December 19, 2025

The MICUP Scholars Program and McNair Scholars Program at Michigan Tech are currently seeking faculty to serve as mentors during Track A of summer 2026. Faculty mentors in the programs will assist students with research projects in their field of study, including engineering, technology, business, computer science, health science and more.

All faculty interested in facilitating undergraduate research with MICUP or McNair participants should complete the Summer 2026 Research Mentor Interest form.

For questions about MICUP or McNair, contact micup@mtu.edu or mcnair@mtu.edu.

The Center for Educational Outreach is excited to announce that counselor applications are now open for the 2026 season of Summer Youth Programs (SYP).

Each summer, SYP welcomes more than a thousand middle and high school students to campus for an unforgettable experience filled with hands-on learning, discovery and adventure. We’re looking for college students from Michigan Tech and beyond who are excited to help create a fun, welcoming, and meaningful environment for the thinkers, doers and problem-solvers of tomorrow.

A wide range of counselor and program support positions are available, including roles focused on youth engagement, residence life, evening programming, transportation and daily operations. Student staff members begin paid training in early June, and programs will run through July 18.

If you know a college student seeking an impactful summer opportunity who enjoys working with youth and wants to be part of a positive, energetic campus community this summer, please encourage them to view our website to learn more and apply through our hiring portal.

Below are Seasonal Day reporting instructions for Bi-Weekly Pay Period 01 (BW01), which runs from Dec. 21, 2025, to Jan. 3, 2026.

Per President Koubek’s announcement, employees will receive three paid Seasonal Days during BW01:

• Friday, Dec. 26
• Monday, Dec. 29
• Tuesday, Dec. 30

How to Report Seasonal Days in BW01:

• Hourly and exempt employees must use the “Seasonal Day” earn code when reporting these days on their BW01 timesheet.
• Employees are expected to use their Seasonal Days during BW01 (Dec. 21, 2025, to Jan. 3, 2026).
• Soft-funded employees defaulted to SPA indexes should override their Seasonal Day entries to charge the fringe index.
• If an employee is required to work on a Seasonal Day, they may reschedule that Seasonal Day only with supervisor approval.
  • Approved rescheduled Seasonal Days must be taken later in the fiscal year, before June 30, 2026.
  • The “Seasonal Day” earn code will remain available year-round for this purpose.
• If submitting a manual timesheet, use Earn Code 320, which represents “Seasonal Day.”
• Unused Seasonal Days expire at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2026.

How to Report Personal Days in BW01:

As a reminder, employees are encouraged to use any leave balances that do not carry over first. Please review the following guidance regarding Personal Day use in BW01, which spans the transition period from 2025 to 2026.

Personal Days for 2025:

• Should be used on or before Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.
• Report Personal Days using Earn Code “Personal Day” in your Electronic Timecard.

Using a Personal Day on Jan. 2, 2026:

• Employees may use a Personal Day on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
• Because 2026 Personal Day balances will not populate in the system until BW02 time entry:
• A manual timesheet is required for any Personal Day used on Jan. 2, 2026.
• Use Earn Code 440, which represents “Personal Day,” when reporting the hours.
• Include a note indicating that the manual timesheet represents 2026 Personal Day usage.

Mail Services will make Michigan Tech's final delivery of 2025 today, Dec. 19.

Our service window in the Administration Building will be open on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22 and 23, as well as Jan. 2. Mail can be picked up at Mail Services (Admin G40) between 8:30 a.m. and noon and from 1-4:30 p.m.

Regular mail delivery will resume on Jan. 5.

Happy holidays! As we wrap up another great year, the Office of Advancement and the Michigan Tech Fund (located at the Alumni Center, formerly the ATDC) will be open on Dec. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to assist with year-end giving. In addition, our main phones (906-487-2310 and 906-487-3325) and email (gift-admin@mtu.edu) will be monitored on Dec. 29-31. 

If you are working with donors and alumni during the break, here is a quick "cheat sheet" to help ensure gifts are received and substantiated for the 2025 tax year:

• Address Envelopes Simply: To ensure gifts are processed immediately, please ask donors to address envelopes to the Michigan Tech Fund rather than to a specific employee. Gifts made by check should be mailed directly to "Michigan Tech Fund, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931" for timely receipt and deposit, especially at this time of year when most University offices are closed.

• In-Person Drops: Donors are welcome to stop by the Michigan Tech Alumni Center at 1402 Sharon Avenue between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Dec. 30.

To be considered a charitable contribution by the IRS, timing is critical to the donor’s substantiation of their gift. 

• Credit Cards: Counted on the day the card is charged. Online gifts are the fastest option at give.mtu.edu.

• Checks (via USPS): Counted by the postmark date. Please mail checks directly to "Michigan Tech Fund, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931"

• Checks (via FedEx/UPS): Counted on the date of delivery. Note: There is no campus delivery between Dec. 24 and Jan. 4.

• IRA Distributions: For RMD checkbooks, the gift is recorded for the tax year in which it is deposited by the Michigan Tech Fund.

• Stock Transfers: Counted on the day the stock arrives in the Michigan Tech Fund Morgan Stanley account.

• Payroll Deductions: For our wonderful employees, these are considered a gift on the day the amount is withheld from your pay. 

Thank you for your incredible partnership this year. We hope you have a festive, relaxing and snow-filled winter break! Go Huskies!

A Card Services production system maintenance window is scheduled for Jan. 15 from 1-3 p.m. During this time, CS Gold access readers, meal readers and access to some Keywatcher Kiosk rooms will work in their offline mode. After the maintenance is complete, transactions will be uploaded back into CS Gold.

The following services will be affected:

• cardservices.mtu.edu website
• Mobile Readers
• Vending Readers
• Dining Point of Sale Systems
• Husky Print (color printing only)

If you have any questions or concerns about this maintenance window, we can help. Email IT or call 906-487-1111.

Tech Today would like to wish all of our readers a peaceful holiday break.

Today, Dec. 19, is our last newsletter of 2025. We will resume publication for 2026 on Jan. 5.

If you would like to submit an announcement for our Jan. 5 newsletter, don't forget to send it in through our submission form by the deadline at noon today.

Happy holidays!

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts will be closed for the holidays starting on Monday, Dec. 22.

The office will reopen on Jan. 5.

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) will be closed for the holidays starting on Monday, Dec. 22, through New Year's Day, Jan. 1.

Faculty and staff will be working remotely or on vacation on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22 and 23, and can be reached via email during this time. To contact the department, please call 906-487-2911 or email Karen Bess at kebess@mtu.edu.

The MAE office will resume normal business operations on Jan. 2.

Happy holidays!

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offices will be closed for the holidays starting on Monday, Dec. 22, and will reopen on Jan. 2.

To contact the department during this time, please email ece@mtu.edu.

The Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education (APUE), including the Pavlis Honors College, Enterprise Program, Assessment, and Essential Education, will be closed for the holidays beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

The office will reopen on Jan. 5 and resume regular hours.

We thank you for your patience and wish you all happy holidays!

The Rozsa Box Office will be closed for the holiday season beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Jan. 4. Mobile and will-call tickets can still be purchased online 24/7.

Regular box office hours (weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) will resume on Jan. 5.

The Rozsa Center wishes everyone happy holidays and a joyful new year!

Registration is open for Session 1 of Spring 2026 Michigan Tech Aquatics programs.

Explore our programs for all ages and abilities:

• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Parent & Child Aquatics (ages 6 months to 3 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Preschool Aquatics (ages 4-5 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 (ages 6-17 years)
• Huskies Swim Training (ages 6-17 years)
• Adult Huskies Swim Lessons (ages 18 and older)
• Adult Huskies Swim Training (ages 18 and older)
• Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons

New Registration System – Important Information for Parents/Guardians:
To register your child for MTU Aquatics programs, you must have a DSE user account* with Michigan Tech Recreation.

* Note: Due to system constraints, only current students, faculty and staff may use an MTU email for their account. All others must use or create a different email address to create an account.

How to Register Your Child:
Instructions on registering your child for any youth program are available on our aquatics program webpages. Look for the heading "Spring 2026."

Additional Resources:

• How to create your user account (PDF)
• How to add your child as your affiliate (PDF)

Questions? Contact Aquatics Manager Annie Boyle at ambengry@mtu.edu or 906-487-2995.

See you at the pool!

Job Postings for Friday, Dec. 19, 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.

Assistant Teaching Professor – Nursing, Biological Sciences.

Executive Director of Enrollment Initiatives, Enrollment Management.

Food Service Helper – First Shift (nine months), Dining Services. (​AFSCME posting dates are Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​AFSCME posting dates.)

Food Service Helper – PTNB (12 months), Dining Services. (​AFSCME posting dates are Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​AFSCME posting dates.)

Food Service Helper – Second Shift (nine months), Dining Services. (​AFSCME posting dates are Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​AFSCME posting dates.)

Cook's Helper – First Shift (12 months), Dining Services. (​AFSCME posting dates are Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​AFSCME posting dates.)

Food Service Helper – First Shift (12 months), Dining Services. (​AFSCME posting dates are Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​AFSCME posting dates.)

Senior Administrative Aide (12 months, 40 hours), Residential Living. (​UAW posting dates are Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​UAW posting dates.)

Building Mechanic III, Facilities Management. (​AFSCME posting dates are Dec. 19, 2025, to Jan. 5, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​AFSCME applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​AFSCME posting dates.)

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.

Philanthropy News Digest covered Michigan Tech’s announcement of the new Chang K. Park Center for Student Wellness. The center’s construction will be funded by a $55 million gift from alum Chang K. Park ’73 — the largest gift in the University’s history. MTU President Rick Koubek was quoted in the story.

WLUC TV6 mentioned the Mushing Club at Michigan Tech in a story about the CopperDog dog sled race preparing for its first-ever livestream coverage.

Awesome Mitten mentioned Michigan Tech in a roundup of Michigan winter festivals, highlighting Winter Carnival as one of the state’s longest-running and most ambitious winter events. Carnival 2026 is scheduled for Feb. 4-7.

PR Newswire mentioned Michigan Tech in a story highlighting architectural and engineering company HED’s 2025 achievements, including multiple national and regional awards for Tech’s H-STEM Complex. The story was picked up by 78 outlets nationwide.

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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College of Sciences and Arts Dean's Office Holiday Closure

The College of Sciences and Arts Dean's Office will be closed for the holidays starting Monday, Dec. 22.

The office will reopen on Jan. 5.

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College of Engineering Dean's Office Holiday Closure

The College of Engineering Dean's Office will be closed for the holidays starting Monday, Dec. 22 and will reopen on Jan. 2.

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Humanities Office Holiday Closure

The Department of Humanities Office will be closed for the holidays starting on Monday, Dec. 22.

The office will reopen on Jan. 5.

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Chemical Engineering Office Closure

The Department of Chemical Engineering Office will be closed from Monday, Dec. 22, through Jan. 2 for office renovations.

Faculty and staff will be working remotely or on vacation on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22 and 23, as well as Jan. 2, and can be reached via email during this time.

The office will also remain closed for the holiday break from Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Jan. 1.

Thank you for your understanding, and happy holidays!

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Engineering Fundamentals Office Closure

The Department of Engineering Fundamentals Office will be closed for the holidays starting Monday, Dec. 22, through Jan. 2.

Faculty and staff will be working remotely or on vacation on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22 and 23, as well as Jan. 2, and can be reached via email during this time. To contact the department, please email Darlene Saari at dfsaari@mtu.edu.

The office will also remain closed for the holiday break from Wednesday, Dec. 24, through Jan. 1.

Happy holidays!

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Martin Luther King's Legacy: Your Call to Action at Michigan Tech

The Michigan Tech community is ready to transform this "day off" into a powerful "day on" — a genuine commitment to service, reflection and meaningful action. Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy calls us to a higher standard of citizenship and humanity, and these scheduled events provide a powerful path for every student to answer that call and contribute to his vision of “unity through service."

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, don't just take the day off. Show up. Serve. Reflect. Act. Honor King's legacy by engaging with the events and making a meaningful difference right here in Houghton.

MLK Day 2026 Events:

• MLK Day of Service — We kick off Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. with a Day of Service at multiple volunteer locations where the hands-on efforts of Michigan Tech students and community members can make a tangible difference in the local community. By volunteering, you are actively participating in the work of social uplift that King championed. Give your time, apply your talents and live the spirit of service.

• Volunteer Reading — Michigan Tech students will also read to local schoolchildren, spreading King's history and legacy to young minds in our community.

• Interfaith Service — Our Interfaith Service starts at 4:15 p.m. in the Van Pelt and Opie Library's East Reading Room, offering a space for quiet introspection that draws on King's spiritual foundation and his call for unity across all faiths.

• Peace March — The campus and community are invited to participate in a peace march, beginning with a gathering at the Husky Statue at 5 p.m. The procession will travel to the Alumni House and return. Walking together, we will publicly reaffirm Michigan Tech’s dedication to King's enduring principles of justice and nonviolence, making a powerful, visible statement about our commitment to an equitable future.

• Shared Meal/Panel Discussion — The day concludes with a shared meal and a panel discussion featuring alumni Jemel Thompson, Jailynn Johnson and Austin McFarlane, offering a chance to connect, reflect and hear their stories of resilience. Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the MUB Ballroom. Gather with fellow students, faculty and staff to share stories from your service, discuss the meaning of King's legacy, and strengthen the bonds of the Michigan Tech community.

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MLK Day of Service

Join Michigan Tech students and community members on Jan. 19, starting at 10 a.m., to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy through hands-on service.

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, don't just take the day off. Show up. Serve. Reflect. Act. Honor King's legacy by engaging with the events and making a meaningful difference right here in Houghton.

Find more information on GivePulse.

Event Details:

• What: MLK Day of Service
• When: Monday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m.
• Where: Multiple locations, including the Copper Country Humane Society, Letters Against Isolation, the Bluffs Senior Living Facility and the Community Alliance for Progressive Education (CAPE).

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

PhD Defense: Shiwei Ding

Friday, December 19, 8:30–9:30 a.m. | Rekhi Hall, 101

Computer Science Co-advisors: Zhenlin Wang and Xiaoyong Yuan Privacy-Preserving and Resource-Efficient Learning Learning Framework for Collaborative Deep Neural Networks

Copper Island Academy Christmas Concert

Friday, December 19, 1 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts

A Copper Island Academy Event Students from grades k-10 will be performing Christmas songs for our annual Christmas concert. Things to know DATE |Friday, December 19, 2025 TIME |1 p.m. LOCATION | Rozsa Center EST. RUN TIME | TBD SEATING | Reserved PUBLIC TICKETS | Pay As You're Able ($12 Full Fee) What is Pay As You're Able? CONTENT GUIDANCE | None Rozsa Lobby is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F and 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays. Seating begins a half hour prior to the event start time. View Rozsa Box Office Hours. Please contact COPPER ISLAND ACADEMY with any questions about this event via email at slahti@copperislandacademy.org or by visiting copperislandacademy.org. Plan Your Visit to the Rozsa Rozsa Box Office InformationAccessibility Services Find a Digital ProgramPlan your Parking​ Get Involved Volunteer to UsherDonate to Support the RozsaMeet Our DonorsGet Updates via Email View All Upcoming Events This event is hosted by Copper Country Humane Society. The views, information, thoughts, or opinions expressed in this program or event are those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent the policies of the Rozsa Center or Michigan Technological University. Effective Date 2025/26.

Men's Basketball at Florida Tech

Friday, December 19, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. | Melbourne, Fla.

Men's Basketball at Florida Tech Melbourne, Fla.

Women's Basketball vs Northwood

Friday, December 19, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Women's Basketball vs Northwood Houghton, Mich.