CFO Candidates and Open Forum Dates Announced

The University has invited three candidates to interview for the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Senior Vice President for Administration position. Each candidate’s interview will be conducted over two days and will include a presentation of their vision for research at Michigan Tech at an open forum.

The first candidate will interview next Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 14 and 15, with their open forum scheduled at 1 p.m. next Tuesday in Ballroom B of the Memorial Union. The two subsequent candidates will interview on Oct. 21 and 22, and Nov. 4 and 5, respectively. Their open forums are scheduled for Oct. 22 and Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. in Ballroom B of the Memorial Union.

Candidate resumes, cover letters, interview dates and open forum information can be viewed at the Chief Financial Officer Search page. A Michigan Tech login is required to view candidate information.

The search committee encourages the campus community to interact with each candidate during the interviews and to provide feedback by completing the anonymous comment form provided on the candidate webpage. Feedback forms will be posted immediately following each candidate's visit and remain available for 72 hours following the last candidate's visit.

From Houghton to Ecuador: Scholarship Winner Shares Internship Experience

Scholarship winner Quinn Riordan explored Ecuador this summer — and did research and outreach with a nongovernmental agency that works alongside community farmers.

Riordan, a senior applied ecology and environmental science major, won the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service from the Obama Foundation in July 2023. Along with substantial financial aid, the scholarship included a $10,000 stipend and free Airbnb housing to fund a six-week Summer Voyage between her junior and senior years at Tech.

For her voyage, Riordan chose to focus on sustainable agriculture and access to agricultural knowledge. She lived and traveled in Ecuador as an intern for EkoRural, working alongside communities seeking to improve their food production, income generation and community health.

Find out about the goals Riordan set and what she learned on the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science blog.

Upcoming Flu Shot Clinics: A Vital Health Initiative in Collaboration with UP Health

As the fall semester progresses and the temperatures begin to drop, it’s time for the Husky family and community to prioritize their health by taking advantage of the upcoming Fall 2024 Flu Shot Clinics on Michigan Tech's campus.

In a collaborative effort between the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being and UP Health Systems, there are several dates scheduled in October. The clinics represent a crucial opportunity for students, staff and faculty to protect themselves and their peers from the seasonal influenza virus. With college campuses often serving as hubs for the spread of illnesses, ensuring high vaccination rates is essential to maintaining a healthy academic environment.

The Importance of Vaccination
Influenza can have serious consequences, particularly in crowded settings like college campuses where individuals are in close proximity. The flu can lead to severe illness, missed classes and even hospitalizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu-related complications can be especially severe for certain populations, including young adults with underlying health conditions. By getting vaccinated, the Husky community not only safeguards their own health but also contributes to the overall well-being of the campus community. The flu vaccine reduces the risk of infection and helps prevent outbreaks, allowing everyone to focus on their studies and social activities without the interruption of illness.

Clinic Details and Accessibility
The campus flu shot clinics are designed to be convenient and accessible for everyone. No appointments are necessary, making it easy to fit vaccination into a busy schedule. The clinics will be staffed by trained health care professionals who will administer the flu shots and answer any questions students may have about the vaccine. Additionally, for those who may be concerned about the cost, most insurance plans will cover the flu shot, and self-pay is $40. If you plan to use insurance, be sure to bring your insurance card with you. 

Clinic Dates, Locations and Times
To enhance accessibility, the clinics will be held on several days in both the Rozsa Lobby and SDC Blueline Room:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 9 — Rozsa Lobby from 4-6 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 10 — Rozsa Lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 24 — Rozsa Lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 29 — SDC Blueline Room from 4-6 p.m.

The upcoming flu shot clinics are an important health initiative for our campus community. By participating, students, staff and faculty can protect themselves and their friends, helping to ensure a healthier environment for learning and growth. With the potential to mitigate flu outbreaks, the clinic is a proactive step toward maintaining a vibrant and productive academic year.

We urge all students to take advantage of this opportunity — get vaccinated, stay healthy and support one another in creating a safer campus. Your health matters, and together, we can make a difference!

To learn more please visit our Fall 2024 Flu Shot Clinics website.

CISR Early Career/New Research Directions Research Award RFP

The Center for Innovation in Sustainability and Resilience (CISR) is accepting applications for the Sustainable & Resilient Communities Early Career/New Research Directions Award.

These awards are designed to complement start-up packages for early-career faculty or to support established researchers who are pursuing new ideas or topics around sustainability and resilience themes. Funds are provided by the Tech Forward Initiative on Sustainability and Resilience. Award eligibility requires being an affiliate of CISR (open to anyone on campus) and contributing to the CISR research community through future external funding proposal submissions.

Application deadlines are Nov. 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025, but rolling submissions and inquiries are encouraged.

Awards are targeted in the range of $3,000-$5,000. The timing and types of expenditures are flexible, but generally should occur before June 30, 2025, and support student hourly work, obtaining seed data, professional development, and/or pilot/proof-of-concept work, etc., with an emphasis on activities that can contribute to future research proposal development.

In your application, please include the following:

  • A title indicating whether the submission is to be considered for an Early Career or New Directions award.
  • A brief description of your proposed work and how it relates to sustainability and/or resilience. Please include a paragraph that describes how this award will propel future research productivity in sustainability and resilience research.
  • A detailed budget and budget justification, including project start and end date, and details on what additional resources, if any, are being leveraged for the proposed project. These additional resources may include other sources of funding, other data or laboratory needs, etc.

Proposal narratives, budgets and budget justifications should be submitted as a single document via email to Chelsea Schelly at cschelly@mtu.edu. Potential submitters are encouraged to reach out with questions or to pitch ideas before developing a proposal.

CISR looks forward to receiving your inquiries and applications!

Fall 2024 Midterm Grade Submission Opens Today

Midterm grade submission will open at noon today, Oct. 7, and will close at noon next Monday, Oct. 14.

Midterm grades must be submitted for all first-year students and transfer students with fewer than 30 credits. The Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success coordinates outreach to these students based on the midterm grades submitted. This supports timely intervention for students who may be experiencing academic and/or other difficulties.

Electronic Grade Submission
Instructors have two options for electronic grade submission. They may submit grades via Banner Self-Service by going directly into Banweb, entering grades and then clicking submit. Those with larger class sizes where grades have already been totaled in Canvas may submit grades via Canvas by going to CourseTools and using the Grade Wizard to first extract them from Canvas and then submit them to Banner.

If grades are submitted using Banner Self-Service, only the students who require a midterm grade will appear. For those who submit their grades via Canvas, a first-year student column has been added to identify these students in your course grade book.

Satisfactory grades (A-C) should be entered as “SA” and Unsatisfactory grades (CD-F) as “UN”.

Midterm grades are for full-semester courses only. Grades not turned in by the deadline will have an M (missing) grade assigned.

IPEC Membership Social

The Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture (IPEC) is hosting a membership social in Walker 139 on Friday, Oct. 11, from 5-7 p.m.

New, prospective and returning members of IPEC are welcome to join us for an evening of welcoming all back to campus for the fall semester. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow IPEC members, make new connections and discuss your research.

Refreshments will be provided.

This Week's C-Cubed Luncheon Menu

Carved and Crafted Catering at Michigan Technological University invites you to join the C-Cubed Luncheon for the 2024-25 school year. The weekly luncheon is held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge (MUB 107). All faculty and staff, along with their guests, are invited.

Menu for Thursday, Oct. 10:

  • Pork Sandwich (PR)
  • BBQ Tofu “Steak” (PR)
  • Macaroni & Cheese (V) (PR)
  • Garden Pasta Salad (VG) (PR)
  • Coleslaw (V) (AG)
  • Cookie Platter (V)

The C-Cubed lunch buffet menus are created and prepared by Chef Luis Delgado and his culinary team. As the name suggests, the meals are meant to foster conversation, community, and collegiality. Attendees may bring their lunch instead of purchasing the buffet. Fruit-infused water, coffee, tea, and cookies are available free to all attendees. All vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items on the buffet are labeled for easy identification. No takeout service or personal containers are permitted.

The buffet lunch is $15.50 per person. Cash, credit cards, and gift cards are accepted. Gift cards can be purchased in the Memorial Union Office (MUB 101).

You can submit C-Cubed feedback using C-Cubed Survey/Comments form. To join the C-Cubed Luncheon Email List and receive weekly menus, please complete the sign-up form.

This Week at the Rozsa

Hub New Music — Friday, Oct. 11
McArdle Theatre
Rozsa Presenting Series

Called “contemporary chamber trailblazers” by the Boston Globe, Hub New Music is a “nimble quartet of winds and strings” (NPR) forging new paths in 21st century music. A distinct combination of flute, clarinet, violin and cello, the group actively collaborates with today’s most celebrated composers to build a fresh, culturally relevant body of work tailor-made for Hub. 

This intimate concert in McArdle Theatre is coordinated by Libby Meyer (VPA), the mind behind the annual sellout “New Music in the Mine” concerts.

Get Tickets for Hub New Music.

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Sibelius Symphony No. 2 — Saturday, Oct. 12
Performed by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Tech Concert Choir
Rozsa Center
Michigan Tech Music Series

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra performs its first concert of the season, featuring Symphony No. 2 by renowned Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The concert also includes a work by Smetana, and the Michigan Tech Concert Choir will join in a spectacular piece by Brahms. The evening comes together under the baton of Jared Anderson (VPA). 

Get Tickets for Sibelius Symphony No. 2.

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that thing between my teeth is my foot — Open through Nov. 2
Professional Art Exhibition

Rozsa Galleries A-Space
Michigan Tech Art Series

Douglas Degges is presenting two parallel artistic explorations in the Rozsa A-Space Gallery. Since the fall of 2019, Degges has been creating a series of intriguing abstract paintings based on cell phone photos from his family in Louisiana in a group text. This project explores shared visual experiences and affirms the concept of home as immaterial and held within oneself. Alongside these paintings are a series of abstract sculptures that Degges collaborated on with his wonderful canine companion, Cricket. Degges is an active contemporary artist and assistant professor of art in painting and drawing at the University of Connecticut.

This gallery exhibition is free and open to the public.

A-Space Gallery Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Saturday: 1-8 p.m.

Hybrid Physics Colloquium with Anne Marie Porter

Anne Marie Porter of the American Institute of Physics will present virtually at the Physics Colloquium this week. The seminar will be presented virtually while guests meet in person at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, in Fisher 139.

Porter's presentation is titled "Should I stay or should I go? A 5-year study of Persistence in Undergraduate Physics."

Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to attend!

Read Porter's abstract and bio at the University Events Calendar.

Sign Up for Virtual Workshop: 'Finding the Source of the Problem: Root Cause Analysis and Decision Making Tools'

The Office of Continuous Improvement is offering a virtual workshop, "Finding the Source of the Problem: Root Cause Analysis and Decision Making Tools," on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. In this workshop, you’ll practice with several fun tools for exploring the how, what and why of the gap between how things are and how you want them to be, brainstorming possible causes and using decision-making tools to select the most likely root cause to pursue.

To see the workshop description and register, complete the brief Upcoming Michigan Tech Lean Courses form or visit our website. Once registered, we'll add you to a calendar event for the course.

This workshop will be taught virtually using Zoom and Miro. There will be a couple of brief activities to demonstrate application of concepts after the workshop, then you'll receive a certificate. There’s no cost to Michigan Tech employees.

This stand-alone workshop is part of the Lean Basics workshop series. It can be taken independently, or, if you complete all five workshops in the series, we’ll award you a Lean Yellow Belt certificate!

For more information, email improvement@mtu.edu.

Blue Line Club Hosting First Lunch on Friday

The Michigan Tech Blue Line Club is hosting its first luncheon of the season on Friday, Oct. 11, at 11:45 a.m. in the “old” Blue Line Room outside of University Images. The event is open to the public and costs $15 per person.

Tickets need to be purchased by noon on Wednesday, Oct. 9, to guarantee lunch, and can be purchased online, by calling the Central Ticket Office at 906-487-2073, or by visiting the ticket office in person. Payment will not be accepted after Wednesday at noon.

Lunch includes assorted turkey and provolone, ham and swiss sandwiches with chips, cookie and a drink. Michigan Tech head coach Joe Shawhan and Alaska coach Erik Largen will be on hand to talk about the nonconference series. The Huskies and the Nanooks meet at 7:07 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, and at 6:07 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, for their regular season opening series.

Read more about the Blue Line Club at Michigan Tech Athletics.

New Funding

Marianne Semones (GLRC) is the principal investigator (PI) on a project that has received a $1,442,609 other sponsored activities grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project is titled "Partnering to Prepare STEM Master Teachers for Michigan's Middle Schools."

Luke Bowman (GMES/GLRC), Michelle Jarvie-Eggart (EF/GLRC), Gregg Bluth (GLRC) and Stephanie Tubman (GLRC) are co-PIs on this potential six-year project.

On the Road

Stephanie Carpenter (HU) presented at the annual conference of the Communal Studies Association, held in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 4-5.

Carpenter’s paper, “Cult Followings: A Consideration of Streaming Docuseries about Lifestyle ‘Cults,’” examined common formal and thematic elements in the multipart documentaries “Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult,” “Escaping Twin Flames,” and “Dancing for the Devil: Inside the 7M TikTok Cult.” Offering insights about the goals and limitations of the cult docuseries as a genre, Carpenter also gave particular attention to the series’ depictions of sexual abuses within these groups.

In the News

The New York Times quoted Stephen Techtmann (BioSci) and Adjunct Professor Joshua Pearce (MSE) in a story about their DARPA-supported research on converting plastic waste into edible biomass using microbial processes. Pearce and his team are also exploring how this technology could be adapted for long-duration space missions, with the possibility of using asteroid materials as a future food source for astronauts.

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Athletic Business mentioned Ann Bengry and Brian Isaksson (both REC), Joel Isaacson (ATH) and Derek Butkovich (FM) as recipients of Accessibility Awards at the inaugural Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit. All were honored for their work in making Michigan Tech’s facilities more accessible.

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The Association of Public Health Laboratories mentioned Michigan Tech undergraduate student Carmyn Heltunen (medical laboratory science) as one of the recipients of the 2024 APHL-CDC scholarship.

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The Daily Mining Gazette mentioned Todd Hall (ATH) in a story about his recent victory in the Marji Gesick 100-mile race. Hall, an athletic trainer for the Huskies, won the race with a time of 26 hours and 13 minutes.

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DefenseScoop mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about the DARPA ReSource program, which aims to convert military waste into useful products like lubricants and food. Michigan Tech was one of the performer teams involved in the program.

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Lake Superior Magazine mentioned Michigan Tech’s Mont Ripley Ski Area in a story about its fall color tours, which began Friday, Oct. 4. Proceeds from the chairlift rides benefit Mont Ripley’s chairlift improvement projects, the Volunteer Ski Patrol and the Copper Country Snowsports Club.

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The Hockey News mentioned Michigan Tech hockey’s Chase Pietila in a list of the top 100 NCAA players to watch in 2024-25.

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Ohio’s Tribune Chronicle mentioned Michigan Tech in a story about Erin Timms ‘05 (M.S. Industrial Heritage and Archaeology), who has refurbished the historic Calvin Center for the Arts in Youngstown, Ohio, in honor of her late brother’s dream.

Reminders

ChE Seminar Speaker: Thomas Lograsso

Thomas Lograsso will present a Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) seminar titled "Enhancing and Diversify Sources of Critical Materials: Developing Technologies for Mitigating Supply Chain Risks."

The seminar will take place from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11. Attendance is invited in person in Chem Sci 101 or virtually via Zoom. Please note: Chemical Engineering graduate students are required to attend.

Join the ChE Seminar on Zoom.

Lograsso works with the Critical Materials Innovation Hub at Ames National Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when we ask everyone within the Michigan Tech community to get involved by honoring survivors, speaking up against violence and harassing behaviors, and promoting healthy relationships.

Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is a serious and widespread problem. In the United States, one in four women and one in nine men experience contact sexual violence,* physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime and report negative impacts such as injury, fear, concern for safety and needing services (CDC, 2017).

This year, the Title IX office has partnered with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) to host our annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® event tomorrow, Oct. 8, from 1-5 p.m.

See the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® Flyer.

Tomorrow, we will be set up across from CDI. We will walk from CDI to the Administration Building and back for one mile. We are asking that you bring a donation from the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter's wishlist:

  • Clorox/Lysol Wipes
  • Adult Socks (new or gently used — all sizes)
  • Children's and Youth Socks (new or gently used — all sizes)
  • Adult and Children's Slippers
  • Batteries (AA, AAA, 9V)
  • Dish Towels/Dish Cloths
  • Kleenex (unscented)
  • Paper Towels
  • Journals

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Faculty Invited to Participate in 2024 Midyear Commencement Ceremony

The 2024 Midyear Commencement Ceremony will take place on Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the SDC Varsity Gym. Michigan Tech faculty are cordially invited to participate in the faculty procession to support students in their department at the ceremony.

Faculty presence means a great deal to the students and their families. Members of the procession wear regalia, march in the procession and sit as a group to show support for the graduates.

To participate in the ceremony on Dec. 14, please submit the Commencement Ceremony Participation Form by Oct. 18.

Faculty may order caps and gownsthrough the Campus Store’s Cap and Gown Orders page before noon today, Oct. 7, to receive the lowest price. Expedited shipping fees will apply to all orders placed after that date. Orders placed after noon on Nov. 11 are not guaranteed to arrive before the commencement ceremony.

We hope you will join us at Midyear Commencement!

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AAUW Fellowship Application Writing Support

The Graduate School is offering writing support to assist female graduate students who wish to apply for American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Fellowships, International Fellowships, and Selected Professions Fellowships. Funding amounts vary from $8,000-$50,000.

Applications are due Nov. 15.

For details of each AAUW funding opportunity, see the organization's Fellowships & Grants page.

If your department has students who you believe to be eligible for one of these fellowships, please refer them to Sarah Isaacson at sisaacso@mtu.edu.

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EPSSI Seminar with Laura Villafane

An Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute (EPSSI) Seminar will take place today, Oct. 7, at 4 p.m. in M&M U113.

Guest speaker Laura Villafane, assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will talk on "Ejecta Clouds by Plume Impingement on Granular Surfaces, A Challenge of Planetary Landings."

Read Villafane's abstract and bio at the EPSSI's Fall 2024 Seminar Series page.

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CQP Distinguished Lecture Series with Massimo Moraldi

The Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena (CQP) is pleased to announce that Professor Massimo Moraldi, from the University of Florence and Michigan Technological University, will be presenting a series of lectures as part of our Distinguished Lecture Series.

The eight lectures are titled "Physics of Light Interacting with Atoms and Molecules." The second is today, Oct. 7, from 2-3 p.m. in Walker 144. For the remainder of October, lectures will take place twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays:

Read Moraldi's bio at the University Events Calendar.

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Degree Program Assessment Workshop

Assessment coordinators and other interested faculty are invited to the “Mapping Success: A Guide to Undergraduate Program Assessment” workshop hosted by the Assessment Council and the Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness (ACE).

Note: This event is open to all interested faculty. Attendance by degree program assessment coordinators is encouraged but not required.

The workshop is offered twice:

  • Monday, Oct. 14, from 3-4 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 2-3 p.m.

Please register to attend by 5 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 8.

The goal of program assessment is curricular quality: the program’s faculty community establishes a common vision, monitors student achievement of the program’s student learning outcomes to ensure alignment/effectiveness, and makes improvements as needed.

With the launch of Essential Education in fall 2025 with its own outcomes (called Essential Abilities), the focus of degree program assessment will shift from University learning goals to the degree program’s own student learning outcomes.

The workshop supports this shift and provides an overview of items due Dec. 6.

Agenda:

  • Welcome and Introduction
    • Workshop goals
    • Importance of undergraduate program assessment
  • Overview of program assessment 
    • Establishing the program’s student learning outcomes (aka PLOs or SOs)
    • Mapping these outcomes to required curricular elements (aka curriculum mapping)
    • Identifying assessment points and measures
    • Collecting and evaluating learning-outcome data
    • Using data to improve curricular effectiveness
  • Next Steps (Due Dec. 6) — Description of assessment and evaluation process, which includes:
    • List of student outcomes, curriculum map, and 6-year assessment schedule
    • Descriptions of assessment instruments (what is assessed, who does it, rubrics used, performance targets, etc.)
    • Description of the process that is used to evaluate the assessment results (committees that review it, how program improvements are approved and implemented)
    • Note: If assessment findings were not reported for your program in academic year 2023-24, please submit a report for one student learning outcome.

For assistance, please contact Jeannie DeClerck, assessment manager, at jsdecler@mtu.edu or assessment@mtu.edu. Office hours with representatives from the Assessment Council and ACE will be announced for weeks 9-12.

Today's Campus Events

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

that thing between my teeth is my foot Exhibit - Michigan Tech Art

MICHIGAN TECH ART SERIES EVENT Douglas Degges is presenting two parallel artistic explorations in the Rozsa A-Space Gallery. Since the fall of 2019, Degges has been creating...

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Hot Cocoa/Lemonade Handout

Come join us and keep cool or warm (weather dependent) and learn about who Christ is in the Fisher Rock Garden

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Distinguished Lecture Series by Professor Massimo Moraldi

The Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena is pleased to announce that Professor Massimo Moraldi, from the University of Florence and Michigan Tech...

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Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar

Geeta Nain, PhD Student, Atmospheric Sciences, Michigan Technological University Implication of different parametric hurricane wind methods on storm surge over US...

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EPSSI Seminar: Dr. Laura Villafane Roca

This event will be held in M&M U113. Dr. Laura Villafane, Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,...

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Info session, topics in Germany study abroad

Please come to the information session for the 2025 Topics in Germany faculty-led study abroad with Stephanie Rowe. Monday, October 7 from 4:30-5:30, Walker 109. Program fee...

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Python Workshop

A free, in person, python workshop for beginners!

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Parent & Child Aquatics - Session 1

Come make a splash in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Parent & Child Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 6 months to 3 years old. A...

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Preschool Aquatics - Session 1

Come make a splash this in Huskies Group Swim Lessons! American Red Cross Preschool Aquatics levels are being offered at the SDC Pool for ages 4 to 5 years old. Space will...

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CEGE Professional Advisory Board Meeting

The Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Professional Advisory Board (CEGEPAB) meets semiannually on campus to consult on ideas and visions that continue to keep...