Tadd Johnson, the University’s first director of American Indian Tribal Nations Relations (Sept. 14, 9 a.m.), and with Jakub Tolar, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and vice president for clinical affairs (Sept. 28, noon). Open to all current and former University community members. Register and learn more.
U of M featured virtual events
Twenty things to do at the arboretum this September
Sept. 10, 16, 22, 28 - How to Make the Most of Your Retirement Savings
Sept. 15 - Caught in a Crossfire: 150 Years of Chinese Students at the Nexus of Sino-U.S. Relations
Sept. 15 - The Power of Photography
Sept. 21 - Unlocking Your Path to Purposeful Aging
Sept. 24 - Thinking Spatially Symposium: Mapping Civic and Community Engagement
International students attend Chautauqua & French-Canadian/Metis Festival
Crookston international students representing Korea, China, Nepal, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Morocco, Canada, Pakistan, and India attended the Chautauqua and French-Canadian/Metis Festival, which was held Aug. 27-29. The festival features traditional music and dance, food specialties, artists and artisans, cultural education, and historical presentations.
U of M access inspires future careers in tribal health
For more than 40 years, the Center of American Indian and Minority Health on the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus, has been creating nontraditional pathways to health science careers for youth across Indian Country. The program not only inspires interest in healthcare careers, but also addresses the educational disparities faced by Indigenous communities and low numbers of health professionals in the field.
Through the Looking Glass to Glensheen Mansion
In September, UMD theatre will present an outdoor performance of Alice In Wonderland on the grounds of Glensheen Mansion. Follow Alice through the looking glass to the wonderland of Glensheen for an immersive adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale that ends in a celebration on the shore, under the stars.
Sept. 14 - Visual Culture Lecture Series featuring Wing Young Huie
Minnesota photographer and Duluth native Wing Young Huie will present as part of the Visual Culture Lecture Series. Huie’s work has captured the complex cultural realities of American society for over 35 years through epic street installations and in museums. 6 p.m., 120 Solon Campus Center.
Driscoll and Falkum earn Distinguished Alumni Awards
John Driscoll ’71 and Peter Falkum ’80 are recipients of this year's University of Minnesota Morris Distinguished Alumni Award. Both exhibited distinguished service to the school and its students. Driscoll, Falkum, and 2020 honoree James Odden ’71 will be recognized for their achievements during Homecoming 2021, Oct. 1-3.
Decreasing misconceptions related to enzyme function
UMR’s interdisciplinary Center for Learning Innovation drives educational innovation with a faculty research focus on student learning and development. Read a recent publication in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education by UMR faculty Cassidy Terrell, "Aiming for the Bullseye: Targeted activities decrease misconceptions related to enzyme function for undergraduate biochemistry students."
NXT GEN MED Summer Quest
This August UMR welcomed high school seniors to Rochester for a weeklong intensive NXT GEN MED Summer Quest, a new summer career exploration program designed to bring together passionate high school students who aspire to become future health care leaders. Summer Quest students focused on working collaboratively to explore solutions to real-world health problems including food insecurity and health disparities, health journeys for diagnosis, environmental health, and exercise medicine.
Resources for classroom management this fall
The Provost’s office recently provided more guidance, particularly for faculty members, on classroom resources and support as the fall semester gets underway. A layered approach to safety includes an updated Face Covering Protocol, the Get the Vax 2.0 protocol, daily cleaning of classrooms and the provision of disinfectant wipes for students to clean their seating surfaces, updates to HVAC systems so that all classrooms are compliant with CDC and OSHA guidelines, and more.
Bias Response and Referral Network annual report
The Bias Response and Referral Network Year-Four Report to the Twin Cities campus community is now available. This report covers July 2019 to June 2020. The Year-Five Report (July 2020-June 2021) will be released early this fall. If you witness or experience a bias incident, report it to the U of M Bias Response and Referral Network.
Orfield’s Minnesota Law roots stretch back over a century
Professor Myron Orfield’s great uncle Matthias Orfield was deputy attorney general of Minnesota and later an assistant attorney general of the United States, serving under FDR and Harry Truman. Myron’s uncle Lester Orfield, who graduated from the U of M in 1927, was one of the nation’s most influential scholars in the field of criminal law and was knighted by the King of Norway in 1957. Myron Orfield has inherited the same abiding faith in reason and a clear mission: “The Orfields came here as immigrants looking for equal opportunity. Today, we need to continue working to protect equal opportunity for all.”
Embedding human-centered design and LHS research in the transplantation system
“The current process for matching an organ to a patient isn’t very patient-friendly,” says Cory Schaffhausen, assistant professor at the Medical School. He set out to change that in 2020 with his research and design project, Embedding Human-Centered Design and Learning Health System (LHS) Research in the Transplantation System.
The end of overdue fines
With a few exceptions, University Libraries has ended the use of overdue fines, a change that aims to reduce stress for library users.
Teaching with Writing 2021-22 series
Join Writing Across the Curriculum’s 2021-22 Teaching with Writing series for interactive workshops, panels, and a one-day winter workshop that will address two core themes: designing course-relevant writing activities and developing equitable practices of writing instruction. All events are free to Twin Cities faculty and staff, but pre-registration is required.
Sept. 12-18: One Big Week for students
The U of M is teaming up with Big 10 universities across the nation for One Big Week of giving. Faculty and staff are invited to join in the campaign and chip in to end student hunger by making a gift to Boynton Health’s Nutritious U Food Pantry. Gifts go directly towards purchasing healthy, nutritious food for the food pantry, which is provided free to any students who need it.
Sept. 17 - Pillsbury Hall grand reopening
All faculty and staff are invited to an open house–style event at the newly renovated Pillsbury Hall. Stop in for tours, readings, and presentations by English and creative writing faculty and students, and explore all this space has to offer to the University community. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 - Learning Abroad Fair
Faculty and staff: Are your students tired of the virtual world? Encourage them to explore the real one at the Learning Abroad Fair, where they can get information to begin their international adventure. Faculty and staff can learn about the same opportunities as well as other initiatives organized by the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., West Bank Outdoor Plaza.