Research Funding Rises at Michigan Tech

Sponsored research, including federal and state grants, corporate and other sponsors increased 46 percent during the second quarter of the current fiscal year, compared to the same time last year, Vice President for Research David Reed told the Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees at its regular meeting on Feb. 19, 2015. Federal grants rose 40.9 percent.

The Board heard from Undergraduate and Graduate Student Government representatives about a Food Insecurities survey conducted earlier this year. A committee led by Dean of Students Bonnie Gorman conducted the survey, which closed on Feb. 13. The committee will meet on Thursday, Feb. 26, to examine the results of the survey and discuss ways to address the problems revealed.

The student government representatives reported that 1,027 students completed the survey. They said 79 percent of them were undergraduates, and 21 percent were graduate students.

“The health and well-being of our students is a primary concern,” said Gorman. “Now that this problem has come to our attention, we are going to do what we can to respond.”

In response, Board member Terry Woychowski announced that the Terry Woychowski Foundation is going to donated $1,000 to a local food bank.

The Board also authorized its chair and vice chair to finalize the terms and execute a contract with President Glenn Mroz, whose current term runs through June 30, 2016.

In other business, the board:

• Recognized Bahne Cornilsen for 37 years of service and Andre Bonen for 36 years of service.
• Approved purchase of a transmission electron microscope for the Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory, at a total cost of $2.1 million. The National Science Foundation will fund $1.2 million of the cost. The remainder will be funded by the College of Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics and the Vice President for Research.
• Approved transferring land and buildings purchased by the University to the Portage Golf Course Corporation, a not-for-profit entity.
• Heard reports from Provost Max Seel, Treasurer Julie Seppala and University Senate President Craig Waddell.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.