September 17, 2021

Michigan Tech will move to a modified Health and Safety Level Two starting Saturday (Sept. 18). Face coverings will still be required in certain locations — in classrooms and laboratories during classes and lab courses, and in the library — and may also be required during instructor office hours. In all other settings, face coverings will be encouraged but not required. Face covering requirements for fully vaccinated close contacts, as listed in our Quarantine Guidelines, will remain in place. 

Signage around campus will be updated to reflect these changes. Please remember that our MTU Flex plan is structured to be responsive to fluctuations in case count and other factors related to COVID-19. As always, should the local and/or on-campus variables change, we will reevaluate our Health and Safety Level accordingly.

We appreciate everyone's continued diligence in following the Health and Safety Level guidelines and helping keep the community safe.

COVID-19 has had varied impacts on the lives, working conditions and research productivity of faculty members around the world. The degree of impact on any individual has varied based on multiple factors, such as academic discipline, research methods employed, the presence or absence of time-consuming family obligations and the availability of assistance at work or in the home.

Single parents and those who had major responsibilities for child care and/or elder care and lacked access to in-home assistance report that the COVID-19 disruption was particularly challenging. Additionally, those with invisible conditions such as mental illness, substance abuse and other personal health issues found the isolation they experienced extremely difficult. In almost everyone’s case, COVID-19 resulted in new time- and attention-consuming responsibilities.

In order to give all faculty members the opportunity to reflect on the impact of COVID on their career while the memory of the events of 2020 and 2021 are still fresh, all faculty will be asked to provide a COVID Impact Statement as part of their annual Faculty Activity Report for the 2021-22 academic year. COVID Impact Statements will also be allowed in subsequent years and can be submitted in the future at each faculty member’s discretion.

Reviewers of faculty members’ dossiers for the purposes of promotion, tenure, merit-pay increases, etc., will be explicitly counseled to consider the information provided in the COVID Impact Statement so they are able to perform a fair, thorough and fully contextualized review of each faculty member’s record.

The COVID Impact Statement should be included in the faculty narrative section in Digital Measures. In this statement, faculty should reflect on and document the impact that the disruption associated with COVID has had on their research, teaching, and/or service activities. A checklist has been developed to support faculty in drafting their impact statement. Help sessions for those who want to discuss the checklist and use it to prepare their COVID Impact Statement will take place Tuesday (Sept. 21) at 3 p.m. and Wednesday (Sept. 22) at 2 p.m. Both sessions will take place in MUB Ballroom A1.

Accessible child care is a continuing need for the University community. To that end, Michigan Tech is forming a child care committee to evaluate the child care services currently available in the local community.

Once the evaluation is complete, the committee will report its recommendations to the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Administration. These recommendations are expected to include:

• An assessment of child care options within the community — including cost by location, hours and family status (i.e., whether the option is or is not available to MTU-affiliated families) — that evaluates overall community needs, University-specific needs and recommendations as to the role Michigan Tech can play in meeting those needs;
• A review and evaluation of child care options at peer universities;
• Identification of key issues and challenges that affect child care, including capacity and affordability, and other issues such as snow days, sick days, after-school care and special event needs;
• A review and evaluation of the current University subsidy structure; and
• Other recommendations and relevant information as necessary.

Committee members are expected to include, but would not be limited to: representatives recommended by Human Resources, Financial Services and Operations, the Vice President for Research Office, Facilities Management, the University Senate, the Provost’s Office, Staff Council, and the Office of the CFO and Senior Vice President for Administration.

The committee formation process is being finalized and the proposed timeline for recommendation delivery is January 2022.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day are observed each year on Sept. 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on this day in 1787, and to recognize all who, by birth or by naturalization, have become citizens of the United States.

This year you can learn about the Constitution virtually and in person. Visit our online Constitution and Citizenship Day guide to learn about Constitution and Citizenship Day and explore our spotlight on traveling as a United States citizen.

Stop by the information display in the library’s main hallway today to explore books from our collections, learn about traveling as a U.S. citizen and more!

The College of Engineering (CoE) and the Michigan Tech Center for Educational Outreach have teamed up for a six-week virtual design challenge for ninth- and 10th-grade students.

Students will hear from leaders in sustainability design and sustainability engineering via Husky Bites, free 20-minute (or so) interactive Zoom webinars hosted by CoE's dean, Janet Callahan. Mentored by current Michigan Tech students, they'll work as a team to put forward a design proposal for a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED-certified school.

Register for the Husky Bites Challenge. Registration is free, with great prizes, and students are welcome to register individually or as a team. Get more info and register soon! The deadline is Monday (Sept. 20) — but it may be extended a few days.

Featured this week in the Michigan Tech Lode:

News
US-41 detour pushed until Sept. 27

Pulse
Drag show (and more!) return for Pride Week
Celebrate MTU’s vibrant cultures with this weekend’s Parade of Nations

Opinion
Are hobbies worth it anymore?
The amazing spider

Tech
Upcoming events in science and technology at Michigan Tech

Read more at the Michigan Tech Lode website.

P.S. — Do you enjoy writing, editing, photography or graphic design? We are currently in need of new individuals to join our staff! For more information, attend our general meeting (Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in Fisher 126) or email us at lodesubmit@mtu.edu. 

Campus departments are invited down the rabbit hole to get involved with Homecoming festivities!

New this year, we have added a door decorating competition for the departments on campus. Help us reclaim our Husky community spirit and turn campus into a mini Wonderland for Homecoming week. Not only will it be fun, but your department also has a chance to win a prize (cupcakes made by Jessie Stapleton and/or Homecoming swag!).

The Homecoming theme is "Blizzard in Wonderland." Doors will be judged by our Homecoming Court and on social media. Make sure you read the rulebook and register your department by 5 p.m. on Sept. 24. Doors need to be decorated by 5 p.m. Sept. 27.

In the words of Lewis Carroll, "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Start thinking of those impossible things to make your door festive!

Please send questions to Rochelle Spencer at raspence@mtu.edu. 

The Husky Autumn Mountain Run (HAMR) is a competitive running event consisting of a 5K and 10K course put on by Michigan Tech’s Department of Military Science. This year the race will be held in conjunction with Homecoming on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. Also, please stick around
Mont Ripley afterward to enjoy the Fall Color Tours.

The course traverses Mont Ripley in the beautiful heart of the Copper Country. The course is challenging and the competition is fierce, yet the environment remains fun and friendly.

This experience is truly unforgettable — enjoy the panoramic views of the famous Upper Peninsula fall colors surrounded by friends, family and competitors. Come out this year and take on the mountain together!

All proceeds will be used to support local businesses and aid in the development and training of future Army officers.

Visit the Husky Autumn Mountain Run website to sign up and participate.

The UP and Moving Program in the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP) is offering guided physical activity workouts open to students, staff, faculty and community members.

The program provides live and recorded home-based workouts online, through social media and on TV. No equipment is needed and workouts can be done right from the comfort of your home. All ages and abilities are welcome.

The program's goal is to keep adults in the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin physically active and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The program is supported in part by a Community Health Impact Grant through the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

Our Weekly Virtual Workout Schedule:

• Monday, 5:30 p.m. — Strength/High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) (approx. 45 minutes)
• Wednesday, noon and 12:30 p.m. — Lunchtime Movement Session (approx. 20 minutes)
• Thursday, 9:30 a.m. — Agility, Balance and Aerobic Workout (approx. 45 minutes)
• Saturday, 10 a.m. — Surprise Workout (approx. 45 minutes)

Our shorter Wednesday lunchtime activity (noon and 12:30 p.m.) is a great way to take a quick movement break from prolonged sitting/computer work! This session can be done right from the office, desk or home.

All workouts are recorded and available to watch on our website through a YouTube channel. For more information about UP and Moving, visit us online or contact Steve Elmer (KIP) at sjelmer@mtu.edu. 

Special golf rates are now in effect at Michigan Tech’s Portage Lake Golf Course:

• Nine holes are now $18 per golfer ($8 savings from the $26 summer rate)
• 18 holes are now $28 per golfer ($12 savings from the $40 summer rate)

These prices will last through Oct. 17, the last day the course is open for play. Book a tee time online or call 906-487-2641 for assistance. 

Golf rates are not the only thing reduced at Portage Lake — all merchandise is now on sale in the Pro Shop, open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Every hat is 30% off; all clothing is 25% off; golf accessories such as alignment sticks, towels, etc., are 20% off; and golf clubs are 15% off.

Come to Portage Lake for a wonderful round of fall golf and do some early holiday shopping while you are here.

This week’s roundup addresses anti-Asian racism on campuses and what can be done to stop it.

In an article from Inside Higher Ed, the authors pointed out that racism against those of Asian descent can be as simple as mixing up Asian community members with each other — perpetuating the harmful myth that people of color are interchangeable. Another article from Diverse Education notes that anti-Asian racism is not a new phenomenon, but rather has been exacerbated by COVID-19 and is more visible due to national conversations surrounding race and racism.

It is important for universities to involve Asian Americans in campus discussions on racism — to really listen, and not marginalize their experiences. The myth of the “model minority” creates an often subconscious bias in the way university students are treated and have their coursework evaluated by faculty.

Today’s feature was shared with us by ADVANCE. If you have an article you think we should feature, please email it to advance-mtu@mtu.edu and we will consider adding it to the ADVANCE Weekly Roundup.

The ADVANCE Weekly Roundup is brought to you by ADVANCE at Michigan Tech, an NSF-funded initiative dedicated to improving faculty career success, retention, diversity, equity and inclusion. Past articles are available on the ADVANCE Newsblog.

To learn more about our featured topic, our mission, programming efforts, and to check out our growing collection of resources, contact us or visit our website.

Michigan Tech electrical engineering undergraduate student Paige Fiet is currently serving as the first student member liaison on the IPC Board of Directors. 

As student member liaison, Fiet attends all board meetings, and her position includes a full voting board seat. She will serve until December 2021.

“It is an honor for me to have been chosen and I feel like I will get invaluable experience and insight into the inner workings of IPC,” Fiet said in an IPC press release last year. “I hope to convey the needs of the students to the Board of Directors. I also intend to learn how to better reach the IPC Student Chapter members and show them how involvement with IPC can benefit them.”

IPC said the student member liaison position was created in response to increased student member involvement in IPC and the potential for student members, as the emerging workforce, to influence workforce development. The nomination/election process was developed with input from IPC Student Chapter advisors, and every IPC Student Chapter member was eligible to vote.

“We discovered that our IPC student members are eager to learn more about the industry and to engage with IPC member companies to understand the skills needed to get a job,” said IPC President and CEO John Mitchell. “What better way to understand the student experience and to connect to our next generation of engineers than to add a full voting board seat for an IPC Student Chapter member?”

Fiet was elected as student member liaison in June 2020, and was also the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the IPC Education Foundation (IPCEF). She is the chair of the IPC & Electronics Student Chapter at Michigan Tech and has interned at Calumet Electronics in Calumet, Michigan.

American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) 2021 Kappe Lecture Series presenter David A. Dzombak will give a talk on sustainable mining on Tuesday (Sept. 21) at 3 p.m. on Zoom.

Dzombak's presentation is titled "Sustainable Mining: is it achievable and can environmental engineering help get us there?"

Attend virtually on Zoom.

From the abstract:
Extraction and processing of fuel and non-fuel minerals from the Earth has a plethora of impacts on land, water, air and ecosystems. Reduction and remediation of these impacts have long engaged environmental engineers in research and practice. Application of sustainability principles to mining is inherently challenging, considering the impacts involved and that mining involves removal of finite resources. ... This talk will examine the environmental sustainability profiles of fuel and non-fuel mineral mining, and efforts that have been undertaken over the past 30 years to improve these profiles. The talk will focus on coal and copper mining in the U.S. as important examples of fuel- and non-fuel mineral mining. Current and evolving mining industry practices and related environmental engineering activities will be reviewed. Approaches for assessing the environmental sustainability of mining operations will be presented and applied to the two cases, with consideration of scale from operations at individual sites to system level.

Join the Health Research Institute (HRI) for a virtual research talk by Richard Neubig, professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University on Wednesday (Sept. 22) at 10 a.m.

Neubig's talk is titled “Academic Drug Discovery: Why do it?”

This event will be online only. Attend virtually on Zoom. 

From the abstract
Most drug discovery used to be done in large pharmaceutical companies. There was a focus on “proven” drug targets and multiple companies would be chasing a small number of targets considered to be “low-hanging fruit”. In about 2007, the NIH launched the Molecular Libraries Screening Network and many academic institutions took on the challenge of developing chemical probes for more challenging targets like protein-protein interactions, modulation of gene transcription, etc. I will describe my lab’s journey into academic drug discovery and a PhD student’s high-throughput screening project that has driven much work in my lab for the last 15-18 years.

Job Postings for Friday, Sept. 17, 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. 

Office Assistant 4, Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (UAW posting Sept. 17 to Sept. 23, 2021 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Office Assistant 5 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #21178RP,
Human Resources (UAW posting Sept. 17 to Sept. 23, 2021 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the UAW posting dates). 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 for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or mtujobs@mtu.edu.

Doctoral student Alexandra Watral and Kevin Trewartha (CLS) are the authors of an article published in Psychology and Aging.

The article is titled "Measuring Age Differences in Executive Control Using Rapid Motor Decisions in a Robotic Object Hit and Avoid Task."

This work was supported in part by an NIH grant (1R15AG059095-01) awarded to Kevin Trewartha (principal investigator).

Caryn Heldt (ChemEng/HRI) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $568,044 research and development grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

This four-year project is titled "Collaborative Research: DMREF: A computationally-driven predictive framework for stabilizing viral therapies."

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Nancy French (MTRI) is the PI on a project that has received a $22,814 research and development co-op/joint agreement-cost from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service.

This one-year project is titled "Analysis support and expert knowledge for scaling aggregated, object-based estimations of fuels, energy flux, and emissions."

Face Coverings Required Indoors on Campus

While Michigan Tech is at Health and Safety Level Two, face coverings must be worn indoors. This applies to all students, employees, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.

Michigan Tech strongly recommends that all employees and students receive the COVID-19 vaccine and continue with handwashing and hand-sanitizing practices, especially in light of the virulence of the COVID-19 delta variant. Please be aware that if you are exposed to COVID-19, quarantine guidelines vary depending on vaccination status. 

In Level Two, students and employees are not required to monitor their symptoms daily prior to coming to campus. But, individuals should be mindful of their own symptoms. A useful monitoring tool is available from the CDC. 

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On-Demand COVID-19 Testing Available on Campus

Walk-in, on-demand COVID-19 testing is available to Michigan Tech students and employees during the fall 2021 semester.

Testing is located in the Datolite Room at the MUB on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. There is no cost to be tested, and no appointment is needed. 

Read more COVID-19 Testing Information on the MTU Flex website.

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Chemistry Seminar Series

Guest speaker Chelsea Nikula will be giving a seminar as part of the Chemistry Seminar Series today (Sept. 17) at 2 p.m. in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building (Chem Sci), Room 104D.

Nikula's topic is: Mass Spectrometry Imaging: What is it? (And Interesting Biological Applications in Cancer Research!) 

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KIP September Seminar: Public Health

Please join the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology (KIP) today (Sept. 17) from 2-4 p.m. for two seminars:

• 2-3 p.m. — Careers in Public Health
• 3-4 p.m. — The Intersection of Kinesiology and Public Health

Both seminars will take place in person at the Advanced Technology Development Complex (ATDC), Room 101, or they can be attended virtually through Zoom.

More information on the seminars and how to join the Zoom meetings can be found on the KIP Newsblog.

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Biomedical Engineering Graduate Seminar

Xiaochu Ding (Chem) will present a graduate seminar today (Sept. 17) from 3-5 p.m. in the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), Room U115.

Ding's presentation is titled "Polymeric Biomaterials for Protein Therapy and Bioresorbable Synthetic Grafts."

Read the presentation abstract on the University Events Calendar.

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Parade of Nations is Tomorrow

The annual Parade of Nations will take place at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Sept. 18) and its route has changed again.

The parade will start at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, across from the miner statue in Houghton. It will head down the hill to Lakeshore Drive, past Dee Stadium, and will follow Lakeshore Drive past Bridgeview Park, ending at Kestner Park. It will not go through downtown Houghton this year.

Nearly 30 countries will be represented by marchers with flags or floats. Bob Wenc, longtime member of the Parade of Nations organizing committee, will be parade marshal, and other notable individuals will walk in the parade, including:

• Rick Koubek, President of Michigan Tech
• Philip Johnson, Finlandia President
• Wayne Gersie, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at Michigan Tech

Karen Colbert will sing the national anthem at Bridgeview Park, where Scavenger Hunt winners will be announced, and they will be invited to walk in the parade. At Kestner Park, there will be many photo opportunities with the flags of many nations.

The annual festival, sponsored by Michigan Tech and Finlandia University, celebrates the multicultural heritage of the Keweenaw.

For more information, see the Parade of Nations web page, email paradeofnations@mtu.edu or call 906-487-2160.

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

Poster Sale hosted by MUB Board

Friday, September 17, 9–10 a.m. | MUB Superior Room

Are the walls in your room bare? We can help!!! Come to our Poster Sale! You will find a huge selection of the bestselling and most popular college posters. Stop by between...

The Spirit of the Hunt: Ecological Art Exhibit & Public Wolf Discussion

Friday, September 17, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, Atrium and G002

Art Exhibit: August 30-October 15 Monday-Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm Noblet Atrium, Michigan Tech College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science Opening...

Michigan Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowship application workshop: Overview and tips from an MSGC Fellowship reviewer

Friday, September 17, 11:00–11:50 a.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 404

The Graduate School is offering support services to assist graduate students in applying for the Michigan Space Grant Consortium’s Graduate Fellowship, including a workshop...

Current Industry Trends with PCA

Friday, September 17, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 310

Michigan Technological University Presidential Council of Alumnae (PCA) members are recognized for personal and professional achievements in all facets of life, including...

Polymeric Biomaterials for Protein Therapy and Bioresorbable Synthetic Grafts

Friday, September 17, 3 p.m.–5 p.m. | Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M), U115

Biomedical Engineering Seminar Xiaochu Ding, PhD Department of Chemistry Michigan Tech University Abstract Polymeric biomaterials have advantages of controllable structure...

(Women's Volleyball) Grand Valley State vs. Michigan Tech

Friday, September 17, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Wood Gym

Women's Volleyball: Grand Valley State vs. Michigan Tech

Opening Reception for HYPERCONNECTION: A New Series by Tiffany Lange

Friday, September 17, 5 p.m.–7 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Gallery: A-Space

Drop in to celebrate the opening of HYPERCONNECTION: A New Series by artist Tiffany Lange! This exhibit will be open in Gallery A-Space and includes an installation in the...

(Women's Soccer) Davenport vs. Michigan Tech

Friday, September 17, 7 p.m.–10 p.m. | Sherman Field

Women's Soccer: Davenport vs. Michigan Tech

(Women's Tennis) Michigan Tech vs. Michigan Tech

September 17, all day | Gates Tennis Center

Women's Tennis: Michigan Tech vs. Michigan Tech, ITA Midwest Regional Tournament - Grand Valley St Hosts