Friday, May 2, 2008

Board Approves Wong's Compensation Package

The NMU Board of Trustees this morning approved a new compensation package for President Les Wong. It will go into effect July 1, the date his current contract is set to expire. For a full overview of the action taken at today's meeting, read the Full Story.

Finance and Administration Restructured

The Finance and Administration division will be restructured effective July 1. Four positions will be eliminated, a few new or expanded jobs have been created and some responsibilities will shift to other employees.

The organizational chart will no longer include the following positions: associate vice president for business services and facilities; director of plant operations/facilities; facilities specialist/planner; and assistant director of employment in Human Resources. Full Story

Poindexter Named Michigan Professor of the Year

Sandra Poindexter (Business) is one of three Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award winners, as determined by the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan. She was selected based on her "sustained commitment to creating and infusing innovative teaching strategies and experiential learning opportunities into the classroom." Full Story

Leonard Receives NPS Research Grants

Efforts to restore the coaster brook trout population in Lake Superior are being bolstered by two National Park Service grants totaling $370,000.

The funding will support Jill Leonard’s (Biology) continuing research at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. She is pictured front right working on a previous project near the Hurricane River at Pictured Rocks. Full Story

'Big Green Idea' Winner Announced

A proposed shift to compostable, biodegradable trash bags was the winning “Big Green Idea” submission in a contest sponsored by the AQIP sustainability committee. Andrea Dupras, a junior mechanical engineering technology major from Marquette, received an iPod Touch for her suggestion. She is pictured with Michael Broadway (Geography), committee chair.

Full Story

The winning Presque Longboard entrepreneurs are (from left): Darren Young, Bryan Johnson, Brian Emigh and Ricky Golden.

Business Venture Awards Presented

The inaugural New Business Venture Competition, which drew 31 entries, culminated April 25 with a series of activities for students who submitted the top five written plans. The young entrepreneurs displayed their products or services at a trade fair, delivered a 60-second "elevator pitch" and gave oral presentations before a judging panel comprised of five business representatives. Presque Longboards, which designs and produces custom skateboards, won first place and $4,000. The group also won for best trade fair presentation.

Extreme Boat Works, a repair and restoration business proposed by Chad Lewis, won the second-place prize of $2,500. Project One Design Group, offering graphic design and advertising solutions, secured $1,500 for Richard Diebold, Thomas Gallagaher and Crystal Zrelak. The remaining two proposals were: Northern Eco Systems, a biomass-to-fuel conversion system proposed by Rebecca Miller, who gave the best elevator pitch; and Singing in the Shower Studios, a personal recording studio and party planning business by Jamie Akom and Carla Foster. Cash prizes were provided by Northern Initiatives, Northern Michigan Bank and NMU alumni Ervin Kranberg (’71) and Robert Oles (’75).

'One Book' 2008 Pick Announced Organizers of the “One Book, One Community” program have announced that the 2008 featured selection is The Shadow of the Wind, an international literary bestseller by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Full Story               Heating Plant Shutdown  May 9-11 The Ripley Heating Plant will shut down for maintenance on the boilers and steam distribution system from 6 p.m. Friday, May 9, through Sunday, May 11. Heating, hot water and central air-conditioning will be affected.

Jose Garcia (Admissions) can start a conversation with anyone. “We might not have anything in common, but I don’t find it uncomfortable to just start talking to a stranger,” he said. This is a gift that comes in handy when he’s working on behalf of the university. Garcia is in charge of recruiting prospective NMU students from the Western and Central Upper Peninsula. Full Story