Weekly Bulletin August 25, 2005

Welcome to UMM Weekly Bulletin, a compendium of news, accomplishments, announcements and other information of general and specific interest to UMM students, staff and faculty. Weekly Bulletin is published by the Office of University Relations, and e-mailed campus wide each Wednesday afternoon throughout the academic year. Submissions are kindly accepted by noon on Wednesday during week of publication. Send items electronically to Judy Riley, at rileyjk@morris.umn.edu.

Read Weekly Bulletin on line at: http://www.morris.umn.edu/alumni/universityRelations/bulletin/current.php/.

Chancellor Sam Schuman announced his retirement at the August 19 opening faculty and staff convocation effective June 2006. Schuman has been in senior leadership positions at the college for 11 years.
"I am leaving our college at a time when it is thriving, successful, and looking toward an even brighter future. The faculty are teachers and scholars without peer our staff is skilled and committed our alumni are loyal our benefactors are caring and dedicated and UMM students are a magnificent treasure. I will watch with keen attention and modest pride the future strengthening of our college."
As vice chancellor for academic affairs, Schuman led the semester conversion process and managed UMM's successful re-accreditation. Under his leadership as chancellor, UMM has benefited from more than $60 million in new construction on campus and raised nearly $10 million, close to double its goal, during Campaign Minnesota. Schuman was instrumental in accomplishing the successful transition to NCAA Division III status in intercollegiate athletics and led the effort to have the Morris campus declared a national historic district.

The campus community welcomes Christine Mahoney as director of communications in the Office of University Relations/External Relations. Mahoney, a native of Chokio, was previously director of advertising at Grand Casino Hinckley. She holds a master of business communication from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor of science in mass communications from Moorhead State University. As director, Mahoney will advance the college's local, regional, and national visibility, and create an integrated and effective collegiate communications program.

For the fifth straight year, UMM is ranked in the list of five top public liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its 2006 rankings of America's Best Colleges. UMM continues as the only college in the Midwest to appear on the list. More at http://www.morris.umn.edu/alumni/universityRelations/news/

The Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College 2005 ranks UMM as one of three of the "best college bargains" in the nation. Says the publication: "If you've ever taken a wrong turn on the way to Duluth, you may have stumbled upon one of the very best public liberal arts colleges in the countryŠMorris combines superb students, small classes, dedicated faculty, and an isolated prairie location." More at http://www.morris.umn.edu/alumni/universityRelations/news/

UMM is one of 158 schools who have received The Princeton Review's Best in the Midwest designation. "We believe these schools uphold the standards of our Best Midwestern College distinction and provide students with a wide breadth of excellent schools to consider," says Princeton Review publisher Robert Franek.

UMM has been selected as a 2005 Green Power Leadership Award winner. The Green Power Leadership Awards are competitive awards that recognize outstanding commitments and achievements in the green power marketplace. The Tenth National Green Power Marketing Conference will be held in Austin, Texas from October 24-26. The Fifth Annual Green Awards presentation will occur on the first evening of the conference. Organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Center for Resource Solutions, both this conference and the National Awards are the ultimate green power marketing conference and competitive national recognition for the market-based deployment of renewable energy technologies.

According to the University of Minnesota's 2005 Student Experience Survey, the Morris campus again surpassed all other campuses in key areas of student satisfaction. UMM boasted the highest percentage of students completing the bachelor's degree in approximately four years and the highest percentage of students ranking their campus's overall academic program as excellent. UMM also rose to the top with its percentage of 'extremely satisfied' students and had the highest percentage of students ranking the cost of attendance as 'excellent.' The 2005 survey, conducted every other year by the Office of Institutional Research and Reporting on the Twin Cities campus, has not yet been published on their website.

The Honorable Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, governor of Louisiana, will give the Opening Convocation for UMM's 2005 First Year Seminar at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, in Edson Auditorium, Student Center. Gov. Blanco will also meet on Thursday, Sept. 1, with small groups of First Year Seminar students. Gov. Blanco is the mother-in-law of Michael Eble, assistant professor of studio art and curator of the Humanities Fine Arts Gallery at UMM.

Tickets for the UMM Performing Arts Series are now available. The 2005-2006 season opens on Saturday, Sept. 10, with guitarist/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III. The season will also offer performances by the following artists: ARENA dances, October 1 Red Priest, October 28 Break: The Urban Funk Spectacular, February 3 and Aquila Theatre, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," March 18, along with the world renown annual UMM Jazz Fest.
Ticket information for both series and single tickets is available by calling Student Activities at ext. 6080, or visit www.morris.umn.edu/stuorgs/CAC/Arts. All performances will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the UMM Student Center Edson Auditorium.

Angela Bos, political science, has received the 2004-2005 Alice Paul Award for best dissertation proposal on women and politics. Bos' "Stereotypes at the Gate? The Influence of Legal and Institutional Rules on Evaluations of Women Candidates in Electoral Nominating Processes" is this year's winning proposal. Feminist, suffragist and political strategist, Alice Paul organized on behalf of women several outstanding political achievements in the 20th century. The Alice Paul Institute was created in 1984 to celebrate the centennial of Alice Paul's 1885 birth. API is a not-for-profit corporation based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
Rebecca Webb, Computing Services, served as an announcer for the 50th Annual Waterama Grand Parade this summer, which featured more than 100 units from around the state.

Morris Aerie Eagles Newsletter recently won the Grand Prize Contest for Aerie Publications from the Grand Aerie of Fraternal Order of Eagles. The publication is produced and edited by Mike Cihak, Media Services.

Gail Hockert, Student Counseling, and Roger Wareham, Grants Development, have been elected to represent the Council of Academic and Professional Administrators on the University senate. The University senate was recently reorganized to officially include 25 Professional & Administrative (P&A) employees.

Sandy Olson-Loy, vice chancellor for student affairs, will chair the search committee for the UM Director of System-wide Programs, GLBT Programs Office to be filled this semester.

A book proposal by Julia Dabbs, art history, titled Life Stories of Women Artists, 1550-1800: An Anthology, has been accepted by Ashgate Publishing for publication. Ashgate is one of the leading international publishers of academic research across the arts, humanities and social sciences.

UMM student Brittany Kill was crowned Miss Midwest during competition this summer. Kill will represent the community of Morris at events throughout the next year.

Student Counseling will schedule appointments throughout the day in hourly appointments beginning at 8 a.m., with final appointment scheduled at 3 p.m. Students who experience stress, discomfort, or sadness due to non-crisis situations (e.g. break-up with significant other, academic performance frustrations, roommate conflict) will be asked to schedule an appointment. Students can still be seen in a "walk-in" format "walk-in" sessions with counselors will be reserved for crisis situations (for example: suicidal ideation, death in the family, sexual assault). Students in crisis are encouraged to "walk-in" anytime during office hours (Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.). Contact Lori Koshork with questions at ext. 6060.

Mark your calendars for the City of Morris/Morris Area Chamber Welcome Picnic East Side Park, Thursday, Sept. 1, 5:30-7 p.m. Students, staff and faculty are welcome to share a light supper, sign up for prizes and have FUN!

Selections from the Permanent Art Collection at the University of Minnesota, Morris are on display through September 9 in the Humanities Fine Arts Gallery. The display opens the Gallery's 2005-2006 exhibition season.

Planning a Labor Day weekend trip to the Minnesota State Fair? Stop by the UMM booth, part of the all-University of Minnesota exhibit. The exhibit will include information about the WCROC wind turbine, along with displays and other information from all campuses of the U. Exhibit is located in the U of M exhibit building on Dan Patch Avenue. UMM students, alumni, staff and faculty will staff the exhibit Saturday-Monday, Sept. 3-5. The U exhibit will be on display during the entire run of the State Fair, Aug. 25-Sept. 5. UM-Morris Day at the Fair is Monday, Sept. 5. The UMM Jazz Combo, Funky Gumbo, will entertain on the U stage in front of the exhibit building, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. September 5. Sharing the stage will be Mike Reese from the West Central Research and Outreach Center. Reese will talk about the WCROC wind turbine and renewable energy efforts at Morris.

"Restore the Roar" during the Second Annual Cougar Fest on Saturday, Sept. 17. Free admission to pre-football game activities and concessions, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Cougar football kickoff at 1 p.m. Enjoy a great Upper Midwest Athletic Conference match up between the UMM Cougars and Westminster College. Fire up the Cougar football team 10 minutes before game time by joining the "Cougar Canal," located just outside the gate. Competition continues at halftime during the "Who's got the Power of the U" tug o' war. UMM faculty/staff and Morris community residents are invited to compete against students.

2006 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipends Program
UMM Deadline: Tuesday, September 6, 2005
(Note UMM competition deadline is earlier than NEH deadline of Sept. 30 - there will be time for revision of selected proposals if need be)
http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/stipends.html
The National Endowment for the Humanities annual Summer Stipend Program is now accepting applications. All applicants must be nominated by an institution of higher education. UMM can nominate up to two faculty members, at least one of which should be a junior faculty member. NEH Summer Stipends provide $5,000 for two consecutive, uninterrupted months of full-time independent study and research that will make a significant contribution in the humanities. Additionally, the Graduate School will provide a supplement of $6,000 to each nominee successful in obtaining the NEH Summer Stipend for 2005, bringing the combined amount of stipends to $11,000. UMM Associate Professor of English Janet Ericksen received a 2003 NEH summer stipend and the University enhancement.

U of M Grant-in-Aid of Research, Artistry and Scholarship (GIA)
UMM Deadline: Monday, September 12, 2005
(Note UMM deadline to Dean's Office is earlier than Grad School deadline)
http://www.grad.umn.edu/faculty-staff/funding/dean/gia/index.html
The Grant-in-Aid program, administered through Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, has been established to promote excellence in the scholarly, scientific, and artistic activities of U of M faculty. In many cases, grants are not meant to provide sole support for research activities, but instead to act as "seed" money for developing projects to the point of attracting more complete, external funding. Highest priority is given to funding that assists new members of the faculty, particularly junior faculty, in establishing research, scholarly, or artistic programs. The grant period for proposals awarded in the fall begins January 1, 2006 and ends June 30, 2007. There is no rigid maximum amount of a grant: In FY 2005, 114 grants were awarded ranging from $2,374 to $34,438 the average award was $22,570.

U of M Faculty Summer Research Fellowships Program
UMM Deadline: Monday, October 25, 2005
(Note UMM deadline to Dean's Office is earlier than Grad School deadline)
http://www.grad.umn.edu/faculty-staff/funding/dean/fsr/
The purpose of the Faculty Summer Research Fellowships program is to encourage research and artistic creation by enabling members of the faculty to devote full time to intensive work on their projects during the summer. Applications are invited from University faculty engaged in scholarly or creative work in the arts, humanities, social sciences or those aspects of other sciences which have humanistic or social science content, or employ humanistic or social science methods. While fellowships cannot be awarded for the publication of work already completed or for the preparation of textbooks, the awards otherwise support the full range of scholarship, inquiry and creative work at the University. The proposed project generally should promise completion within the period of the fellowship or shortly thereafter. The stipend will be $5,000 payable in two installments during the award period requested. Additionally, the McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowment, administered by the Office of the Executive Vice President & Provost, will provide a matching fellowship to awardees whose proposed scholarly or creative work is in the arts and humanities as defined by both subject matter and methodology. To access current and archived news releases about UMM, visit the News Service
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