State Legislature, Governor Recognize Michigan Tech COVID-19 Lab

by Kelley Christensen, University Marketing and Communications

Michigan Technological University’s COVID-19 testing laboratory was recognized in a special tribute April 30 by both houses of the Michigan Legislature and by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II for its contributions to community health and safety.

The special tribute commends the lab for “its rapid implementation at the start of the pandemic with the ability to perform high-volume COVID-19 testing with rapid turnaround results. The lab has had a dramatic and significant impact on the health and health care of residents in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.”

The diagnostic lab was rapidly mobilized in just weeks last April after the pandemic began to sweep the U.S. It celebrated its anniversary April 22. Michigan Tech’s facility is the only university campus-based COVID-19 testing lab in the state.

Read the full story on mtu.edu/news.

Space Available in ED5101: Foundations of Online Teaching, Summer Track A

by Thom Freeman, Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning

Unlike our previous experience, there are still enrollments available for the Summer 2021 Track A offering of ED5101: Foundations of Online Teaching.

The course has been very positively received and evaluated by students who have taken it, and many say it not only taught them how to design and teach a quality online course, but also will improve the way they teach in any modality.

This real, graded and tuition-bearing 1-credit graduate education course offered by the CLS department focuses on the foundations of online teaching and will use instructional design principles and backward-design techniques, along with Quality Matters principles, to show students how to craft good learning objectives, then align assessments, activities, content and technology to them, and to make them all easy to navigate and accessible. Students will build their own Canvas course along the way, and use all of it for their capstone project: their own short online lesson they can take with them.

Prior experience building and designing courses in the teacher role in Canvas and a foundational knowledge of teaching gained through education and/or experience are needed prerequisites. ED5101 is a fully online course with no set class meeting times, but there are due dates that must be met every week.

In today's market, anyone hoping to teach just about anywhere would benefit from training that enables them to design and teach a quality online course, and ED5101 can also certify Michigan Tech instructors to teach fully online courses. It will not likely be available again until Track B of the spring 2022 semester.

If you are interested in ED5101, please email instructor Thom Freeman at tfreeman@mtu.edu to request enrollment.

View the ED5101: Foundations of Online Teaching syllabus.

Plant Sciences Summer Internships Available to High Schoolers

by Joan Chadde, Center for Science and Environmental Outreach

High school students interested in biological sciences are invited to apply for a three-day, in-person internship working with Erika Hersch-Green (BioSci) in her lab.

Please encourage any high school students who are interested in plants, biology, chemistry and lab research to apply. This is excellent experience for a college application. Some students may need assistance to access the internet — please help them overcome their challenges.

Internship description:
Interns will engage in a variety of activities commonly practiced in the field of plant sciences with applicability to conservation/restoration and agriculture, such as measuring plant genome sizes, DNA extraction and/or photosynthesis rates. Student interns will share their experiences in a short five-minute presentation on the last day of the internship. To learn more about research in the lab, listen to Hersch-Green explain her research in a short video summary.

The internship is five hours per day for three days: June 14-16, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, interns will need to commute to Michigan Tech each day. Lunch passes and parking passes (if needed) will be provided.

Two internships are available. To apply, complete the Plant Sciences Summer 2021 Internship Application by May 15. 

If you have difficulty accessing the application, email Hersch-Green at eherschg@mtu.edu. Students selected to participate will be announced by May 21.

For more information, contact Erika Hersch-Green at eherschg@mtu.edu or Joan Chadde at jchadde@mtu.edu.

Summer Hours Reminder

by Human Resources

Starting today (May 3), the University will shift to its summer schedule. The general hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Employees are expected to fulfill their usual full-time or part-time obligations. Your actual work schedule must be approved by your supervisor.

Regular office hours will resume Aug. 16.

Senate to Meet Wednesday

by University Senate

The University Senate will meet (Meeting #660) at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (May 5) via Zoom. 

Senators are responsible for making their constituents aware of the agenda for this meeting. Senators who are unable to attend should arrange for their alternates to attend in their place. 

View the Agenda to Meeting #660.

Virtual Art Show: Art in a Panorama

by Terri Frew, Visual and Performing Arts

You are cordially invited to experience a virtual art show: Art in a Panorama.

This exhibition showcases the work of students from Art + Design 2300, spring 2021, and will be available until May 14. 

Job Posting

by Human Resources

Job Posting for Monday, May 3, 2021  

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email mtujobs@mtu.edu.

For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted. 

Project Manager, University Marketing and Communications. Apply online.

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 an interview at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

In Print

Joan Chadde (GLRC) is the lead author of an article entitled, “To Be It, You MUST See It: Providing Diverse STEM Role Models for All Students,” published in the spring 2021 newsletter of the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education.

This article is one product of a four-year National Science Foundation  ITEST grant awarded to Wayne State University (2016-2021) which Chadde has been a partner in. It features a quote and reference from Terry Sharik, retired dean of the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, along with Terrianna Bradley ‘18, an MS in Environmental Engineering graduate.

Reminders

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

If you are working on campus while the University is at Health Safety Level Three, remember that no one is permitted to come to campus with symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

Employees are required to monitor for symptoms daily before coming to campus using the Daily Symptom Monitoring Form.

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University Images Closed May 2-9

Due to a water line project in the Student Development Complex, University Images will be closed to the public through May 9. 

During this closure, the Campus Store in the Memorial Union Building will be open regular summer hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for those who want to browse and shop in person. You may also shop online anytime at bookstore.mtu.edu — orders placed May 2-9 will receive free ground shipping.

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US-41 Road Project Web Page to Provide Updates

Facilities Management recognizes that this summer's Highway US-41 Road Project, which starts in May, will impact the campus community.

In order to provide students, faculty, staff and visitors with timely updates and help keep everyone informed about traffic routes and other impacts to campus, we have created a US-41 Road Project web page.

Facilities Management will update this page regularly throughout the project with pertinent announcements and traffic re-routing information as it becomes available.

If you have questions, please email facilities@mtu.edu or call 906-487-2303.

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PhD Defense: Sriram Kumar Valluri, ChE

Sriram Kumar Valluri will defend his dissertation today (May 3) at 1 p.m. via Zoom.

His presentation is titled “Carbon Capture and Utilization.”

Today's Campus Events

by University Events Calendar

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

PhD Defense: Jeffrey Beck

Monday, May 3, 10–11 a.m.

Electrical Engineering Advisor: Jeremy Bos Saturation Behaviors in Deep Turbulence Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/89879649416

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PhD Defense: Sri Ram Kumar Valluri

Monday, May 3, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.

Chemical Engineering Co-advisors: Surendra Kawatra and Timothy Eisele Carbon Capture and Utilization Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/84533808127

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Student Services Series: Be Well Huskies

Monday, May 3, 6 p.m.

Do you want to get the most out of your MTU experience? Yes? Better make sure you take care of yourself too! With so many exciting things happening, it can be easy to overlook...

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Adult Huskies Group Tennis Lessons Spring Session 3

Monday, May 3, 7 p.m.–8 p.m. | Gates Tennis Center

Adult Huskies Tennis Lessons are now being offered for ages 17 and up who are looking to learn more about the game of tennis! Each class will include technique and games to...

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Art in a Panorama

May 3, all day

Year end virtual art show by students in FA 2300 Art + Design, taught by Terri Frew. Student Artists include, Bethany Hellman, Michelle Kline, Danelle Leinonen, Kylie Mogen,...

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Music in Sacred Spaces: conScience

May 3, all day

conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Jared Anderson, present a series of three recorded mini-concerts in historic sacred spaces in the Copper...

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Superior Wind Symphony: Reparations

May 3, all day

The Superior Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Michael Christianson, use the unique setting of the 2020-21 academic year to explore the music of Black composers in a...