June 28, 2023

The Michigan Tech mechatronics degree program has been ranked No. 2 on a list of top mechatronics university programs in the United States. The list was published by Knowinsiders.

“It is my honor to direct the mechatronics program,” said Aleksandr Sergeyev, professor of applied computing. “I would like to acknowledge the support of Adrienne Minerick, the former dean of the School of Technology and the founding dean of the College of Computing, who positioned the mechatronics program for success.”

Minerick is now a professor in Michigan Tech’s chemical engineering department. In addition, Sergeyev acknowledged the continued support of Dennis Livesay, the Dave House Dean of Computing, and Dan Fuhrmann, chair of the Department of Applied Computing, who are working to ensure the growth and success of the mechatronics program.

“I got the news last night about the program being ranked No. 2 in the country,” said Mark Gauthier, president of Donald Engineering and a longtime champion and generous donor to the Michigan Tech mechatronics program. “For being as young as the program is and the continued ongoing plans for expansion, I was completely blown away by the article.”

“This dream is one that started over 20 years ago,” Gauthier added. “To see the efforts Alex Sergeyev and Michigan Tech have put into this is beyond my expectations and certainly wouldn’t have happened if Michigan Tech and Alex Sergeyev didn’t have the same passion as I do for mechatronics.”

Read the full article on the Computing News Blog.

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering's (CEGE's) office will be closed on Monday (July 3).

On Sunday (July 2), starting at 9 p.m., Michigan Tech IT will be upgrading the network switches for EERC, DOW, DHH, GLRC and Portage Lake Golf Course. Each building will be offline for approximately 30 minutes while switches reboot. Network, phones and WiFi will be offline during the reboot process.

If you have any questions or concerns, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 7-1111.

The campus community is invited to a social in honor of Amy Hughes, director of internal audit, who will retire Friday (June 30). The social will be held tomorrow (June 29) from 10 a.m. to noon in the Lakeshore Center Community Room.

Hughes joined Michigan Tech in 1993 as the chief audit executive after a stint at Michigan's Office of the Auditor General. For the past 30 years, she has served Michigan Tech, not only in her role as director of internal audit but on numerous volunteer committees, such as the Benefits Liaison Group, the Banner HR Security Team and Friends of the Michigan Tech Library, where she currently presides as chair. She earned a degree in computer science from Michigan Tech in 1998, complementing her accounting degree from Michigan State University and her computer security and controls associate degree from Lansing Community College.

We invite everyone to stop by, partake in a few refreshments and wish Amy well in her next adventure.

University Archivist Lindsay Hiltunen (Library) presented at two conferences last week. As president of the Michigan Archival Association, Hiltunen presided over the organization's annual meeting, held virtually from June 19-20. In addition, she was a moderator and a keynote speaker at the Upper Peninsula History Conference, held in Iron Mountain from June 23-25.

Hiltunen also delivered her keynote paper, "Hounds in History: Yooper Dogs at Work and Play," at the Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) UP History Awards banquet on Saturday (June 24). Hiltunen is a trustee of the board for HSM.

The Mining Journal mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Army ROTC Cadet Erin Bennett and Air Force ROTC Cadet Casey Zampaloni being awarded DAR Gold Outstanding Cadet Medals by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. The story was picked up from the Daily Mining Gazette.

*****

The Working Forest listed Michigan Tech’s online bachelor’s in forestry and online bachelor’s in applied ecology and environmental sciences (forest ecology and management concentration) in its 2023 online forestry degree guide.

*****

The Hockey Writers mentioned Michigan Tech in a story highlighting former Husky hockey forward Brian Halonen as one of three New Jersey Devils prospects to watch for the 2023-34 season.

No Tech Today July 3-4

Tech Today will not publish Monday or Tuesday (July 3 and 4) in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

Submissions for next Wednesday's (July 5) issue of Tech Today are due by noon on Friday (June 30).

*****

WUPFSC Photo Contest Winners Highlight Abundance of Local Food Systems

Enjoy the start of our new garden season through the eyes of these attentive observers. Bountiful beets, winecap wanderings, homemade noodles, cider pressing, thimbleberry patches and honeybees — this year’s Western UP Food Systems Collaborative (WUPFSC) contest photos capture the richness of our area’s foods.

A big thank-you to all of our entrants who were willing to share photos of the vibrance and abundance within our local food system! We invite you to take some time to admire the winning photos and all of the excellent submissions on the WUPFSC’s Flickr page. The descriptions or stories attached to the photos can be seen, along with past photos from previous photo contests. Please note that not all participants wished to share their photos with the public, so the Flickr page shares those who did. More information about the photo contest can be found on the WUPFSC's website.

Thank you to this year’s judges, who helped us make these hard decisions: MTU student Clare Fidler (social sciences), Bre Tucker (ENT/PHC) of Refill U.P., Katrina Linde Moriarty of Portage Lake District Library, and Cindy Wiltse of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Natural Resource Department.

Thank you to MTU students Maya Klanderman and Isabelle Cervantes (both social sciences) for their work in facilitating this year’s contest.

Michigan Tech is a partner of the Western U.P. Food Systems Collaborative, a grassroots coalition of food growers and procurers, public health and civic partners, scientists, educators, land and water stewards, students and all community members.

*****

Lean COP Summer Speaker: Carl LoConte

Save the Date — Wednesday, June 28, at 2 p.m.
Please join the Lean Community of Practice (Lean COP) via Zoom for the second session of our Summer Speaker Series today (June 28) at 2 p.m. Carl LoConte will be running an interactive meeting exploring ways to improve all manner of meetings. You do not need to be a member of the Lean COP to attend this valuable free training, but please register to be added to the meeting invitation! If you have any questions, please reach out to Linnea McGowan Hobmeier at lmhobmei@mtu.edu.

Exploring 'The Art of Gathering'
Have you ever left a meeting thinking it could have been an email? Emails can be an effective means to convey information; however, bringing people together, whether a gathering is in person, remote or hybrid, can build connection and momentum for change. Principles from "The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters" by Priya Parker, a master facilitator and strategic advisor, can help us improve how we meet. These principles are simple and effective, and can be applied in all gatherings of all sizes. Participants will leave with prompts and questions to consider as they are preparing to organize and facilitate their next meeting.

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

Middle School Development - Girls Basketball

Wednesday, June 28, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), Varsity Wood Gym, Multipurpose Courts

This camp is open to girls entering grades 6-8 as of Fall 2023. What could be better than three days spent learning basketball moves from one of the top women’s college...

Hockey Camp Group 1

June 28, all day | Student Development Complex (SDC), Macinnes Student Ice Arena

Gain fundamental skills and broad knowledge of the sport for all age levels. Co-ed camps and clinics focus on team play, positional play, defensive play, strengthening...

Hockey Camp Groups 2 and 3

June 28, all day | Student Development Complex (SDC), Macinnes Student Ice Arena

Gain fundamental skills and broad knowledge of the sport for all age levels. Co-ed camps and clinics focus on team play, positional play, defensive play, strengthening...

Junior Mountain Biking Camp Summer 2023

June 28, all day | Recreational Forest and Tech Trails, Tech Trails

Ride through beautiful scenery on well-maintained trails of the local area, including the Michigan Tech Trails, Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids, and the Copper Harbor MTB...