April 19, 2022

For the fifth straight year, a record number of prospective undergraduates have applied to Michigan Tech, including significantly more underrepresented minority students.

MTU has received more than 8,800 applications for fall 2022 — up 5% from last year, and 30% from the former all-time high set in 2019. Applications from women have increased nearly 66% in that time. Those from underrepresented minority groups have doubled.

Michigan Tech is also receiving more interest than ever from Michigan-based students. Applications from prospective in-state students have doubled since 2015. Much of this growth has come from Grand Rapids, Traverse City and southeastern regions of the state. But it’s not just Michiganders looking to come to the Keweenaw. Applications from students in Arizona, California and Texas have tripled since 2015.

Read the full story on Michigan Tech News.

“I love that with my experience as an introverted leader, I get to use my role to encourage the participation and ideas of every member and work closely with the students who may someday take my place. Michigan Tech EMS has allowed me to develop strong leadership skills and discover that medicine is where I feel most at home. I am currently on three medical school waitlists and eager for a lifetime of treating patients.”

Looman, a biological sciences major in MTU's Pre-Health Professions program and the current captain of Michigan Tech Emergency Medical Services (EMS), shares her path to a medical career on the Humans of Michigan Tech blog.

The Vice President for Research is pleased to announce the 2022 Michigan Tech Research Award and Bhakta Rath Research Award awardees:

• Michigan Tech Research Awardee: Jeffrey Naber, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
  
  
• Bhakta Rath Research Awardee: Kevin Sunderland and advisor Jingfeng Jiang, Biomedical Engineering

Thank you to the review committees, as well as those who nominated the nominees, for their time spent on this important internal award process.

For additional information on the two award opportunities, visit Michigan Tech Research Award and/or Bhakta Rath Research Award.

Michigan Tech is a leader in developing technological solutions worldwide, but our best endeavors can only take place in a safe community. Safety is not simply about being safe, but feeling safe. Crime statistics alone do not indicate the factors that contribute to an environment that feels safe for everyone. To help address this need, Michigan Tech’s Department of Public Safety and Police Services has issued a Mission, Values, and Vision statement. It revolves around five points:

• Every life is precious.
• Democratic values apply to all.
• Every person has individual, equal value.
• Ethics and integrity are the foundations of law enforcement.
• Cooperative community partnerships are the key to a tranquil and safe environment.

The Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sense of Belonging (DEIS) Positive Action Team applaud these values because they clearly communicate that DEIS is a core concern for the department in promoting a tranquil and safe environment for everyone. Together with MTU Public Safety and Police Services, we are sharing this information to indicate our mutual commitment to these values and our collaboration to promote them at Michigan Tech.

Police Chief Brian Cadwell has also made a personal statement on his commitment to these values. Michigan Tech community members are welcome to schedule an appointment for Coffee with the Chief for a one-on-one conversation to discuss any issue related to public safety at Michigan Tech.

We recognize that some communities across the United States do not enjoy optimal relationships with their police departments. At Michigan Tech, we are committed to a positive relationship with Public Safety and Police Services across our community for the benefit of everyone.

The University Senate will convene Meeting 674 at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (April 20) in Dow 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 674.

Menu for Thursday (April 21):

• Chicken Tinga (Gluten Free with no tortilla)
• Quinoa Flame Roasted Corn Tacos (Gluten Free with no flour tortilla)
• Taco Toppings: Sour Cream, Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese, Cilantro, Pickled Red Onions and Red Cabbage
• Spicy Bean Soup (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)

Dining Services presents the final C-Cubed Luncheon for the semester, being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday (April 21) 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 end of the semester often comes with a lot of stress. The library wants to help! Along with campus partners, we are planning things to help ease that stress, encourage much-needed breaks and help you ace your exams.

• Pause with Paws — Rovano Plaza 
  Thursday, April 21, 1-3 p.m.
  Come hang out with library staff members’ adorable pets to dole out scratches and get some fresh air! 
  
  
• Stress Free Finals Massages — Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being, Library 103 and Staff Lounge (first floor)
  Saturday, April 23, 1-5 p.m.
  Melt away the stress of finals week — no appointment needed!
  
  
• Pet Therapy — Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being, Main Exhibit Hallway (first floor)
  Sunday, April 24, 1-3 p.m.
  Spend time with trained therapy dogs for adorable de-stressing. 
  
  
• Pancake Breakfast — Library Café
  Sunday, April 24, 7-10 p.m.
  Up late studying? Grab some pancakes and bacon served up by the university administrators.
  
  
• Snack Attacks — Student Mental Health and Well-being, Library
  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, April 25, 26, 27, after 6 p.m.
  Stay fueled up during the final push with free snacks.

All Week

• See Your Pets While You Study!
  We’re compiling your pet photo submissions into a slideshow that will run on the library TVs during finals week.
  
  
• Brain Break Stations — First and Second Floors
  Give your brain some time off with games, coloring and other odds and ends to fidget with. 
  
  
• VPOL Unplugged Space — East Reading Room
  Starting Thursday, April 21, after 4 p.m.
  Take a calm and quiet break from your screens and papers while relaxing in our comfiest chairs. 

Researchers at Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) are advancing to the second phase in the First Responder Smart Tracking (FRST) Challenge — an innovation challenge bringing together technical teams and first responders to create solutions for providing precise location details of first responders inside a structure.

Team TrackerDLN is a collaboration of researchers from MTRI and Indiana University’s Intelligent Systems Engineering Department, with the Corona Fire Department in Corona, California, as the team’s first responder partner. It's one of 25 teams to receive a Phase One prize recognizing excellence in concept development and interest in solution concept potential.

TrackerDLN is led by Susan Janiszewski of MTRI and Martin Swany of IU. Members include Nancy French and Reid Sawtell of MTRI, and Luke D’Alessandro and Jeremy Musser of IU, with first responder mentorship provided by Capt. Andreas Johansson of the Corona FD.

TrackerDLN's FRST Challenge solution uses intelligent data logistics networking to augment existing tracking capabilities in GPS limited environments and relay positional coordinates of first responders in these environments to the incident command center in an actionable time frame.

Visit the FRST Challenge website to learn more about the competition and the Phase One winners.

Outstanding students, staff and alumni were honored Friday (April 15) during Michigan Tech’s 28th annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom.

Keynote speaker Jacob M. Heck ’10 (B.S., surveying engineering), won the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Congratulations to all of the 2022 winners:

• President’s Award for Leadership — Emma Coenen
• Provost’s Award for Scholarship — Christian Johnson
• Dean of Students Award for Possibilities — Jemel Thompson
• Josephine and William Balconi Community Service Award — Bella Menzel-Smith
• Exceptional Enthusiasm as Student Leader Award — Sierra Williams
• Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award — Ranit Karmakar
• Student Employee of the Year — Christopher Briar
• Rising Star of the Year — Jaylen Body
• Outstanding Future Alumni — Robert Hazen
• Claire M. Donovan Award — Cody Kangas
• Percy Julian Award — Ezequiel Cuellar
• Exceptional Program of the Year — MUB Board, Murder Mystery Dinner
• Most Improved Student Organization — Collegiate DECA
• Exceptional Civic Engagement Award — Order of Omega
• Student Organization of the Year — Society of Women Engineers
• Student Organization Advisor of the Year — Jenny Apriesnig (COB), Collegiate DECA

More information about the awards can be found on the Student Leadership Awards webpage and we invite the campus community to save the date for the 29th annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony, which will be held April 14, 2023, in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom.

The Department of Biological Sciences (BioSci) invites you to a seminar titled "Winter Waters: Impact of Ice-Cover on Organic Carbon Biogeochemistry in the Keweenaw Waterway."

The seminar will be presented by Maci Quintanilla from 3-4 p.m. Thursday (April 21) via Zoom.

From the abstract:
The fate of carbon in freshwaters is largely dependent on the transformation and mineralization of organic and inorganic matter through microbially-mediated processes. ... Here, we used samples collected weekly during ice-covered periods and monthly during the summer (January 2021 – 2022) from the Keweenaw Waterway, a seasonally frozen waterbody that transits the Keweenaw Waterway into Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to understand the influence of ice-cover on heterotrophic bacteria and their carbon and energy source (dissolved organic matter).

Shy Genel of FlatIron Institute will be presenting at this week's Physics Colloquium. Please join the presentation at 4 p.m. Thursday (April 21) via Zoom.

Genel's presentation is titled "Cosmological Hydrodynamical Simulations at the Intersection of Galaxy Formation and Cosmology."

Register in advance for this event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.

Read the abstract and bio the University Events Calendar.

Michigan Tech women's tennis scored two victories at Gates Tennis Center over the weekend, maintaining their perfect record at home.

The Huskies swept doubles in a 4-0 win over Davenport on Friday (April 15).

On Sunday (April 17), Tech came from behind to edge out Purdue Northwest 4-3.

With the two wins, the Huskies improved to 3-0 at home and 3-8 overall, including 3-4 in GLIAC play.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech men's tennis snapped their 22-match losing streak with a win against Davenport, but had their momentum smashed by Purdue Northwest.

In comeback fashion, the Huskies defeated the No. 30 ranked Panthers 4-3 at Gates Tennis Center on Friday (April 15). Behind 3-0, Tech struck back through a series of grinding three-setter singles wins by Vitor Jordao, Eli Pinnoo, Siddhesh Mahadeshwar and Andrew Freel.

"We finally broke our six-year streak of not winning a conference match," said head coach Kristin Yep. "They all fought so hard today and I couldn't think of a team more deserving of the result."

On Sunday (April 17), the Huskies fell 6-1 to the Pride. Winless in doubles, Tech's lone singles point was scored by Siddhesh Mahadeshwar in his final match at Gates Tennis Center.

The loss drops Tech to 1-9 overall, 1-5 in conference play. MTU will close out the regular season at Lake Superior State on April 23.

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Job Postings for Tuesday, April 19, 2022

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.

Administrative Aide 8 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22094, Advancement (UAW posting April 19 to April 25, 2022 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Administrative Aide 7 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22095, Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being (UAW posting April 19 to April 25, 2022 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Administrative Aide 7 (12 months/ 40 hours/ first shift) #22096, Information Technology (UAW posting April 19 to April 25, 2022 — internal UAW applicants are given first consideration if they apply during the internal UAW posting dates). Apply online.

Associate Director – Partnerships and External Relations, Enterprise Program. 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.

Patty Sotirin (HU) was quoted by Business Insider in a story about the growing number of women aspiring to be "cool aunts" instead of having children themselves.

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This week's Copper Beacon featured a video article on accessibility at Michigan Tech. The video was crafted by MTU student Davi Sprague as part of a micro-internship and includes interviews with campus architect Jake Guter, GSG President Nathan Ford and Dean of Students Wallace Southerland III.

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A profile story featuring Michigan Tech alumna Christine Andrews ’06 ’12 (mechanical engineering, Tech MBA) was posted on GE Aviation's blog. Andrews is a leader in a cooperative project between GE Aviation and NASA to develop a technology demonstration of a hybrid electric engine for commercial aircraft.

Sense of Belonging Speakers Series Continues Tonight

The Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion (VPDI) will conclude the Sense of Belonging Speakers Series with a free virtual panel discussion centered on culturally responsive mentoring. All are invited to attend.

• Impacts of Culturally Responsive Mentoring Panel Discussion —
  Tuesday, April 19, at 5 p.m. | Register to attend
  Panelists include former Bridges to the Doctorate Program trainees and their mentor, who will discuss culturally responsive mentorship and its relationship to retention and career success outcomes for underrepresented graduate students. 

This series is co-sponsored by VPDI and ADVANCE at Michigan Tech.

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ETOM Faculty Workshop: 'Community, Course Climate, and Connection'

Are you overwhelmed by the facilitation of student interaction and content development for your online courses? Do you feel disconnected and overwhelmed by the process of creating culturally responsive virtual environments?

The Educational Technology Organization of Michigan (ETOM) is offering a virtual, interactive keynote and faculty workshop on applicable strategies to increase interactions in online spaces. Using the community inquiry theory as the framework, participants will explore the system of strategies that help build inclusive environments for diverse learners.

The workshop, titled "Community, Course Climate, and Connection" and presented by Courtney Plotts, will take place virtually from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday (April 21).  

Plotts is a certified/licensed school psychologist who writes and speaks about culturally responsive teaching practices for face-to-face and online spaces. She has written two books on Latino and Black culture and online spaces, and is currently the national chair of the Council For At Risk Student Education and Professional Standards.

Additionally, Plotts has been recognized by the California State Legislature for A Bold Commitment to Change and Education. She offers workshops on topics related to building community, effective culturally responsive teaching and best practices. Plotts' work was highlighted in the book "Small Teaching Online" by Flower Darby.

Register to attend the workshop.

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This Weekend at the Rozsa

This weekend, you are invited to the Rozsa for two Michigan Tech Music concerts:

• KSO 50th Anniversary Concert: Carmina Burana — Saturday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
  Disobedient, rowdy and loads of fun, Carl Orff’s massive cantata, "Carmina Burana" — for large symphony orchestra, large chorus and soloists — is one of the most popular works of the 20th century. Over 175 Michigan Tech and local musicians, along with three professional soloists, will rock the Rozsa stage for an evening of unbridled ecstasy. With music set to 24 satirical poems from the 11th and 12th centuries, Orff’s very modern choral-orchestral masterpiece starts and ends with the wild refrain “O Fortuna,” popularized in numerous films and commercials.
  
  • Tickets are $19 for adults, $6 for youth and free for MTU students and a guest with the Experience Tech Fee.
    
    
• A Tale of Two Franklins by the Superior Wind Symphony and Campus Concert Band — Sunday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.
  The Superior Wind Symphony and Campus Concert Band will present a concert inspired by the two most important Franklins in American history: Benjamin and Aretha.
  • Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for youth and free for MTU students and a guest with the Experience Tech Fee.

Tickets are available at online, by phone at 906-487-1906 or in person at the Central Ticket Office at the Student Development Complex. The Rozsa Box Office will be open for walk-up ticket purchases one hour before performances. Both concerts will be livestreamed for far-away Michigan Tech music lovers and alumni.

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

Teal Ribbons

Tuesday, April 19, 12:00 a.m.–11:45 p.m. | Campus!

Have you seen teal ribbons? Help raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month by scanning the QR code and participating in SAVE and Title IX's Octopi project and get the...

Perpetual Motion Machine

Tuesday, April 19, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. | Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, Gallery B

An exhibition of independent works by Michigan Tech Advanced Sculpture students Lily Kosaka, Frida Visser, Maisie Whitaker, Madi Wentela, Megan Cole, and Madalyn...

ADVANCE Equity Workshop for New Faculty

Tuesday, April 19, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B3

In this workshop, we will present research on challenges related to faculty diversity and equity nationally and at MTU; we will also equip you with tools to create a...

GSG General Body Meeting

Tuesday, April 19, 5:15 p.m.–7:15 p.m. | DOW 641

Bi-weekly meetings of the general body of Michigan Tech's Graduate Student Government. These will be conducted in Hybrid mode from DOW 641 and via Zoom until further notice....

Monthly General Meeting _ Spring 2022

Tuesday, April 19, 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, April 19, 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, April 19, 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...

Huskies Out of Hibernation Virtual 5k

April 19, all day

Sign up for the 5k before the end of March 30th on https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Houghton/HuskiesOutofHibernation. The registration fee is $20 and comes with a 5k t-shirt!...

Sense of Belonging Speakers Series

April 19, all day

Michigan Technological University’s Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion announces the launch of the Sense of Belonging Speakers Series with two virtual...