January 18, 2022

Applications for Summer 2022 Portage Health Foundation (PHF) Graduate Assistantships are being accepted and are due no later than 4 p.m. on March 1 to the Graduate School. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online. Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Must be a Ph.D. student conducting a research or outreach project that will promote and/or improve the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon communities.
2. Must be a Ph.D. candidate at the time of application.
3. Must be two years after starting the graduate program at the time of application.
4. Must not be a prior recipient of a PHF Graduate Assistantship.
5. Preference will be given to applicants with long-standing local connections to Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon county.

Priority will be given to students originally from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon counties. Nonresident students and international students are encouraged to apply if their health research is applicable to health needs and job shortages of our local community (obesity research, rural health, medical informatics, drug delivery and lab testing, physical therapy, etc.).

These assistantships are available through the generosity of the Portage Health Foundation. They are intended to recognize outstanding Ph.D. talent in health-oriented research areas. Applicants should be a catalyst for promoting and improving the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon communities through one of the following:

• Health research and technology development
• Health education or preventive and wellness initiatives
• Rural health care access, informatics and assessment of care

Students who receive full support through a PHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a PHF Graduate Assistantship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

Do you have work that takes too long or doesn’t get the results you want? Or fires you’re putting out every day? A process improvement event might be the answer.

The Office of Continuous Improvement can connect you with trained facilitators who will work with you to define the problem, form a team and run an improvement event to resolve it. Your team will be guided by the facilitator using Lean methods and tools to tackle even the most stubborn issues. We specialize in processes that span office and department boundaries, and our service is free!

Contact us with your improvement challenges. Email us at improvement@mtu.edu or submit the Request a Process Improvement form on our website.

The University Senate will convene Meeting 668 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 19) in the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building (Dow), Room 642. 

Those within the University community unable to attend in person have the option to attend via Zoom. Please note: You will need to log in to your MTU Zoom account to join the virtual meeting.

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 667.

Menu for Thursday (Jan. 20):

• Thai Chicken Curry (Gluten Free)
• Tofu Chicken Curry (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)
• Jasmine Rice (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Stir Fried Bok Choy (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Thai Cucumber Salad (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Dining Services presents this week's C-Cubed Luncheon being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 20) 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 this Google form. To join the C-Cubed Google group and receive weekly menus, email business-support@mtu.edu.

This weekend, you are invited to our winter Weekend of New Music at the Rozsa!

• Water Music: New Music Inspired by the Great Lakes — Friday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.
  The American Wild Ensemble takes the stage to perform new music by living composers inspired by all five great lakes. The program includes the world premiere of a piece about Lake Superior, written by Michigan Tech's own Libby Meyer.
  Tickets: $15 for adults and $5 for youth. Michigan Tech students can attend for free and bring a friend with the Experience Tech Fee.
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• Student Composition Reading and Masterclass — Saturday, Jan. 22, 3 p.m.
  Composer-in-residence Stephen Lias and the American Wild Ensemble lead a masterclass of Michigan Tech students' compositions. There is no pre-registration or ticketing and all are welcome to this free event.
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• The Music of Stephen Lias — Saturday, Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m.
  "Adventure-composer." Has there ever been a more perfect combination of words for music in the Copper Country? Stephen Lias, artist-in-residence at Michigan Tech just before this concert, is literally an adventure-composer. He writes music inspired by his outdoor adventures in national parks and other natural wonders he encounters in his exciting life on the go.
  Tickets: $15 for adults and $5 for youth. Michigan Tech students can attend for free and bring a friend with the Experience Tech Fee.
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Tickets for these events are available in by phone at 906-487-2073, online or in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex. The Rozsa Box Office will also be open for ticket purchases two hours 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.

The Michigan Tech Nordic ski team and Tech Trails staff will once again host the Citizen's Night Ski Race Series at the Tech Trails this winter. Dates for 2022 are tonight (Jan. 18), Feb. 8 and March 22, with races beginning at 6 p.m.

The ski series provides participants with an opportunity to engage with our local ski community and enjoy the sport of Nordic skiing with fun races for all ages and ability levels. Whether you're looking to test your competitive limits or connect and ski with fellow community members, this ski series is for you.

All participants must register in person at the SDC Ticketing Office before participating. Registration is $25 for the entire race series, and includes a Michigan Tech race bib that you get to keep! This series is a fundraiser for the Michigan Tech Nordic Ski Team and the Tech Trails.

More information is available at the Michigan Tech Recreation website.

Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Cadet Seth Aho has a passion for physical fitness and taking care of his community, and last fall, his semester-long service project combined the two to make a difference in a new way.

Enlisting the help of his fellow wingmen, Aho planned, organized and executed what he cleverly calls Ruck and Chuck. While walking or running long distances with a weighted rucksack on their backs, cadets from Detachment 400 also picked up trash along various routes in the community.

Armed with rucksacks, trash bags, gloves and a fish scale, over 12 cadets joined Aho to pick up trash on Sunday evenings throughout the fall semester. Each outing lasted 1.5-2.5 hours while the cadets took time to pick up every piece of litter they saw, weighed it, then properly disposed of it into the garbage. Over 70 pounds of trash was picked up around Houghton throughout the fall semester.

AFROTC hopes to see more cadets rucking and chucking for many more semesters to come. 

Interested in an efficient and effective approach to grading homework problems? Gradescope is an online assessment tool that will reduce the amount of time devoted to grading homework and exams while still being able to provide detailed feedback. Once assessments are graded, instructors can view detailed analytics to better understand how students are doing.

Join us Jan. 27 from 2-3 p.m. as we introduce you to Gradescope and how to create a Gradescope Assignment. Please register in advance.

Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at 906-487-3000 or elearning@mtu.edu if you have questions.

No. 19 Michigan Tech hockey swept Lake Superior State with two shutout victories in the Soo over the weekend.

Following the sweep, Tech jumped two rankings to No. 17 in this week's DCU/USCHO.com Top 20 Poll. The Huskies are 12-8-1 overall this season and 9-5 in the CCHA, positioning themselves third in the conference standings.

MTU blanked the Lakers 3-0 on Jan. 14 at the Taffy Abel Arena. Blake Pietila earned his fourth shutout of the season with 21 saves. Brian Halonen, Brett Thorne and Justin Misiak all had a goal and an assist.

"I'm proud of the guys for the way they played after the long break," Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. "Every win right now really adds up, and I really appreciate how hard we competed."

The Huskies completed their CCHA sweep of LSSU with another 3-0 shutout Jan. 15. Tech scored three power-play goals in the second half of the game and Pietila got his fifth shutout — and his third shutout of LSSU in a row — with 11 saves.

"We made a little change on the power play in the second, and then we scored on our last three power plays," Shawhan said. "That was the difference in the game. It was a big win and a big weekend."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

A second-half slide contributed to a 66-49 loss for Michigan Tech men's basketball Jan. 15 against Saginaw Valley State in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

Despite the loss, Trent Bell notched a double-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, but the Huskies were held to just 33% shooting and 19 second-half points.

"I was proud of how hard we defended on the road," said head coach Josh Buettner. "We grew in the sense that we kept competing defensively when shots weren't falling. Now we have to figure out how to manufacture points and we have to figure out how to get to the free throw line. Zero attempts wasn't enough."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Tuesday (Jan. 18)
• Huskies Drive Time, 7:30-8 a.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ

Thursday (Jan. 20)
• Women's Basketball vs. Grand Valley State, 5:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ
• Men's Basketball vs. Grand Valley State, 7:30 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ

Friday (Jan. 21)
• Hockey at Northern Michigan, 6:37 p.m. on Mix 93 WKMJ and TV6

Saturday (Jan. 22)
• Nordic Skiing at CCSA Mt. Itasca CXC Cup (Coleraine, Minn.)
• Women's Basketball at Davenport, Noon at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ
• Men's Basketball at Davenport, 2 p.m. at SDC Gym on Mix 93 WKMJ
• Hockey vs. Northern Michigan, 6:07 p.m. at MacInnes Student Ice Arena on Mix 93 WKMJ and TV6

Sunday (Jan. 23)
• Nordic Skiing at CCSA Mt. Itasca CXC Cup (Coleraine, Minn.)

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 make choices to protect themselves, such as getting vaccinated, wearing high-filtration face coverings, and practicing enhanced sanitation and physical distancing where possible — especially in light of the increased transmissibility of the COVID-19 omicron 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. 

The consent form is now online and can be completed anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the day of your visit.

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

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Bob Mark Business Model Pitch Competition Dates Announced

Graduate and undergraduate students across campus disciplines are invited to pitch their business model in four minutes to a panel of judges in the annual Bob Mark Business Model Pitch Competition.

This year's competition will take place Jan. 27 from 5-7 p.m. in MUB Ballroom A and will be streamed virtually on Zoom. Students must register for the competition by Friday (Jan. 21). 

All faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to attend the competition. A pre-event social mixer will be held for attendees and contestants starting at 4 p.m.

Want to watch on Zoom?
Virtual attendees must register in advance.

Business Model Boot Camp
The Business Model Boot Camp will be held Wednesday (Jan. 19) to help contestants prepare their business models. All contestants are encouraged to attend. To participate, contestants must register for the boot camp by tomorrow (Jan. 18). 

About the Competition
A follow-up to our Idea Pitch Competition, the Bob Mark Business Model Pitch Competition assesses the potential of an idea through the product-market fit of a team’s value proposition with its proposed customer segment(s). The competition is a great way to come together as a campus and community to support our students and their innovations. Prizes will be awarded to the most scalable and actionable business model pitches.

This event is a tribute to the late Bob Mark, professor of practice within the College of Business. Mark started the Elevator Pitch Competition at Michigan Tech. The Bob Mark Pitch Business Model Competition recognizes his entrepreneurial spirit and its continuation at Michigan Tech. The 2022 Bob Mark Business Model Competition is being hosted by Husky Innovate, the Pavlis Honors College and the College of Business.

About Husky Innovate
Husky Innovate is Michigan Tech’s resource hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. We host free workshops, competitions, NSF I-Corps lean startup training, innovation talks, internships and mentorship, and we co-host the Silicon Valley Experience with the College of Business.

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Lunch and Learn: New Year/Healthier You

Join Angela Luskin, group exercise instructor at Portage Health, at noon today (Jan. 18) in the MUB Ballroom B1/B2 as she helps us start the new year in a healthier way.

If you are fired up and ready to start the week, month or new year off with a new exercise program, but not quite sure where to start, this Lunch and Learn is for you. Luskin will help you set up an exercise program and come up with new ideas to improve your physical activity.

This interactive presentation is just what you need to start off 2022 on the right track! We’ll talk about how to get started and healthy goals, and also try out some exercise we can do at home.

This presentation counts toward Option 2 for your Husky Health Checklist!

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GrantForward Session: 'Automate Your Funding Search'

If you're looking for research or other program funding, set aside this hour on your calendar: noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow (Jan. 19).

In this session, we'll help you get your profile set up on GrantForward, Michigan Tech’s funding search database, to optimize your search for external funding, whether for research, outreach, educational program development or other scholarly activity.

Once your profile is set up, you can opt to receive notifications of funding opportunities that match your research and scholarly interests.

Join us in this Zoom session to learn more. Contact rd-l@mtu.edu if you have questions.

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Diversity Literacy Workshop: Spring 2022 Dates

There is still time to complete your full or refresher Diversity Literacy training in spring 2022.

The Diversity Literacy Workshop is part of Michigan Tech's ongoing commitment to faculty diversity in building a supportive campus climate. Successful completion of the Diversity Literacy Workshop is required to serve on faculty hiring and tenure promotion committees.

The full workshop is organized as a three-week asynchronous online course in Canvas (with two to three hours of work per week) building literacy in recognizing unconscious bias, and culminates with a one-week seminar on the legal aspects of diversity-centered hiring practices. For those who have already taken the full three-week diversity literacy course, a one-week Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop is required every four years. See the Diversity Training Status page for more information and a list of current training status for all faculty.

The spring 2022 workshop dates are listed below and can also be found on the training website, which is also where you can submit your request for workshop registration. Please note that Legal Aspect training will immediately follow the Diversity Literacy training, and faculty will be registered for them both at the same time.

If you have any questions about the Diversity Literacy workshops and training, contact Diversity Literacy Workshop administrator Amy Marcarelli at ammarcar@mtu.edu.

Spring 2022 Dates for Diversity Literacy and Legal Aspects of Hiring:

Spring Refresher 1:
Jan. 17-21 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
Jan. 24-28 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – Online Course

Spring Full Course:
Feb. 7-25 — Diversity Literacy Full Course
Feb. 28-March 4 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – Online Course

Spring Refresher 2:
March 21-25 — Diversity Literacy Refresher Workshop
March 28-April 1 — Legal Aspects of Hiring – Online Course

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Revised Search Committee Training Requirement

Currently, all faculty and staff are required to complete training workshops to serve on search committees. Members of a faculty search committee complete Diversity Literacy Online Workshop (DLOW) and Faculty Legal Aspects. Members of a staff search committee complete the Staff Hiring Process Training Program, which has a Legal Aspects component. These workshops must be completed every three to four years.

The Legal Aspects components explain the University's commitment and obligation to a fair and respectful hiring process for all applicants, in compliance with federal and state laws and University policy.

Starting in the spring 2022 semester, Institutional Equity, Human Resources and the Provost's Office are requiring that a new Legal Aspects Refresher Course be completed each time someone serves on a search committee (but not more than once per year). This requirement is to ensure that these issues, policies and procedures are at the forefront when committee members complete their important work. This course is typically completed in one hour or less and is completely asynchronous.

Please contact Institutional Equity at equity@mtu.edu for further information or with questions.

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

7 Days of MUB!

Tuesday, January 18, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. | Online

Welcome back to the Spring semester, MUB Board is ready to start things off with a bang! Join us for a variety of events, both in-person and online, to learn about what MUB...

Lunch and Learn: New Year/Healthier You: Ready - Set - Now What?

Tuesday, January 18, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B1/B2

Join Angela Luskin, group exercise instructor at Portage Health, on Tuesday, January 18th in the MUB Ballroom B1/B2 at 12 noon as she helps us start the new year in a...

Resume Session

Tuesday, January 18, 12:00 p.m.–12:50 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

SURF Advising Session

Tuesday, January 18, 2 p.m.–5 p.m.

Applications for 2022 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURFs) are now open. Fellowship recipients will spend the summer working on an individual research project...

Broomball Ball Drop

Tuesday, January 18, 5:15 p.m.–6:15 p.m. | Walker Lawn, Black Rink

Broomball is back! Join us for the opening game of the season this Tuesday, January 18th at 5:15 PM on Walker Lawn where the Michigan Tech Pep Band will play the Michigan Tec...

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Spring 2022 Session 1

Tuesday, January 18, 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 18, 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...

DZ Week:

Tuesday, January 18, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Delta Zeta House

Starting January 13th, Delta Zeta will be hosting a series of Recruitment Events where we welcome you to hang out, have some fun, and meet some sisters! These events are all...

Lambda Chi Alpha RUSH event: Meet the Brothers at the McNair Pool Hall

Tuesday, January 18, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | West McNair Pool Hall (1st floor of West McNair)

Come meet the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha at the McNair pool hall! We'll be playing pool and euchre, come join us!

Open Rock Climbing

Tuesday, January 18, 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...

Broomball Broom Making Bash

Tuesday, January 18, 6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m. | Alley Makerspace, MUB Basement

Need to make your Broomball Broom, but not exactly sure how? Join members of the Broomball Committee in the Alley Makerspace to get sound advice, use provided supplies, and...

Open Log Rolling

Tuesday, January 18, 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...