December 3, 2021

On Monday (Dec. 6), all tenured and tenure-track faculty will receive an email with a ballot link requesting approval of the addition of two sections to the Faculty Handbook, Section 2.5: The Role of Innovation and Commercialization and Section 2.6: The Role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The content of these sections were previously accepted and passed as Senate proposals 5-18 and 55-21, respectively.

Following Appendix I of the Faculty Handbook, any changes affecting the tenure, promotion and reappointment process must be approved via a referendum voted on by the tenured and tenure-track faculty.

Additional information on both proposed sections will be available Monday on the Senate Voter Information Page under the Resources tab on the University Senate web page. Balloting will begin Monday and will remain open until 5 p.m. on Dec. 13.

Applications for 2022 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURFs) are now open. Fellowship recipients will spend the summer working on an individual research project under the guidance of a Michigan Tech faculty mentor.

SURFs are open to all Tech undergraduates who have at least one semester remaining after the summer term. Awards are up to $4,000. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Feb. 11.

Students who have questions about the program or application process can take advantage of a virtual drop-in advising session with the SURF coordinator, Robert Handler (ChE).

Virtual drop-in advising sessions are scheduled for these dates:

• Tuesday, Dec. 14, from 2-5 p.m. — Join via Zoom.
• Tuesday, Jan. 18, from 2-5 p.m. — Join via Zoom.

For more information and access to the application materials and instructions, visit the SURF web page or contact Handler at rhandler@mtu.edu.

Tonight (Dec. 3), join us for a Zoom reception from 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the Big Bean Burrito Student Exhibit at the Rozsa Galleries. Each artist will present their work virtually during this evening reception.

Join the reception via Zoom.

The Big Bean Burrito Student Exhibit features art by:

Cassie Anderson | Trent Betters | Cailin Bishop | Noah Burk | Mykaela Cayemberg | Megan Cole | Ellen Coppernoll | Alex Coryell | Seth Damstra | Bobbie Desgrange | Breckin Deverney | Clay Evans | Faith Gaertner | Mim Jeppesen | Lily Kosaka | Stephanie List | Madi Wentela | Maisie Whitaker

Can't make it to the Zoom reception? Come see the art in real life from today to next Friday (Dec. 3-10) at the Rozsa Galleries, located in the lower level of the Rozsa.

A critical component of promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and sense of belonging (DEIS) is deep and meaningful collaboration that enacts allyship. This is a cooperative model whereby people from diverse backgrounds, especially those with power and privilege, join together in solidarity to overcome systems that disadvantage some groups, including unlearning assumptions about what constitutes “help” — particularly the kind that reinforces unwanted power structures.

One research article that explores this point is “Male allyship in institutional STEMM gender equity initiatives.” The article centers on men’s self-understanding as “champions for change,” the barriers and risks of this paradigm, and evolving perceptions among participants in the program. The concept of men as “champions” in gender-equity programs is not uncommon, and one such program is “Male Champions of Change.”

Initially, study participants tended to perceive “champions” as an empowering term that encouraged men’s involvement in social justice work. However, by the second year, participants began to perceive “the gendered positioning of male championship is at odds with gender equity and structural change.” Rather, DEIS is about all of us — and we all gain when we remove barriers to equity, including terms and concepts like “champions.”

Today’s feature was shared with us by the ADVANCE Advocates Team. 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.

This weekend, you're invited to "The Nutcracker" at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts!

Three showings are scheduled:

• Friday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m.

This fresh, new version of the family favorite, created by the Minnesota Ballet, captivates in new ways as a holiday treat. Experience young Clara’s enchanting dream come to life while on a holiday travel trip with her beloved Nutcracker doll. Clara encounters fairies, princes, lumberjacks, sweets-makers and more in this joyous tale that will delight the whole family. The show is performed by the Minnesota Ballet and the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra, and features dancers from the Superior School of Dance.

Things to know:

• Seating is reserved for all performances.
• Tier section and all wheelchair-accessible seats are socially distanced, pod-style seating.
• All performers will be masked.
• Tickets are $28 for adults and $12 for youth.
• Michigan Tech students can attend for free and bring a friend with the Experience Tech Fee.

Tickets for these events are available by phone at 906-487-2858 or online. The Rozsa Box Office will also be open for ticket purchases prior to performances.

Note: Face coverings are required for volunteers, staff and audience members at these events. Please visit the Rozsa COVID-19 Policies for the most up-to-date information.

Michigan Tech volleyball senior setter Laura De Marchi has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest Region Player of the Year. She was also named to the All-Midwest Region Team for the third time in her career.

Anna Jonynas was also named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region Team.

Players named to AVCA All-Region teams are eligible for selection to the AVCA Division II All-America teams, which will be announced Tuesday (Dec. 7).

De Marchi and Jonynas were also named to the D2CCA All-Midwest Region Second Team as voted on by the region's sports information directors.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

No. 20 Michigan Tech volleyball advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinal for the second straight tournament with a 3-2 victory over Wayne State yesterday (Dec. 2) at Jim Wink Arena at Ferris State.

The Huskies won in five sets, 25-16, 25-20, 18-25, 19-25 and 15-8, to improve to 25-6 overall. 

"It was a barn burner," Tech coach Matt Jennings said. "Congrats to Wayne and coach Tim (Koth) on an excellent season. They have a lot to be proud of — as do we. We haven't had a great track record in the fifth set and for us to play like we did and pull it out is nice. It's a veteran team, a senior-led team, and with those players out there working for us, anything is possible."

The Huskies will play either Hillsdale or Grand Valley State in the semifinal match today (Dec. 3) at 5 p.m. The match can be streamed free at  FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech hockey is on the road this weekend for a CCHA series at No. 2 Minnesota State.

The puck drops at 8:07 p.m. tonight (Dec. 3) and 7:07 p.m. tomorrow (Dec. 4) at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.

The Huskies and Mavericks will meet in Houghton on Feb. 25-26 to wrap up the regular season.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech men's basketball begins conference play at Northwood tomorrow (Dec. 4) at 3 p.m.

The Huskies split a pair of games against NSIC opponents last weekend, while the Timberwolves split games against Illinois-Springfield (W, 79-71) and Indianapolis (L, 91-85) in the GLVC.

Michigan Tech took both games of the season series against Northwood last winter at Riepma Arena in Midland.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

With five wins in their first six games, No. 23 Michigan Tech women's basketball hits the road tomorrow (Dec. 4) to play Northwood at 1 p.m. at Riepma Arena.

The game will be their first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup this season.

The Huskies are fresh off a pair of victories in the Dakotah Bank Classic.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

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 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. Regular testing hours are 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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DEI Leadership Seminar

Candy McCorkle, vice president of diversity and inclusion at Western Michigan University, will be presenting a virtual seminar tomorrow (Dec. 3) from 1-2 p.m.

The seminar will teach participants to identify, describe and implement the five basic skills needed to begin leading their teams in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work.

From the abstract:
Following the summer of 2020 many colleges and universities have begun to focus on the diversity, equity and inclusion. Although this is an admirable focus it is shortsighted because most faculty, staff, administrators and students are not trained in how to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into their work. ... It is the objective that upon the conclusion of this presentation individuals will be able to identify, describe and implement the five basic skills to begin leading their team in diversity, equity and inclusion work.

McCorkle will also have very limited 15 minute one-on-one sessions after the seminar. Sign up for a one-on-one session.

An additional resource in the form of a guidebook is also available.

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Customer Appreciation Sale Today at Campus Store, University Images

The holidays are quickly approaching and it's once again time for the Michigan Tech Campus Store and University Images Customer Appreciation Sale.

Visit us in person or at our website today (Dec. 3). All Michigan Tech branded apparel and souvenirs will be 25% off, as well as our local and regional items.

Curbside pickup is available at University Images. When ordering online, choose in-store pickup at checkout, and we’ll contact you when your order is ready!

The Campus Store and University Images are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stop in today for the Campus Store and University Images Customer Appreciation Sale. We'll see you soon!

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Joint EPSSI/Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar

The next Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar will be a virtual event held jointly with the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI).

The seminar will take place at 3 p.m. Monday (Dec. 6) on Zoom (the passcode is 432131).

Weihong Wang, associate professor in the Department of Earth Science, Utah Valley University, will present "Building a Nutrient Mass Balance Model for Utah Lake."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

All are welcome.

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Mathematical Sciences Colloquium Series

The next Mathematical Sciences Weekly Colloquium will take place at 1 p.m. today (Dec. 3) via Zoom (the passcode is 957178).

Our guest speaker will be Enkeleida Lushi, assistant professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Her presentation is titled "Micro-swimmers moving in complex confinement."

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

Big Bean Burrito - Student Art Exhibit

Friday, December 3, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.

Michigan Tech sculpture, installation, and design students showcase their work in this end-of-semester art exhibit. Big Bean Burrito: Exhibit opens 8 a.m. 12/3 and closes 8...

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Master's Defense: Tanner Barnes

Friday, December 3, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. | U. J. Noblet Forestry Building, G002

Forest Ecology and Management Advisor: Kristin Brzeski Estimating Red Wolf Ancestry in a Population of Canids on Galveston Island, Texas Attend Virtually:...

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Micro-swimmers moving in complex confinement

Friday, December 3, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.

Speaker: Professor Enekeldia Lushi (New Jersey Institute of Technology) Abstract: Interactions between micro-swimmers and solid boundaries play an important role in many...

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Preparation for Leading in DEI Work for Your Team

Friday, December 3, 1 p.m.–2 p.m.

Following the summer of 2020 many colleges and universities have begun to focus on the diversity, equity and inclusion. Although this is an admirable focus it is shortsighted...

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Board Game Group

Friday, December 3, 3 p.m.–5 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, 243

Are you worn out at the end of the week and just want to hang out and play a game? Then this group is for you! We will chill and play strategy-based board games. The goal is...

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PhD Defense: Leonid Surovitskii

Friday, December 3, 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 610

Geophysics Advisor: Aleksey Smirnov Advancement of Full-Vector Variable-Temperature Magnetometry for Rock-Magnetic and Paleointensity Applications Attend Virtually:...

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Master's Defense: Zachary Dekraker

Friday, December 3, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Rekhi Hall, G009

Computer Science Advisor: Timothy Havens Modeling Human Visual Detection Using Deep Networks

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PhD Defense: Suraj Prabhu

Friday, December 3, 4 p.m.–5 p.m.

Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Advisor: Andrew Barnard Development of a Method to Model an Enclosed Coaxial Carbon Nanotube Speaker with Experimental...

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Big Bean Burrito Zoom Reception

Friday, December 3, 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Join us for a Zoom Reception from 5-7 p.m. as Michigan Tech sculpture, installation, and design students showcase their work in this end-of-semester art exhibit. Big Bean...

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(Women's Basketball) Michigan Tech at Northwood

Friday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.

Women's Basketball: Michigan Tech at Northwood, Riepma Arena

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Film Board Presents: JoJo Rabbit

Friday, December 3, 5:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. | Fisher 135

JoJo is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend -- Adolf Hitler -- Jojo must...

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Auditions for "An Evening of One Acts"

Friday, December 3, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.

The Department of Visual and Performing Arts announces auditions for "An Evening of One Acts” that will be produced on Feb. 17-26 in McArdle Theatre. This performance will...

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Nutcracker with Minnesota Ballet and KSO

Friday, December 3, 7:30 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts

Minnesota Ballet's new production of The Nutcracker with the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra featuring local dancers from the Superior School of Dance View the digital program....

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(Men's Ice Hockey) Michigan Tech at Minnesota State

Friday, December 3, 8:07 p.m.–11:07 p.m.

Men's Ice Hockey: Michigan Tech at Minnesota State

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Film Board Presents: JoJo Rabbit

Friday, December 3, 8:30 p.m.–11:00 p.m. | Fisher 135

JoJo is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend -- Adolf Hitler -- Jojo must...

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Film Board Presents: JoJo Rabbit

Friday, December 3, 11:30–1:00 a.m. | Fisher 135

JoJo is a lonely German boy who discovers that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his imaginary friend -- Adolf Hitler -- Jojo must...