September
9, 2004
Higher
Ed Bill Goes to Legislature
A
legislative panel approved a deal Wednesday that would restore
1.5 percent of the 5 percent cut from Northern’s state appropriation
through an executive order issued in December.
It
would also allow most of the state’s 15 public universities
to increase tuition and fees by 2.8 percent – the rate of
inflation – and still avoid a significant cut.
The plan
awaits final approval from the legislature and Gov. Jennifer
Granholm.
Full
Story
|
Cherry
Commission Holds Hearing at NMU
Lt. Governor John
Cherry and his Commission on Higher Education and Economic
Growth held the first of its six public hearings scheduled
throughout the state on Tuesday (Sept. 7) at NMU.
About 20 people testified
at the hearing. They included NMU President Les Wong and the
presidents of all Upper Peninsula community colleges and universities;
U.P. business and community leaders; and several K-12 superintendents
and teachers. Full Story
|
New
DNA Sequencer in Use
With
the purchase of a new DNA sequencer, NMU biology students
are being trained on the same equipment used at major genome
centers and throughout the biotechnology industry. Alec
Lindsay (Biology, pictured right) is shown
explaining the equipment to NMU students Jonelle Thompson
and Andy Moriarty.
“This
is a great advancement,” said Neil Cumberlidge (Biology).
“It gives results in two hours. Students can load samples
and at the end of a three-hour lab they can have data in an
electronic format that can be shared through their laptops.
It allows us to get results faster and with greater accuracy.
… We had a very old sequencer that had been donated to the
department, but it was obsolete. It required 48 hours to set
up and run, so we couldn’t use it in classes or labs. There
is only one company that makes DNA sequencers and it no longer
services the older model, so that was an added incentive to
invest in the new version.” Full
Story |
Computer
Network Policy Revised
Based
on a recommendation by the NMU President’s Council, the Computer
Network Acceptable Use Policy, which is a guide to the appropriate
use of network and computing resources, has been updated and
revised. The
policy defines users and addresses issues including privacy,
system integrity, laws, student code and disciplinary actions.
Full Story
New
Faculty Faces at NMU
In
continuing its commitment to academic quality, even in tight
budget times, NMU created 10 new faculty positions for the
2004-05 academic year. Full
Story
|
Roy
is NMU Rep on Kennecott Citizens' Committee
President
Les Wong has asked Mike Roy (Finance and
Administration) to serve on the Kennecott Minerals Company's
Citizens' Advisory Group.
Wong
said that while the university is not advocating for or against
the mining endeavor, it is important that a member of NMU’s
senior administration have access to factual information on
how Kennecott’s Eagle Project may impact Northern’s physical
campus. Full Story
|
Lot
62 May Open Sooner
Parking
Lot 62, between Forest Roberts Theatre and C.B. Hedgcock,
may open next week if the weather continues to cooperate.
That would be about three weeks ahead of the original construction
schedule.
Lot
62 will provide 122 spaces, designated primarily for faculty
and staff. There will also be 16 spaces designated for 30-minute
use by students who need to conduct business at the student
services center offices.
|
President's
Golf Outing Sept. 19
The
24th Annual NMU President’s Golf Outing will be held at 1
p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Wawonowin Country Club near Ishpeming.
All
NMU faculty, staff and retirees are eligible to play. The
cost is $40 per person, and covers golf, dinner, beverages,
awards and prizes. A limited number of golf carts can be rented
for $25.
The
deadline for registration is Wednesday, Sept. 15. For more
information call Russ Tripp at 2075 or Brandon Sager at 1446.
|
An
Eye Near the Storm
One
of the most qualified connections between Northern and the
Florida hurricane saga is former NMU President John Jamrich.
Not only does he reside
in Jacksonville, but Jamrich earned his undergraduate degree
in meteorology from the University of Chicago. He served as
a forecaster for the U.S. Air Force during World War II and
continues to keep close tabs on weather-related developments.
Even
a veteran observer like Jamrich is impressed by this recent
meteorological phenomenon: a devastating three-punch combination
of hurricanes Charley, Frances and the fast-approaching Ivan.
“It is
historic to have three come so close and at that strength,”
said Jamrich, in a phone interview from his home. “You have
the convergence zone located a little north of the equator
at this time of year, plus extensive thunderstorms rolling
off the Sahara Desert and coming on to the Atlantic. These
factors provide the spin for tropical storms that pass through
the Caribbean islands frequently during the summer. You may
see 12 to 14 tropical storms, but for them to develop into
the strength these have and in such close sequential order
is very unusual." Full Story
|
Wong
Reception Sept. 14
The
campus community and general public are invited to a welcome
reception for Les and Phyllis Wong. It will be held from 5-7
p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, in the Peter White Lounge of the University
Center.
The
event is sponsored by Northern Michigan University, NMU Conference
& Catering Services, the Marquette County Ambassadors,
and Lake Superior Community Partnership.
It will include
a light dinner featuring a carving station for roast beef
sandwiches with sauces and a vegetarian alternative. A cash
bar will also be available.
There
will be numerous drawings
for door prizes, including 20 pairs of tickets for a president's-box
view of the Sept. 25 Wildcat football game.
|
|