September 2, 2025

Welcome to Insights from Student Affairs. This monthly series serves as your go-to source for the latest updates and information directly from Student Affairs professionals at Michigan Tech.

To kick off this year's series, Kellie Raffaelli, dean of students and associate vice president for student affairs, shares expertise about supporting our students through crises.

"The Dean of Students Office manages crisis situations daily for undergraduate and graduate students," Raffaelli writes. "We provide guidance, interventions, and resource coordination, following a 'challenge and support' philosophy. We present students with options, empowering them to make informed decisions instead of deciding for them."

Learn more about how the Dean of Students Office manages crises and the partnerships that make this work possible on the Student Affairs Newsblog.

Associate professors are invited to join Advanced Career Management (ACM), a peer mentoring program focused on career planning and strategies for midcareer faculty. A program introduction meeting will be held on Sept. 18 from noon to 1 p.m. in MUB Ballroom B1 and B2. Lunch will be provided.

Please complete the ACM Interest Form by next Wednesday, Sept. 10, to indicate your interest and RSVP for the introductory meeting. If you are interested in the program but cannot attend the meeting, please indicate this on the form and you will be contacted by email.

The session will introduce the ACM program and explain the ACM affinity groups. Each affinity group meets six times during the year and is facilitated by a senior guide. If you have any questions, please check the Advanced Career Management website for information or send an email to Shari Stockero at stockero@mtu.edu.

The ACM program was developed by ADVANCE at Michigan Tech, an NSF-funded initiative dedicated to increasing faculty retention, improving campus climate and enhancing the career success of our faculty, and is now supported by the Provost’s Office.

Tech Today has introduced a new submission form hosted on the University Marketing and Communications website's Submit a Tech Today Post page.

The new form allows you to add hyperlinks when you send announcements to Tech Today. Because of this new ability, we will no longer accept Google document URLs submitted in place of announcement text. Please send your announcements and links to us directly through the form.

If you have any questions or encounter any issues while using the new form, please contact Tech Today at tech-today@mtu.edu.

Best Practice Tip: Place hyperlinks on descriptive keywords that identify your link’s destination.

• Choose natural, descriptive display text like Tech Today daily newsletter
• Avoid words like click here and URLs like mtu.edu/ttoday

See Michigan Tech’s Accessible Technology Training Resources and the UMC Editorial Guide for more info.

President Rick Koubek will continue to hold regularly scheduled open office hours this semester for all faculty, staff and students on Wednesdays from 2-4 p.m.

Please contact Heather Herman at hlherman@mtu.edu if you would like to schedule an appointment.

The Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab (RRSL) in the Department of Applied Computing and Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology at Michigan Tech invites applications for a fully funded Ph.D. student graduate research assistant (GRA) position beginning in spring 2026. The RRSL conducts research in robotics and machine learning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate student who holds or currently pursues a master's degree in mechatronics, robotics, computer science, electrical engineering or a related field.
• A solid foundation in Ubuntu and ROS.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as MATLAB, Python and C++.
• Prior experience in publications is required.
• Prior experience in robotics is preferred.
• Preference will be given to candidates with additional experience in mobile manipulators and human-robot interaction.
• Prior experience in digital twins is preferred.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates can apply online via the PhD Position in RSSL application form. For any inquiries or further information, please contact amazen@mtu.edu.

Please remember to submit check requests for disbursements from the Michigan Tech Fund Endowed Funds to mtfchecks@mtu.edu by Sept. 15 to meet the deadline for the Sept. 24 payment date.

Michigan Tech Athletics will host the inaugural McCarthy "Meet The Hockey Huskies" Community Mixer on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.

The mixer is named in honor of legendary MTU hockey player George McCarthy and his family, and is free and open to the public.

Mixer Activities:

• Huskies intrasquad scrimmage sponsored by Aspirus Health
• Free concessions including popcorn, soda and Vollwerth's hot dogs
• Zamboni rides
• Skate with the Huskies
• Locker room tours

Families can also enjoy inflatable bounce house games and special stations around the arena, like a photo booth with a green screen. Plus, kids will have the opportunity to put the radio headsets on and call the play-by-play from the press box during the scrimmage.

See the full event schedule at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Don't forget to bring your skates and helmet. The skate rental center at the Mac will be open during the event. MTU's new hockey head coach Bill Muckalt, the Huskies Pep Band and Mitch's Misfits will all be part of the fun as well.

Michigan Tech Athletics thanks the McCarthy family, Vollwerth's Baroni Company, Aspirus Health and Husky Eats for their partnerships. Also, a special thank-you goes out to the Athletics staff for cooking and serving the food.

Michigan Tech’s Safety Team — Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and the Office of Risk, Insurance, Safety, Security, and Compliance (RISSC) — will be hosting our next monthly coffee talk: a chance for all Huskies to share a cup of coffee and learn about the importance of campus health and safety.

We invite you to join us tomorrow, Sept. 3, from 9-10 a.m. in the MUB Alumni Lounge.

Topic: The Chemistry Graduate Safety Committee will present.

Enjoy a coffee and snacks while graduate students from the Department of Chemistry’s Graduate Safety Committee will discuss how they strive to enhance safety culture in our chemistry labs through proactive engagement and events. They will be presenting some of their previous events as well as their goals for the future. Please join us to see how this student group is changing the safety culture for graduate students.

In addition, there will be an informal opportunity to talk with our campus safety professionals about other safety-related questions and issues.

Mark your calendar and come ask the questions you have always wanted to ask and get the answers you need about Michigan Tech Safety programs, legal compliance issues and additional resources... and have a cup of Joe with the Safety Crew!

No matter where you are in life — just getting started or planning for retirement — a session with a financial consultant can help you create a plan for your goals. And, there's no cost for a consultation as a part of your retirement plan. You’ll get answers to these questions and more:

• Am I invested in the right mix of investments to help meet my goals?
• Am I saving enough to create the retirement income I need?
• How do I take income from my retirement account once I stop working?

Matthew Bunch from the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) will be available on Michigan Tech's campus for one-on-one sessions from Sept. 29 through Oct. 3. MTU employees can schedule time slots with Bunch at the Lakeshore Center (Conference Room 201) and at the MUB Greenstone Room (MUB 106A) during his time here.

RSVP today, as space is limited. You can register for sessions with TIAA directly by logging in to your TIAA or guest account, then searching for "Michigan Tech" in the Institution field. When asked how you would like to meet, select "In Person at My Employer."

You can also register for a meeting by calling TIAA at 800-732-8353 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

Korean (or Korean heritage) students, faculty and staff at Michigan Tech and family who reside in the Upper Peninsula are invited to the Annual Korean Gathering on Sept. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at McLain State Park in Hancock.

For the gathering, there are several things to ask your help with:

1. If you come to the gathering with your family, please bring a light dish other than BBQ.
2. Please bring a rug, mat or chairs to use when you sit at the beach or on the grass.
3. Please bring sport gear or supplies for other fun activities as you like (e.g., for football, soccer, frisbee, etc.).

A participation fee of $40 per family or $20 per adult is asked. Students attend free. Students don't have to bring dishes, but any dishes are welcome!

In order to help prepare the gathering, please RSVP with the number of attendees. Your prompt response by email to Youngchul Ra at yra@mtu.edu will be greatly appreciated.

Event Details:

• What: Annual Korean Gathering 2025
• When: Saturday, Sept. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Where: McLain State Park, 18350 Highway M-203, Hancock, MI 49930

This event is not organized by MTU International Programs and Services.

Students who are completing a dissertation, thesis or report are invited to join the Graduate School to learn about the resources available to them to assist in scheduling their defense, formatting their documents, and submitting their documents. In one afternoon, you can learn everything you need to be successful and complete your degree in a timely fashion! Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend. Attend the entire event, or stop in for the seminar that interests you.

• When: Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 2-4 p.m. (see a detailed schedule on our blog)
• Who: Students completing a dissertation, thesis or report; faculty and staff who assist students with submission.
• Where: Join virtually on Zoom (please register to attend online and receive participation instructions) and in person in Admin 404 (room capacity is 30).
• Registration: Please register to receive handouts via email or attend online. The seminar will be available online as well as on campus.

If you are unable to join us, a recording of the event will be available online after the event. The previous semester’s seminars are always available online.

Information on submitting, formatting and more can be found online for dissertations and theses or reports.

Job Postings for Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Senior Administrative Aide (12 months, 40 hours), Rosza Center for the Performing Arts. (UAW posting dates are Sept. 2 to Sept. 8, 2025. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates.)

D​epartment Coordinator, Graduate School.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

Peter Larsen (VPR) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $199,896 other sponsored activities grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled “Planning: Reducing Barriers to the U.S. Research Enterprise through Knowledge Management System Creation.”

Amy Spahn (CTT), Jessica Brassard (AVPRD), Kathy Halvorsen (AVPRI) and Kelly Kallio (SPO) are co-PIs on this potential two-year project.

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Bo Xiao (CEGE/ICC) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $49,999 other sponsored activities grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled “Conference: CI PAOS: Challenges and Opportunities of Research Data Management in Construction Engineering.”

Ronghua Xu (AC/ICC) is a co-PI on this potential one-year project.

Erich Petushek (PsyHF/HRI) is the lead author of an article published in Physical Therapy in Sport.

The article is titled "Biopsychosocial profiles following ACL reconstruction: A latent class analysis of barriers to return-to-activity."

CTL Fall Book Club

Do you find grading challenging? Are you looking for strategies to hold students to high standards while effectively managing your grading load?

Please join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning's (CTL's) Fall 2025 Faculty Book Club, focused on "Specifications Grading: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, and Saving Faculty Time" by Linda Nilson.

During five biweekly sessions, we will learn about and discuss the specifications grading approach and how it might be applied to improve student and faculty grading experiences. Meetings will be held in Library 103. The first session will be held next Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 2-3 p.m.

Each club participant receives their own copy of the book to retain for their use.

Register for the CTL Fall Book Club.

For accommodations, please contact Catharine Gruver at cgruver@mtu.edu or 906-487-3026.

Book Club Dates:

• Tuesday, Sept. 9
• Tuesday, Sept. 23
• Tuesday, Oct. 7
• Tuesday, Oct. 21
• Tuesday, Nov. 4

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Coffee Chats with the CTL – Connect, Share, Inspire

Take a break and join the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) for our biweekly Coffee Chats! Our first meeting is set for Thursday, Sept. 4, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Library 243.

Enjoy a complimentary beverage from Velodrome Coffee Co. as you connect with colleagues from across campus in a relaxed, informal setting. These sessions offer an open space to:

• Share teaching ideas
• Learn from one another
• Collaborate and build community

No agenda. No presentations. Just rich conversation and meaningful connections.

Thursday's Coffee Chat Topic: Tips and Tricks for a Great Semester!

We'll kick off the series by sharing strategies, tools and insights to help set the tone for a successful and engaging semester!

Come as you are — whether you're looking for inspiration, support, good company or simply an afternoon break. We'd love to see you there!

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Make New Friends, Rep Your Culture in the Parade of Nations!

Whether you're new to Michigan Tech or back for another exciting year, this is your official invite to one of the most colorful, fun and welcoming events of the year: the Parade of Nations on Sept. 20!

The parade starts at 11 a.m. outside the Van Pelt and Opie Library and marches through downtown Houghton to Dee Stadium, where the multicultural festival kicks off. It's all about celebrating who we are, where we come from and how awesome we can be together.

Ready to get involved? Here's how:

• Walk in the Parade with Your Group
  Campus org? Community group? Fraternal org that wants to dress up and dance down the street? We want you in the lineup. Walking groups help show off the incredibly rich cultural representation at Tech and in our community, and it's a great way to meet people and show your pride. Sign up your group to walk. Deadline for guaranteed spots is Sept. 9!
• Carry a Flag (and Maybe Make Some Flag-Friends)
  Want to rep your heritage, your home country, or just a place you support? Grab a flag and walk in the parade, solo or with others. There's no need to be part of a big group. Everyone's welcome! Flag requests are due by Sept. 13. First come, first served!
• Build a Float + Win Some Cash
  Yes, there are prizes! If you're part of a student org or community group, you can enter a float based on this year's theme: Games Around the World. Get creative and show off your favorite game, sport or hobby! Bonus: Student orgs can apply for a float grant to help cover supplies. Grant requests are due by next Monday, Sept. 1. Float entries are due Sept. 6.
• Volunteer Behind the Scenes
  Not a walker or builder? No worries! You can still be part of the magic. Help set up, carry signs, guide groups or lend a hand at the festival. It's a fun way to give back, and you'll be part of the energy that keeps the event running smoothly. Volunteer shifts are open now! This is your chance to show up, be seen and be part of something that brings everyone together. Grab your friends or come solo! Sign up, and we'll see you on Sept. 20.

Questions? Shoot Parade of Nations organizers an email at paradeofnations@mtu.edu or stop by the International Programs and Services office on the second floor of the Administration Building (Admin 200).

Let's make this year's Parade of Nations the most vibrant one yet.

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Jazz Studies Minor Michael Tarske Plays Music for the Cubs

Michael Tarske is a senior electrical engineering technology major, but he's also a talented trumpeter and arranger minoring in jazz studies during his time at Michigan Tech.

Tarske has played in just about every instrumental ensemble at MTU. He has worn stripes with the Huskies Pep Band and tuxedos with the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, and has screamed high notes with the Jazz Lab Band and the Workshop Brass Band.

On Aug. 17, Tarske made the leap to the professional level after being called to play trumpet with the Chicago-based Four Star Brass Band. The gig? Wrigley Field, playing for the Chicago Cubs.

Fans of the Cubs heard Tarske's high notes ring through the stadium as part of the band's performance before and after the Cubs' 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

MTU's Jazz Studies program and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts as a whole would like to congratulate Michael on this milestone!

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Support the HuskyFAN Pantry!

Michigan Tech's food pantry, the Husky Food Access Network (HuskyFAN), is seeing record demand for our services. To date, we've distributed over 11,000 pounds of food this year, highlighting the critical issue of food insecurity on campus.

You can help keep our pantry stocked and accessible for students who need it. Please consider donating non-expired, nonperishable food and toiletries. Your contribution makes a direct impact on our students' success and well-being.

Donations can be dropped off anytime outside the pantry, located in the Fisher Hall alcove across from Fisher 135.

High-Need Items:

• Soup
• Canned meat and fish
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Snack foods and cereal
• Pasta, rice and lentils

Thank you for your generosity and for helping to ensure a more successful semester for all of our Huskies.

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Introducing IDEAhub's Innovation in Teaching and Learning Library Collection

Looking to shake up your courses and inspire your students? The IDEAhub: Innovation in Teaching and Learning collection is now available through the Van Pelt and Opie Library. The collection is packed with fresh ideas and practical strategies to help you do just that.

From crafting engaging curricula and implementing active learning techniques to exploring the exciting possibilities of teaching with artificial intelligence, these books offer a wealth of knowledge to refresh your approach in the classroom. Check out the collection to discover new ways to ignite curiosity and foster deeper learning!

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CFO and VP for Administration Office Hours

Michigan Tech's chief financial officer and vice president for administration, Carlos Rodriguez, will hold office hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Monday during the 2025-26 academic year. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to schedule an appointment.

Appointments with Rodriguez can also be scheduled through a link on the Finance and Administration website. Click the Make an Appointment button located under the Office Hours heading.

Finance and Administration oversees and advises on all matters pertaining to the management and operation of the departments listed below, providing essential infrastructure, service and support to the Michigan Tech campus community.

• Administration
• Auxiliary and Business Services
• Facilities Management
• Financial Services and Operations
• Human Resources
• Information Technology

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Fully Funded PhD Opportunity in Machine Learning-Led Intelligent Drug Discovery

The Kaushal Molecular Intelligence and Drug Discovery (MIND) Lab in the Department of Applied Computing at Michigan Tech invites applications for a fully funded Ph.D. student graduate research assistant (GRA) position starting in spring 2026. Our computational lab focuses on cutting-edge research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, molecular design and functional drug discovery.

About the Project
You will work at the intersection of machine learning and cheminformatics to accelerate early-stage drug discovery. You will develop prototypes of generative and predictive models that could learn rich molecular representations, design from scratch state-of-the-art large language models for chemical modeling, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in academia and industry.

Required Qualifications:

• A demonstrated background in deep learning
• Proficiency in large language models (LLMs) and frameworks such as Hugging Face
• Strong experience in PyTorch for model implementation and training
• Robust understanding of convolutional neural networks (CNNs)
• Strong programming skills in Python

Bonus Qualifications:

• Familiarity with cheminformatics concepts and tools (e.g., RDKit)
• Experience with graph neural networks (GNNs)
• Proficiency in experiment tracking using TensorBoard or Weights & Biases
• Background in computational chemistry, bioinformatics or related fields

Interested candidates can apply through the PhD Position in Kaushal MIND Lab - Spring 2026 application form.

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K-Day Is Coming Up!

K-Day, short for Keweenaw Day, is an annual tradition at Michigan Tech held on the Friday after Labor Day. It is a registered student organization fair with over 200 groups in attendance. Each year on K-Day, classes release at noon so our students can learn about ways to get involved and connected at Tech.

This year, K-Day is next Friday, Sept. 5, from 1-5 p.m. at Chassell Centennial Park.

K-Day typically sees around 3,500-4,000 students participate, so be sure to check out this amazing event so you don't miss out!

K-Day would not be possible without all the help from our volunteers. There are volunteer opportunities all day long. You can sign up to help out on our K-Day 2025 Volunteer Sign-Up.

If you advise a student organization, this is also a great opportunity to connect with your members and have some fun.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Taylor Piering at rso@mtu.edu.

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

CTL Technical Workshop: iClicker

Tuesday, September 2, 2 p.m.–2 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, 243

Join the Center for Teaching and Learning (Technical Workshops) for the following opportunity: The Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) will host a technical workshop Thursday (September 2, 2025) 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 here and make plans to join us Thursday, September 2, 2025 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 Spring semester.

Van Pelt & Opie Library New Student Orientation

Tuesday, September 2, 4:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room (1st floor)

Learn the basics of using library resources at MTU. Including how to locate and download materials, use interlibrary loan, and search within specialized databases. New graduate students are highly encouraged to attend but all are welcome—including transfer students, and students who have already started but want to upgrade their library searching skills. Registration reccommended but not required! Tuesday, August 26 from 1-2:30pm registration here Wednesday, August 27 from 11am-12:30pm registration here Tuesday September 2 from 4-5:30pm registration here

International Students: What to Expect From Career Fair

Tuesday, September 2, 5 p.m.–5 p.m. | Fisher Hall (Building 15), 138

The career services team will help international students prepare for the fall career fair. We will talk about what to expect and how to make most of your time. Please download the Handshake app and we will show you how to use it through the recruiting season.

International Students: What to Expect From Career Fair

Tuesday, September 2, 5 p.m.–5 p.m. | Dow 642

The career services team will help international students prepare for the fall career fair. We will talk about what to expect and how to make most of your time. Please download the Handshake app and we will show you how to use it through the recruiting season. For more information see Handshake.

NCSA General Meeting

Tuesday, September 2, 6 p.m.–6 p.m. | Chem-Sci 211

NCSA's weekly meeting is where we cover what's going on in the organization, often followed by a guest presenter, then discussion of what's going on in the world of tech. Meeting time and location may be subject to changes (ex. room conflicts, guest availability). Announcements will be made in NCSA's Discord server, invite link available via our website.

Sorority Life Info Session: Ask Questions. Get Answers.

Tuesday, September 2, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Memorial Union Building, Alumni Lounge

Learn about Sorority Life with seasoned Sorority sisters! Ask questions about recruitment, costs, housing, events, attire, and other relevant topics. We have the answers to help you make one of the best college decisions of your life!

Weekly Practice

Tuesday, September 2, 6:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. | Upper Field

Come practice your soccer skills with us! We run practice like a competitive club team. We practice similarly to how a competitive club or high school team would. We start with a warm-up lap, dynamic warm-up up and passing. This is followed by technical drills or small-sided games to work out team weak areas. Usually, we end with a scrimmage or shooting.

Bonfire at Sigma Pi (Rush)

Tuesday, September 2, 8 p.m.–9 p.m. | Sigma Pi Zeta Epsilon

Bonfire at Sigma Pi house!