December 1, 2000, Vol. 33, No. 13
Summer Session Salaries Up
State Official Looks Favorably on MTEP SmartZone Proposal
It Only Costs Four Bits to Give MTU a Dollar
Holiday Open House December 9
Building Partnerships, Here and Abroad
Holiday Luncheon Buffet December 13
Peterson's Wolf-Moose Study Makes the Cover of "National Wildlife"
You're Invited: Retirement Party for Nancy Johnson
New CAMMP Web Site on Line
Concerns About Gen Ed? See the Committee
Wellness Moved to Hamar House
Roblee Honored for 25 Years as Math Teacher
Save Your Econo Receipts for the Library
SDC Fitness Center Open
MSE Academy Gets 17 New Members
News You Can Use: Is Laughter the Best Heart Medicine?
Teaching at Tech: Technology+Course Redesign=Improved Learning+Cost Reductions
A Concert of Ideas at Tech Tea Time: Student Work from Perspectives on Inquiry
Dealing with Grief During the Holidays
December Computer Classes
Early Surveyors in the Upper Peninsula
Fastlane Lunch 'n' Learn December 8
New Staff
MTU Notables
In Print
On the Road
Calendar
Job Postings
Bill Curnow, director, University Relations
Marcia Goodrich, Tech Topics editor
Gail Sweeting, electronic marketing assistant
Information to be included in Tech Topics should be submitted to the Tech Topics editor in one of the following ways:
By electronic mail--send information to ttopics@mtu.edu
By interdepartmental mail--send double-spaced, typed copies to the attention of Tech Topics editor, University Relations.
Each week, the deadline for submitting information is Friday at 5:00 p.m. for the following Friday distribution.
News (Back to Contents)
State Official Looks Favorably on MTEP SmartZone Proposal
The president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) told an assembly of local business owners and city and University officials November 28 that they can be cautiously optimistic about receiving SmartZone designation early next year.
"This has always been one of the stronger proposals," Doug Rothwell said, citing Michigan Tech's history of corporate partnerships and the commitment of the cities of Houghton and Hancock.
The MEDC can designate up to ten SmartZones, with up to four designations anticipated by early February. The program is designed to promote high-tech business and technology transfer, with the associated goal of "re-branding" the area and the state. "Michigan suffers from an identity linked to the Rust Belt," Rothwell said. "A lot of people still think we're the old economy." Areas that become SmartZones will benefit from a national marketing campaign to lure high-tech businesses to the state. Locally, SmartZone funding would come from a portion of those businesses' state taxes, which would be "captured"--diverted to support operations of the local SmartZone. With the revenue, the SmartZone would help prospective businesses in a variety of areas, including developing business plans, finding financing, locating appropriate space, etc. However, SmartZones would not own businesses. Rothwell said that some state funding may also become available for capital improvements.
The local SmartZone proposal, or Michigan Tech Enterprise Park (MTEP), was submitted by Houghton and Hancock with the cooperation of Michigan Tech and the initial approval of the Board of Control. It identifies space at the UPPCO and D&N Bank buildings that could readily be used as incubator facilities for technology-related businesses. In addition, it lists numerous sites that could be developed, such as the old Portage Hospital, and includes plans to build a third facility on MTU property on Sharon Avenue that could house businesses needing lab space. The building could also be a home for University activities such as Engineering Enterprises.
Executive Director of Corporate Services Pete Radecki said that, even without SmartZone designation, high-tech industry is growing locally. "During the past ten years, the Keweenaw has become home to over thirty-five technology companies. Of these, nine have spun off from Michigan Tech and have remained in the area to continue research relationships with the University."
MTEP will help research faculty commercialize their innovations and help MTU students stay in the Keweenaw. "A majority of the students who graduate from Michigan Tech have indicated a desire to remain in the Keweenaw if there were technology jobs available," he said. MTEP could also attract alumni back to the area.
"I think the time is right," President Curt Tompkins said. "We can see the indications. . . . Our faculty will benefit, since they are prone to work with companies, and half of our graduates want to stay here. I want to see this happen for our students and our alumni."
Rothwell and other MEDC members toured the offices of DCT Inc., located in the D&N Bank building in Hancock. Dale Fasana, engineering manager, said DCT's Hancock branch had a surplus of applicants and almost no turnover, with starting salaries for new engineering graduates in the mid-forties. "Downstate, they struggle to find people," he said.
"I am constantly telling people about you guys," Rothwell said. "I say, 'Why not set up a satellite office around Michigan Tech?'"
By 2016, local MTEP organizers project that the park could add 20 new businesses and 550 high-tech jobs to the area, plus another 1,100 associated jobs. In addition, annual retail spending should increase by $230 million and local tax revenues would go up $14 million, with state tax revenues increasing by $11 million.
If MTEP does receive SmartZone designation, its implementation process will involve the campus and local communities. The Board of Control will have final authority over the extent of University participation.
The MEDC has received nine full proposals and nine pre-proposals from municipalities across Michigan interested in establishing SmartZones in their communities.
It Only Costs Four Bits to Give MTU a Dollar
Did you know that you can cut the cost of your gift to Michigan Tech in half?
The State of Michigan provides a tax credit for those who donate to higher education. When you give to Tech, you can list 50 percent of the amount of your gift as a credit on your state tax return. For example, if you were to give $100 to MTU, you would receive an additional $50 refund on your state taxes, or you would owe $50 less.
The Michigan Tax Credit does have limits. The maximum credit is $100 for a single return, $200 if you file jointly.
If you itemize on your federal return, the savings are even greater. Here are a few examples of gifts from taxpayers in the 28-percent bracket who itemize their deductions:
| Single Return | Joint Return | ||||||
| Contribution | $100 | $250 | $1,000 | $100 | $250 | $1,000 | |
| Fed Deduction | <28> | <70> | <280> | <28> | <70> | <280> | |
| MI Credit | <50> | <100> | <100> | <50> | <125> | <200> | |
| Net Cost | $22 | $80 | $620 | $22 | $55 | $520 | |
Building Partnerships, Here and Abroad
By Jay Meldrum
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
So goes the old adage of good fortune in a marriage. On the recent trade delegation trip to Finland, these thoughts ran through my mind. Representatives and business people from Houghton, Hancock, Finlandia University, Michigan Tech, and the State of Michigan traveled to Finland to seek business partners. While some may have thought that we were going to "something old," nothing could be further from the truth. We found Finland to be a modern, vibrant, well-connected, corner of the world. Nearly every Finn from Helsinki to Kauhava to Jyvaskyla (a few hundred miles from the Arctic Circle) carried a cell phone. Not a low-tech flip phone that can only carry voice traffic, but a Nokia, Internet-connected, communications tool. It was amusing to watch as you hear the distinctive "brrrring" and see several Finns slap their belts, mistakenly thinking that it was their phone that rang. The smart ones knew it was not theirs because of the custom song that they have programmed theirs to play. It is very common to send and receive e-messages by phone, which can be retrieved by their phones or computers as a voice or text message.
On our trade mission, we visited two polytechnic institutes and several businesses, and were greeted by city officials, mayors, a member of parliament, and the US ambassador to Finland. We also met with Finnish agencies designed to help Finnish businesses expand abroad.
Wherever we went, we were greeted with enthusiasm and pride and fed the most wonderful meals you could imagine. With each business contact, we learned a little more about how they encourage and promote the economy of their small country. (The population of the entire country of Finland is about equal to the population of the Detroit metropolitan area).
The institute students are required to work at a company for several months and to go abroad for a period of time; otherwise, they do not graduate. This gives their students practical and international exposure so that they can tackle the business world with confidence. Many students are fluent in several languages, including Swedish and English. English is taught in the schools starting at the age of nine. Many choose another language such as French, Spanish, or German as well.
So what did we borrow?
The Finnish government encourages the entrepreneurial spirit. They have several programs and agencies designed to help small to medium enterprises get through those early formative stages of development, hoping for the next Nokia or Valmet to spring to success. But success does not equal size. Finns are just as proud of their ten-to-twenty person companies as they are of giant Nokia, which employs over 60,000 people in 50 countries. We brought back many ideas that will help both Finlandia University and Michigan Tech create successful business incubators with cooperation from the cities of Houghton and Hancock and the State of Michigan.
And blue?
Each time I see the familiar blue cross on the white background flying over the streets of Hancock, I will have a greater appreciation for the heritage of the communities of the Keweenaw.
This year, the Holiday Open House for MTU employees, hosted by President Curt Tompkins and his wife, Kathy Tompkins, will be held on Saturday, December 9, at the University Residence, 21680 Woodland Road, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Everyone is invited. Because parking on Woodland Road can be in short supply, shuttle service from the Memorial Union will be available.
Holiday Luncheon Buffet December 13
The Memorial Union is sponsoring its Third Annual Holiday Luncheon Buffet on Wednesday, December 13, from 11:30 a.m. through the lunch hour.
Holiday punch and Gardetto snack mix will be served in the lobby for starters. The luncheon menu will include roast breast of turkey (featuring celebrity carvers President Curt Tompkins and Provost Kent Wray), traditional bread dressing, giblet gravy, escalloped corn, green beans, seasoned party potatoes, mixed greens with dressings, marinated mushroom salad, cranberry gelatin salad, dinner rolls with butter, pumpkin and pecan pies, gingersnaps, and beverages.
To reserve your seat, purchase advance tickets (only $6!) and make table reservations at the Memorial Union Manager's Office. Walk-in customers will be accommodated as space allows. Vegetarian requests must be received in advance.
Peterson's Wolf-Moose Study Makes the Cover of "National Wildlife"
Professor Rolf Peterson's twenty-five year study of wolves and moose on Isle Royale made the cover of the December-January edition of National Wildlife, the magazine of the National Wildlife Federation.
The article, "Watching Wolves on a Wild Ride," tracks the relationship between wolves and moose on Isle Royale from about 1900, when the first moose arrived from Canada; to 1949, when wolves crossed the ice to the island; and through the last half a century. Since 1958, Peterson and his predecessor and mentor, Durward Allen, have conducted the longest-known continuous predator-prey study in the world.
You're Invited: Retirement Party for Nancy Johnson
Nancy Johnson, the administrative associate for the School of Business and Economics, is retiring December 22 after twenty years of service at the University.
Johnson started her career in the Mechanical Engineering Department in 1980 and worked in several positions until 1984, when she joined the SBE. Everyone is welcome to join the School at a University-wide reception held in her honor on Thursday, December 14, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Memorial Union Red Metal Room. Refreshments will be provided.
"My memories mostly consist of the great people I've worked with in the School of Business over the past sixteen years, sharing their joys, sorrows, and all the fun times," Johnson said. "In particular, it's been wonderful working with Terry Monson, Gene Klippel, and Brad Wagner. They're a great bunch, and this is a wonderful place to work."
"I guess one memory in particular that stands out would be my 60th birthday last year, when they plastered my picture all over campus and the Academic Office Building," she added. "We had black balloons and the whole works and a big luncheon party at the Northern Lights."
Among her outside activities, Johnson is volunteer coordinator for Portage Lake Hospice, Omega House board member, United Way solicitor for the SBE, a Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly volunteer, a Salvation Army volunteer, and active in Grace United Methodist Church. She also enjoys cross country skiing, walking, reading, golf, tap dancing (!), "and life, in general."
She plans to expand on these activities after retirement, though the cross country skiing may take a hit. "My husband and I will be traveling to a warm climate for much of the winter," she said.
CAMMP, the Center for Advanced Materials Processing, has a new Web site, http://www.cammp.mtu.edu/.
The site outlines CAMMP's goals--to promote interdisciplinary research, encourage the use of MTU facilities and equipment, target larger proposals, and encourage student involvement in research. Site visitors can also find out about current projects, the Carbon Technology Center, and the Institute of Materials Processing.
You can navigate to the CAMMP site from the MTU Home Page by clicking on Departments, Research Centers and Institutes, and the Center for Advanced Materials Processing.
The CAMMP Web site was developed by CAMMP Director Jay Meldrum in collaboration with Gail Sweeting, Dennis Walikainen, and Chad Arney (University Relations).
Concerns About Gen Ed? See the Committee
Anyone with an interest or concern about the general education curriculum is invited to contact the Gen Ed Executive Committee.
Based on input from faculty and administrators, the General Education Council formed the committee last May to oversee the week-to-week administration of the program and assure that gen ed continues to be a University-wide effort. Details of the gen ed plan can be seen at http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/vpinst/gened/plan2.htm.
The executive committee members are Barry Solomon, Institutions coordinator; Bob Keen, Perspectives coordinator; Bonnie Gorman, representing Student Affairs; Dennis Lynch, Revisions coordinator; Glenn Mroz, distribution subcommittee chair; Julia Jasken, assistant to the director of GTA education (Humanities); Nancy Grimm, Writing Center director; Sarah Barret, representing USG; Steve Bowen, vice provost for instruction (ex officio); Susan Martin, World Cultures coordinator; and Warren Perger, assessment subcommittee chair.
"This group has begun meeting to smooth out wrinkles in implementing the new curriculum and to address issues not fully anticipated in previous planning," Bowen said. If you have concerns about gen ed implementation, contact a committee member or Helene Hiner (hthiner@mtu.edu).
The Wellness office has moved to the Hamar House (Counseling Services).
Wellness coordinator Erin Carter continues to offer blood pressure checks and body fat analysis, plus advice on exercise and nutrition, disease prevention, and other services. She can also help design exercise workouts at the SDC or other fitness facilities.
To make an appointment, contact Carter at ejcarter@mtu.edu or 487-2172.
Roblee Honored for 25 Years as Math Teacher
Associate Professor Ron Roblee (Technology) has been honored by the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics for his longtime commitment to mathematics education.
"It seems that in today's world long-term commitment, experience and constancy are being replaced with short-term participation, new ideas, and anything that is faster," the MCTM announcement letter said. "While changes can and do lead to improvement, it is experience that grows judgment, and long-term commitment that nurtures systemic change. Mr. Ronald Stephen Roblee has been teaching mathematics for 25 years. That time has been rich with experiences that now adds up to a quarter-of-a-century, or more, of helping children prepare for a life of learning, working, and living."
Roblee has been employed in the School of Technology since 1975 and has primarily taught math-related courses over the years. "One of Ron's strengths is his ability to help the under-prepared student be successful in math classes," Dean of Technology Tim Collins said.
Save Your Econo Receipts for the Library
For the second year, the Friends of the Van Pelt Library are collecting receipts from Econo Foods to benefit the J. R. Van Pelt Library. Econo donates 1 percent of the total of the receipts towards the purchase of computers for the library. In 1999-2000, the Friends received $303.61, but with the full support of the University community, they can do better.
To help, return your receipts to Econo Foods directly (please write Friends of the Van Pelt Library, MTU on the back), drop them in the box at the Circulation Desk of the library, or send them by campus mail to Faith Morrison (Chemical Engineering) or Terry Reynolds (Social Sciences). Want to help even more? Put up a collection box in your area and send on the collected receipts to Faith or Terry. With relatively little effort, the MTU community can earn funds for much needed library computers.
For more information on the Friends, visit their Web site, http://www.lib.mtu.edu/friends/friends.htm.
A brand new, state-of-the-art fitness center is now a part of the SDC'S fitness package.
The center is equipped with treadmills, steppers, stationary and recumbent bicycles, elliptical trainers, and a Concept II Rower, plus Hammer Strength weight equipment and free weights. Brand names include Stairmaster, Woodway, Quinton, and SportsArt. Broadcast Vision is also available with all of their aerobic equipment, so you can listen to any of the the 32-inch TVs with your own headphones. For your convenience, headphones are on sale at the SDC.
The new Fitness Center combines with the SDC's other exercise options, which include a running track, basketball, racquetball, squash, swimming, and diving. Lockers, towels, and saunas are also available.
The Fitness Center has extended hours and will not be closed at any time during the day. The hours are Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 1:00-8:00 p.m. The hours may vary during academic breaks.
The center is located on the second floor of the SDC, across the hallway from the old weight room. With a $5 daily pass, you can use the center along with all the SDC's other fitness and recreational facilities. For more information on memberships, call 487-2975.
"Come and check out the most affordable and comprehensive exercise facility in the area," Recreation Manager Mark Maroste said.
MSE Academy Gets 17 New Members
Seventeen new members were inducted recently into the Academy of Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan Tech.
The academy recognizes alumni and friends of the department who have achieved success in their profession. The new members are Jim Graham, Darel Hodgson, Bill Johnson, Jim Mallory, Bill Truckner, Reza Abbaschian, Dick Arsenault, Bill Bernard, George Binczewski, Domenic Canonico, Stan Friesen, Dave Gaylord, Bronce Henderson, Mike Lalich, Tyrus Pinchback, Dennis Staley, and Dick Witte.
Graham, of Littleton, Colorado, graduated with a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1970. He is senior vice president of General Atomics in Denver. He received MTU's Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 1977.
Hodgson, of Palo Alto, California, earned his BS in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering in 1963. He earned an MS in 1965 and a PhD in 1970, both in materials science from Stanford University. He is president and founder of Shape Memory Application Inc. in Santa Clara.
Johnson, of Ruckersville, Virginia, graduated cum laude with a BS in Applied Physics in 1976. He then received MS and PhD degrees in Metallurgical Engineering at MTU. He is a professor at the University of Virginia, in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He has served on the board of review for Metallurgical and Material Transactions and has authored or coauthored more than 100 publications.
Mallory, of Osprey, Florida, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1948. He is president of JC Mallory & Company, an international consulting firm in Osprey. He is an MTU Alumni Association Golden M member, a past trustee of the Michigan Tech Fund, a member of the Presidents Society, and a Board of Control Silver Medal winner.
Truckner, of Avonmore, Pennsylvania, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1965. He received his MS in 1967 and PhD in 1973, also from MTU. He held several positions at Alcoa until retiring as technical director of Alcoa Labs. He is listed as co-inventor on nine patents, and he has had numerous articles published on aluminum and aluminum alloys.
Abbaschian, of Gainesville, Florida, received his BS from the University of Tehran and his MS from Michigan Tech in 1965. He received a PhD in Metallurgy from University of California, Berkeley, in 1972. He is professor and chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at the University of Florida at Gainesville. He has authored over 200 scientific publications, holds six patents, and has received a number of awards from various professional societies.
Arsenault, of Lanham, Maryland, earned his BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1957 from MTU and a PhD in Materials Science from Northwestern University in 1962. He has worked at Westinghouse, Oakridge, Brookhaven, and the University of Maryland, where he is director of the university's metallurgical laboratory. He has been active in professional societies and has received numerous awards and recognition for service and scholarly accomplishment.
Bernard, of Perrysburg, Ohio, earned a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1969. He is president and CEO of Surface Combustion and has been president of the Industrial Heat Treating Equipment Association. He was a finalist for the 1997 Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year award and was recently inducted into the Ohio Commodores, an association that advises the Ohio Department of Commerce in international business affairs.
Binczewski, of Moraga, California, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1953 from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Gonzaga University in 1965. He worked for Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation for thirty-four years and retired as metallurgical manager for fabrication operations in 1987. He organized a series of two-week summer sessions for Kaiser metallurgists on the MTU campus in the 1970s. The program included visits by MTU faculty at Kaiser facilities. This program provided the basis for a broad based professional interaction between Kaiser metallurgists and MTU faculty that continues today.
Canonico, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1951 and went on to receive MS and PhD degrees from Lehigh University. He is vice president of technology for Alstrom Power Performance projects in Chattanooga. He has published extensively and has received numerous awards and honors, most recently the 1999 ASME Melvin R. Green Medal for his role in internationalization of ASME codes for boilers and pressure vessels.
Friesen, of Milford, Ohio, earned a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1954. In 1960, he joined the General Electric Aircraft Engine Group, where he eventually became deputy manager of the Engineering Materials Technology Laboratory. He is now retired.
Gaylord, of Grand Rapids, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1964. In 1975, he became president and treasurer of Progressive Heat Treating Inc. in Grand Rapids. He retired in 1999.
Henderson, of Sterling Heights, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1973. He went on to receive an MBA from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. In 1980, he took over his father's business and became CEO and board chair of DCT Inc. in Sterling Heights. He is a strong supporter of Michigan Tech athletics and has been a member of the Board of Control since 1995.
Lalich, of Duluth, Minnesota, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1965 and an MS in 1966, both from Michigan Tech. He received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1972. In 1984, he became director of the University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth. He sits on a number of boards and commissions for state and local agencies in Minnesota and has been recognized by the University of Wisconsin for his outstanding contributions in engineering.
Pinchback, of Sun City West, Arizona, attended Wayne State University and became an entrepreneur and prolific inventor of devices and processes for the automotive industry. In 1990, he retired as chairman and CEO of Wilson-Garner Company, a licensor and manufacturer of specialty fasteners.
Staley, of Georgetown, Texas, received a BS in 1957. He retired in 1991 as group vice president of Duke Energy Corporation's Panhandle Eastern Corporation in Houston.
Witte, of Cincinnati, Ohio, received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering in 1950, and after serving with the US Navy in Korea, received a law degree from Indiana University in 1956. After finishing law school, he joined Proctor and Gamble as a patent engineer and rose to become vice president and chief patent council for the company. He was a member of the US delegation for discussions on the Paris Treaty for Intellectual Property between 1984 and 1990.
News You Can Use: Is Laughter the Best Heart Medicine?
(Editor's note: The following is taken from a November 15 University of Maryland news release.)
Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a new study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughter may help prevent heart disease, was presented at the American Heart Association's 73rd Scientific Sessions on November 15 in New Orleans. The researchers found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease.
"The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, MD, FACC, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack," says Miller.
In the study, researchers compared the humor responses of 300 people. Half of the participants had either suffered a heart attack or had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The other 150 were healthy, age-matched participants who did not have heart disease.
People with heart disease were less likely to recognize humor or use it to get out of uncomfortable situations. They generally laughed less, even in positive situations, and they displayed more anger and hostility.
"The ability to laugh--either naturally or as learned behavior--may have important implications in societies such as the US where heart disease remains the number one killer," says Miller. "We know that exercising, not smoking, and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list."
"We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously," Miller says. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat right, and laugh a few times a day."
Teaching at Tech:
Technology+Course Redesign=Improved Learning+Cost Reductions
By Bill Kennedy, director, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Faculty Development
Financially speaking, many institutions of higher education are caught between a rock and a hard place. The cost of providing quality undergraduate education continues to rise while public support for higher education continues to decline. Last year, a distinguished group of scholars and administrators met to discuss "Redesigning More Productive Learning Environments." This symposium reviewed the progress of experiments incorporating educational technology into large-enrollment courses with an eye toward lowering costs while maintaining or improving the quality of undergraduate education.
The Pew Charitable Trust is sponsoring a variety of projects pursuing these very goals. The symposium focused heavily on these experiments at Virginia Tech, U of Wisconsin-Madison, RPI, and other institutions. Pew concentrated their support for course redesign on large-enrollment courses to maximize the potential return on time, energy, and money invested in the redesign process. The 25 largest-enrollment courses typically constitute about 35 percent of the entire enrollment in baccalaureate programs. Other reasons to focus on large-enrollment courses are that these courses 1) tend to be similar across institutions (results may be transferable), 2) are generally poorly received by many students (improvements may boost retention), 3) serve as foundations for future studies (improvements may foster academic success in succeeding years), and 4) absorb significant institutional resources (particularly those courses supported by discussion sections and labs).
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is currently re-engineering its freshman chemistry sequence. The traditional two-course chemistry sequence had a combined 15-percent failure, D, and drop rate. Instructors complained of grossly uneven student preparation, lack of student engagement, and poor retention of course material required for future study. The course redesign experiment eliminated one weekly lecture (leaving one) and replaced the lecture with a modularized system of online, diagnostic homework exercises, tutorials, and quizzes. This system is designed to make students aware of their weaknesses and then to focus their efforts on those areas. Early indications are that the program is, indeed, achieving its goals. If it succeeds, the university projects 28 percent savings over costs associated with delivering the traditional course.
Virginia Tech is redesigning their Linear Algebra program, a one-semester, two-credit course taken by first-year students. Once again, instructors complained of wildly different levels of preparation in incoming students. Students who struggled tended to drop the course very early. Others quit submitting work and effectively set themselves up for academic failure. Course grades showed little relationship to standardized tests scores. Again, faculty in advanced math, engineering, and mechanics courses complained about the lack of ability of many students completing Linear Algebra to actually employ what they learned in more advanced courses.
The Linear Algebra redesign employed methods developed through Virginia Tech's Math Emporium. Course lectures were totally replaced by Web-based interactive tutorials, computational exercises, an electronic hyper-textbook, practice exercises with streamed video support, and a series of on-line quizzes. In related math courses using Math Emporium methods, student scores have risen 17.4 percent and course failure rates have dropped 39 percent. Virginia Tech projects they will save $100,000 from the Linear Algebra class if the Math Emporium approach is successful.
Next week, we'll review an even bolder experiment at RPI.
Entertainment and Enrichment (Back to Contents)
A Concert of Ideas at Tech Tea Time:
Student Work from Perspectives on Inquiry
The semester transition brought a number of changes, including new general education courses clustered under the umbrella title of "Perspectives on Inquiry." Students had dozens of choices, but all the Perspectives courses sought to help them see the world differently than they had before.
At Tech Tea Time on Wednesday, December 6, at 4:00 p.m., some of the Perspectives students will offer a "concert of ideas," a presentation that showcases examples of the exceptional work they did for their seminar. The students will give lively and informative speeches and dramatizations, explain models of machines, and describe events and places they have studied. Other topics will include a debate on animal rights, and a visual argument on the history of Congo, Africa, showing how the authorities have tried to suppress news of exploitation and atrocities from reaching the rest of the world.
Tech Tea Time is in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge and is open and free to all. The series is coordinated by the University Cultural Enrichment Department. For further information or to submit a proposal for a future program, call 487-2844.
Seminars and Workshops (Back to Contents)
Dealing with Grief During the Holidays
For many, the holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, yet for others, it is more than we can bear. The thought of attending parties, cooking a meal, or participating in a family tradition can bring feelings of grief and loneliness.
It may be a tall order to "be of good cheer" and extend feelings of generosity and thankfulness if we have lost a life partner, child, parent, or close friend. For those who have resolved some of these feelings, the emotional pain can return because inside the crucible of holiday celebration are some of our most vibrant memories of a loved one.
It is important to plan ahead during these times and to anticipate the changes that may have to be made. Remember, when the holidays hurt, there are ways to ease the pain. MTU's Employee Assistance Program will be hosting a lunch-and-learn seminar to share thoughts and ideas regarding grief and coping this holiday season.
This seminar will be held on Tuesday, December 12, at noon in Memorial Union Alumni Lounge A.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with the Employee Assistance Program, call 482-2299.
Michigan Tech is offering the following computer classes in conjunction with dL Education, E. L. Wright Plaza, Suite 201A, 801 N. Lincoln Drive in Hancock. The Plaza is located on Quincy Hill, just below Pat's IGA. To register, send an e-mail to the Center for Professional Development and Quality Improvement at rwchrist@mtu.edu. Include the class(es) in which you want to enroll, your phone number, and account to which the class(es) should be charged. The charge is $60 for three-hour classes, $120 for six-hour classes.
Early Surveyors in the Upper Peninsula
The first surveyors who came to the Upper Peninsula codified a wilderness and discovered the mineral and timber riches that remain a foundation of the U.P. economy. Professor Emeritus Allan Johnson (Mining Engineering) will give a talk on their impact at the next Archival Speakers Series, set for 4:00 p.m., Thursday, December 7, in the J. R. Van Pelt Library Archives Reading Room.
Land surveying in the U.P. began with the continuation of the state's meridian line across the Straits of Mackinaw in 1840 and continued with surveys of the central and western Upper Peninsula by Douglass Houghton and William Austin Burt. At the time, the region was covered in roadless, virgin forest and swamp, with only a few Indian trails. Surveyors lived and worked with what they could carry on their backs, braving extremes in weather, insects, and hunger, plus long, hard days running survey lines and establishing section corners.
Surveying was vital to the sale and leasing of mineral and timber lands, providing the legal foundation for exploring the region and the capitalization of mining and lumber companies. Some surveyors also gained valuable insights into the land and its mineral wealth. Men like Houghton, Burt, Edwin Hulbert, Sam Hill and Harvey Mellen uncovered some of the richest iron and copper lands in the Upper Peninsula.
The Archival Speakers Series highlights research using the Archives' collections. The presentation is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Van Pelt Library.
Upcoming presentations include a February 15 talk by Associate Professor Susan Martin (Social Sciences) on prehistoric copper and an April 9 talk by former state historic preservation officer Kathryn Eckert on sandstone architecture of the Lake Superior region.
For more information, contact the Archives at 487-2505 or copper@mtu.edu.
Fastlane Lunch 'n' Learn December 8
A lunch-and-learn on the NSF's Fastlane proposal process will be held on Friday, December 8, from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. in Noblet G002.
Anyone involved in submitting proposals to the National Science Foundation, including both faculty and staff, is encouraged to attend.
The workshop is sponsored by Research Services and includes a sandwich buffet starting at 11:45 a.m. If you plan to attend, RSVP by December 5 to Sandy at 487-2225 or sjkalcic@mtu.edu.
Regular Features (Back to Contents)
Kellie J. Pruyt has joined the Air Force ROTC staff as a supply clerk. She owns Kellie's Country Crafts and teaches women's bible studies and marriage enrichment classes. She is married to Ronald Lee Pruyt, has two children, Briana, 11, and Kara Lee, 8, and lives in Copper City. Pruyt enjoys being a wife and mother, hearing her daughters play classical music, the outdoors, family Bible studies, and volunteering with her church and the local school.
Robyn Johnson has joined the ME-EM staff as the program coordinator and advisor for distance learning. She was previously a product engineer for Hitchiner Manufacturing in Milford, New Hampshire. Johnson has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a master's degree in metallurgy from MTU. She is married to Adam Johnson and lives in Pelkie.
James M. Schmierer Jr. has joined the staff of the School of Forestry and Wood Products as the school forester. He was previously an independent forestry contractor with Big Creek Forestry, in Marquette, and has also worked as a tree care technician/climber and logger. Schmierer has AAS, BS, and MS degrees from Michigan Tech. He is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture and a certified arborist. Schmierer lives in Houghton and enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping.
Dale J. Kero has joined the staff of Advancement and the College of Engineering as an advancement officer. He was previously the sales and finance manager for Parkway Chevrolet. Kero has a BBA in Business Management. He is married to Joan Kero; has six children, Jordanna, Tanner, Devin, Ashlyn, Hunter, and Dawson; and lives in Hancock. He enjoys golf and coaching ice hockey.
Patrick Hopp has joined the IT System Administration Services staff as a system administrator. He has been a student system administrator in IT-SAS for four years. Hopp lives in Chassell, is a native of Vandalia, and is a supporting ally member of Keweenaw Pride.
John Jaszczak, associate professor of physics and adjunct curator of the Seaman Mineral Museum, has won first place in the 2000 George F. Kunz Prize competition for his paper, "Palache's 'Contributions to the Mineralogy of Sterling Hill': The 900-Foot Level Revisited." The prize is sponsored annually by by the New York Mineralogical Club for the best paper on aspects of northeastern United States mineralogy.
Undergraduate Cicely Coppock (MSE) has been selected to receive the $4,000 TMS Light Metals Division Scholarship for 2001 at the TMS Annual Meeting and Exhibition in New Orleans. Coppock also receives $600 for travel to the TMS meeting and $400 for her books. In addition, $300 for the J. R. Van Pelt Library will be given in her name.
The MTU Career Center's Co-op/Intern Brochure received a second-place in the brochure division of the 2000 Midwest Cooperative Education Association Awards of Excellence competition. The brochure was edited by Director of Marketing Communications Dennis Walikainen and designed by Director of Design and Publication Services Bill Tembreull (University Relations). The MCEA covers nine midwestern states.
Associate Professor Mary Ann Beckwith's (Fine Arts) painting, "Origins: Never Done," is being exhibited at the National Watercolor Society Exhibition in San Pedro, California, during November and December. She has also been given the honor of signature status in the National Watercolor Society. Paintings by Beckwith are currently being exhibited in two other national shows, the 58th Annual Audubon National Exhibition in New York City and the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society's 21st National Exhibition in Warren, Pennsylvania.
Associate Professor Sonia Goltz (SBE) authored "Escalation Research: Providing New Frontiers for Applying Behavior Analysis to Organizational Behavior," in the fall 2000 issue of The Behavior Analyst, Vol. 23, No. 2.
Associate Professor Noel Schulz (Electrical and Computer Engineering) gave an invited talk, "Outage Detection and Restoration Confirmation Using a Wireless AMR (Automated Meter Reading) System," at the Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New Mexico State University in early November.
Director Jim P. Cross (Center for International Education) presented a paper, "Administrative and Academic Challenges for Specialized Study Abroad Programs," at the seventh annual meeting of the Mexican Association for International Educators, held November 13-15 in Veracruz, Mexico. Cross's paper was selected for publication in the AMPEI Conference Proceedings.
Associate Professor Mary Ann Beckwith (Fine Arts) taught workshops on experimental watercolor techniques to professional artists at the Farmington Hills Artists Association, in Farmington Hills; and to the Western Ohio Watercolor Society at the Springfield Museum of Art in Springfield, Ohio, from October 30 through November 10.
December
| 1 | Friday |
| 10:00 a.m.--TechSelect benefits workshop--Memorial Union Alumni Lounge A | |
| 6 | Wednesday |
| 4:00 p.m.--Tech Tea: A Concert of Ideas--Memorial Union Alumni Lounge | |
| 7 | Thursday |
| 4:00 p.m.--Archival Speaker Allan Johnson on early U.P. surveyors--J. R. Van Pelt Library Archives Room | |
| 8 | Friday |
| 12:10 p.m.--Workshop on Fastlane--Noblet G002 | |
| 9 | Saturday |
| 1:00-5:00 p.m.--Holiday Open House--University Residence | |
| 10 | Sunday |
| 3:00 p.m.--KSO and Concert Choir: Messiah and Olsson's Mass--Rozsa Center | |
| 12 | Tuesday |
| noon--Lunch 'n' Learn on grief during the holidays--Memorial Union Alumni Lounge | |
| 13 | Wednesday |
| 11:30 a.m.--Holiday Luncheon Buffet--Memorial Union Ballroom | |
| 14 | Thursday |
| 3:00-5:00 p.m.--Retirement reception for Nancy Johnson--Memorial Union Red Metal Room |
Job descriptions will be available at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, or by e-mail at <JOBS@MTU.EDU>. For a complete listing of available jobs, visit http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/postings/index.shtml
The following positions will be posted Friday, December 1, 2000, at 1:00 p.m. through noon, Friday, December 8, 2000, in the Human Resources Office.
Food Service Helper--Memorial Union (Regular, full-time, nine-month position; AFSCME internal posting only)
Food Service Helper--Residential Services-Dining (Regular, full-time, nine-month position; AFSCME internal posting only)
Food Service Helper--Residential Services-Dining (Regular, part-time position, hours variable; AFSCME internal and external posting)
Office Assistant N5--Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts (UAW position open to all applicants)
Staff Assistant-Civil and Environmental Engineering--Transportation Center
Technical Services Librarian--J. R. Van Pelt Library
Assistant Professor of Theatre--Fine Arts
Assistant Professor of Music--Fine Arts
Building Mechanic-Memorial Union (AFSCME internal posting only)
University employees are reminded to apply in writing prior to noon, Friday, December 8, 2000, to be considered as internal candidates for bargaining unit positions only. Applicants from the recall pool will be given first consideration for non-bargaining-unit positions only. Vacancy announcements are normally posted every Friday at 1:00 p.m. in the Human Resources Office. Complete job descriptions are available in the Human Resources Office or by calling 487-2280. More information regarding employment opportunities is available by calling the Job Line at 487-2895. Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/equal opportunity employer.
Michigan Tech now pays faculty who teach during the summer at a higher rate than any of its benchmark institutions.
Vice Provost for Instruction Stephen Bowen explained the new summer session pay scale to the University Senate November 29. It will be 19 percent higher overall than last year. Based on the assumption that faculty spend 50 percent of their time on instruction, and that a full teaching load is 12 credits, Bowen calculated that each credit taught accounts for 4.166 percent of the faculty member's salary.
Thus, faculty will receive 4.166 percent of their salary for each credit taught in the summer. Here's how it pans out: An associate professor making an annual salary of $50,000 and teaching 9 credits during the summer (the maximum allowed) will receive $6,250, up from $5,263.
"This is the highest among our benchmark institutions," Bowen said. "We hope that this more equitable and generous policy will encourage faculty to offer attractive courses."
However, to make sure that the University doesn't lose money, enrollment in each class will have to be high enough to offset the cost of the teacher's salary. The class could continue if the department makes up the difference or if the teacher agrees to take a lesser salary.
Senator Don Beck (Physics) asked how to determine what courses students want to take. Bowen said Educational Opportunity has surveyed students and also advertises summer session.
Senator Bruce Barna (Chemical Engineering) questioned whether summer session drained enrollment away from the regular school year. Bowen said that evidence suggested that full-time students who attend summer session take a lighter load in the spring and fall in an effort to boost their GPA. While they may take fewer courses during the academic year, their tuition payments are the same, he noted.
Senator Ralph Hodek (Civil and Environmental Engineering) said the University should underwrite summer courses until they are established. The University would like to do that, but this is a financial decision, Bowen said. However, the policy does pose a problem for teachers who develop a course that may not attract enough students the first time it's offered to continue, he noted. "It's part of the puzzle," he said.
Vice President for Finance and Administration Bill McGarry gave an overview of the budget process and updated the senate on Michigan Tech's financial status. "As of three o'clock this afternoon, we're still projecting a balanced budget for this year," he said. So far, among the nine Michigan universities for whom he had statistics, only Michigan Tech and Saginaw Valley State were in the black for the 1999-2000 fiscal year. However, McGarry stressed that the University is subject to variables beyond its control, including the stock market, so its impossible to predict its financial state on June 30, 2001.
As for the ongoing budget process, "The Board of Control has set three goals for the president: enrollment, enrollment, and enrollment," McGarry said. While the University still isn't achieving its goals on enrollment, "we seem to be turning the corner," perhaps because of increased marketing efforts. Senator Christ Ftaclas (Physics) suggested that Michigan Tech advertise in a wider region. That would be nice, McGarry indicated, but the costs would be prohibitive. The budget now is about $500,000 for a limited marketing campaign. "We should be spending $3 million," he said. "We can't yet afford broad-based marketing."
Senator Kelly Strong (SBE) said the University should concentrate on increasing enrollment in undersubscribed, inexpensive programs to offset losses in other departments. But because of MTU's degree mix, it's unlikely that most departments will operate in the black. "If we eliminated the programs that didn't pay, we would eliminate engineering," McGarry said. He credited revenues from Residential Services, about $16 million over the past seven years--for supporting the general fund.
Strong said the senate should be more involved in the budgeting process, and McGarry agreed.
In other business, the senate