December 16, 2022

Just in time for the Midyear Commencement and Commissioning ceremonies tomorrow (Dec. 17), Michigan Tech’s 1st Arctic Warrior Battalion has earned a new accolade: Best in the Midwest.

Michigan Tech’s Army Reserve Officers Training Corps unit was unanimously selected to receive the MacArthur Award for the 2022-23 academic year, given to the best among the Midwest’s 42 university ROTC programs. The Arctic Warriors will now compete with seven other regional winners for the honor of top overall ROTC program in the nation.

Maj. Daniel F. Gwosch, military science professor and department chair for Army ROTC at Michigan Tech, learned of the award last week. “Seventy cadets is a small slice of the student population at Michigan Tech, but this award is an indicator of the quality of students furthering their education at this great institution,” said Gwosch. “The cadets, cadre and staff are excited about this recognition, and we appreciate the support from so many individuals across Tech.”

Read more about the honor awarded to Michigan Tech’s Arctic Warriors at Michigan Tech News.

Applications are being solicited for the Faculty Fellow Program, sponsored by the Vice President for Research Office.

The program:

1. Expands familiarity with sponsored program administration and strategic planning among the staff and faculty;
2. Develops leadership capacity among the staff and faculty; and
3. Improves sponsored programs administration and strategic planning through staff and faculty input.

For the 2023-24 academic year, there are four possible appointment areas:

• Faculty Fellow, Sponsored Programs (e.g., pre- and post-award processing and administration)
• Faculty Fellow, Research Integrity (e.g., HRPP, ARPP, laboratory operations, Responsible Conduct of Research, and Research Misconduct)
• Faculty Fellow, Research Development (e.g., proposal development, building teams for large proposals, etc.)
• Faculty Fellow, Commercialization (e.g., translational research, technology de-risking, proprietary projection strategy, management talent recruitment, value proposition development, customer discovery)

Applications are due no later than 4 p.m. Feb. 16 and must be submitted electronically per the guidelines. For additional information, visit the Faculty Fellow Program page.

The Graduate School is providing writing support for current and prospective graduate students who wish to apply for Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) research grants.

Participating divisions: Earth Science, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, Heliophysics, and Biological and Physical Sciences

The proposal must present a well-defined research problem/activity and a justification of its scientific significance to NASA, as well as a detailed approach for its solution/conduct. Proposals should explain how the research is relevant to the particular SMD division that will review the proposal. Eligibility and evaluation criteria can be found in the solicitation.

The maximum amount of a FINESST award is $50,000 per 12 months and up to $150,000 total for a maximum period of performance of up to 36 months.

Applicants should reach out to Michigan Tech's Sponsored Programs Office and Sarah Isaacson at sisaacso@mtu.edu as soon as they know they will apply.

Timeline:

• Jan. 31 — All nontechnical documents are due to Sponsored Programs
• Feb. 7 at 7 a.m. — All technical documents are due to Sponsored Programs
• Feb. 7 — Proposals are due to the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES)

See the FINESST Solicitation for details. Questions? Contact Sarah Isaacson at sisaacso@mtu.edu.

Beginning on Jan. 3, a video content retention policy will be used in the Panopto-Huskycast video platform. Videos that have not been viewed in the past 25 months will be archived. No content will be deleted.

Archived videos will inherit the following behaviors:

• Not available for immediate viewing.
• Can be restored to on-demand access by the creator or anyone with view access.
• Restoring archived videos may take up to 48 hours.
• Archived videos will not display in their folder.
• Email notifications will be sent to the creator and requester when an archived video has been restored.

Please review the IT Knowledge Base article Restoring archived Huskycast videos for more information.

Contact the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning at elearning@mtu.edu if you have questions or need assistance.

If you have not yet completed the Student Disability Services Feedback Survey for Faculty/Instructors, please do so.

The survey will close Tuesday (Dec. 20).

Thank you for participating!

Several recent reports warn that despite promising announcements about increasing faculty diversity, the actual increase has been sluggish. As summarized by Inside Higher Ed writer Colleen Flaherty, realizing racial parity between the professoriate and the general U.S. population within the next 30 years requires a rate of change that is 3.5 times the current pace. One study, published in Nature Human Behavior, discusses the mythology of racial progress and admonishes blaming “pipeline” shortages and being over-reliant on individualistic solutions like cluster hiring. As one of the authors observed, “People often believe that while inequality was bad in the past, recent developments are solving the problem, even when that’s not empirically true. That’s why it’s important to build our understanding on the data and develop realistic, evidence-based plans for change.”

Another recent report by the Education Trust graded U.S. universities on the amount of change they had achieved over the past 15 years in terms of parity in the ratios of Black and Latino faculty to Black and Latino students. A surprising number of prestigious universities received an F grade on a number of dimensions. There is little to celebrate and more work to be done, including at Michigan Tech. See the grades for Michigan Tech.

Further, COACHE (the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education) at Harvard found a wide gap in the perceptions of campus inclusion and equity among faculty of differing racial and ethnic backgrounds. Notably, underrepresented faculty deemed most efforts to be performative rather than substantive changes in university structures and operations.

These sources indicate that a more collective, systemic and longitudinal approach to faculty diversification can be effective. Specific strategies include changing the higher education institution itself, addressing long-standing exclusionary practices and policies, and making investments in faculty work life and advancement opportunities.

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

The A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum will be starting renovations on Wednesday (Dec. 21). Due to the nature of these renovations, admission will be waived for the day, as only the front portion of the gallery will be open to the public for viewing.

We will then be closed for the winter break starting Thursday (Dec. 22), and will reopen for our normal business hours — Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — on Jan. 16.

Happy Holidays!

As the semester comes to an end, Graduate Student Government (GSG) would like to thank our department representatives, advisors, faculty, staff and all other members of the beautiful Michigan Tech community for providing our fellow graduate students with the best experience possible. From the opening of Michigan Tech’s first-ever Grad Commons to hosting multiple social and academic events, it has been an exciting year so far. We would like to thank our collaborators for their help and support. Thank you to all our representatives for your hard work. GSG would not be possible without all of you.

To all our members at large and community: Thank you for your support and participation.

If you are graduating this semester, congratulations to you and all the best in your future adventures. We are proud of you!

If you are staying here for the winter break, please know that we have coffee, chocolate and hot cocoa at Grad Commons. Come, hang out and unwind with a tasty snack.

From all of us at GSG, we would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a very happy new year. We’ll see you soon!

After considering current trail conditions and the weather forecast, the race organizing committee has determined the CXC Cup/CCSA Invitational ski events will modify the Sunday (Dec. 17) classic sprint to a freestyle sprint.

The race organization will plan to use the originally designated race courses. The freestyle distance race tomorrow (Dec. 16) will use the five-kilometer course and Sunday's freestyle sprint will use the 1.3-kilometer sprint course. The Youth Cup race courses will remain unchanged.

The ultimate goal is to hold a safe, fair event for all participants. 

See current Michigan Tech Trails conditions. The race organizing committee asked all users to remain off of the competition trail on Thursday (Dec. 15). 

Find more event information at the Michigan Tech Pre-Nationals CXC Cup and CCSA Invitational page.

Michigan Tech women's basketball is hosting crosstown rival Finlandia tomorrow (Dec. 17) at 6 p.m.

The teams last met Nov. 1, 2019, with the Huskies winning 98-49 in exhibition play. The teams' last regular-season matchup was a 62-26 victory for the Huskies over the Lions in 2011-12.

Michigan Tech has won three straight and remains unbeaten at home this season.

Read the preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

No. 17 Michigan Tech hockey is traveling to Lake Superior State for their second CCHA series of the season against the Lakers.

The puck drops at 7:07 p.m. tonight (Dec. 16) and 6:07 p.m. tomorrow (Dec. 17) at Taffy Abel Arena.

The Huskies are 10-4-3 overall and are third in the conference standings, only one point behind first with a 6-3-3 CCHA record. LSSU is 2-12-2 and 1-8-1 in league play.

Fans can listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 WKMJ-FM or online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.net, and WLUC TV6 will televise tomorrow's game live across the Upper Peninsula.

All Michigan Tech home and CCHA games during the 2022-23 season will also be livestreamed on FloHockey.tv.

Read the series preview at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Former Michigan Tech hockey captain Jake Lucchini was called up to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday (Dec. 14) and made his NHL debut against Montreal.

Lucchini, who signed a one-year NHL contract with the Ottawa Senators in July, is the 50th former Husky to play in the NHL. He has 23 points with seven goals and 16 assists in 24 games with the AHL's Belleville Senators so far this season to rank second on the team.

Lucchini had a breakout season for Belleville last season with 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 72 games. For his pro career, Lucchini has skated in 200 games with 107 points on 47 goals and 60 assists.

Read about his time with the Huskies at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Pengfei Xue (CEGE/GLRC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $169,996 research and development co-op agreement from the University of Michigan - Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research.

The project is titled "Development of long-term three-dimensional temperature and current information for the Great Lakes open waters (Year 3: Lake Superior)."

Xinyu Ye (CEGE/GLRC) is a co-PI on this project.

NASA announced that the Michigan Tech Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab has advanced to Level 2 of the Break the Ice Lunar Challenge.

The team will build and test a full-size prototype in Level 2, and will receive a share of the Level 1 $500,000 prize.

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An article written by Travis White (GLRC) was published by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy as its Dec. 15 MI Environment story.

The story highlighted the Great Lakes Research Center’s efforts to use water-based technologies to help solve existing and future challenges in the Great Lakes.

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Michigan Tech Public Safety and Police Services Patrol Sgt. Beth Maatta was profiled by UPWord for her work rescuing and rehabilitating Upper Peninsula birds of prey.

Maatta’s work with raptors was highlighted by a Michigan Tech News story in November.

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The Daily Mining Gazette picked up a Michigan Tech News story previewing MTU’s 2022 Midyear Commencement and announcing graduating student Jailynn Johnson ’22 (chemistry) and Board of Trustees Vice-Chair Brenda Ryan ’76 (metallurgical and materials engineering) as the ceremony’s speakers.

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The Keweenaw Report and WLUC TV6 mentioned Michigan Tech students Stuart Tolsma and Maxwell Beard in coverage of the Houghton City Council. The council approved both Tolsma and Beard to join the Houghton Fire Department.

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Michigan Tech alum Brenda Haskill ’93 (forest management), a forest marketing and outreach specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, was a guest on 9 & 10 News for #WomenDo Wednesday on Dec. 14.

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Renewable Energy Magazine mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the benefits of installing solar panel canopies in parking lots.

The story referenced a 2021 Michigan Tech News story about a study investigating the energy-related benefits of developing solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations built into the parking infrastructure of large-scale retailers like Walmart.

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WLUC TV6 mentioned the Center for Educational Outreach’s Mind Trekkers program in an interview with Darren Widder, UP Michigan Works! policy and programs manager.

The interview discussed the Copper Trail Festival, held Dec. 13 at MTU, which featured hands-on STEM demonstrations designed to spark curiosity and showcase career opportunities for about 700 area students.

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Radio Results Network and DBusiness mentioned Michigan Tech in stories about projects approved for funding by the Michigan Strategic Fund. 

The stories listed MTU as an advisor on the development of an outdoor recreation and product innovation space situated between Northern Michigan University and the Lake Superior shore in Marquette, Michigan.

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CBS Sports, WLUC TV6, and the Ottawa Sun, Winnipeg Sun and Edmonton Journal mentioned Michigan Tech in stories about former Husky hockey captain Jake Lucchini’s NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 14.

Lucchini’s first NHL appearance was also announced by a Michigan Tech Athletics press release.

Husky FAN In Need of Pantry Donations

Help the Husky Food Access Network (FAN) make sure no Husky is hungry this holiday season. Studies have shown that as many as half of college students in the U.S. experience food insecurity. The pantry has distributed over 1,820 pounds of food since the start of the semester, and there's no sign of slowing down!

Keep the Michigan Tech community fed by donating any nonperishable food items or toiletries. Donations can be made at any time by leaving items outside the pantry (in the Fisher Hall alcove across from Fisher 135).

The pantry is particularly in need of:

• Soup and canned pasta (Chef Boyardee or similar)
• Canned meat and fish
• Canned beans
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Snack foods
• Cereal and oatmeal
• Uncooked pasta and rice

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CDI Office Closure

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) office will be closed today (Dec. 16) from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. for a departmental event.

The office will reopen at 1 p.m. Friday. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Any questions can be directed to cdi@mtu.edu.

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Pre-Nationals CCSA Invite/CXC Cup Ski Race

The Pre-Nationals CCSA Invite/CXC Cup ski race will be held tomorrow and Sunday (Dec. 17 and 18) at Michigan Tech. During this time, the Tech Trails' main trailhead will be closed, along with all the loops connecting with the core trails (Birch, Oak, Pine, Portage, Hairpin, Skidder, Peepsock, etc.).

Recreational skiers can use the softball field trailhead to access the Isle Royale and Superior loops. The Nara trailhead provides access to that end of the system. The Tolkien Trails are also open. Depending on staff availability and weather and snow conditions, grooming may only be done occasionally during race weekends.

Remember to always check the Trails Conditions page for the latest updates. If you have any questions, please email recreation@mtu.edu.

For race information, visit the Michigan Tech Pre-Nationals CXC Cup and CCSA Invite page.

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Fall 2022 CEGE Senior Design Colloquium

Friday, December 16, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. | Michigan Tech Campus, Dow 641

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering (CEGE) is pleased to invite the University community to attend our fall 2022 Senior Design team...

Board of Trustees Meeting

Friday, December 16, 9–11 a.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B

Regular meeting of Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees

Master's Defense: Lei Yin

Friday, December 16, 9:30–10:30 a.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 873

Civil Engineering Co-advisors: Zhanping You and Jacob Hiller Quantifying the Impact of Wide Base Tires on Pavement Performance in Michigan Attend Virtually:...

Mid-Year Commencement Rehersal

Friday, December 16, 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Multi-purpose Room

Mid-Year Commencement Rehearsal is at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022. Rehearsal lasts approximately one hour. You do not need to wear your cap and gown. Please arrive...

PhD Defense: Zhuo He

Friday, December 16, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. | Rekhi Hall, 101

Computational Science & Engineering Advisor: Weihua Zhou Knowledge Discovery on the Integrative Analysis of Electrical and Mechanical Dyssynchrony to Improve Cardiac...

MMET Department Graduation Social

Friday, December 16, 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Alumni Lounge, Room 107

Join the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology in honoring the Class of Fall 2022. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Plant & Gardening Club Weekly Meeting

Friday, December 16, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. | The Bubble Greenhouse

Come hang out in the Bubble Greenhouse with us every Friday 6-7pm and take a break from the winter landscape with a little tropical oasis. During meetings food and drink for...

Southeast Michigan Alumni Holiday Party

Friday, December 16, 7 p.m. | Rochester, MI - Rochester Mills Beer Company

Celebrate the season with us! Michigan Tech alumni and friends are invited to a holiday party at Rochester Mills Beer Company on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 7 p.m. Alumni &...

(Men's Ice Hockey) Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State

Friday, December 16, 7:07 p.m.–10:07 p.m.

Men's Ice Hockey: Michigan Tech at Lake Superior State