Facilities for the Future Discussed

The next major renovation on campus – converting Magers Hall from faculty offices back to student housing – was the first of several facilities projects discussed at the Dec. 1 university forum at C.B. Hedgcock. Art Gischia (Purchasing) said bids are due Dec. 9 and construction is scheduled to begin in March. Full Story

Feedback on UC Requested

Faculty, staff and students are invited to complete a survey on the facilities and services of the Don H. Bottum University Center. The information will assess the current operation and offer direction for a five-year plan.

As added incentive, those who register feedback will be eligible to win one of the following prizes: an Apple iPod; a portable DVD player; or one of five $10 Starbucks gift cards. The survey must be completed by Monday, Dec. 6. Full Story

Celebration of Scholarship Honors

Excellence in Teaching Recipients

Ray Ventre (English, left) and Wally Niebauer (CAPS, right) are recipients of the 2005 NMU Excellence in Teaching Award.

They will be recognized at the Celebration of Scholarship Ceremony from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, in the Peter White Lounge of the University Center. Each will receive a plaque and $1,000 check. All faculty are encouraged to attend the celebration. The following 2005 TLC Faculty Award recipients, all from the School of Education, will also be honored at the event: Kathleen Heikkila, Mitchell Klett, Laura Reissner, and N. Suzanne Standerford. Full Story

NMU Begins E-Billing

Northern is no longer sending out paper billing statements, including those for tuition and fees. The bills will be posted electronically and a notice will be sent to student NMU e-mail accounts.

The process will help avoid the problems with returned postal mail when student don't keep their addresses current.

Curriculum Changes Due Jan. 25

The deadline for Academic Senate action on curriculum changes to appear in the 2005-06 Undergraduate Bulletin is Tuesday, Jan. 25.

The date coincides with the first senate meeting of the winter semester.

All changes approved by the Senate after this date will be effective with the 2006-07 Bulletin. Full Story

Piirto Named

Commencement Speaker

Jane Piirto, a 1963 NMU alumna and professor at Ashland University, will be keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18, in the Superior Dome.

Piirto is one of only five Trustees’ Professors in the history of Ashland University. She teaches courses in the Ed. D. leadership program and is the director of talent development education. Full Story

Wildcat Express Card Deadline

The deadline for NMU faculty, staff and students to transition to the new Wildcat Express Card for free is Friday, Dec. 17.

Rita Gordon (Auxiliary Services) said making the change is highly recommended because many old cards, such as the NMU centennial edition, don't work with the new system.

Also, there will be no means of transfering money from the old cash chip to the new card after the deadline date.

Full Story

Sen Receives Gender Development Grant

Most research on gender development has focused on children 3 years of age or older, but theory suggests that awareness of one's own sex and the potential for developing gender stereotypes begins even earlier in life. The challenge has been validating the theory.

Infants and toddlers do not have the same level of verbal understanding or cooperation required in previous studies and recent attempts to establish age-appropriate measures have been thwarted by methodological problems or inconsistent results.

Maya Sen (Psychology) will try to make advances in this emerging area of research. She has received a two-year, $100,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop and pilot-test measures to analyze gender development in 6- to 30-month-old children. Full Story

Faculty and staff are invited to bring a guest and attend NMU’s Campus Holiday Celebration from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, in the Great Lakes Rooms of the University Center. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. The celebration is hosted by President Les Wong, Fred Joyal (Academic Affairs) and Mike Roy (Finance and Administration).

Attendees are encouraged to bring a canned good or toy (unwrapped) for donation to a local food pantry or the Mining Journal Cheer Club.

NMU 'Lights Up' the Holidays

The annual "Lighting up the Holidays" event at NMU will be held on Thursday, Dec. 2, at the University Center.

Hayrides will be offered from 4-8:30 p.m., departing from the UC atrium. Full Story

Wildcats Compete in NCAA Action Tonight

The Wildcat volleyball team advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament for the first time since 1997.

The 'Cats face the University of Minnesota-Duluth at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2. The game will be broadcast live on WNGE-FM 99.5. Fans can also listen online at Wildcat Broadcasts. For a full schedule of the tournament, being held at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., go to Elite Eight.

The women's cross country team captured seventh place at the NCAA Division II National Championships Nov. 22 in Evansville, Ind. It was the squad's fifth consecutive appearance at the national meet and fifth straight top 8 finish.

Poet David Dodd Lee to Give Reading

Nationally recognized poet David Dodd Lee will give a reading at NMU at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in the Huron Room of the University Center.

Nominated nine times for the Pushcart Prize, Lee has taught at writing conferences across the country. His work has appeared in more than 20 sources, including four times in Passages North, a literary magazine for which he once served as an editor.

Lee is the author of four books of poetry.

Full Story