Dow Construction Update for This Week

In conjunction with the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building Elevator Project, construction for the canopy at the Dow's north doorway, off of Lot 31, continues this week.

Beginning today (July 10), access to the Dow from Lot 31 will be open and will require entering through the walk-through scaffolding. While it may appear closed, at least one of the entryway doors will be open at all times.

As always, we remind you to keep alert while in and around construction zones and to follow all posted directions.

If you have questions or concerns, please email facilities@mtu.edu.

Provost's Office Hours for Remainder of Summer

Provost Andrew Storer continues to hold office hours over the summer, but due to travel, the following schedule applies. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to schedule an appointment by emailing Amie Ledgerwood at asledger@mtu.edu.

Remaining Summer 2023 Office Hours:

  • Thursday, July 13 — 1-2 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 25 — 3-4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 10 — 1-3 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 15 — 1-3 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 24 — 1-3 p.m.

Regularly scheduled office hours (1-3 p.m. each Thursday) will resume Aug. 31.

New for the 2023-24 academic year, the provost will also hold up to three open office hours, which will not require an appointment, at various locations throughout the campus. Watch Tech Today for these events.

Process for Receiving Gifts-In-Kind

When a Michigan Tech unit receives non-cash gifts, such as property, materials or supplies, it is important that gift-in-kind (GIK) procedures and guidelines are followed, both to ensure stewardship for continued generosity and to meet requirements established by the IRS and University policy.

Gifts from Individuals
For gifts from individuals, complete the acceptance form, Gifts-In-Kind from Individuals, and submit to gift-admin-l@mtu.edu.

If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact Lorraine Young at llyoung@mtu.edu or 7-3305.

Gifts from Companies
Prior to requesting or accepting offers of corporate gifts-in-kind, please notify the Office of Advancement at llyoung@mtu.edu. You will then complete the Corporate Gift-In-Kind Submission Form and submit to gift-admin-l@mtu.edu. Please refer to the Gift-In-Kind from an Organization Instructions.

If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact Lorraine Young at llyoung@mtu.edu or 7-3305, or Jim Desrochers at jtd@mtu.edu or 7-3461.

Sharing Abundance and Adversity: Food Stories from the Keweenaw

What if we tended to the care of story in our local food systems just as we tend to the care of compost, soil or tomato plants? What if we shared our food stories with the same attention we pay to making our favorite recipes for loved ones? Too often, we hear stories about our food systems that are harmful misconceptions — that our food comes from "somewhere else" or that we "can't grow much food here." These stories are not true; what might true stories, told in our own words, look like? What power might these stories have as we share them together as tools for education, community-making and food systems transformation?

In fall 2022 and spring 2023, 11 community members met at the Portage Lake District Library to share local food stories through a participatory research method called photovoice. Photovoice involves community members in an iterative process of story-sharing as they bring photos and reflections to meetings for shared dialogue.

The ongoing dialogue helps new connections and knowledge to grow. Some members of the group chose to take part in a community food stories exhibit, selecting some of their images and narratives to share publicly. Together, the group developed a title for the exhibit: "Sharing Abundance and Adversity: Food Stories from the Keweenaw."

The meetings were facilitated by 14 students in the fall 2022 Communities & Research class taught by Angie Carter (SS). Students in the course also developed materials so that educators and other community members could engage in or adapt this project for their own use, including K-12 curriculum activities, a virtual photovoice exhibit and a photovoice facilitation guide. Isabelle Cervantes, a student from the class, then designed the printed exhibit in spring 2023 that debuted at the UP Food Summit in March 2023.

The printed exhibit consists of a selection of 11 of the 22 total local food stories shared throughout the project. The project is a great educational tool to share at public events and local schools. More information, including the virtual exhibit and associated resources, is available on the Western U.P. Food System Collaborative's website.

Funding for this project was provided by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.

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.

Important Notice to Panopto-Huskycast Users

On July 20, Panopto will require Panopto for Mac clients to be upgraded to version 13.0.0. Panopto for Mac version 13.0 will require at least macOS 11. Customers using macOS 10.15 or older will be required to upgrade to macOS 11 or newer.

Panopto support article reviews the process for manually updating your Panopto for Mac software. You will need administrator access to update the Panopto software. Contact IT at it-help@mtu.edu if you need further assistance.

New Funding

Richard Canevez (HU/IPEC), in collaboration with Lara Zwarun of the University of Missouri - St. Louis, has received a $6,625 research contract from the Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society.

The project is titled "Commodification of Religious Iconography as Resistance in Saint Javelin."

The project will explore the intersection of diasporic, religious and political identity among the Ukrainian communities in America and Canada as considered through the use of religious iconography as part of the commercialized aspects of Ukraine's resistance against Russia's escalated 2022 invasion.

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Qingli Dai (CEGE/MTTI) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $90,000 research and development grant from the St. Clair County Road Commission.

The project is titled "Durable Rubber and Glass Modified Epoxy Polymer Concrete Overlay for Bridge Deck Protection."

Zhanping You (CEGE/MTTI) is a co-PI on this potential 15-month project.

In the News

John Vucetich (CFRES) was quoted by the New York Times in a story exploring the impacts of a New York hunter's 2021 harvest of an 85-pound wolf that he mistook for a coyote. The presence of other individual wolves in the northeastern U.S. is plausible, according to Vucetich.

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Wayne Gersie (OVPDI) was quoted by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in a story about his appointment as vice president for equity and inclusion at Quinnipiac University. Gersie will begin his new role July 31, according to the story.

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Michigan Tech was mentioned by PV Magazine in a story about a study on the use of existing fences in animal farms as a low-cost racking solution for solar panels. The research team included scientists from MTU and Canada's Western University.

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Scrap Monster mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation (STRAP) technique for recycling flexible plastics. Michigan Tech is named as a partner in the development of the recycling system.

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Northern News Now in Duluth, Minnesota, mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Michigan's state budget for fiscal year 2024. $870,000 was allocated to the University to support the relocation of the former Finlandia University nursing program.

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Detroit’s 101.1 WRIF-FM mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Money Magazine's list of the best colleges in the nation for 2023. MTU was included on the list with a ranking of 4.5 out of five stars.

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Whittier College mentioned Michigan Tech in a story announcing the promotion of Cinzia Fissore '07 (Ph.D. Forest Science) to full professor of environmental science.

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The Iron Mountain Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Greg Ives '03 (AAS Mechanical Engineering) visiting Norway Speedway last Friday (July 7) for an autograph session at the Auto Value Super Stock race. Ives is a NASCAR crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman.

Reminders

KRC Platinum Jubilee Celebration

The Keweenaw Research Center (KRC) invites you to attend our upcoming open house to celebrate our 70th anniversary with a Platinum Jubilee Celebration. The celebration will be held on Aug. 4 from 12-5 p.m.

Please come and learn more about KRC, our capabilities, the test course, the new cold room chamber and more. Plan on an adventurous afternoon of experiencing our new arctic cold testing chamber at minus 20 degrees and taking rides on the test course. Sturdy footwear is advised, and you will be required to sign a waiver if you participate in a test course ride. Food and beverages will also be served.

We hope to see you there!

For more information, please visit the KRC Platinum Jubilee page.

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Unrestricted Gift Transmittal Process Change and Form Update

The Unrestricted Gift Transmittal submission process, used by departments when they will receive corporate or foundation gifts, has been revised.

Forms are now submitted to gift-admin-l@mtu.edu. The Unrestricted Gift Transmittal form has been revised as well — and it, along with the form instructions, is located on the Giving website under Forms and Tools. ISO login is required.

If you have any questions, please contact Lorraine Young at llyoung@mtu.edu or 7-3305.

Today's Campus Events

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

UPGA Junior Tournament

UPGA Junior Tournament at PLGC.

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Master's Defense: Daniel Beyer

Forest Ecology and Management Co-advisors: Fengjing Liu and Randall Kolka Near-Surface Soil Nitrogen and Vegetation Response to Invasive Emerald Ash Borer in Forested Black...

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Greet the Goats at the Swedetown Trails

Come see how we are using goats to remove high-density, invasive, glossy buckthorn from the Swedetown Trails! The KISMA crew and Jake from Regenerative Ruminants will be...

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Master's Defense: Jasmine Terry-Shindelman

Applied Ecology Advisor: Sarah Hoy Moose (Alces alces) Herbivory Is the Main Driver of Spatial and Temporal Variation in the Nitrogen and Carbon Content of Balsam Fir...

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Little Huskies Summer Volleyball camp

This camp is open to boys and girls entering grades 1 - 5 as of Fall 2023. Michigan Tech’s Little Huskies Camp is the perfect way to explore the basics of volleyball for...

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Master's Defense: Nathan Coleman

Applied Ecology Advisor: John Vucetich Comparing the Costs of Lethal and Non-lethal Control of Wolf Depredation on Sheep in Southern Idaho Attend Virtually:...

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Hockey Camp Group 1

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...

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Hockey Camp Groups 2 and 3

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...