February 15, 2022

The deadline for employees to submit claims for their 2021 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is Thursday, March 31. Health care and dependent care claims during the 2021 calendar year are eligible if the date of service was in 2021. Any money remaining in the account after this date is forfeited per IRS regulations.

Dependent care claims require an invoice or receipt from the provider. All medical, dental and optical claims should be processed through your insurance plans before submitting them to your health care reimbursement account.

Attach the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or a claim summary from your insurance plan to the claim form when submitting a claim. For expenses not processed through insurance, submit the itemized receipt.

More information and the FSA claim form and can be found online on the Human Resources Flex Spending webpage.

For questions, contact Benefit Services at benefits@mtu.edu or call 7-2517.

The Ecosystem Science Center announces and congratulates the Fall 2021 Student Research Grants recipients. Proposals are selected for funding through a competitive review process designed to give students an opportunity to gain experience in grant writing. The research involved must be related to the interests of the ESC to advance our understanding of how ecosystems function and how human activities influence ecosystem processes.

Reed Arneson (Advisor Yinan Yuan, CFRES), Introducing An Artificial Sense-Antisense Reporter System to Arabidopsis thalinana

 Jenna Brewer (Advisors Jared Wolfe and Kristin Brzeski, CFRES), Northern cardinal's range expansion as a result of supplementary feeding

Nathan Coleman (Advisor John Vucetich, CFRES), Lethal vs Non-Lethal? Comparing the cost of wolf-livestock conflict mitigation methods in an area of non-lethal mitigation and an area of lethal mitigation in Idaho

Tiff Degroot (Advisor Kristin Brzeski, CFRES), Using environmentally-derived DNA to compare mammal community composition in tropical lowland forests.

Maria Ferrer (Advisors Jared Wolfe and Kristin Brzeski, CFRES), Forest structure and arthropod prey influence on mercury contamination in the terrestrial insectivorous bird, Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Chris Hohnholt (Advisor Chris Webster, CFRES), Efficacy comparison of two herbicides with different sites of action to control glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus)

Melanie Ottino (Advisors Kristin Brzeski , Carsten Kulheim and Chris Webster, CFRES), Development of noninvasive fecal metabarcoding methodology for generalist herbivore in Upper Peninsula

Emma Shedd (Advisors Molly Cavaleri and Andrew Burton, CFRES), Root respiration acclimation in quercus rubra along a Midwest temperature gradient

Zachary Solomon (Advisor Nancy Langston, SS), Can carbon offsets protect forests resources in Keweenaw County?

Gabriel Edzordzi Agbozo (RTC ’21) has received the 2022 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Outstanding Dissertation Award in Technical Communication for “Spatial Technologies, (Geo)Epistemology, and the Global South: Addressing the Discursive Materiality of GhanaPostGPS through Technical Communication.” The CCCC is a constituent organization within the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). Read the full story.

You are cordially invited to join us from 5-6 P.M. today, Tuesday (Feb. 15), in room 120A in the Walker HDMZ for a chat and board games in Spanish.

All levels of Spanish speakers are welcome. Please pass the information along and bring someone as well!

The next Peña dates are March 1, March 15, and March 29.
For any questions regarding La Peña conversation hours, please contact Leyre Alegre, lalegref@mtu.edu.

Menu for Thursday (Feb. 17):

• Chicken Korma (Gluten Free)
• Vegetable Korma (Vegetarian)
• Basmati Rice (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Masala Cauliflower (Gluten Free, Vegan)
• Cabbage Raita (Gluten Free)
• Warm Flat Bread (Vegetarian)
• Vegetable Salad (Vegan)

Dining Services presents this week's C-Cubed Luncheon being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 17) in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 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, MUB 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.

The Provost’s Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence provides special recognition to instructional personnel who have been nominated as finalists for the Distinguished Teaching Award four or more times.

Two College of Business (COB) faculty members will receive this award in spring 2022: Jeff Wall, associate professor and Sheila Milligan, senior lecturer.

Provost Jacqueline Huntoon commented, “For as long as I can remember, we Michigan Tech faculty have prided ourselves on providing quality educational experiences for our students. The Provost's Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence was designed to recognize faculty members who have received accolades from their students and colleagues over the course of many years. Faculty like this year's awardees are doing things that we can all learn from — and they are helping to make Michigan Tech a great place for students to learn.”

The award, which includes a plaque and $1,000 in additional compensation, will be presented at the Academy of Teaching Excellence event on April 18. Each recipient is considered a member of Michigan Tech’s Distinguished Teaching Academy, an elite group with an established reputation for excellent teaching.

Please join Huntoon and the William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning in congratulating Wall and Milligan!

Bad Info Workshop: Search Like a Fact Checker

Not sure if your news is fake? Not even sure what that means anymore? Join us from 2-3 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 17) in Library 244 to talk through some lateral reading strategies that can be helpful when evaluating your sources. This workshop, part of the ongoing Bad Info Project, will feature discussion and hands-on exploration of real-life examples. 

Register for the workshop online

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Archives and Questions of Truth

How do we know what happened in the past? Our understanding of history can be clouded by assumptions, preconceptions and legends innocently passed through the generations. Going back to basics and investigating original sources can clarify — and complicate — knowledge of the truth of the past. Learn more in a session by the Michigan Tech Archives from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in the Archives Reading Room on the Garden Level, Van Pelt and Opie Library.

Participants will investigate some of the Copper Country’s most contested stories using original materials and maybe even question what they thought they knew. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Due to reading room seating capacity, the session is limited to 20 attendees. Please sign up to guarantee your seat.

Archives and Questions of Truth is part of the Bad Information Project  made possible in part by a grant from the Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by funding from the MTU Humanities Department.

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Biological Sciences Seminar Series: Alexander B. Michaud

Alex B. Michaud discusses "The tundra is rusting: Quantifying the distribution and role of iron cycling in the Arctic," from 3-4 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 17) as part of the biological sciences seminar series. Please join the seminar via Zoom to learn more about the iron cycle and its importance in the Arctic tundra ecosystem.

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Brown Bag Research Seminar Series

The campus community is invited to hear Manish Srivastava (COB) present "The Choice Between Alliances and Acquisitions: A Knowledge Recombination Perspective" as part of the College's Brown Bag Research Seminar Series from noon to 1 p.m. next Wednesday (Feb. 23) in Academic Office Building Room 101.

Michigan Tech junior Blake Pietila has been named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week for the third time this season the league announced on Monday (Feb. 14).

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Senior forward Trent Bell (Negaunee, Michigan) was announced as men's basketball GLIAC North Division Player of the Week on Monday. Bell helped the Huskies to a pair of road wins with double-doubles in both games. He totaled 36 points, 24 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and five blocks.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech women's basketball announced Maja Kozlowska (Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland) has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the program for the 2022-23 season. Kozlowska, a forward/center, has competed for the Polish National Team since the under-16 level. Last season she averaged 13.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, helping the under-19 Polish National Team to the finals of the National Championship Tournament. Read the full story on 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 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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Visiting Professor Program Funding Still Available

Visiting Professor Program funding is still available for 2022 spring and summer semesters. The grant allows Michigan Tech to invite potential faculty and/or research collaborators to Michigan Tech’s campus.

University departments are invited to apply for financial support to bring visiting scholars who provide underrepresented perspectives in their field of expertise to Michigan Tech’s campus. Visitors do not need to have a terminal degree or a faculty position to qualify for support.

Supported visits can be as short as an afternoon, and up to a full semester. While on campus, visiting professors should interact with faculty and students in the classroom, in seminars, in informal and formal group discussions, or teach a session during an academic or summer semester. All visits must conclude prior to the state's end of fiscal year on Sept. 30.

Applications must be received three weeks before a scheduled visit for preapproval by the state of Michigan. Funding requests can be made for up to $8,000; however, the department(s) or unit(s) must provide a 1:1 match to KCP funds.

Learn more about the Visiting Professor Program, including its purpose and the application process. If you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Academic Faculty Support Coordinator Shannon Vairo at ssvairo@mtu.edu.

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Lunch and Learn: Preventative Orthodontics

February is Children's Dental Health month! Please join dynamic and entertaining speaker Dr. Darin Ward of UPWard Orthodonics at noon today (Feb. 15) in MUB Ballroom B1 as he discusses preventative orthodontics.

Ward will explore why so many kids (and adults) today are told that they need braces. He will present his thoughts on the causes of crooked teeth and less-than-ideal jaw/facial growth and what you can do about it. It is a lot simpler than you think — and unfortunately, like most simple things, it’s hard to do!

Whether you are an adult considering orthodontics or the parent of a child whose smile needs attention, this presentation and discussion is a must-attend.

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch and Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health checklist. Follow Michigan Tech Wellness on Facebook for upcoming health and wellness initiatives supported by the Benefits Office which may count toward your 2022 Husky Health checklist.

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

Career Fair Prepapalooza

Tuesday, February 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

Lunch & Learn: Orthodontic Prevention: Oxymoron or Contemporary Paradigm?

Tuesday, February 15, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B1

February is Children’s Dental Health month! Please join our dynamic and entertaining speaker, Dr. Darin Ward of UPWard Orthodontics, on Tuesday, February 15 at 12:00pm in the...

Lunch & Learn: Orthodontic Prevention: Oxymoron or Contemporary Paradigm?

Tuesday, February 15, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | Memorial Union Building, Ballroom B1, 1400 Townsend Dr, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

February is Children's Dental Health month! Please join the dynamic and entertaining speaker, Dr. Darin Ward of UPWard Orthodonics on Tuesday, February 15th at 12noon in the...

Youth Indoor Rock Climbing Spring 2022 Session 2

Tuesday, February 15, 4:00 p.m.–4:50 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Climbing Wall

Is your child looking for a new challenge? Sign up now for the OAP Youth Indoor Rock Climbing Class and let them climb our wall! We try to meet each participant at their level...

GSG General Body Meeting

Tuesday, February 15, 5:15 p.m.–7:15 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building

Bi-weekly meetings of the general body of Michigan Tech's Graduate Student Government. These will be conducted in Hybrid mode from Admin 404 and via Zoom until further notice....

Adult Huskies Swim Lessons Spring 2022 Session 2

Tuesday, February 15, 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 2

Tuesday, February 15, 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...

HuskyLEAD: Facilitating Difficult Conversations

Tuesday, February 15, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Memorial Union Building Ballroom A1

Disagreements happen, values differ, commitment varies - as a leader, you may have to engage in a difficult conversation for a number of reasons. While these conversations are...

Monthly General Meeting _ Spring 2022

Tuesday, February 15, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | Chem Sci. 211

Hi folks, This mail serves to notify us that we will be having our monthly general meeting on the last Wednesday of the month 6 - 7 PM at Chem Sci. 211 or via Zoom. Feel...

Open Rock Climbing

Tuesday, February 15, 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...

Dining at Michigan Tech

Tuesday, February 15, 7 p.m.–8 p.m.

Join us to hear about all things food at Michigan Tech! We'll discuss our meal plans, options for food allergies, places to eat on campus, where you can cook on campus, and more.

Open Log Rolling

Tuesday, February 15, 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...

Cricket Tournament Spring 2022

Tuesday, February 15, 10–12 a.m. | SDC Multipurpose Room

Cricket Club MTU in partnership with Indian Students Association (ISA) has organized Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament for boys. DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: Sunday January 30,...

Searching Sideways Week

February 15, all day | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library

At the VPOL our aim is to help make you efficient and effective searchers so we are dedicating the week to sharing tools and methods that will elevate how you find...