April 27, 2026

A near-record high wolf population and near-record low number of moose characterized the 2026 Isle Royale Winter Study, a long-running population survey of wolves and moose led by Michigan Tech researchers on Isle Royale National Park. 

Co-led this year by Sarah Hoy and Rolf Peterson (both CFRES), the winter study was conducted Jan. 22 through March 3 in bitterly cold conditions that, for a time, caused an ice bridge to form from the remote island archipelago to the mainland. 

In their 2025-2026 annual report, co-authors Hoy, Peterson and John Vucetich (also CFRES) estimate that 37 wolves inhabited the island during the winter study. The wolf population hasn’t reached this level since the late 1970s.

Their survey findings for moose were equally dramatic, though on the other end of the spectrum, with the moose population estimated at 524. That’s a 75% drop since 2019, when the number of moose on Isle Royale topped 2,000. The lowest number of moose ever recorded was 385 in 2007.

“The wolf and moose populations are now approaching the edge of where they have been in the past, with moose low and wolves high,” said Peterson.

Find more observations from this year’s winter study and access the newly released annual report at Michigan Tech News.

Michigan Technological University has appointed David Chaudier as its first chief procurement officer (CPO), marking an important milestone in the University’s efforts to strengthen financial stewardship, operational effectiveness and institutional governance.

In this newly created senior leadership role, Chaudier will lead the establishment of Michigan Tech’s first centralized Procurement and Contract Management Office, bringing together procurement, sourcing, contract lifecycle management, and related compliance functions under a unified, institution-wide framework. The new office is designed to modernize procurement practices, enhance transparency and consistency, and support the University’s long-term academic and financial priorities.

Chaudier will report to Carlos Rodriguez, chief financial officer and vice president for administration, and will partner closely with academic, research and administrative leaders across campus. He will begin his role on May 4.

“David brings the right combination of strategic leadership, operational execution, and deep procurement and contracting experience to build Michigan Tech’s first centralized procurement and contract management function,” said Rodriguez. “This role is foundational to where the University is headed, and I’m excited to have David lead this work as we strengthen our systems, governance, and long-term financial stewardship.”

Chaudier brings more than 25 years of experience leading operational and support functions across complex organizations, including over 15 years at the executive level, where he has built and transformed procurement, supply chain and contracting capabilities.

Most recently, he served as chief operating officer at Family Health Center of Marshfield, a multi-site federally qualified health center, where he led enterprise operational and administrative functions, including supply chain, contracting, compliance and business systems.

Over the course of his career, he has consistently been selected to build and centralize procure-to-pay and contracting capabilities, implement contract lifecycle management processes, and lead large-scale operational and organizational transformation efforts.

His background also includes senior executive roles at national healthcare organizations, where he oversaw enterprise procurement and supply chain operations, including those exceeding $1 billion in annual spend; delivered significant cost reductions; and established governance frameworks to improve compliance, transparency and performance.

“I’m excited to join Michigan Tech at a time when there’s a real opportunity to build and strengthen how the University operates. This role is about more than procurement — it’s about supporting the institution’s mission and making it easier for faculty and staff to do their work. I’m looking forward to working across the University to build a more consistent and effective approach to procurement and contracting, supporting staff, students, and the continued growth of the institution,” said Chaudier.

The William G. Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Committee for Accessible and Affordable Learning Materials (CAALM) congratulate the 26 instructors who successfully completed the Spring 2026 Accessible Tech Challenge. 

These instructors worked this semester to address digital barriers in their course materials and improve access and usability for students. Their participation reflects meaningful faculty engagement in an important institutional effort focused on digital accessibility and student success.

We congratulate the following instructors for successfully completing the Spring 2026 Accessible Tech Challenge:

• Glen Archer (ECE)
• Matthew Barron (EF)
• Maria Bergstrom (HU)
• James Bittner (EF)
• Ash Brown (VPOL)
• Angie Carter (SS)
• MaryFran Desrochers (Math)
• Katy Elenich (HU)
• Andrew Fiss (HU)
• AJ Hamlin (EF)
• Chloe He (MAE)
• Michelle Jarvie-Eggart (EF)
• Amber Kemppainen (EF)
• Jonathan Leinonen (COB)
• Sarah LewAllen (BioSci)
• Mike Maxwell (VPA)
• Amna Mazen (AC)
• Adrienne Minerick (ChE)
• Brigitte Morin (BioSci)
• Aneet Narendranath (MAE)
• Alexandra Putwen (ResEd)
• Kerri Sleeman (CEGE)
• Anna Stuhlmacher (ECE)
• Radheshyam Tewari (MAE)
• Roger Woods (COB)
• Teresa Woods (Math)

Did you know that the Van Pelt and Opie Library provides access to the online version of The Chronicle of Higher Education?

This is a major source of news, information, reports and career resources relevant to higher education in the United States. The library’s site license includes access to almost everything available on the website: full-text articles from the print edition, The Chronicle Review magazine, and data from Almanac of Higher Education, as well as online-only articles, blogs, podcasts, the Chron AI research assistant and more.

Register for an account using a valid mtu.edu email address to gain additional access to email newsletters and off-campus access to the website. Already have an account? You have been automatically given access to the library’s subscription!

If you have questions or need assistance with The Chronicle of Higher Education or any of the library’s licensed online resources, please contact the library. Happy reading!

We value our readers’ perspectives and would appreciate hearing from you about this year’s Michigan Tech Magazine.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and let us know what you think about the 2026 edition. Responses will be accepted through Friday, May 1.

The Office of Naval Research recently approved Michigan Tech’s predetermined facilities and administrative (F&A) cost rates. The rate agreement is in effect from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, and supersedes the provisional rate agreement that was issued in June 2025. The rate agreement can be found on the University’s Research Facts and Figures webpage.

For awards received beginning July 1, 2025, Michigan Tech is required by federal regulation to charge the newly approved rates, so retroactive adjustments will be made in the project indices. For existing awards received on or before June 30, 2025, including incrementally funded projects, the rate in effect at the time the project was awarded will continue to be charged for the life of the sponsored project.

The new rates will be used immediately in proposal budgets for new proposals and for continuation funding requests on currently awarded projects. When awarded, the additional funding will generally be given a new index number in order to account for the different rates.

In accordance with the predetermined rate agreement, the F&A rates in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, are as follows:

• 47.70% — On-Campus Research
• 54.90% — On-Campus Uncapped Research - DoD Contracts & Industrial Sponsors
• 26.00% — Off-Campus Research
• 34.10% — Off-Campus Uncapped Research - DoD Contracts & Industrial Sponsors
• 48.85% — On-Campus Instruction
• 26.00% — Off-Campus Instruction
• 31.90% — On-Campus Other Sponsored Activities
• 26.00% — Off-Campus Other Sponsored Activities
• 57.25% — On-Campus MTRI Research
• 90.50% — On-Campus Uncapped MTRI Research - DoD Contracts & Industrial Sponsors
• 26.00% — Off-Campus MTRI Research
• 59.20% — Off-Campus Uncapped MTRI Research - DoD Contracts & Industrial Sponsors

If you have any questions regarding proposal budgeting or expenditures on sponsored projects, please contact Kelly Kallio at 906-487-2226 or kmkallio@mtu.edu.

Benefits Services is now accepting fall 2026 TRIP forms!

We strongly encourage students to submit their TRIP (Tuition Reduction Incentive Program) application forms for fall 2026 by Friday, May 1, 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 Education 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.

Job Postings for Monday, April 27, 2026

Staff and faculty job descriptions are available on the Human Resources website. For more information regarding staff positions, call 906-487-2280 or email humanresources@mtu.edu. For more information regarding faculty positions, contact the academic department in which the position is posted.

Business and IT Support Associate, Michigan Tech Research Institute.

IT Support Associate, Michigan Tech Research Institute.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Accommodations are available. If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment or for an interview at Michigan Technological University, please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.

WLUC TV6 interviewed Michigan Tech’s Spring Commencement student speakers — Houssein Yassin ’26 (Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics) and Caelan Mead-O’Brien ’26 (B.S. Environmental Engineering) — in a story previewing their addresses to MTU’s Class of 2026.

Midwest Living mentioned Michigan Tech’s A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum in a feature on the best places in the Midwest to hunt for crystals, gemstones and fossils. The story highlighted the museum’s extensive mineral collection, including specimens from the Great Lakes region and a notable 17-ton slab of native copper.

UpNorthLive and WZMQ 19 News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about a proposed Michigan House budget that includes $600,000 for the University to study ice-related closures on the Mackinac Bridge.

MLive mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ burgeoning investigation into severely underweight “zombie” siscowet lake trout observed in Lake Superior. The DNR hopes to start fish assessment and disease testing on the lake in June, and also plans to work with MTU to investigate possible contaminants.

Volunteers Needed: Huskies Summer Orientation 2026

As the spring semester comes to a close, the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success is preparing to welcome the Class of 2030 to campus. Huskies Summer Orientation will kick off on May 31, and this year’s program will span two full days of activities.

To ensure a successful experience for our incoming students, we are seeking additional volunteers for our summer sessions. If you are available to help, please take a moment to complete the 2026 Summer Sessions volunteer form.

If you are unable to commit to the full-time blocks listed but would still like to volunteer, please email Dawn Corwin at dmcorwin@mtu.edu. Please complete the volunteer form by Friday, May 1.

Summer Orientation Dates:

• Sunday, May 31, and Monday, June 1
• Sunday, June 7, and Monday, June 8
• Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13
• Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20

Thank you for your continued support.

*****

Important Building Notice: Campus Water Outages

Facilities Management will be performing essential repair work on Michigan Tech’s campus water system this week, starting today, April 27.

This work will require extended water outages affecting the following buildings.

Not all buildings will be affected at the same time. Service disruptions will generally occur when the exterior water service upgrades are being implemented in proximity to the building.

• Administration Building 
• Alumni House 
• Academic Office Building 
• Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building 
• Dillman Hall 
• Electrical Energy Resources Building 
• Fisher Hall
• Hamar House
• H-STEM Complex
• J. R. Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library
• Memorial Union Building
• Minerals and Materials Engineering Building
• Rekhi Hall
• R. L. Smith Building
• ROTC Building

Building occupants may use water for drinking and handwashing in nearby buildings that are not affected by the outage. Facilities will provide daily updates on affected buildings.

The outages are scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. today, April 27, at the west end of campus. Construction will progress eastward on a daily basis, with work expected to conclude by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1. Water service will be restored to buildings at the end of each work day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Facilities Management at facilities@mtu.edu or 906-487-2303.

Thank you for your cooperation while these time-critical improvements are completed.

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New Huskies Orientation Paperwork Session

Monday, April 27, 8–10 a.m.

New Huskies Orientation Paperwork Session

Monday, April 27, 8–10 a.m.

PhD Defense: Olivia Hohman

Monday, April 27, 1–2 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 101

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Advisor: Tarun Dam Discovery and Characterization of a New Clinically Important Plant Protein and a Novel Plant Bioactive Compound with Therapeutic Potential

Master's Defense: Katherine Langfield

Monday, April 27, 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building, 619

Geology Advisor: James DeGraff Slip Kinematics and Structural Analysis of the Keweenaw Fault System from Lake Linden to Hancock, Michigan Attend Virtually: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/86985978567