December 1, 2020

As a result of increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the Western Upper Peninsula and statewide, the MTU Flex Task Force asks that certain Michigan Tech employees get tested for COVID-19 following Thanksgiving break.

“Employees who need to be on campus after Thanksgiving break and who either traveled or gathered with others beyond their normal circle are being asked to get tested for COVID-19 the week of their return to campus and again the following week,” said Joel Isaacson, project manager of the MTU Flex Task Force and the University’s senior associate athletic director. “We encourage those employees to limit their interactions with others between these two tests.”

Supervisors of student workers are responsible for telling students how to get tested if they return to campus after Thanksgiving break. The process for scheduling an asymptomatic test is identical for both employees and students. Simply text Hello to 906-256-6466 and follow the prompts. Employees and students who do not have access to texting can schedule an appointment by calling Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center (UGL) at 906-483-1860.

Isaacson said employees and students who are symptomatic or believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 should call UGL at 906-483-1860 to schedule a test and should not schedule an on-demand test via text message. Isaacson noted that anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days does not need to get tested.

Everyone should continue to exercise personal hygiene and safety practices during and after Thanksgiving break. Many cases of COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and people who do have symptoms frequently exhibit only a sore throat and congestion, similar to a mild cold. “Remember to wash your hands frequently with soap, wear a face covering, and limit social interactions to a small group of family and friends. We want everyone to have a healthy holiday season,” Isaacson said.

Please direct questions to mtuflex@mtu.edu.

Darnishia L. Slade (PHC) has been appointed to a three-year term to the Michigan Community Service Commission, representing fellow experts in the delivery of human, educational, environmental or public safety services to communities and individuals.

The Michigan Community Service Commission strives to build a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism. The Commission develops a three-year comprehensive national and community service plan for the state that shall be updated annually, oversees and submits the state's applications to the Corporation for National and Community Service and other public and private funding sources, establishes policies and procedures for the use of federal funds, and develops initiatives to promote community service in coordination with existing programs.

“I am honored to receive this appointment from Governor Whitmer!" said Slade. "I am ready to roll my sleeves up and do the work of continuing to make Michigan one of the nation’s leading state service commissions and a model state for volunteerism. I believe that through volunteerism lives are enriched, cultural understanding is exchanged, and lasting partnerships are established.”

Lorelle Meadows, dean of the Pavlis Honors College, says “Dar is an excellent individual to serve the State of Michigan in this way. She has the depth of knowledge, experience, and passion to make an impact on community service outcomes so important to our state at this time.”

Slade is an instructor, advisor, and the manager of global engagement programs for Pavlis Honors College. She is a member of the IDEA Hub Leadership Team and an organization advisor for the Society of Intellectual Sisters and Canterbury House

 Today (Dec. 1) is #GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

GivingTuesday was created in 2012 and has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

How you can participate at Michigan Tech:

• Support any area of campus
A gift to Michigan Tech or any specific area of campus will help us prepare students to create the future. Give now.

• Help Michigan Tech students through scholarships and fellowships
Scholarship/fellowship funding is Michigan Tech’s top strategic priority. This is especially true now with the need created by COVID-19. Donor-funded scholarships/fellowships come through two sources — the Annual Scholarship/Fellowship Fund and the Endowed Scholarship/Fellowship Fund. Learn more about these scholarship/fellowship funds.

• Make a gift to the Husky Emergency Assistance Fund (HEAF)
The HEAF has been established to help provide financial relief for the Michigan Tech campus community (students and employees) who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of crises (including COVID-19). Donate to the HEAF.

• Donate food or resources to the Husky Food Access Network
The on-campus food pantry has helped hundreds of students in their time of need. Make a financial donation or email huskyfan@mtu.edu to coordinate a food donation during social distancing protocol.

Last year, GivingTuesday generated $2 billion in giving, just in the United States, and inspired millions of people worldwide to volunteer, perform countless acts of kindness, and donate their voices, time, money, and goods.

Join the movement! Make a gift to Michigan Tech today.

The Student Development Complex (SDC) has updated building hours through Dec. 18.

The fitness center, multi, and pool (lap swim only) are currently open to MTU students and MTU faculty/staff SDC members.

The Gates Tennis Center is open to MTU students and Gates members. Daily court fees are also available.

Visit Michigan Tech Recreation for details.

The Office of Alumni Engagement invites you to nominate an outstanding Michigan Tech alumni or friend for the annual Alumni Awards program.

Since its establishment in 1969, this tradition has played a key role in recognizing our extraordinary Huskies.

For more information on award categories, and how to submit a nomination, please visit the Alumni Awards page.

Mail delivery

All employees, especially those who will receive paper W-2 and 1095-C forms, are encouraged to review their addresses in Banweb.

Paper W-2s and 1095-Cs will be mailed to the W-2 address on file, or if a W-2 address is not on file, forms will be sent to the Mailing address. If neither a W-2 or Mailing address is on file, forms will be sent to the Home address.

To view/update current addresses, navigate to the Personal Information tab in Banweb and select Update Address(es) and Phone(s). Follow directions to update an existing address or add a new address type.

Paper forms will be mailed by Jan. 31, 2021. Please note, requests for duplicate 2020 W-2s must be in writing and will be processed on or after Feb. 15, 2021.

Electronic delivery

Employees who have not already done so are encouraged to consent to electronic delivery of their W-2 and 1095-C forms. ·

• Eliminate the chance that your forms and the sensitive information they contain will be lost or stolen during delivery
• Access your forms earlier
• Access your forms at any time, from any device with internet service
•  Contribute to cost and natural resource savings (paper, printing and postage)

To consent to electronic delivery, navigate to the Employees tab in Banweb, select 'Tax Forms' and choose the 'Electronic Consent' link. Check the boxes to consent to receive your forms electronically and submit your request.

Each year in January notifications will be sent via e-mail and posted in Tech Today when forms are available on Banweb.

Please contact Payroll Services or call 7-2089 with questions regarding W-2s or Benefit Services, 7-2517 with questions regarding 1095-Cs.

The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum gift shop is offering 15% off all merchandise through Saturday, Dec. 19. Additionally, all Candleholders will be 20% off now through December 5th. The Gift Shop has a wide variety of mineral candleholders, including sandstone, amethyst, calcite, rose quartz, selenite, and more.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The museum gift shop also includes many other beautiful and unique gifts:

• Mineral decor, such as, malachite, amethyst, lapis, local native copper, and lamps
• Locally hand-made gemstone jewelry
• A variety of stocking stuffers, including, mineral themed playing cards, onyx dice, carved animals, bottle stoppers
• And so much more.

Discounts cannot be combined.

The Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts and the Department of Visual and Performing Arts present a virtual streamed video concert by the Superior Wind Symphony (SWS), titled “Reparations 2,” planned for 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 5)

Led by Michigan Tech’s director of bands Mike Christianson (VPA), the title surrounds the theme of “little-known and under-recognized Black American composers in history.”

The concert will feature the Superior Wind Symphony in a streamed video concert of music by all African-American composers from the 1700's to the present.

According to Christianson, “Our concert, the second in a series of four that will be performed along the theme of “Reparations,” will feature music, played in a somewhat socially distanced way by the members of the Superior Wind Symphony, that represents the music of black and other minority composers who have not received either the attention or recognition of white composers. This music will be from roughly 1700 to now, and will all be wonderful, whether you've heard of the composers or not. Concerts will be made available via online video streams, as they are ready.”

This concert is free and open to the public, and the "view/stream link" can be accessed on the Rozsa Center website.

Materials Science and Engineering doctoral candidate, Alejandra Almanza, will defend her dissertation at 10 a.m., Thursday (Dec. 3), via Zoom.

The title of her defense is "Effect of Cobalt in Thin Wall Ductile Iron and Solid Solution Strengthened Ferritic Ductile Iron."

Almanza is advised by Paul Sanders (MSE).

Frost Elected to National AKA Board of Directors

Megan Frost, Professor and Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Kinesiology Association (AKA).

Alan Smith, president of AKA, said her selection “from a stellar pool of candidates, is a reflection of the confidence of Kinesiology leaders in [her] capacity to advance our unified field of study.”

Her three-year term of office will begin in January 2021.

Maria Bergstrom (HU), has published "Teaching HyFlex: It's a Genre Problem," in Faculty Focus, the higher-ed teaching news letter from Magna Publications.

The newsletter has a readership of more than 80,000 higher-ed professionals.

Fill Out the COVID-19 Symptom Tracking Form Before Coming to Campus

If you are working on campus while the University is at Health Safety Level Five, remember that no one is permitted to come to campus with symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Employees are required to monitor their symptoms daily before coming to campus. The Daily Symptom Tracking Form is a short form that will help you determine if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

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Slippery Conditions

Facilities Management works diligently to remove snow and ice from roads, parking lots, walkways and building entrances.

Daily fluctuations in temperature and differences in sun and shade can create icy conditions. Beware of "black ice" and slippery conditions on pavement that has been cleared, particularly early in the morning or in areas that are shaded from the sun.

Former Michigan Tech hockey player Alex Smith was featured in the story "Former Bomber Smith inks first professional contract," in The Reminder, Flin Flon, Manitoba.

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Michigan Tech alumnus John Tramburg, has been named vice president of operations for Vita Plus feed supplier in Madison, Wisconsin. The story was covered in Dairy Business.

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Master's Defense: Zachary Cohen

Tuesday, December 1, 9–10 a.m.

Mechanical Engineering Co-advisors: Andrew Barnard and Vijaya Venkata Narasimha Sriram Malladi Experimental Characterization of Hydraulic Spool Valve Flow Noise Attend...

PhD Defense: Yongyu Wang

Tuesday, December 1, 10–11 a.m.

Computer Engineering Co-advisors: Chee-Wooi Ten and Zhuo Feng High-Performance Spectral Methods for Graph-Based Machine Learning Attend Virtually:...

PhD Defense: Lavanya Rajesh Kumar

Tuesday, December 1, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Applied Cognitive Science & Human Factors Advisor: Kevin Trewartha To Examine the Effects of Exercise & Instructional Based Interventions on Executive Functioning, Motor...

Husky Hour- Sustainability

Tuesday, December 1, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Learn all about sustainability, how MTU practices sustainability, and how to live a more sustainable life with our "Sustainability" Husky Hour! Win prizes for attending...

Virtual drop-ins at the Library

Tuesday, December 1, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Drop-in in at any point during the hour with your questions or to walk through a short overview of this week's topic. Sign up not required. For more info and a list of topics,...

Master's Defense: Ann Ciesla

Tuesday, December 1, 5 p.m.–6 p.m.

Computer Science Advisor: Charles Wallace Digital Skills Assessment: A Tool for Assessing the Digital Literacy of Older Adults