The spring semester is here!
Spring semester building hours* will be in effect starting today, Jan. 5, through April 23 for all SDC, Gates Tennis Center and OAP facilities. Plan ahead and check out our Open Rec and Spring Programs now, or take a look at our Tech Rec Weekly for a quick first week breakdown!
* Hours are subject to change.
For more information, visit the Michigan Tech Recreation website.
Go Huskies!
Please join Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 9 a.m. in MUB Ballroom B for our monthly Coffee Talk with the Safety Crew.
Michigan Tech’s Safety Team — EHS and RISSC (the Office of Risk, Insurance, Safety, Security, and Compliance) — will be hosting our monthly Safety Round Table: a place for all Huskies to share a cup of coffee and learn about the importance of campus health and safety.
Topic: Enjoy a hot beverage and a muffin while Scott Wendt discusses how to complete a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
This session will actively engage participants in identifying job hazards, assessing risk and applying effective controls. The coffee talk is open to students, staff and faculty. Whether you are new to JHAs or looking to train your Enterprise group, lab employees or departments, this training will provide practical tools you can use on the job.
Mark your calendars 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!
Canisius University featured Geoff Fortman (MTRI) in an alumni profile reflecting on how his academic and leadership experiences influenced his career in research.
WardsAuto quoted MTU senior Ashley Baird (computer science) in a news release about the new Personalized Sound app, which allows drivers to customize their listening experience through an in-vehicle hearing test. Baird helped write code for the app during an internship at Nissan Technical Center North America near Detroit.
Wisconsin Public Radio referenced a Michigan Tech study in a story about proposed federal legislation affecting gray wolf protections.
Alaska’s Kodiak Daily Mirror mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a new documentary highlighting community resilience in Western Alaska. The film, produced as part of the NSF-funded Polaris project, documents how residents of Chevak and Dillingham are responding to environmental change, with Michigan Tech among the collaborating institutions on the research team.
The Daily Mining Gazette covered Michigan Tech volleyball middle blocker Paige Wagner (biochemistry and molecular biology) being named to the 2025 CSC Academic All-District Team.
Central Charts and 30 additional outlets nationwide mentioned Michigan Tech alum Jack Crancer ’98 (B.S. Chemical Engineering) in coverage of LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners’ 2025 corporate update, highlighting his appointment as vice president of finance.
A total of 44 nominations were submitted for the 2025 Making a Difference Awards. Everyone is invited to a reception honoring the nominees. The reception is scheduled from 2-3:30 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 6, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The recipients for each award category will be announced at the reception.
A list of nominees can be found on the Staff Council website.
There will be winners in each of the following categories:
As a reminder, union-represented employees are entitled to release time for professional development activities, including staff recognition programs deemed relevant by the University. Employees should work with their supervisors to ensure coverage during their absence. Supervisors may contact Human Resources for guidance on eligibility and the process for granting this release time.
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Due to the generous support of The DeVlieg Foundation, the Graduate School is happy to accept nominations for 2026 summer fellowships.
Each department, college or interdisciplinary Ph.D. program may nominate one eligible student. The recipient will receive a $11,000 stipend for summer 2026 plus tuition support for three research credits. The DeVlieg funds ($10,000) will be used to cover the cost of tuition and a partial stipend. The graduate program, department or principal investigator (PI) must commit to supplementing these funds to ensure a total stipend of $11,000.
Eligible students will meet all of the following criteria:
Nominations are due no later than 4 p.m. on Jan. 21 to the Graduate School. Graduate programs will upload their nominee's application as a single PDF file.
Please see our webpage for details on the application procedure and materials needed. Each program may determine its own internal selection procedure.
Please contact the Graduate School with any questions.
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Applications for the 2026 Michigan Translational Research & Commercialization (MTRAC) grants are open until March 31.
The MTRAC Innovation Hub for Applied Advanced Materials program at Michigan Tech provides funding and resources to support materials-related projects with high commercial potential. This support includes research and development funding for prototype and late-stage translational activities, with consultation and mentoring from an Oversight Committee including industry and investment experts.
Contact Julie Baker at juabaker@mtu.edu or 906-487-3458 to receive assistance and guidance on proposal preparation.
More Information:
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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:
How to Report Seasonal Days in BW01:
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:
Using a Personal Day on Jan. 2, 2026:
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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:
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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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Registration is still open for Session 1 of Spring 2026 Michigan Tech Aquatics programs.
Explore our programs for all ages and abilities:
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:
Questions? Contact Aquatics Manager Annie Boyle at ambengry@mtu.edu or 906-487-2995.
See you at the pool!
To have your event automatically appear, please submit them to the University Events Calendar.
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Huskies Swim Training is a program that provides additional attention and competitive guidance to advanced swimmers looking to focus on stroke technique and efficiency. Sessions will be designed to improve swimming through stroke drills and swimming sets focused on endurance, speed, and race strategy. Coaches will provide feedback and stroke correction in a group environment with an emphasis on promoting a love for competitive swimming and lifelong skills such as discipline, dedication, and teamwork. Come be part of the pack! Competitve swimming opportunities are now availabe to current Huskies Swim Training participants!
