April 25, 2025

Michigan Tech researchers are taking advantage of the Upper Peninsula’s watery, wintry wonderland to combat cold challenges and investigate icy infrastructure. Ice management, harnessing the melting and freezing capabilities of ice-dwelling bacteria, could be a means to provide the U.S. military with greater protection and increased options in extreme cold-weather environments.

Stephen Techtmann, associate director of the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) and associate professor of biological sciences, saw the Keweenaw Peninsula as the perfect launchpad for taking part as performers in the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Ice Control for cold Environments (ICE) program.

“Living here, we’re very familiar with how ice can be a challenge, and similarly the military has challenges dealing with ice,” said Techtmann. “But we also know it can be a resource. We have Winter Carnival here where students are building massive buildings out of ice and snow. What we’re trying to do is to find ways of making that happen more easily and in a way that is more environmentally friendly.”

Read more about the project and its goals at the Unscripted Research Blog.

Students in Michigan Tech's College of Business are known for working with real clients to develop their professional skills and bring fresh perspectives to businesses. This semester, that’s what Huskies in MKT4700 Marketing Strategy did for a local construction company branching out into the mini homes market.

Marketing Strategy is a capstone course taught by Soonkwan Hong, associate professor of marketing, who locates the client for the course. His choices are aligned with the learning outcomes he wants for his students. His goal is “to provide an experience that will equip them with practical knowledge and a competitive edge as they enter the professional world.”

“This hands-on marketing project offers a unique and multifaceted learning experience,” Hong said. “While students are developing essential marketing and business skills, they’re also gaining valuable insights into a growing industry that is focused on sustainability, affordability, and a different way of life.”

Find out how students approached the project and what their client thought of their efforts at the College of Business Newsblog.

Michigan Tech's Essential Education Experience manager is inviting proposals for the design and development of 3-credit Essential Education Experience (E3) courses over the summer.

E3 courses aim to provide students with immersive, experiential learning opportunities that foster critical reflection, interdisciplinary approaches and ethical engagement with communities or stakeholders.

For more information about E3 course requirements and the proposal process, please view the E3 Request for Proposals document.

Proposals should be sent to E3 Manager Cassandra Reed-VanDam at cmvandam@mtu.edu, and will be reviewed as they are received, with initial first consideration by a May 9 deadline.

Dear Michigan Tech Colleagues,

The Parade of Nations Planning Committee is excited to announce that the 36th Annual Parade of Nations will take place on Sept. 20! This year’s theme, “Games Around the World,” will spotlight the shared joy of play across cultures and celebrate the vibrancy of our international community.

The event will feature our iconic multicultural parade, global cuisine and a variety of cultural performances illustrating the multiple heritages reflected by our students and in our community. Flags from over 80 countries will be represented, and we expect thousands of attendees from across our region.

To make this event as impactful as ever, we’re asking for your department’s support. Your contribution helps us showcase the Keweenaw’s rich cultural representation that strengthens our University and aligns with our commitment to creating a more unified campus experience.

If your department is able to contribute, please use our Parade of Nations account number: D96104. Your support will be recognized and appreciated throughout the event.

If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to International Programs and Services at 906-487-2160 or to IPS Director Christian Montesinos at cmontesi@mtu.edu.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to support one of Michigan Tech’s most beloved traditions.

The University of Central Florida mentioned Jeremy Bos (ECE) in a story about his upcoming seminar at UCF, titled "Eyes on the Sky, Nowhere to Hide: Challenges in Full Sky Space Domain Awareness and Communications." Bos will discuss imaging space objects at low elevation angles and how atmospheric conditions impact optical communications.

*****

WLUC TV6 quoted graduate student Caleb Minasian (materials science and engineering) and undergraduate Josh Kline (electrical engineering technology) in a story about the newly formed National Broomball at Michigan Tech registered student organization winning the American Broomball Alliance's National Collegiate Championship earlier this month.

*****

The Keweenaw Report mentioned master’s student Tabasum Hamdard (data science), undergraduate Mary Christine Stevens (English), and alum Deedra Irwin ’15 (B.S. Exercise Science) in a story about Michigan Tech’s Spring Commencement. Irwin will deliver the keynote address at both the graduate and undergraduate ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Find out more at Michigan Tech News.

Last Day to Register for the Essential Education Symposium!

Missed the original deadline to register for the Essential Education Symposium? Don’t worry — registration is still open through today, April 25.

Join us next Wednesday, April 30, in the Memorial Union Building for the Essential Education Symposium, a full-day event open to all Michigan Tech faculty and staff as well as local community partners. The day begins with check-in and breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by sessions designed to deepen understanding of the Essential Education curriculum, explore innovative teaching and advising practices, and strengthen campus-community partnerships.

Lunch will feature a keynote from Shane Sutherland, founder, CEO and “chief mischief maker” of PebblePad, Michigan Tech’s ePortfolio platform. The event will wrap up with a panel of industry leaders and campus deans, followed by an awards and recognition ceremony, and will conclude at 3:15 pm.

Please register by Friday using the Michigan Tech Essential Education Symposium Registration Form.

To learn more about the agenda and session topics, visit our Essential Education blog.

Questions? Contact us at essential-ed-l@mtu.edu.

*****

Guardian/Colossus – Remote Linux Change

Starting May 5, off-campus access to the campus Linux remote servers (Guardian and Colossus) will require a VPN connection.

These systems are also commonly known as:

• joshua.csl.mtu.edu, login.mtu.edu, or sftp.mtu.edu (guardian.it.mtu.edu)

• wopr.csl.mtu.edu (colossus.it.mtu.edu)

For help connecting remotely, please see the “Connecting to a campus Linux computer” Knowledge Base article.

If you have any questions about these changes, we can help. Email IT at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

*****

TRIP Forms for Fall 2025 Semester

Benefits Services and Financial Aid strongly encourage students to submit their TRIP (Tuition Reduction Incentive Program) application forms for fall 2025 by today, April 25, to ensure timely processing. Students should turn these forms in as soon as they have them completed, and no later than July 1.

A TRIP application form can be obtained from the Additional Benefits page. The form is to be signed by the eligible employee/retiree and student. One application form is to be completed for each semester.

*****

Next Week: 2025 Annual Steam Shutdown

The annual steam shutdown for 2025 will take place next week, following Spring Commencement, from Sunday, April 27, to next Friday, May 2, weather permitting.

This outage is required to provide maintenance and service of the boilers and steam distribution system on campus. This planned maintenance improves the reliability of our system and reduces the likelihood of an unplanned failure during the winter heating season.

Please be advised: During the steam shutdown, affected buildings will experience a complete loss of heating and hot water. Distilled water will not be accessible from the steam-powered stills, and steam-driven autoclaves and sterilizers will be non-operational. Furthermore, Central Energy Plant campus emergency generators will be serviced simultaneously, resulting in a lack of emergency power.

Annual steam shutdown dates/times:

• Starts: Sunday, April 27, at noon
• Ends: Friday, May 2, at noon

Buildings affected:

• Administration Building
• ROTC Building
• Academic Office Building
• Annex Building
• Electrical Energy Resources Center
• Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building
• Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
• Walker Arts and Humanities Center
• Minerals and Materials Engineering Building
• Grover C. Dillman Hall
• Fisher Hall
• J. R. Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library
• U. J. Noblet Forestry Building
• H-STEM Engineering and Health Technologies Complex
• Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building
• R. L. Smith Building
• Student Development Complex
• Kanwal and Ann Rekhi Hall
• Douglass Houghton Hall
• Memorial Union Building
• Wadsworth Hall
• McNair Hall
• Central Energy Plant
• Facilities Management
• Hillside Place
• Great Lakes Research Center

If you have questions or concerns, contact Steve Store, energy plant manager, at 906-487-2706 (office), 906-390-6336 (cell) or scstore@mtu.edu.

*****

Next Week: 2025 Annual Power Outages

Facilities Management has developed a five-year rotating plan to service the 12,470-volt switchgear and associated circuit breakers on Michigan Tech's campus. Our campus electrical distribution system depends on this equipment being in good working condition. This work requires a two-night power outage that affects the least number of buildings possible.

The first power outage will begin Wednesday, April 30, at 6 p.m. and end Thursday, May 1, at 6 a.m. The second power outage will last from Thursday at 6 p.m. until next Friday, May 2, at 6 a.m.

We understand that shutting off power can be inconvenient, but we believe that by taking a proactive approach, we reduce the chance of an unplanned failure at a time during the academic year that is even more inconvenient or disruptive.

Please note: In most cases, elevators, fume hoods, exhaust fans, ventilation equipment, normal lighting, plug-in appliances and plug-in equipment will not operate during the outage. Only items connected to the building emergency generator will have power during the outage. The building emergency generators and battery systems that supply power to emergency/egress lighting and special equipment should function as normal. If you are unsure if your equipment connects to the building emergency generator, please contact the Facilities Management building mechanic for your building.

Additionally, Michigan Tech IT will be turning off all network equipment in the affected buildings for these outages, starting Wednesday at 5 p.m. You should plan to save any work, shut down your computer systems and exit the buildings before the outages.

Buildings affected by the power outages will have the power shut off during the scheduled outages. Some buildings with power will be without phone or internet service.

Annual power outage dates/times:

• Wednesday, April 30, at 6 p.m. until May 1, at 6 a.m.
• Thursday, May 1, at 6 p.m. until Friday, May 2, at 6 a.m.

Buildings affected by power outages:

• Hillside Place
• Daniell Heights
• Douglass Houghton Hall
• Wadsworth Hall
• McNair Hall
• Great Lakes Research Center
• Central Heating Plant
• Facilities Management
• Electrical Energy Resources Center 
• Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building
• Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts
• Walker Arts and Humanities Center
• East Hall

Buildings with power but no internet or phone:

• Honors House
• Sustainability Demonstration House
• Tech House
• Portage Lake Golf Course

If you have questions or concerns about this plan, please contact Bob Garnell as soon as possible at rjgarnel@mtu.edu or 906-487-2712.

If you have any questions about the Michigan Tech IT outage during these times, contact IT at it-help@mtu.edu or 906-487-1111.

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

Track & Field at St. Norbert Invitational

Friday, April 25, 12–3 a.m. | De Pere. Wis.

Track & Field at St. Norbert Invitational De Pere. Wis.

CEGE Senior Design Colloquium

Friday, April 25, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 641

Board of Trustees Meeting

Friday, April 25, 9–11 a.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B

Regular meeting of Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees

Spring Graduate Student Commencement

Friday, April 25, 3–5 p.m. | Student Development Complex (SDC), John MacInnes Student Ice Arena

Graduate Student Commencement Ceremony

The Graduate School is pleased to announce the following dissertation, thesis and report defenses occurring next week. Please consider attending to learn more about our students’ scholarship and celebrate their academic accomplishments. Check the University Events Calendar for last-minute updates to times, dates and locations.