September 6, 2023

Next Friday (Sept. 15), Michigan Tech will send out a Safety First Alert message at 11:55 a.m. to all students, faculty and staff as a routine test of the emergency alert system. This routine test is an important part of our commitment to the safety and security of all Huskies.

The University will send an initial message via email with the subject “MTU Alert: Routine test of MTU’s Safety First Alert system.” A secondary message will be sent via text with the same information.

Before next Friday, please log in to the Safety First Alert messaging system to update or confirm your emergency contact information.

The Vice President for Research Office (VPR) will launch the Cayuse Outside Interests module, a conflict of interest certification tool for research-based disclosures, next Wednesday (Sept. 13).

Disclosure of actual or perceived conflicts of interest (COIs) associated with externally sponsored projects is required under University and sponsoring agency policies as well as federal law. This module will facilitate an individual’s certification relative to disclosure of conflicts during the sponsored project proposal submission process.

A COI exists when a principal investigator (PI), co-PI, investigator or any of their spouses or dependent children have an actual or perceived financial or reputational interest in the outcome of the project, or have received any financial remuneration from the project sponsor outside of the proposed project budget. Anyone with a COI will be required to disclose the individual or organization that is the source of the conflict within Cayuse when the proposal is being prepared for submission. A full disclosure and handling of the conflict will be managed outside of Cayuse by staff within VPR and Michigan Tech’s COI coordinator.

The Outside Interests module is easy to use and is integrated within the Cayuse research suite for a “one-stop shop” approach.

The process for recording COI certifications within Cayuse includes:

• A project-based COI disclosure certification form will be auto-created for each individual listed in the Personnel section when a proposal is en route for review in Cayuse.
• An email will be generated and sent to everyone listed in the Personnel section, prompting their action to complete the certification.
• Sponsored project team members will follow the email link to the project-based disclosure certification required to be completed. Alternatively, the team member can select “My Profile” under their name at the top right of the Cayuse window and then select “COI Disclosures” to complete the appropriate certification.

These features will not impact the process for disclosures of COIs that are not related to sponsored projects, but will benefit those seeking external funding by reducing administrative effort and improving overall efficiencies while maintaining compliance with relevant policies and laws.

Additional information, including user documentation, is available on our Cayuse Implementations page.

The Memorial Union Building (MUB) is transitioning to a new reservation software on Monday (Sept. 11). The current reservation software will be down beginning today (Sept. 6) through Sunday (Sept. 10) in an effort to ensure all current reservations are in the new system.

If you need to make a reservation on or before Sunday, please contact the Memorial Union office at mubrooms@mtu.edu. For weekend events, please contact us before 5 p.m. tomorrow (Sept. 7). We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Additional details for how to reserve meeting space in the new software will be coming soon.

The Essential Education Leadership Team will share progress and plans for the upcoming year on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. (during the Career Fair Recess). We invite the campus community to join us in the Library East Reading Room for this update.

The University Senate will convene Meeting 688 at 5:30 p.m. today (Sept. 6) in Dow 642.

Those within the University community unable to attend in person have the option to attend via Zoom. Please note: You will need to log in to your MTU Zoom account to join the virtual meeting.

Senators are responsible for making their constituents aware of the agenda for this meeting. Senators who are unable to attend should arrange for their alternates to attend in their place.

View the agenda to Meeting 688.

The Vice President for Research Office (VPR) requests Century II Campaign Endowed Equipment Fund (C2E2) proposals.

The C2E2 program is aimed at providing funds to purchase equipment that will have a campuswide impact and improve the lives of faculty, staff and students.

The submission deadline is 4 p.m. Oct. 13. Late submissions will not be accepted.

For more information and proposal submission requirements, visit the C2E2 website.

Applications for Spring 2024 Portage Health Foundation (PHF) Graduate Assistantships are being accepted and are due no later than 4 p.m. Oct. 17 to the Graduate School. Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online. Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Must be a Ph.D. student conducting a research or outreach project that will promote and/or improve the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon communities.
2. Must be a Ph.D. candidate at the time of application.
3. Must be two years after starting the graduate program at the time of application.
4. Must not be a prior recipient of a PHF Graduate Assistantship.
5. Preference will be given to applicants with long-standing local connections to Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon county.

Priority will be given to students originally from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon counties. Nonresident students and international students are encouraged to apply if their health research is applicable to health needs and job shortages of our local community (obesity research, rural health, medical informatics, drug delivery and lab testing, physical therapy, etc.).

These assistantships are available through the generosity of the Portage Health Foundation. They are intended to recognize outstanding Ph.D. talent in health-oriented research areas. Applicants should be a catalyst for promoting and improving the overall health of Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon communities through one of the following:

• health research and technology development
• health education or preventive and wellness initiatives
• rural health care access, informatics and assessment of care

Students who receive full support through a PHF Graduate Assistantship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a PHF Graduate Assistantship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

Applications for Spring 2024 Finishing Fellowships are being accepted and are due no later than 4 p.m. Oct. 18 to the Graduate School. Please email applications to gradschool@mtu.edu.

Instructions on the application and evaluation process are found online. Students are eligible if all of the following criteria are met:

1. Must be a Ph.D. student.
2. Must expect to finish during the semester supported as a Finishing Fellow.
3. Must have submitted no more than one previous application for a Finishing Fellowship.
4. Must be eligible for candidacy (tuition charged at Research Mode rate) at the time of application.
5. Must not hold a final oral examination ("defense") prior to the start of the award semester.

Finishing Fellowships provide support to Ph.D. candidates who are close to completing their degrees. These fellowships are available through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University. They are intended to recognize outstanding Ph.D. candidates who are in need of financial support to finish their degrees and are also contributing to the attainment of goals outlined in the Michigan Tech Strategic Plan.

The Graduate School anticipates funding up to 10 fellowships, with support ranging from $2,000 to full support (stipend plus tuition). Students who receive full support through a Finishing Fellowship may not accept any other employment. For example, students cannot be fully supported by a Finishing Fellowship and accept support as a GTA or GRA.

The Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) is funding a variety of requests, including undergraduate and graduate fellowships, research seed grants, public outreach, teacher training and pre-college education.

Check out the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems Blog for more information on these categories — including deadlines.

Faculty, staff and graduate students can have a complimentary professional portrait taken by University Marketing and Communications (UMC) during one of our fall semester portrait sessions.

• Wednesday, Sept. 20 — 10 a.m. to noon
• Thursday, Sept. 21 — 10 a.m. to noon
• Friday, Sept. 22 — 10 a.m. to noon

Portraits will be taken in the UMC Studio, located on the ground floor of the Administration Building (Admin G37). An appointment is required.

Schedule an appointment through our online calendar. You must use your mtu.edu account to schedule an appointment.

• Sign in to the calendar with your mtu.edu account
• Find the portrait session date you want — Sept. 20, 21 or 22
• Click the appointment time you want between 10 a.m. and noon
• Click Save
• Smile!

Portraits will be emailed directly to you three to four weeks after your session.

Michigan Tech IT is collecting lab software requests for summer 2024. Requests are due by Jan. 8. As a reminder, requests should be completed one semester in advance of intended use. Please refer to the Knowledge Base article on requesting lab software for information about request guidelines and access to the submission form.

Please note: There is no need to request currently available software. These requests are for additional software that is not already installed in the labs.

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

As you know, the Career Services team is hosting the 2023 Fall Career Fair on Sept. 19 from 12-5 p.m., with a recess from 2-4 p.m.

We are reaching out to the Tech community for volunteers during Career Fair. We have a variety of shifts, tasks and responsibilities to fill. Please could you share a couple of hours to help make this event a success?

Visit the Career Fair Volunteer Sign-up form to sign up. Thank you in advance!

Reminder: The first in our series of five outdoor CareerFEST days is 906 Day, going on today (Sept. 6) with 15 employers recruiting students for Upper Peninsula-based positions.

The world flags have been raised from Hancock to Houghton! The 34th Annual Michigan Tech Parade of Nations, the Keweenaw’s premier multicultural celebration, is gearing up for a stacked event on Sept. 16.

MTU students and local Keweenaw organizations will begin the parade at 11 a.m. on Hancock’s Quincy Green, heading to Dee Stadium in Houghton. This year’s theme, “Fairy Tales from Around the World,” has been selected to especially delight children and families who come to enjoy the parade.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community will lead the parade from Hancock through downtown Houghton and down to the Dee. Spectators can expect floats decorated to reflect the fairy tales told around the world, walking groups with goodies to toss, and beautiful displays of dress and music!

Following the parade, the Multicultural Festival begins at noon at Dee Stadium. Find food, drink, music, dance, comedy and crafts throughout the day brought to you by MTU student groups and local businesses. Proceeds from student group food sales goes to supporting their organizations.

For more information, head to the Parade of Nations website.

Flavors to Savor | Student Groups:

• African Student Organization
• Bangladeshi Students
• Indian Students Association
• Iranian Community
• Muslim Student Association
• Nepalese Student Organization
• Society of Hispanic Engineers
• Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers

Flavors to Savor | Keweenaw Businesses:

• Sky Sushi
• The Forge
• Munchee Machine
• Keweenaw Coffee Works
• Griffin Café
• Border Grill
• Nisu Café
• Pepsi Booth

Learn and Play:

• MTU Study Abroad
• International Neighbors
• ICE Services
• Kids Booth
• Face Painting
• Cross-Cultural Craft Booth
• Gen X, Y, I Podcast

Entertainment: 

• Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC)
• Kivijat – Finnish Dancers
• Frozen Squid Comedy
• Husky Tae Kwon Do & Keweenaw Korean Martial Arts
• Nepalese Student Organization
• Bangladeshi Student Organization
• Indian Student Association

Don't Forget to Sign Up!
Registration for Huskies Aquatics Fall Session 1 closes today (Sept. 6) for youth programs and tomorrow (Sept. 7) for adult programs. Sign up today!

Openings are available in the following programs:

• Adult Huskies Swim Training (ages 18 or older)
• Adult Huskies Swim Lessons (ages 18 or older)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Parent & Child Aquatics (ages 6 months to 3 years)
• Huskies Group Swim Lessons Learn to Swim Levels 1-5 (ages 6-17 years)
• Huskies Swim Clinic (ages 6-17 years)

Questions? Contact Aquatics Manager Annie Bengry at ambengry@mtu.edu or 906-487-2995.

Ruth Archer, director of continuous improvement at Michigan Tech, will be presenting at the 2023 Lean Solutions Global Summit, which will be held Oct. 2-4 in Muskegon, Michigan.

Learn more about Archer, her extensive Lean credentials and this upcoming event at Michigan Tech Global Campus News.

The Office of Alumni Engagement is excited to announce the eight honorees who will be inducted into the Presidential Council of Alumnae (PCA) during the 2023 PCA Induction & Meetings taking place next Thursday and Friday (Sept. 14-15).

PCA members are recognized for exceptional personal and professional achievements in all facets of life — including education and career excellence, community involvement, volunteerism and their past involvement as a student, as well as their current relationship with Michigan Tech.

The 2023 inductees are: 

• Marissa Gecse (Graziano) '16
• Gretchen Hein '96
• Teresa Karjala (Plumley) '87
• Linda Kennedy '91
• Kristin Kolodge (Schwalbach) '95
• Kristen Mariuzza (Dolkey) '98
• Nicole Lopez '08
• Helena Seiver (Kaplan) '94

Learn more about these eight exceptional graduates on the PCA webpage.

Eric Morris from the Washington University School of Medicine will be presenting at this week's Physics Colloquium. The seminar will be presented in person at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Sept. 7) in Fisher 139.

Morris's presentation is titled "Medical Physics: To Spare or to Treat the Heart, that is the Question."

Read the abstract on the University Events Calendar.

Students who are completing a dissertation, thesis or report are invited to join the Graduate School to learn about the resources available to them to assist in scheduling their defense, formatting their documents and submitting their documents. In one afternoon, you can learn everything you need to be successful and complete your degree in a timely fashion! Faculty and staff who assist students with submissions are also welcome to attend. Attend the entire event, or stop in for the seminar that interests you.

• When: Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 2-4 p.m. (see a detailed schedule on our blog)
• Who: Students completing a dissertation, thesis or report; faculty and staff who assist students with submission.
• Where: Virtually via Zoom (please register to attend online and receive participation instructions) and in person in Admin 404 (room capacity is 35).
• Registration: Please register to receive handouts via email or attend online. The seminar will be available online as well as on campus.

If you are unable to join us, the event will be taped and available online after the event. The previous semester’s seminars are always available online.

Information on submitting, formatting and more can be found online for dissertations and theses or reports.

The Michigan Tech volleyball team made their season debut last Thursday (Aug. 31) with a loss at home, then went 1-2 at the UP Open over the weekend.

The Huskies began their 2023 campaign with a 3-2 loss to Winona State on Thursday at the SDC Gym. The Huskies held a 2-1 lead but surrendered the final two sets as the Warriors took the first-ever meeting between the two teams 16-25, 25-17, 22-25, 25-19 and 15-13.

"It was the start I was looking for, but we were on the wrong end of the final score," Tech coach Matt Jennings said. "It happened tight in the fifth set with some unforced errors on our end. Our team played with a ton of heart tonight and it was a tough finish. I'm proud of my team."

MTU began the UP Open on Friday (Sept. 1) in Marquette, recording a 3-1 loss to No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul. The Huskies won the third set 27-25 with the Golden Bears winning overall 25-10, 25-21 and 25-15.

"We fought hard and played as a team out there today," Jennings said. "I was impressed with our resilience given the emotions of last night. Brooke (Dzwik) played six rotations with a lot of heart and did a good job all match. We kept it close with the best team in the nation, and the third-set comeback win was a high point for sure."

MTU wrapped up the UP Open with a split on Saturday (Sept. 2). The Huskies swept Minnesota Crookston 3-0 in the morning match and fell 3-2 to Hillsdale in the evening.

"Today was a good day for the Huskies," Jennings said. "In fact, I'm really proud of the way these Huskies fought all weekend. We went toe-to-toe with three premier teams, pushing two solid teams to five and sweeping our first match today."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech soccer team began their 2023 season with a narrow loss and a draw.

The Huskies opened the season with a 1-0 loss to St. Cloud State, giving up the lone goal before the ninth minute of play at Kearly Stadium on Thursday (Aug. 31).

"I thought we grew into the match," head coach Bulut Ozturk said. "I know we didn't play the way we wanted to but things got better in the second half and this is a great learning experience for our team and an experience we want to learn and grow from."

Next, MTU earned a 1-1 draw against Minnesota Duluth on Parent Weekend at Kearly Stadium on Saturday (Sept. 2). First-year Brooke Green erased a 1-0 deficit with a goal in the 66th minute of play.

"It was a slow start for us," Ozturk said. "The difference between Thursday and today is night and day in how we were able to recover and find our way back into the match. I'm happy with the result because we showed growth and progress."

Read more at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

The Michigan Tech cross country squads opened the season with the Yooper Skirmish hosted at the Tech Trails. The meet showcased Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State as a course preview for the 2023 GLIAC Cross Country Championships being held on Oct. 21.

"I was really happy with how both our men and women ran today," head coach Kristina Owen said. "Our courses at the Michigan Tech Trails are very challenging, and we still saw some very fast times out there. Our top racers, Tucker Ringhand and Hannah Loughlin, were both significantly faster than they were last year at Roy Griak, which is a hard course but not as hard as ours."

Tech's No. 18 nationally ranked men's squad raced first. Ringhand won the men's 8K race in 25:39.28. Nick McKenzie placed second in 25:54.77.

In the women's 6K race, Michigan Tech went one-through-11, led by Loughlin, who won by over 30 seconds with her time of 22:53.71. Placing second was first-year student-athlete Sophia Rhein (22:39.30).

See the Huskies' full results at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Michigan Tech football's game on Saturday (Sept. 9) is Teacher Appreciation Day at Kearly Stadium. Local educators can buy a ticket and get one free by using the code 24Teachers at BuyHuskiesTickets.com. 

MTU welcomes Hillsdale at 1 p.m. to kick off their 2023 campaign. A year ago, the Huskies finished 4-7 overall and 2-4 in the GLIAC for fifth place in the conference.

Read the game preview featuring interviews and analysis at the Michigan Tech Athletics website.

Thursday (Sept. 7)
• Volleyball at Minnesota Duluth, 8:30 p.m.

Friday (Sept. 8)
• Cross Country at Phoenix Open (UW-Green Bay), 3 & 4 p.m.
• Volleyball vs. St. Cloud State, 3:30 p.m. at UMD Tournament
• Soccer at Illinois-Springfield, 5 p.m.

Saturday (Sept. 9)
• Volleyball vs. Southern New Hampshire, 10:30 a.m. at UMD Tournament
• Football vs. Hillsdale, 1 p.m. at Kearly Stadium
• Volleyball vs. Central Washington, 6 p.m. at UMD Tournament

Sunday (Sept. 10)
• Soccer at Lewis, 1 p.m.

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Athletics News
Read more in the MTU Athletics weekly update.

Wednesday (Sept. 6)
• Valorant vs. Rochester Institute of Technology, 7 p.m. NACE Varsity Premier

Thursday (Sept. 7)
• Super Smash Bros: Ultimate vs. Lawrence Technological University, 7 p.m. NACE Varsity Premier.

Friday (Sept. 8)
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive vs. Kansas State University, 7 p.m. NACE Varsity Premier. 

Saturday (Sept. 9)
• Overwatch 2 vs. TBD, 2 & 3:30 p.m. Activision Blizzard Collegiate.

Times are subject to change. Check Twitter @MTUEsports for updates.

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Esports News
Read more in the MTU Esports weekly update.

Watch MTU Esports on Twitch.

Job Posting for Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023

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.

Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students Office. Apply online.

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.

Dongyan Zhang (Physics/CQP) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $549,321 research and development grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "PFI-TT: High-Yield Production and Processing of Boron Nitride Particles for Biomedical Applications."

Yoke Khin Yap, Xiuling Liu and Nazmiye Yapici (all Physics/CQP) are co-PIs on this potential two-year project.

Tim Havens (GLRC/ICC) and Jay Meldrum (TCRC) were quoted by Yahoo! News and the Traverse City Record-Eagle in stories speculating on research that could be done at the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center planned in Traverse City, Michigan. The center is a collaboration between MTU, 20Fathoms, the Discovery Center & Pier, Northwestern Michigan College and Traverse Connect.

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Adjunct Instructor Adam Laplander (COB) was interviewed for a Daily Mining Gazette feature story about his background and transition into the CEO role for Houghton’s Canal View skilled nursing facility. Laplander’s first day as CEO was Friday (Sept. 1).

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Elham Asgari (COB), Tim Wagner (Math), Pasi Lautala (CEGE) and Radheshyam Tewari (ME-EM) were mentioned by the Keweenaw Report in a story listing the Michigan Tech Center for Teaching and Learning’s 2023 CTL Instructional Award winners. The story was picked up from the CTL’s Aug. 30 announcement in Tech Today.

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Sarah Hoy (CFRES) was quoted by Arizona State University in a story summarizing a study co-authored by Hoy published recently in Science Advances.

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The Keweenaw Report previewed the first events in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts Presenting Series. The series will begin Sept. 15-16 with “DANCER” featuring the Grand Rapids Ballet and Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company.

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WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about state colleges’ ability to rebound from enrollment drops. MTU was named as one of three Michigan colleges where enrollment has grown over the past decade.

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The Midland Daily News mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about an orchard owned by Lynne Jacques (B.S. Medical Technology) and her husband. The story was picked up by four Lower Peninsula news outlets.

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

Chamber Outing

Wednesday, September 6, 9 a.m. | Portage Lake Golf Course

Chamber Outing

Fall Blood Drive 2023

Wednesday, September 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | MUB Ballroom

The Fall 2023 Blood Drive will be on September 6th and 7th from 10 am - 4 pm in the Memorial Union Building Ballroom. The American Red Cross recommends everyone make an...

Facing the Abyss—the Minerals Challenge to the Clean Energy Transition

Wednesday, September 6, 1 p.m. | Chemical Sciences and Engineering Building, 102

Chemical Engineering Seminar Dr. Douglas Wicks Program Director Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy Abstract Dr. Douglas Wicks will argue that the energy transition...

Resume Review with Recruiters

Wednesday, September 6, 3 p.m.–5 p.m. | Administration and Student Services Building, 220 Career Services

Get feedback from industry professionals on your resume in preparation for Career Fair.

Study Away and Abroad Info Session

Wednesday, September 6, 4 p.m.–5 p.m. | Wadsworth Hall, Cherry Room

Attend an info session to learn more about all of the different types of study away and abroad programs available to MTU students! Get informed on all program types, from...

Race Practice

Wednesday, September 6, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. | East Houghton Waterfront Park

Race practices are pretty casual. We set a few marks in the portage and have a few races on Monday and Wednesday nights. Anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of sailing...

Board Game Group

Wednesday, September 6, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. | WADS Annex

Come join one of the counselors and play some board games!

TKE - Bigger & Better

Wednesday, September 6, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | TKE House

Join the brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon for this fantastic event. Stop by to learn more about how we can help you create lifelong relationships that enhance educational,...

Transcontinental Packaging Recruiting Info Session

Wednesday, September 6, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | J. Robert Van Pelt and John and Ruanne Opie Library, 227

Learn about an exciting career at Transcontinental Packaging. Focused on manufacturing excellence, meeting the highest food safety standards, innovative R&D, technical...

USG Weekly Meeting

Wednesday, September 6, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. | MUB Alumni Lounge

This meeting includes weekly updates from all representatives, liaison positions, and committees. Official business carried out by USG is conducted throughout old and new...