December 12, 2025

The College of Sciences and Arts (CSA) applauds our nearly 50 soon-to-be graduates as they march toward Michigan Tech’s Midyear Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13. Along with their caps and gowns, they bring with them the support of Husky faculty, staff and leadership.

“I feel hopeful for the future, knowing that this class is entering the workforce. They want to make a difference and have positive impacts through their work and accomplishments,” said LaReesa Wolfenbarger, dean of the College.

“This class is filled with incredibly motivated students who are pushing themselves outside their comfort zones and digging deep to be the best versions of themselves they can be,” said Nicholas Detterman ’25, who is earning his BS in Human Biology. “It’s truly inspiring to be a part of such a dedicated class.”

Read about the curiosity and drive that got the Class of 2025 this far on the College of Sciences and Arts Newsblog.

The Memorial Union Building hours for winter break are listed below.

Please note that general student tap access to the MUB will be unavailable starting Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Thursday, Jan. 1.

Building employee tap access will remain unchanged.

MUB Winter Break Hours:

• Saturday, Dec. 13, through Tuesday, Dec. 23 — 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Thursday, Jan. 1 — Closed

Business Support Center Winter Break Hours:

• Monday, Dec. 15, through Friday, Dec. 19 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 22, through Thursday, Jan. 1 — Closed

Adam Meckler, associate professor of visual and performing arts and director of jazz studies at Michigan Tech, released the collaborative album “Sampled” in early November. The album is a bold reimagining of his work with the Adam Meckler Orchestra (AMO) and features 10 brand-new songs.

“‘Sampled’ was an experiment in collaboration,” said Meckler. “Since each one of my collaborators is a prolific artist on their own, I wanted to give them as little direction as possible and work within the framework of their ideas when building the songs. I invited producers to dig into the Adam Meckler Orchestra catalog to choose something to sample. Collaborators then layered voices, keyboards and horns over top of those samples. The result feels like a conversation between past and present.”

“Sampled” reframes big band material into contemporary, beat-forward compositions that sit at the intersection of modern jazz, hip-hop and electronic production. Each song is built on producers’ samples of AMO recordings, on which Meckler collaborated with rappers, singers and instrumentalists — all topped with Meckler’s unique and expressive trumpet playing (he even takes a turn rapping). 

The album brings together jazz arranging sensibilities with beat culture: tight, hook-forward tracks that carry the orchestral heft of Meckler’s big band work. The release appears on Ropeadope SUR, a sublabel of the legendary alt-jazz label Ropeadope. 

“Sampled” was partially funded by a Research Excellence Fund grant through Michigan Technological University. The album was also partially funded by fans: A Kickstarter campaign raised more than $5,000 in advance purchases of CDs, vinyls and T-shirts — a direct show of fan investment that helped bring the project to life.

“Sampled” is available now on major streaming platforms and for purchase via Bandcamp. CDs and vinyl records are available on Meckler’s website.

Job Posting for Friday, Dec. 12, 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.

Faculty Development Specialist, Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

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.

The Iron Mountain Daily News picked up a Michigan Tech News story previewing the University’s 2025 Midyear Commencement ceremony, being held tomorrow, Dec. 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the SDC.

The Detroit Free Press, Sault News, Monroe News and 16 regional outlets mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Upper Peninsula being voted the nation’s top destination for snow in USA Today’s 2025 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. The article highlighted major winter events and attractions in the region, including Tech’s Winter Carnival and Mont Ripley.

Christmas Holiday Payroll Schedule and Timecard Deadlines

In observance of the Christmas holidays on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, please review the adjusted payroll processing timeline for Bi-Weekly Pay Period 26 (BW26), ending Dec. 20, 2025.

These changes are necessary to ensure timely processing surrounding the holiday closure. Michigan Tech's BW26 payday will be Dec. 26, 2025.

Key Reminders:

• Hourly employees must estimate hours for all work through the end of Week 2.
• Supervisors/approvers must:
  • Approve timecards promptly.
  • Ensure proxy approvals are in place if you will be unavailable during the holiday period.

Deadlines:

• Electronic Timecard Submission and Approvals are due Thursday, Dec. 18, by midnight
• Manual Timesheets and Off-Cycle Pay Requests are due Friday, Dec. 19, by noon

Off-Cycle Pay Requests and Reallocations Processing Schedule:

• There will be an Off-Cycle and Reallocation batch processed for the Dec. 19 payday, with a Manual Timesheet and Reallocation submission deadline of Monday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m.

• There will not be an Off-Cycle or Reallocation batch during the week of Dec. 29, 2025, due to the Seasonal Days for the New Year’s holidays.

• Regular payroll schedules will resume when the University reopens on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, with BW01 payroll processing.

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Looking to Hire Students for Spring? Join the On-Campus Jobs Expo

Career Services is hosting our Spring 2026 On-Campus Jobs Expo on Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge in the MUB.

Students are encouraged to come check out the job opportunities available right here on campus. Many Michigan Tech departments will be represented. This is a great way to connect with students early and fill your open positions quickly. Get access to top student talent right at the start of the semester by reserving your table now!

If your department has not signed up and would like to attend, please contact Career Services at careerfair@mtu.edu.

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Calling All Intent to Submits for February NIH R01, R21 and R15 Opportunities!

Michigan Tech's Sponsored Programs Pre-Award team is excited to announce that we have already received a high volume of Intents to Submit for the NIH February 2026 deadlines! We are preparing to assign them to pre-award analysts.

Please help us manage the workload by telling us now if you plan to submit an R01, R21 or R15 by completing your Notification of Intent to Submit.

Internal Deadlines Announced: Please mark your calendars for the R01, R21 and R15 internal deadlines listed below. Note: All deadlines are at 7 a.m. Eastern Time.

• Full Budget Draft: Includes draft of full proposal budget, justification, and subrecipient paperwork.
• Tier 1 (Internal & Non-Science): Cayuse proposal complete/approved, final budget approved by SPO, and full application complete (excluding final research pieces).
• Tier 2 (Science & Technical): Proposal fully ready for submission.

NIH R01 Deadlines:

• Jan. 15 — Full Budget Draft
• Jan. 22 — Tier 1 (Internal & Non-Science)
• Feb. 4 — Tier 2 (Science & Technical)

NIH R21 Deadlines:

• Jan. 26 — Full Budget Draft
• Feb. 2 — Tier 1 (Internal & Non-Science)
• Feb. 12 — Tier 2 (Science & Technical)

NIH R15 Deadlines:

• Feb. 4 — Full Budget Draft
• Feb. 11 — Tier 1 (Internal & Non-Science)
• Feb. 24 — Tier 2 (Science & Technical)

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

Board of Trustees Meeting

Friday, December 12, 9–11 a.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B

Regular meeting of Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees

Master's Defense: John Sewoekpor

Friday, December 12, 9–10 a.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 201

Chemical Engineering Advisor: Lei Pan Oil Agglomeration as a Method for Separation of Mixed Materials from Spent Li-ion Batteries

Fall 2025 CEGE Senior Design Colloquium

Friday, December 12, 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 641

The Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Department is pleased to invite the University community to attend the fall 2025 senior design team presentations. This semester students have undertaken a wide range of projects to fulfill the Department’s senior design requirement. US-41 Over West Branch Whitefish River and Huber Creek Bridge Rehabilitation Projects These projects are vital components in addressing both regional transportation and environmental challenges, while also improving the quality of life and sustainability in the community. Advisor: MS. Andrea Andres P.E https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/6063655732 Presentation Schedule: https://blogs.mtu.edu/cege-undergrad/2025/12/08/fall-2025-cege-senior-design-colloquium/

Federal Research Brief and Directed Spending Overview

Friday, December 12, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. | Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), 202

Join representatives from Dykema, Michigan Tech’s government relations firm, as they present an overview of the current US federal research funding landscape and a status update on the ongoing federal budget process. The session will also cover the basics of federal directed spending requests (i.e., programmatic requests and community-directed spending). Vice President for Government Relations Bill Kordenbrock and Vice President for Research Andrew Barnard will be available for discussion and questions and answers. Those on campus are encouraged to join in-person in the GLRC.

Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony Rehearsal

Friday, December 12, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multi-purpose Room

Commencement rehearsal will take place on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 1 p.m. please arrive by 12:45 p.m. Parking will be limited to first-come first-serve. Rehearsal lasts approximately one hour. You do not need to wear your cap and gown. Review the seating chart prior to rehearsal. Note whether your department is located in the "Husky Black or the "Husky Gold" section.Line up in the SDC Multipurpose Room and will then proceed into the Varsity Gym.

Men's Ice Hockey at Ferris State

Friday, December 12, 7:07 p.m.–10:07 p.m. | Big Rapids, MI

Men's Ice Hockey at Ferris State Big Rapids, MI