Brief (1-11-2006) Read Brief on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Publications/Brief/Brief_1112006.html . Vol. XXXVI No. 1; Jan. 11, 2006 Editor: Gayla Marty, 612-625-0552, [email protected] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Top Stories --President Bruininks attends U.S. international education summit Jan. 5-6. --VP for access, equity, and multicultural affairs search extended. 2. Features --UPlan Wellness launches Health Connections. --People: New U marketing director, new UMC development director, and more. 3. Campus Events and Information 1. Top Stories PRESIDENT BRUININKS ATTENDED the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education Jan. 5-6, where President Bush announced he will request $114 million from Congress to teach languages critical for national security to students from kindergarten through college. Other speakers and guests at the summit of 120 college presidents included Laura Bush, Secretary of State Rice, Secretary of Education Spellings, and Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Hughes. Session topics ranged from the regulatory environment and public-private partnerships to preparing globally competitive U.S. students, identifying and attracting foreign talent, and a vision and strategies for U.S. international education. For more information, see http://www.exchanges.state.gov/universitysummit and the Chronicle of Higher Education, Jan. 13 issue. THE SEARCH FOR THE U'S NEW VP FOR ACCESS, EQUITY, AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS has been extended. Because of the importance of the position and based on feedback from the U community, Senior VP Jones announced that the pool of candidates will be expanded, with a goal of filling the position by the end of the academic year. "We are committed to hiring the person who will be the best fit for the University at this time," Jones said. The search committee previously recommended four finalists, three of whom visited the U in November. For more information, see http://academic.umn.edu/system/vpsearch . 2. Features UPLAN WELLNESS LAUNCHES HEALTH CONNECTIONS. Beginning this week, U employees can get paid to take a 20-minute confidential, online health assessment that generates a personal picture of their health. You'll also get connections to resources to help you make changes that give the best chance of reducing any identified health risks. You have until Apr. 30 to qualify for the $65 reward, and you can earn another $65 if you complete a follow-up health improvement program. Dependents can take the assessment, too, but aren't eligible for the reward. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/Office_of_Human_Resources/ Introducing_Health_Connections.html . PEOPLE: New U marketing director is Ann Aronson, new UMC development director is Corby Kemmer, UMC music and theater director George French is a Good Neighbor of the North for January 2006, and more. To read these and other announcements, see http://www.umn.edu/umnnews/Faculty_Staff_Comm/people.html . FEATURE STORIES are published daily in UMNnews at http://www.umn.edu/umnnews and twice a week on the U home page at http://www.umn.edu . Features this week include "Kick wax time: UMore Park offers cross-country ski trail" and "Let there be light: U and neighborhood effort results in new pedestrian lighting by Twin Cities campus." 3. Campus Events and Information Transforming the U: THE DIVERSITY TASK FORCE WILL HOLD A FINAL OPEN FORUM for all campuses during the public comment period, Jan. 18, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. All campuses will be able to participate by interactive TV at the following locations: 106 Sahlstrom Conference Center, UMC; 173 Kirby Plaza, UMD; 20 Mondale Hall, UMTC; 7 HFA, UMM; 109 AT, UMR. All interested students, staff, and faculty members are invited to attend and give input. A copy of the diversity task force's draft recommendations is on the Web at http://www.umn.edu/systemwide/strategic_positioning/tf_recommendations.html . THE TASK FORCE ON UNDERGRADUATE REFORM: STUDENT SUPPORT will hold open forums at UMTC: Jan. 18, 3-5 p.m., Minnesota Commons, St. Paul Student Center; and Jan. 25 3-5 p.m., 140 Nolte Center. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/systemwide/strategic_positioning/events.php . PROVIDE COMMENTS THROUGH JAN. 27 on preliminary recommendations from 11 academic strategic positioning task forces. Task forces will make final recommendations Feb. 3 to team leaders Provost Sullivan and Senior VP Jones. Recommendations will then be forwarded to the U's executive strategic positioning team for review and determination of next steps. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/systemwide/strategic_positioning . University-wide: THE PRESIDENT'S EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM builds institutional talent by developing leadership skills of competent, high potential U staff members. Academic administrative and professional (P&A), civil service, and bargaining unit staff members from all campuses are eligible. Up to 25 participants will be accepted for the 2006-07 academic year. Nominations deadline: Jan. 31; candidate applications will be due Mar. 10. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/ohr/pel . POLICY CHANGES FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL, effective Jan. 1, 2006, include frequent-flyer miles accrual and use, http://fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/policy/FrequentFlyer_pol.cfm , and reimbursement for meals during travel, http://fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/policy/Travel.cfm#450 . U CARDS CANNOT BE USED AS COLLATERAL. Because of the financial value and services associated with U Cards, departments should not retain U Cards as collateral for services. Also, since U Cards never expire, departments should not collect them upon an employee's termination nor should departing employees turn them in. Students, staff, and faculty members are reminded not to lend or give a U Card to anyone. For more information, see http://www.umn.edu/ucard . THE ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING AND RECEPTION is free and open to the entire U community. It begins with a light dinner, followed by a presentation on the U's 2006 legislative requests. Then break-out training sessions will be offered on three topics: building relationships with legislators, media advocacy, and how to tell your story. Learn how you can be an effective advocate for the U at the Capitol and in your community. Jan. 25, 5:30-8 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center. Register to attend and sign up for a training session at http://ga4.org/u_of_m_leg_net/events/legbriefing06/details.tcl . THE PHARMACEUTICAL CARE CLINIC, College of Pharmacy, provides a comprehensive assessment of a person's medication-related needs, conducted by an advanced-standing pharmacy student in the presence of an experienced faculty member. U employees, family members, and friends are welcome to schedule appointments. Participation will prepare pharmacy students for new professional responsibility. No charge, but nominal contributions are appreciated. For more information or an appointment, call 612-625-7929. MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM new and upcoming events include The Beauty of Bonsai exhibit (through Jan. 28) and Gardening School winter classes (beginning Jan. 14). For more information, see http://www.arboretum.umn.edu or call 952-443-1400. Crookston: SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR AND DEAN Joe Massey announced his retirement Jan. 4. A UMTC alum ('74, '77), Massey returned to join the faculty in forest products in 1995 and was appointed UMC vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2004. He served as UMC chief executive officer for 10 months in 2004-05. A search for a new vice chancellor will begin in February, with the goal of hiring by July 1. For more information, see http://www.umcrookston.edu/umcnews/newsstory.aspx?ID=214 . Duluth: THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL RECEIVE A 2005 GOVERNOR'S MnGREAT AWARD for environmental leadership for the Glensheen Low Impact Development and Shoreline Protection Project. The project at the historic estate was completed in collaboration with the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District, Wisconsin Sea Grant, and the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water. UMD team members are Erik Larson, Wade Lawrence, Peggy Dahlberg, Sheryl Lind, and Dan McClelland. The award ceremony will be Feb. 15 at the annual conference of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. For more information, see http://www.d.umn.edu/news/2006/January/09.html . Morris: THE CONVOCATION SERIES will present "Tough Guise: Violence, Media, and the Crisis in Masculinity," by former football star Jackson Katz. Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m., Edson Auditorium. For more information, see http://www.morris.umn.edu/webbin/ummnews/view.php?newsID=106 . A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION will broadcast live from UMM on National Public Radio, Feb. 11, 4:45 p.m., P.E. Center. General admission is $45; $15 for UMM students. For tickets, call 320-589-6356 or go to Oyate Hall Jan. 18-20 or until tickets are sold out. For more information, see http://www.morris.umn.edu/webbin/ummnews/view.php?newsID=142 . CHANCELLOR NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS are now being accepted. For more information, see http://www.morris.umn.edu/chansearch . Rochester: "MINNESOTA ENERGY: THE FUTURE IS RENEWABLE" will be presented by Regents Professor Lanny Schmidt, chemical engineering and materials science, and a collaborative member of the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment. Schmidt was named in the 2004 Scientific American 50, an annual list that recognizes leadership in science and technology, for inventing the first reactor capable of producing hydrogen from a renewable fuel. Feb. 1, 7 p.m., MH 223 Memorial Lecture Hall, UMR. For more information, see http://www.r.umn.edu . Twin Cities: STUDENT AFFAIRS BOOK CLUB will discuss Goal Achievement Through Treasure Mapping: A Guide to Personal and Professional Fulfillment, by Barbara Laporte, an adviser in the Public Health Career Center. She will present five steps in setting, visualizing, and achieving personal goals. Today, noon, U Bookstore, Coffman Union. For more information, see http://www.osa.umn.edu/osaprograms/osabookclub.html .