August 13, 2025

Michigan Tech's Vice President for Research Office has appointed Greg Odegard (MAE/MSE) as the founding executive director of the University’s newest research institute. Frontiers Research Institute will provide administrative support for four specialized centers: the Michigan Tech Transportation Institute (MTTI), the Institute of Materials Processing (IMP), the Michigan Tech Aerospace Engineering Research Center (MARC), and the Research and Innovation in STEAM Education Institute (RISE).

Odegard’s appointment represents a key milestone in the University’s research organization realignment, completing the administrative restructuring announced earlier this year. His appointment finalizes the transition from the previous center/institute structure to the new, streamlined institute and center framework.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build the new institute from the ground up and to develop it into an important research asset for the University, the State of Michigan, and the Nation,” said Odegard.

Odegard brings extensive leadership experience to this new role, having previously served as director of MARC, director of NASA’s Space Technology Research Institute (STRI) for Ultra-Strong Composites by Computational Design (US-COMP), and site director for the National Science Foundation's Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) for Novel High Voltage/Temperature Materials and Structures.

Frontiers Research Institute will provide administrative support and resources to the four centers under its umbrella while preserving each center’s distinctive research focus and operational independence. This structure strengthens Michigan Tech’s research ecosystem by optimizing resources.

“The new institute will be a catalyst for the growth of its centers, providing more services for their members and students,” said Andrew Barnard, Tech’s vice president for research. “I look forward to seeing the enhanced collaboration between MTTI, MARC, IMP, and RISE through Frontiers Research Institute, under Greg’s leadership.”

The institute will officially begin operations this fall, with Odegard working closely with the directors of MTTI, IMP, MARC and RISE to integrate operations and maintain each center’s unique identity.

As the University prepares for our new students to arrive for fall 2025, we are asking for your help, patience and understanding as we welcome our new Huskies during Move-In Days. These are landmark days for our new students and their families. With this being an exciting and emotional time for many, we ask for your support as we guide them during this transition to their new Husky home.

Move-In Days/Times:

• Monday, Aug. 18, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During Move-In, we will have controlled traffic patterns throughout campus to help our new students and their families move through the Check-In and Orientation process. To support our efforts, please park in the following lots:

Open Faculty/Staff Lots:

• Lot 2 — Behind the ROTC Building
• Lot 8 East — Behind the Rozsa
• Lot 10 East and West — Beside East Hall (with solar panels)
• Lot 12 — In front of the MUB
• Lot 13 — In front of Fisher
• Lot 14 — Hamar House
• Lot 18 — Noblet
• Lot 26 — Garnet and Seventh Avenue
• Lot 33 — Meese

The following lots will be closed, as they are part of the controlled traffic route to assist new students and their families.

Closed Lots/Entrances:

• Lot 1 — Admin
• Lot 3 — Behind the R. L. Smith Building (MEEM)
• Lot 4 — Hillside
• Lot 5 — Between the Rozsa and East Hall
• Lot 7 East and West — Behind DHH
• Lot 8 West — Behind Walker
• Lot 11 — Black permit lot next to Admin
• Lot 15 East and West — In front of Wads
• Lot 16 — East McNair
• Lot 17 Upper and Lower — Behind Wads
• Lot 27 — Admin visitor lot
• The Hubbell/Townsend intersection will be closed.
• All meters will be closed.
• Cliff Drive parallel parking will be unavailable.

Your patience and cooperation in support of Move-In are a huge help, and we thank you for your understanding as we welcome our students and their families to campus.

Please note that all parking permit holders will receive an email from Transportation Services with additional lot closure information.

Provost Andrew Storer will hold office hours from 1:30-3:30 p.m. each Thursday during the 2025-26 academic year. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to schedule an appointment by emailing Amie Ledgerwood at provost@mtu.edu.

In addition to scheduled office hours, the provost will also hold open office hours, which will not require an appointment. Open office hours are scheduled at Velodrome Coffee Co. on the first floor of the Van Pelt and Opie Library on the following days and times:

• Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to noon
• Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m. to noon
• Wednesday, April 1, from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

The information provided here is also available on the Academic Affairs website. To view it, click the Office Hours icon in the bottom right corner of the banner image at the top of the page.

As in the past, employees serving on faculty search committees and tenure and promotion committees (TPR) are required to complete a course now called the Faculty Hiring and Review Workshop. The workshop covers high-impact practices for attracting the best candidates, required steps for search committees, legal aspects of hiring, and approaches for successfully promoting and retaining faculty.

The requirements for completing this workshop will remain the same:

• The full workshop is a three-week asynchronous course in Canvas facilitated by fellow faculty members.
• For those who have already taken the full workshop, we offer one-week “refreshers” that include new trends and research.
• A refresher workshop is required every four years to maintain current status. Faculty must be current to serve on a faculty search or TPR committee.
• Those with expired status are required to take the full workshop.
• Each semester we offer one full workshop and two refreshers.

This summer, the workshop content, website and enrollment process have been updated. The workshop is managed by fellow faculty members in collaboration with Academic Affairs, Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX, and the Office of Community Engagement.

Enrollment is now open!

Use the Schedule and Registration page to choose the best course for you. Then, use the Faculty Hiring and Review Workshop Registration form to indicate your preferred workshop. You will receive an enrollment confirmation email from Human Resources. Please allow 48 hours for confirmation!

Use the Workshop Status page to check faculty completion and expiration status (ISO login required).

Please plan your completion of the workshop and refresher courses in advance. These courses have enrollment caps and cannot be provided on demand. The provost will not make exceptions.

New faculty are encouraged to enroll in the full workshop in the spring semester of their first year. Faculty enrolling in a refresher course to maintain their status must complete the refresher before their status expires.

Please note: Faculty who were enrolled in last spring’s workshops that got canceled have priority enrollment for this year’s workshops and will get an extra year to maintain their status without taking the full workshop.

If you have any questions, please contact workshop coordinator Sarah F. Scarlett at sfscarle@mtu.edu or 906-487-2110.

Career Services is launching a brand-new event this fall! Our first Local Employer Expo will connect Michigan Tech students with professional opportunities right here in our own community. We created this event to bring together a wide range of local companies offering part-time jobs, full-time roles and job-shadowing experiences.

The expo is a valuable opportunity for students to explore career paths, build connections and discover ways to gain real-world experience while living and learning in the Keweenaw.

No registration is required for students to attend. Just stop by, explore opportunities and start building your professional future — right here, right now.

Interested employers with offices located in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties can register on Handshake.

Event Details:

• What: Local Employer Expo
• When: Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Employer booths will be set up under a tent on the Campus Mall. (An alternate indoor location will be provided if needed.)

The Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) will be attending a retreat on Monday, Aug. 18. During this time, responses from our faculty and staff may be delayed.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Faculty and staff are invited to volunteer for one of Michigan Tech’s longest-standing and most beloved campus traditions — the Parade of Nations, happening Sept. 20. Volunteering is a great way to engage with the campus and local community while supporting a celebration of global cultures.

A wide variety of volunteer roles are available, including:

• Parade support marshals
• Banner and flag carriers
• Kids Corner supervisors
• Festival floaters
• Street barricade monitors
• Chinese Dragon participants
• Setup and cleanup support

Parade lineup begins at 10 a.m., and the parade steps off at 11 a.m. from the Van Pelt and Opie Library, ending at Dee Stadium. Volunteer shifts are available throughout the day — from early-morning setup to afternoon wrap-up.

Faculty and staff can sign up to volunteer on GivePulse. A volunteer link is also available on the Parade of Nations website.

For questions, email paradeofnations@mtu.edu. You can also follow the event @mtu.paradeofnations on Instagram for the latest updates.

Help us celebrate the multicultural community that makes Michigan Tech and the Keweenaw so special.

The William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) will host a technical workshop on Sept. 2 to introduce instructors to iClicker Cloud software.

iClicker Cloud helps instructors engage with their students in the classroom by asking polling questions that can promote discussion, identify areas of confusion and generate questions. Michigan Tech has a campus site license for iClicker Cloud, so instructors can use this tool at no additional cost to their students.

In this CTL technical workshop, we’ll review how to get started using iClicker Cloud in your classroom. We’ll review how to set up your instructor account, iClicker Groups, make custom course settings to meet your needs, and integrate the course with your Canvas course.

Register for the workshop and make plans to join us Sept. 2 from 2-3 p.m. in Library 243.

Contact the CTL at elearning@mtu.edu with any questions about this workshop, requesting accommodations, or using iClicker Cloud in your class this fall semester.

The Mining Journal mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Stormy Kromer’s new Collegiate Collection of its signature wool hats. The hat designs feature MTU and 17 other universities across Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

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The Lansing State Journal mentioned Michigan Tech in a roundup of fall semester start dates for Michigan’s universities. The story was picked up by 19 regional news outlets.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the GLIAC preseason football coaches poll, which placed the Huskies fifth for the 2025 season.

CTL Kickoff Coffee Chat: Building Communities of Practice

Start the semester with a warm beverage and a fresh perspective on teaching!

Join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) for a special kickoff event to launch our Fall Coffee Chat series. Planned on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 10-11 a.m. outside Velodrome, this session will introduce the concept of Communities of Practice — informal, supportive groups where educators can connect, collaborate, and grow together.

What to Expect:

• Opportunities to find like-minded colleagues and shared teaching interests
• A pre-reflection activity to spark ideas and self-discovery
• A complimentary beverage from Velodrome
• A preview of the Fall Coffee Chat schedule — both formal and informal sessions
• Highlights of other CTL events and offerings this semester

Whether you're new to teaching or a seasoned educator, this is a great chance to connect, reflect and kick off the semester with energy and community.

No RSVP is needed — just bring your curiosity and enjoy some great conversation!

Event Details:

• What: CTL Kickoff Coffee Chat: Building Communities of Practice
• When: Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 10-11 a.m.
• Where: Outside Velodrome Coffee Co. (look for the orange conversation flag!)

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Sponsored Programs Team Retreat Today

Remember, Michigan Tech's Sponsored Programs teams are participating in a retreat today, Aug. 13. As a result, there may be delays in communication from our Pre-Award, Grants and Contracts, and Post-Award teams.

We appreciate your understanding and support!

To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.

Trivia Night

Wednesday, August 13, 7:00–8:30 p.m. | Wadsworth Hall Annex/G11

Get Ready for Trivia Night! 🎉 Join Student Leadership and Involvement for a night of brain-teasing fun at Trivia Night — a lively evening filled with laughter, prizes, and...