May 2, 2024

After graduating from Michigan Tech with mechanical engineering degrees, Austin Gongos '18 and Nathan Ackerman '18 planned to thru-hike the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. But, Gongos had a problem — his backpack was unnecessarily heavy for an expedition on which every ounce would matter.

Both Huskies ended up sewing their own backpacks for the adventure, designing packs that would fit their individual body sizes and customizing them according to how they each preferred to pack their bags and hike.

On the trail, the compliments the pair received from other hikers on their homemade gear — and complaints from the same hikers about their own heavy, unreliable packs — identified a hole in the market for durable, ultralight bags like theirs. Thus, Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear, or CTUG, was born.

Read how Gongos and Ackerman brought their own brand of outdoor gear to life in our 2024 Michigan Tech Magazine.

The College of Computing is pleased to announce that the 2024 Gateway Magazine is now available online.

Gateway 2024 feature stories include:

• Data Science for a Changing Planet
  Computing technologies offer fresh approaches to understand and address the complex environmental challenges posed by climate change. The DataSENSE program is equipping Michigan Tech graduate students with tools to make a difference for our planet.
  
  
• Healthcare Transformed
  Guy Hembroff (AC) and his students are are working to improve lives and transform healthcare through a variety of innovative research projects that aim to enhance mental and physical healthcare.
  
  
• Mechatronics Matters
  Mechatronics provides the engineer with the ability to choose products from a menu of modular components, such as life expectancy, dynamics and load capability. Mark Gauthier ’85 explains why mechatronics matters.
  
  
• 50 Years of Computer Science at Michigan Tech
  From analog computers to artificial intelligence, for 50 years the Michigan Tech Department of Computer Science has been preparing graduates for the digital age. Longtime computer science faculty member Linda Ott shares (almost) 50 years of memories.
  
  
• Powered by Michigan Tech Talent
  These talented Michigan Tech alumni are leading organizations and powering innovation to provide cutting-edge solutions for their clients.
  
  
• CyberHuskies, GenCyber, and CyberCorps
  Today’s youth immerse themselves in technology at a young age, but many hazards accompany those cool smartphone and computer applications. Michigan Tech students are helping them identify and protect themselves from the risks.
  
  
• Esports: Bringing Everything Great about Sports to More People
  With Esports, Michigan Tech is bringing everything great about sports to more people, building on what people love about sports to create something even greater.

Read these stories and more in the College of Computing's 2024 Gateway Magazine.

There are two changes related to the tenure, promotion and reappointment (TPR) process for faculty at Michigan Tech.

1. The Schedule of Administrative Deadlines has a new name, look and revised dates.
2. Faculty will now be required to run their teaching evaluation reports from Watermark.

Schedule of Administrative Deadlines
What is heard most from those reviewing TPR dossiers is that they could use more time. To address this issue, beginning this year (2024-25) the Schedule of Administrative Deadlines has a new name, look and revised dates.

The Tenure, Promotion and Reappointment Review Schedule (previously titled Schedule of Administrative Deadlines) is now organized by the type of review. The biggest change related to the review process is that nonpromotion reviews will now begin earlier in the academic year, and these reviews will be complete before administrators and committees need to review cases related to promotion. First-year faculty reviews will now begin in January.

Teacher Evaluation Report
Faculty will be required to run their Teaching Evaluation Report from Watermark, which is not available to unit assistants or supervisors. This report replaces individual student evaluation reports as well as the manual report provided by the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The Knowledge Base article “Generating a 3yr course evaluation summary report” provides step-by-step instructions for running a report and will be available on respective faculty checklists and with tenure and promotion materials on Human Resources’ website.

From 6-8 p.m. next Thursday (May 9), Michigan Tech IT will be upgrading the PaperCut software. Husky-bw, husky-color and direct print queues will be unavailable for potentially 15 minutes during the upgrade window.

If you have any questions about the upgrade, we can help. Contact us at it-help@mtu.edu or call 906-487-1111.

Please join the Office of Continuous Improvement in congratulating Laurie Stark (VPOL), who successfully completed her Lean Bronze recertification!

The Lean Bronze certification is a global, industry-recognized and respected professional credential which must be renewed every three years. It is offered by the Lean Certification Alliance, comprised of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, Shingo Institute and Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Stark received her initial certification in April 2021. To ensure recipients stay on top of the latest advances, the credential must be recertified every three years. The certification process consists of passing a challenging knowledge test and submitting a comprehensive portfolio. It takes an extended, determined effort to achieve and maintain this certification.

Lean Bronze certification of our Lean practitioners validates the training, knowledge and practical experience of Michigan Tech’s Lean Systems certification, training and development programs.

John Vucetich, Sarah Hoy and Rolf Peterson (all CFRES) were quoted by MLive and the Duluth News Tribune in stories about the results of Michigan Tech’s annual Isle Royale Winter Study — the longest-running predator-prey study in the world. The release of the annual report for the 65th winter study was announced by Michigan Tech News on Tuesday (April 30).

An Associated Press story about the winter study results was picked up by FOX News, Yahoo! News, NewsBreak, the Detroit News, ABC News and more than 130 other outlets.

*****

Michigan Tech students Satya Sai Kumar Pilli, Pavan Krishna Nutakki and Krishna Mokkapati were mentioned by the Daily Mining Gazette in a story about the future of Old Main and the Chapel of St. Matthew — two former Finlandia University buildings purchased by Naturally Michigan Properties. Pilli, Nutakki and Mokkapati are some of the Huskies helping the new owners complete work on Old Main. Mokkapati was quoted in the story.

*****

The Keweenaw Report ran a story about scholarships available to Upper Peninsula students in grades 9-11 to attend Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Programs.

*****

The Keweenaw Report picked up Michigan Tech’s announcement of our 2024 University Professors and Distinguished Professors, published Monday (April 29) in Tech Today.

*****

World Atlas mentioned Michigan Tech in a write-up listing Houghton as one of eight highlighted towns “perfect for retirement in the Great Lakes.”

*****

Awesome Mitten mentioned Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival as an example of winter festivals and events held in the Upper Peninsula.

Essential Education Snack and Learn

Due to the success of our Essential Education Breakfast and Learn, as well as communication that some could not attend because of end-of-semester activities, we are offering a followup Essential Education Snack and Learn Tuesday (May 7) at 1 p.m. in MUB Alumni Lounges B and C.

Our Essential Education Leadership Team will provide a brief presentation highlighting the vision of Michigan Tech's Essential Education program. They will then share best practices for curriculum implementation, while then moving into a collaborative workshop/Q&A format.

Attendees of our first Breakfast and Learn are welcome if they still have questions and thoughts to share with our leadership team. There will be sweet and salty snacks available for all during the event, along with some special door prizes.

Event Details:

• What: Essential Education Snack and Learn
• Where: MUB Alumni Lounges B and C
• When: Tuesday, May 7, at 1 p.m.
• Sign Up: Please sign up to attend.

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

Educational Session: Export Controls and Foreign National Restrictions

Thursday, May 2, 12:00–1:30 p.m. | Memorial Union Building (MUB), Ballroom B

The Office of the Vice President for Research will host an educational session, "Review of Export Controls and Foreign National Restrictions," from noon to 1:30 p.m. on...

Sold Out: West Michigan Alumni Spring Dinner

Thursday, May 2, 6–8 p.m. | Ada, MI - Egypt Valley Country Club

You're invited! Join fellow alumni and friends at the annual West Michigan Alumni Spring Dinner on Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. with this year's honored guest speaker Audra...

GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships

May 2, all day

GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, at Grand Valley State - Allendale, Mich.