Volume 23, Number 33, May 12, 2004
Calendar
News Items
DeMuth, Del Vecchio Named Department
Heads
UMC officials have selected David DeMuth, Jr., Ph.D. and
associate professor of physics and math,
to serve as department head for the new Math, Science and Technology
Department and Ronald Del Vecchio, Ph.D. and professor of
animal science, to serve as
department head for the UMC Agriculture Department.
DeMuth holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in physics and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Louisville, KY. He has served as a faculty member at UMC since 1997. His research and teaching interests are in the areas of high energy astrophysics and computer assisted learning.
Additionally, DeMuth has published academic articles on the topic of neutrinos in high energy physics in international journals such as Astroparticle Physics. He is currently involved with research taking place at the Soudan Underground Laboratory, located in Soudan, MN. Earlier this year he also participated in the publishing of a white paper report on using nuclear reactors to search for a value of q13 (theta 13), an important concept dealing with neutrino mixing in particle physics.
He is also a fellow of the Frank W. Veden Endowment at UMC, which supports two half-time fellows for rural economic development. Through this fellowship, DeMuth has extended web-based technologies as a vehicle for economic development by supplying database applications to local companies and to produce regional software developers. This activity has also provided the foundation for UMC’s new academic degree program in computer software technology, slated to begin course offering this coming fall.
Del Vecchio holds a Ph.D. in animal science - reproduction physiology from Texas A & M University in College Station, TX. He also holds a master’s degree in animal science - reproduction physiology from Texas A & M University and a bachelor’s degree in animal and veterinary science from the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI.
Del Vecchio has served as a member of the UMC faculty since 2003. His research and teaching interests are in the areas of reproductive and production management of livestock species. Teaching responsibilities at UMC include courses in animal anatomy and physiology, reproductive physiology and animal science seminar. He has also played a pivotal role in expanding UMC’s equine industries management program to include curriculum in equine reproduction and breeding.
Del Vecchio has published nearly 200 documents including research manuscripts, articles, abstracts, reports and technology transfer documents in various national and international publications. Topics have ranged from reproductive management of cattle and the relationship between body condition score and ultrasonic back fat measurements in mares to the cellular mechanisms governing reproductive cyclicity.
In addition, Del Vecchio has served as an editorial board member for the Journal of Animal Science and as president of the Canada West Society for Reproductive Biology. He has been an active member of the American Society of Animal Science since 1993 and currently serves on the organization’s Education Awards Committee. He was the recipient of the Floyd S. Edmiston Award for outstanding educational programming from the Louisiana State University Alumni Association. His previous work experience includes research scientist and research program leader positions with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as well as professor in the Department of Animal Science at Louisiana State University.
UMC’s Math, Science and Technology Department will include the following degree programs: applied health, computer software technology, dietetics, health management, health science – pre-professional, and information technology management. The department will also serve as home to the following disciplines: biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. Currently, in the new department of Math, Science and Technology, two searches are underway for tenure-track faculty positions in biology and chemistry.
UMC’s Agriculture Department will include the following degree programs: agricultural aviation, agricultural business, agricultural education, agricultural systems management (including emphases in farm and ranch management, power and machinery, and precision agriculture), agronomy, animal industries management, and equine industries management. Campus officials also have plans to develop a new degree program in food safety, which would be administered through the department.
The names of the other newly-appointed department heads will be announced in the next two weeks.
Nelson Named Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for
Research and Planning
It
is my pleasure to announce that Richard Nelson, Ph.D., has accepted the
position of interim associate vice chancellor for research and planning,
effective May 15, 2004. As part of Dr. Nelson's new duties he will
assume the co-chairmanship of the UMC Strategic Planning Committee along
with assisting the new heads of the Agriculture Department and the
Natural Resources Department transition into their new responsibilities.
He will organize a central location for institutional research and
planning, assess infrastructure needs, manage course staffing and
enrollments, and coordinate/promote grant writing with faculty.
We are indeed fortunate to have a person of Dr. Nelson's capabilities to serve in this interim capacity. His past directorship of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and being current director of the Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources position him well to assist in the development of this new position. He will also develop liaison connections with the vice president of research of the University of Minnesota in laying the foundation for a greater research presence on the UMC campus as identified in our campus compact.
There will be a national search conducted
for the permanent holder of this position in the near future. Please
join me in congratulating Richard on this key position.
--W. Daniel Svedarsky, interim vice-chancellor, Academic Affairs
Piano
Concert May 15
Abe Hunter, a pianist from
Bemidji, will present a concert of classical music in UMC’s Kiehle
Auditorium on Saturday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is sponsored
by the UMC Music-Theater Department and is free and open to the public.
George French, associate professor and director of UMC’s Music and Theater Department will be featured. The two will play several selections written for piano, four-hands. Selections will include music by Chopin, Schumann, Ravel, Mozart, and Rossini.
Hunter has been active as a pianist in Bemidji and the Minneapolis area, and he ahs established himself as an accompanist for many vocalists and instrumentalists. He has guest conducted numerous choirs in the Twin Cities area and has also led the Perpich Center for Arts Education Chamber Orchestra.
For more information, please contact George French at 218-281-8266.
Children's
Summit 2004 to Be Broadcast Live at Coordinate Campuses
People interested in issues
involving middle childhood will not want to miss a special summit hosted
by the University of Minnesota from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday, June
4. Although space limits the number of people who can attend the
one-day event, Children's Summit 2004: "Staying Strong Through
Challenge and Change" will be broadcast live to the University's
coordinate campuses in Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester and the
University Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton.
Attendance is free, and no registration is required. At each site
hosts will facilitate discussions during the summit.
This is the second of three summits initiated by University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks. The summits serve as a major action step in Bruininks' Initiative on Children, Youth and Families, a multiyear effort to focus the university's expertise and public attention on the needs of children, youth and families. The summits are designed to engage university and community leaders throughout Minnesota in sustained partnerships for the benefit of Minnesota children. The summit series will bring attention to the first two decades of life and how children at every developmental stage need to start strong and stay strong.
This year's summit focuses on issues relating to middle childhood and the transition to adolescence. The topics are timely, because current research shows that the elementary and middle school years (ages 5 to 13) play a distinct role in child development, and appropriate interventions during middle childhood are demonstrating good outcomes in later adolescence.
Summit viewing sites:
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Duluth campus, Room 458, Humanities Building, 1201 Ordean Court.
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Crookston campus, Room 220, Dowell Hall
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Morris campus, Room 7, Humanities & Fine Arts Building.
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Rochester campus, Room 112, Science and Technology Building.
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Lamberton (University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center), 23669 130th St., Lamberton.
To view the summit on the Web, see <www.childrenssummit.umn.edu>.
Summer Voice Mail Messages
Faculty and staff who are on 9- and 10-month
contracts are reminded to create a new message for their voice mail
messaging system. If you do not plan to be on campus often or do not
plan to check your voice mail messages from home, please leave a message
that states so and provide a forwarding phone number of a faculty or
staff person who can take incoming calls. You may also want to leave
your personal forwarding summer phone number. A possible example of
such a message would be:
“Hi you’ve reached
the voice mail of Jane Doe at UMC. During the summer I will not be
checking my voice mail messages on a regular basis. If you need
immediate assistance, please contact John Doe at extension XXXX or dial
0 for the campus switchboard. [Optional: If you need to contact me
personally, you can try my home number, XXX-XXXX]. I will be back on
campus full-time on August XX. Have a great summer.”
Directions for setting messages on the phone system are posted online at <www.umcrookston.edu/facilities/phonesystemflow.htm>.
Win $100!
Help Design the UMC/NWSA Centennial Logo
With its roots in the Northwest School of
Agriculture dating back to 1905, today’s UMC is a four-year, public
university. Beginning in June 2005 and running through November 2006
(November 30, 1966, was UMC’s dedication as a college), the campus will
mark a century of educational service to the state of Minnesota.
We plan to offer a series of events for all UMC and NWSA alumni, but we need your help designing a logo. Draw up your concept and send it to us. If the Centennial Planning Committee uses elements of your logo design, you could earn a $100 prize!
Send your logo ideas to:
UMC/NWSA Centennial Planning Committee
care of Andrew Svec
120 Kiehle Building
2900 University Avenue
Crookston, MN 56716
Faculty and Staff
Awards
Congratulations to the following
faculty and staff, who received awards at the year-end recognition
celebration, held Monday, May 10, in Brown Dining Room. Be sure to
congratulate them on their hard work and accomplishments.
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United Staff Association Employee of the Semester – Brenda Dale, Financial Aid
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Outstanding Service to Students with Disabilities – Rebekah Seeger, Instructional Technology Center; Dan Lim, assistant professor of information technology and director, Instructional Technology Center; and Bonnie Boyle, instructor of biology
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Outstanding Learning Partner Award – Sister Karen representing the Crookston Care and Share
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Service Learning Award – Jerry Knutson, associate professor of biology
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Outstanding Community Service Award – Dennis Magsam, Media Services
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Builders of Diversity Award – Jerry Knutson, associate professor of biology
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Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Distinguished Service Award – Sue Dwyer, Publications and Design
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Professional and Administrative Distinguished Service Award – Les Johnson, director, Human Resources
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Distinguished Faculty Award – Soo-Yin Lim-Thompson, associate professor of early childhood education
Accolades
Congratulations to Jeff Sperling, director, Center for Technology
Support Services, and Liz Tollefson, assistant director, Office
of Development, who have been selected to take part in the 2004-2005
President's Emerging Leaders Program. This year-long program is for a
cohort of 25 highly motivated P & A, Civil Service, and Bargaining Unit
staff throughout the University system. Participants take part in both
educational and experiential activities aimed at fostering a broad
perspective of the University as an enterprise as well as promoting
skill development that enhances their leadership effectiveness. Learn
more at <www1.umn.edu/ohr/pel/>.
UMC Publications and
Design Summer Schedule
Staff in UMC’s Publications and Design Department
will soon be leaving for summer break. All faculty and staff making use
of the department’s printing, duplicating, and design services are
encouraged to consult the staffing schedule below when planning their
on-campus printing and publications. We have tried to stagger the leave
and return times to help office coverage. Thanks for your
consideration.
Sue Dwyer
Last day in the office: Friday, May 21
Return date: Tuesday, August 17
Patti Tiedemann
Last day in the office: Tuesday, May 11
Return date: Tuesday, August 3
Linda Wilkens
Last day in the office: Friday, June 11
Return date: Wednesday, August 4
--Andrew Svec, director of communications
Bulletin
Schedule for Summer
The May 12 edition of the UMC Weekly Bulletin will be
the last weekly edition for this academic year. Over the three summer
months there will be three “Summer News” issues. Following are the
scheduled publication dates with submission deadline dates in
parentheses.
-
June 7 (deadline, Friday, June 4)
-
July 12 (deadline, Friday, July 9)
-
August 9 (deadline, Friday, August 6)
Please submit all items for Summer News to Andrew Svec at asvec@umn.edu. The UMC Weekly Bulletin will resume publication on Wednesday, August 18, 2004. Deadline for submission for that edition will be noon on Tuesday, August 17.
VolunTEAM
Update
Assistance needed installing a handicap bar and shower head. For more
information, please call Judy at 281-7393.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Crookston VolunTEAM, please contact Lisa Loegering in the VolunTEAM office (Dowell 112) at 281-8526 or <loege005@umn.edu>. Or, simply visit <www.volunteam.org>.
Special Dates
Birthdays
May 11 – Rand Rasmussen
May 13 – Sharon Stewart
May 22 – Stephanie Helgeson
May 23 – Jennifer Ganyo
May 23 – Barney Selzler
May 29 – Maxine Rasmussen
May 30 – Steve Hannah
June 3 – Soo-Yin Lim-Thompson
Reminder: Faculty and staff are encouraged to share well wishes for birthdays, anniversaries, births, etc. with the rest of the campus. Please send items for this week’s special dates via e-mail to Andrew Svec at asvec@umn.edu and/or Sue Dwyer at sdwyer@umn.edu. Thanks.
UMC Insight
UMC Insight, the weekly radio
show about UMC, airs on KROX Radio 1260 AM Saturdays at 8:45 a.m.
Insight will not air on Saturday, May 15, but tune in Saturday, May 22,
to hear another interesting interview. Insight will end production for
the summer after the May 22 edition. The program is hosted by Andrew
Svec, UMC’s director of communications.
UMC
Bulletin
The UMC Weekly Bulletin is posted
at:
<www.UMCrookston.edu/campusinfo/wkbulletin/bulletin.htm>
Publication Information:
The UMC
Weekly Bulletin is published by University Relations weekly September
through May. Copy deadline is noon on Tuesday of each week. The Weekly
Bulletin is edited by Andrew Svec, director of communications, with
production assistance by Sue Dwyer, word processing specialist. Please
send items for the bulletin electronically to Andrew Svec at
asvec@umn.edu with a copy to Sue Dwyer at
sdwyer@umn.edu.
Disability accommodations will be provided upon request for all events. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.