Wildcat Innovation Funds Awarded

The second round of Wildcat Innovation Fund awards have been announced by Provost Susan Koch (Academic Affairs). The program was established to provide one-time financial support for new faculty and staff initiatives that target four strategic areas of the "Road Map to 2015": recruitment, retention, revenue generation and quality improvement. Each of the following three projects received $25,000:

▪"Asia Initiative," submitted by Z.Z. Lehmberg (English), Marcelo Siles and John Mallo (International Programs). The project aims to increase NMU's international student population by at least 15 percent, with a special focus on Chinese students, whose current population at NMU is zero. The project also will help NMU establish or affirm collaborative relationships with Chinese universities and schools to foster faculty and student exchanges.

▪"Course Technology Innovation Project," submitted by Eric Smith (Broadcast and AV Services) and Matthew Smock (Academic Information Services). The goal is to increase the innovative use of technology in NMU courses by providing faculty with resources, incentives and a community environment. A 20-member faculty cohort will participate in an intensive, year-long instructional technology professional development program that directly impacts courses they teach during the 2010-11 school year. They will also share what they learn with their colleagues.

▪"Extension of NMU's Freshman Fellow Program for Undergraduate Research," submitted by Michael Broadway (Geography and director of the Honors Program), Mitchell Klett and Judith Puncochar (Education). The program would foster continued research growth of freshman research fellows beyond their first year and create research opportunities for all interested freshmen and sophomores. Undergraduate award receipients would present their research at the Uniting Neighbors in the Experience of Diversity (UNITED) Conference and have it archived on the UNITED Web site.