January 11, 2022

Timothy Havens (CS/ICC/GLRC) came to Michigan Tech as an electrical and computer engineering researcher. As of Jan. 1, he’s now the director of the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), in addition to continuing his roles as director of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC) and the William and Gloria Jackson Professor in Computer Science. Havens succeeds outgoing GLRC director Andrew Barnard.

“I am extremely pleased that Tim has stepped up and accepted the directorship of the Great Lakes Research Center,” said Dave Reed, Michigan Tech’s Vice President for Research. “Tim has been a very effective leader of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems for several years and I am confident he will bring that experience and approach to the GLRC.”

Read about Havens' plans for the future of the GLRC and his role at Michigan Tech in our Q&A at Michigan Tech News.

Preparing for the evacuation of a building is an important component of being an instructor. Students, even in the University setting, will look to instructors for guidance during an emergency. Michigan Tech requires faculty and instructors to take a few minutes at the beginning of each semester to familiarize themselves and students with basic evacuation routes and emergency procedures.

What specifically should instructors do?

• Familiarize themselves with the building, floor and classroom they will be teaching in. Classrooms are equipped with emergency evacuation postings; use these to orient yourself to exit locations.
• Communicate evacuation routes and assembly areas outside of buildings to students in case of an emergency.
• Remind students that if they need assistance exiting a building during an emergency, it is up to them to self-identify (in private if desired).
• In the event of an emergency, provide leadership and follow established procedures for all building alarms and emergencies.

The University Safety Manual provides additional information regarding emergency action and fire prevention plans.

Please email ehs-help@mtu.edu if you would like your classroom evacuation maps in PDF format.

Congratulations to all of our 2021 Making A Difference Award winners, who were honored at an awards program Jan. 5 in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

A special thank-you to those who nominated an employee or wrote a letter of support. Through your efforts and thoughtfulness, we are able to celebrate these staff members. And thank you to this year’s judges and committee members: Thomas Cogswell, Mia Kemppainen, Steve Knudstrup, Tanya Maki, Rhonda McClellan, Madeline Mercado Voelker and Laurie Stark. Finally, thank you to President Koubek for providing the award each winner will receive.

To read the full story featuring the nominations and comments about the winners, visit the Staff Council website.

2021 Making a Difference Award winners:

Above and Beyond: Christina Lehmann, director of human research protection programs, associate vice president for research development.

Behind the Scenes: Debra Linn, office manager (administrative aide 8), Career Services.

Legacy Award: Debra Charlesworth, assistant dean for graduate studies and postdoctoral affairs, Graduate School.

Outstanding Leader: Renee Ozanich, manager, academic employment, Human Resources.

Rookie Award: Christopher Sanders, multicultural student success coordinator, Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

Serving Others: David Dixon, director of biological laboratory operations, associate vice president for research development.

Unsung Hero: Paige Hackney, assistant to the associate provost and budget manager, Pavlis Honors College.

Menu for Thursday (Jan. 13):

• Chicken Tikka Masala (Gluten Free)
• Tofu Tikka Masala (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)
• Basmati Rice (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Flat Bread (Vegetarian)
• Roasted Masala Cauliflower (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Cabbage Raita (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)

Dining Services presents this week's C-Cubed Luncheon being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 13) in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (Room 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created by executive chef Eric Karvonen and prepared by Karvonen and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community, and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea, cookies and fruit are available free to all attendees.

The buffet lunch is $12 per person. Cash, credit cards and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union office, Room 101. You can submit C-Cubed feedback using our Google form. To join the C-Cubed Google group and receive weekly menus, email business-support@mtu.edu.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics (ME-EM) would like to invite you to attend the seminars to be given by the second department chair candidate, Muhammad Ali.

Ali is currently a professor and graduate program chair of mechanical engineering at Ohio University.

Tomorrow (Jan. 12) at 10 a.m., Ali will give a seminar titled "Functionally Graded Materials and Structures: Applications and the Future" in the R. L. Smith Building (MEEM), Room 406.

On Thursday (Jan. 13), Ali will give a seminar on "Leadership and Administrative Philosophy, Short and Long-term (Department) Goals, and Future Trends in Mechanical Engineering" in MEEM 406 at 11 a.m.

The seminars will be given live. Instructions and access to the recordings will be made made available at a later date.

Are you a STEM instructor looking for ways to better reach all of your students? Here’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Brigitte Morin (BioSci), Deb Charlesworth (GS) and Mike Meyer (CTL) have been trained as facilitators for the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project. This includes an NSF-funded mixed-mode (online and in-person) six-week course, which will be run for a limited cohort at Michigan Tech starting in March.

Don’t just believe our assertion that the thought-provoking and actionable course materials will dramatically change the way you interact with your students. You can sample this for yourself!

Morin, Charlesworth and Meyer will host a “sampler session” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Jan. 25. (Location will be provided after registration.) Participants will be asked to preview three short videos from the course materials. During the session, we’ll provide details about the course, examples of in-person facilitated exercises and directions on how you can apply to be enrolled.

Even if you don’t think you can manage the full course this spring, you’re likely to find interesting and helpful ideas in the samples, so we hope you’ll register and plan to attend!

Questions can be directed to Morin, Charlesworth or Meyer as you prefer.

The Michigan Tech men's basketball team improved to 5-1 in the GLIAC with an 83-55 victory over Purdue Northwest on Jan. 8 at the SDC Gym.

The Huskies are 9-3 overall and have won seven of their last eight games.

"It was a good weekend. We came out locked in today, especially defensively," coach Josh Buettner said. "Keys to the game for us were to limit their offensive rebounds and to do a good job defensively on (Anthony) Barnard and (Mikell) Cooper. We did those things and then our defense led to offense, and we made some shots."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech Nordic ski team wrapped up competition at the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships on Jan. 7 at Soldier Hollow, Utah.

"We are proud of the efforts and competitiveness the team laid out in all four race days," coach Tom Monahan Smith said. "We came out to these championships with the goal of truly competing with the best collegiate, professional and junior racers in the country, and we achieved this goal with our student-athletes posting highlight results from each day of competition."

Read about the Huskies' highlighted performances at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Tuesday (Jan. 11)
• Huskies Drive Time, 7:30-8 a.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ

Thursday (Jan. 13)
• Women's Basketball at Wayne State, 5:30 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ
• Men's Basketball at Wayne State, 7:30 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ

Friday (Jan. 14)
• Hockey at Lake Superior State, 7:07 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ

Saturday (Jan. 15)
• Women's Basketball at Saginaw Valley State, 1 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ
• Men's Basketball at Saginaw Valley State, 3 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ
• Hockey at Lake Superior State, 6:07 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' announcement that Michigan Tech and three other state universities will receive $18.5 million in federal funding to help the state of Michigan expand sequencing for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases was picked up by Michigan Radio, CBS Detroit, WLNS TV6 of Lansing, the Daily Mining Gazette and ABC 10.

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Michigan Tech alumnus Todd Brassard of Calumet Electronics was quoted by Forbes in a story on the need to rebuild the nation's domestic microelectronics ecosystem.

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A guest article by Tech alumna Alexis Pascaris was published by the Keweenaw Now blog. The article reflected on Pascaris' experience as part of MTU's delegation to COP26, the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

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 spring 2022 semester.

Testing is available every week in the Rozsa Center basement Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no cost to be tested, and no appointment is needed. 

More COVID-19 Testing Information for the Michigan Tech community is available on the MTU Flex website.

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

Library Orientation for New Graduate Students

Tuesday, January 11, 1:00 p.m.–2:15 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, East Reading Room

The Van Pelt and Opie library is here to help you succeed! At this event, librarians will share tips and tricks for getting the most out of the library's electronic and...

PhD Defense: Madhur Arun Jagtap

Tuesday, January 11, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC), 501

Electrical Engineering Advisor: Bruce Mork Impacts of Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) on Power System Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/334124241

Master's Defense: Pranav Omanakuttan Nair

Tuesday, January 11, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. | R. L. Smith Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Building (MEEM), 403

Electrical Engineering Advisor: Wayne Weaver Hardware in the Loop Implementation and Simulations of a Wave Energy Converter Using Typhoon HIL and Speedgoat

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Spring 2022 Session 1

Tuesday, January 11, 5:30 p.m.–6:20 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons provides aquatic education for the beginner to the intermediate swimmer who is looking to become more comfortable in the water and learn the...

Adult Huskies Swim Training Spring 2022 Session 1

Tuesday, January 11, 5:30 p.m.–6:20 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Adult Huskies Swim Training provides additional attention and competitive guidance to swimmers ages 18 and older who are looking to improve their swimming skills and fitness...

Open Rock Climbing

Tuesday, January 11, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multipurpose Room Climbing Wall

All ages (we can allow all ages to climb as long as we have the proper fitting equipment). No need to sign up, just stop by the Climbing Wall between 6 and 8 pm Monday through...

Open Log Rolling

Tuesday, January 11, 8:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Pool

Looking for something new for you or your child to stay active? Sign up now for the OAP Open Log Rolling and test your skills on the log! We try to meet each participant at...