May 11, 2026

Today and tomorrow, May 11 and 12, the Center for Educational Outreach (CEO) will be making our annual transition to Wadsworth Hall to oversee Summer Youth Programs (SYP) operations. During the transition, response by phone and email will be delayed. Following the move, staff will be available in our summer office locations, Wads 400E-410E.

We are looking forward to another exciting, impactful year of hands-on learning for the nearly 1,000 participants expected to take part in an SYP course this summer. 

CEO staff will return to our academic year locations in Admin 217 and Admin G36 in early August.

For more information about Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Programs, including scholarship opportunities for local middle and high school students, please visit mtu.edu/syp.

The Michigan Tech Archives is currently accepting applications for its annual Travel Grant Program. The deadline has been extended to next Friday, May 15.

The Travel Grant Program brings scholars and researchers to Michigan Technological University to work with the Archives’ collections. Financial support for the program is provided by the Friends of the Michigan Tech Library, a support organization for the Van Pelt and Opie Library. Grants are awarded for up to $750 to defray the costs of travel to visit and conduct research in Houghton, Michigan. In addition, graduate students applying to the program may request up to an additional $250 (furnished by the Archives) to help defray any duplication costs incurred during a qualified research trip.

The Michigan Tech Archives houses a wide variety of historical print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the Copper Country and Michigan Tech. Subject coverage is vast, some of which includes University and campus life, regional towns and cities, local industries and businesses, social organizations, events and personalities of the Copper Country and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Primary topical research areas include the western Upper Peninsula, industrial heritage and history, particularly copper mining and its ancillary industries, social history, community development along the Keweenaw Peninsula, transportation and the environment. Finding aids for some of the collections are available on the Archives’ website.

To apply for funding, please visit the Archives’ Travel Grant Program webpage.

Applications are due by next Friday, May 15. Award recipients will be notified in late May or early June. The successful candidate must complete their travel by Dec. 4, 2026. Electronic submission of applications is required. 

For further information, please contact University Archivist Lindsay Hiltunen at copper@mtu.edu.

Congratulations and thank you to all of the amazing staff members who have reached a five-year anniversary this fiscal year! Your service and commitment to Michigan Tech are admirable, and we are grateful to work alongside you.

Staff members who have reached a milestone anniversary will be honored at the annual University Staff Service Awards luncheon on June 2 at noon in the MUB Ballroom. President Rick Koubek and Staff Council Chair Laurie Stark will present service awards to more than 100 individuals this year! Recent staff retirees will also be recognized. 

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. This year, a catered meal featuring blackened salmon with lemon and parsley; za'tar roast chicken breast; penne with broccoli, lemon and garlic; broccoli rabe with red chili flakes and roasted garlic; chickpea and tomato salad; and assorted desserts and beverages will be provided. This event is free to all honorees who RSVP in advance. If you would like to attend the event as a guest or in support of an honoree, you may purchase a ticket online. Tickets are $10.50 and must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 22.

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 release time.

Thank you to the Office of the President for continuing to support and fund the University Staff Service Awards luncheon and awards!

Research shows that graduate students who have emotional support and a social environment separate from their home (first space) and their work, lab or classroom (second space) experience reduced academic anxiety, lower stress levels and a stronger sense of belonging. For many, the most challenging part of an advanced degree isn’t the research itself; it is the secondary struggle of balancing rigorous academics with personal relationships and overall wellness. 

To provide this essential “third space” for Michigan Tech graduate students, the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being (CSMHW) invites all graduate students to attend Third Space, a weekly graduate student support group held on Thursdays at 10 a.m., starting this week on May 14.

Third Space is designed to break down departmental silos, offering grad students a unique opportunity to connect with peers from across the University. From first-year master’s students to Ph.D. Finishing Fellows, students can connect over shared experiences. Graduate students who attended the group last semester reported that meeting other students in different stages of their programs provided a broader perspective and a reminder that they are part of a larger, supportive community. 

What to Expect
The group meets in the CSMHW Relaxation Room (Admin 313), which is designed to be a comfortable space with a welcoming atmosphere. Students can expect: 

• Comfort: Soft lighting and plush seating
• Refreshments: Snacks (and coffee in the waiting area) 
• Conversation: Unlike a workshop or seminar, this is a discussion-based setting where the collective group needs drive the conversation

The group is peer-focused and facilitated by a clinical counselor or a member of the graduate student outreach team. The vibe is more personal than a workshop and more relaxed than group therapy.

“The goal of this group is to normalize specific challenges that many graduate students face and to experience peer-to-peer support,” says Jen Wall, clinical counselor. “There is a common misconception that seeking support is a sign of struggle. But in reality, building a support network is a strategy for success. Whether students are navigating challenging advisor dynamics, dealing with imposter syndrome, or a mid-semester slump, talking about it can be as normal as compiling research data.”

Stop by Anytime to Join the Community
Third Space is open to all graduate students. No registration or long-term commitment is required. Students are welcome to drop in as their schedules allow, but regular attendance is encouraged for maximum benefit. For more information, please contact counseling@mtu.edu.

Group Details:

• What: Third Space Graduate Student Support Group
• When: Thursdays at 10 a.m. (starting this Thursday, May 14)
• Where: Admin 313 (CSMHW Relaxation Room)
• Why: To reduce burnout, meet peers across campus and find community

Join the Office of Sustainability and Resilience for Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 15! Stop by the Van Pelt and Opie Library between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. to enjoy free coffee and baked goods from Velodrome and take advantage of free bike checks and light tune-ups offered by Campus Bike Lab, a program of the Office of Sustainability and Resilience. All commuters are welcome.

Event Details:

• What: Bike to Work Day
• When: Friday, May 15, from 8-9 a.m.
• Where: The Van Pelt and Opie Library

Job Posting for Monday, May 11, 2026

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 Office Assistant (12 months, 40 hours), Military Science – Army ROTC. (​UAW posting dates are May 11 to May 18, 2026. External applicants are encouraged to apply; however, internal ​UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal ​UAW 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.

Sarah Hoy (CFRES) was a guest on the May 7 episode of Michigan Public’s “Stateside” radio show, where she discussed the latest Isle Royale Winter Study findings, including the island’s rising wolf population and declining moose numbers.

The Mining Journal quoted Tom Oliver (CSEO/CEGE) in a story about Keweenaw students advancing to the national invention convention after competing in Invention Convention Michigan. The students qualified through InventCon, Michigan Tech’s youth innovation showcase for students in grades 3-12.

The Iron Mountain Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about construction company Gundlach Champion receiving a 2026 Build Michigan Award for its restoration of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house following a 2022 fire. The project restored the longtime fraternity property while preserving many of its historic architectural features.

Mail Services Launches Parcel Tracker and New Website

Mail Services is pleased to introduce Parcel Tracker, a new online system designed to streamline package tracking and notifications for campus recipients.

With Parcel Tracker, Michigan Tech faculty and staff will receive email notifications when packages carried by the U.S. Postal Service have been received at the University’s mail room and are ready for delivery to department mail locations. Staff from departments housed in the Administration Building will receive notifications when packages arrive from the Postal Service, UPS or FedEx.

Beginning today, May 11, notification emails will come from Mail Services. They will include the number of packages received, images of the shipping label(s) and any additional pertinent information, such as notification when alternate arrangements need to be made for package pickup.

Faculty and staff may also create a Parcel Tracker account using their Michigan Tech email address. Creating an account allows recipients to see details for the parcels that have been checked in for them, including information captured in the scan, current delivery status and relevant time stamps.

Visit the redesigned Mail Services website for updated information and helpful resources related to mailing, shipping and campus delivery services. We invite the campus community to review the site for important resources and details on how to join the Mail Services Updates List.

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TIAA Financial Consulting Available On Campus

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

• Am I invested in the appropriate 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?

Ryan Hallowell from the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) will be available on Michigan Tech’s campus for one-on-one sessions from May 11 through May 14. MTU employees can schedule time slots with Hallowell in the MUB Datolite Room (MUB 100) during his time here.

Matthew Bunch also from the TIAA will be available on Michigan Tech’s campus for one-on-one sessions from June 8 through June 12. MTU employees can schedule time slots with Bunch in the MUB Greenstone Room (MUB 106A) during his time here.

RSVP today, as space is limited. You can register for a session 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.

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Minneapolis Literary Reading with Stephanie Carpenter

Stephanie Carpenter (HU) will read from her 2025 novel, “Moral Treatment,” today, May 11, at a literary reading at Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis.

Winner of the inaugural Summit Series Prize from Central Michigan University Press, “Moral Treatment” is a work of historical fiction inspired by the Traverse City State Hospital.

Carpenter will be in conversation with author and Magers & Quinn bookseller Michael Piafsky during the event.

Learn more and register for the event.

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