Suggestions sought for display, booklet honoring outstanding alumni

A significant number of UND graduates have achieved recognition within a variety of professions, education, research and development, management and entrepreneurship areas. For many years, we’ve been recognizing these alumni through such programs as the Sioux Awards, the Young Alumni Awards, the Athletic Hall of Fame and honorary degrees. In order to give more visibility to our distinguished alumni, we are embarking on a project whereby a select sample of these outstanding alumni derived mainly from the recipients of the above-mentioned awards and others (although not exclusively so) will be highlighted initially in two ways. (1) We are going to have a gallery of such distinguished alumni on the second floor of Twamley Hall as part of a “dressing up” the building, and (2) We are going to publish from time to time a booklet on distinguished alumni to be made generally available to prospective students and others.

There will be approximately 30 alumni selected to be displayed in Twamley Hall, and we will feature as many as 60 alumni in an initial booklet titled UND’s Distinguished Graduates: Some Notable Examples. In other words, neither this booklet nor the gallery will be a complete listing.

This is to ask you to suggest who from your college (we would like to have alumni from each of our colleges and schools) should be considered and, if possible, to provide us with their addresses so that we can follow up where we need to do so with requests for biographical sketches and/or recent high-quality photographs.

We will be looking for people who have done things in their careers that could serve to inspire others and have in some other impactful way distinguished themselves as UND graduates. Ideally, they could represent a spectrum of ages and graduation dates, as well as fields and professions. Judy Streifel-Reller, administrative intern, is working with me on this project, and we, in consultation with the council of deans, president’s cabinet, and other groups, will select the initial round of alumni to be recognized.

We would like to have your suggestions for inclusion in this program by Tuesday, March 15. Please send your nominations to: Judy Streifel-Reller, Box 7131 or via e-mail to judystreifelreller@mail.und.nodak.edu.
As a third element of this project, we hope to persuade deans and others who have buildings that could use some sprucing up – and who have not yet done so – to consider recognizing alumni from their colleges in buildings on our campus in addition to the display in Twamley Hall.

– Charles Kupchella, president.

UND prepares for 125th anniversary celebration

The University will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its 1883 founding during the 2007-2008 academic year. Initial planning for the celebration is currently under way.

A small advisory committee has been appointed by President Kupchella to determine the general direction and timelines for programming during the 125th anniversary year. A larger, more comprehensive planning structure is being developed during the 2005 spring semester.

The 125th anniversary advisory committee is seeking individuals from the campus and Greater Grand Forks community interested in serving on subcommittees for special event planning, historic preservation, communication/marketing, or finance. Contact the office of ceremonies and special events in the vice president for student and outreach services office at 777-2724 to offer your assistance or for additional information.

– Robert Boyd, vice president for student and outreach services and chair, UND 125th anniversary advisory committee.

Fourth provost candidate focuses on principles, vision

Greg Weisenstein, the fourth and final candidate for the position of vice president for academic affairs and provost, discussed his principles and vision at a public talk Tuesday. He is the dean of education, health and human development at Montana State University, Bozeman.

Weisenstein said that an institutional vision should be collective and owned by those responsible, that he doesn’t accomplish much by himself. “My success is embedded with co-workers,” he said. He believes good ideas emanate from all levels of the organization, and said he’s a good listener. He also believes in participatory government.
His vision for the University follows:

• UND must continue to build an institutional reputation as a student-centered teaching and research university with a commitment to student success. It’s important to invest in students, Weisenstein said, adding that students leave universities because they perceive that no one cares about them. It’s important to be there for students, he believes, and he helped create a student success initiative at Montana State, with people students can “go to” to address issues, including managing educational and lifestyle debt, that will help them stay in school. He helped develop giving programs and endowments that were earmarked for scholarships, and offered academic, personal, emotional, health, and financial support. In order to grow resources, he said, it’s not necessary to decrease the investment in instruction. The two goals are compatible and can reinforce each other. He believes in focusing on student success.
  
  
• The institution should model an appreciation of human diversity sensitive to needs and backgrounds. We need to send a clear message that people will be accepted, they will succeed, and they will enjoy their college experience. For example, Weisenstein said, he’s worked with the American Indian population at Montana State in developing orientation, study skills, support groups, and other initiatives that help them succeed. He believes this is necessary both for students in general and members of minorities.
  
  
• The University should fulfill the unique educational, economic, health, cultural and other quality of life needs of North Dakota and the nation through cutting-edge instructional and research programs. The strategic plan, Weisenstein said, is a good opportunity to assess the needs of the community and state, and build fulfillment of those needs into our programs. Education is both an enabling factor and an economic development engine that can have a huge impact on health and cultural needs. “We bring value to the state, and we must let people know that,” he said. “We do good work backstage. It’s important to step onstage and talk about the returns we generate.” We can’t expect support unless people understand the value a University brings to the community and state.
  
  
• We need to expand collaboration within the institution, across colleague institutions, and with external constituencies that result in mutual benefit and advance the shared goals of UND, Weisenstein said. In an environment with declining resources, it’s important to leverage those resources, both monetary and intellectual, and cooperate with institutions, business, and industry. Aerospace and the Hilton Garden Inn are good examples of that, he said, adding we need to continue to explore and seek partnerships.
  
  
• UND must promote and support excellence in teaching, research, and service, and take a leadership role at state and national levels, he said. The University has a good strategic plan, Weisenstein said, and we need to ask ourselves how to make those goals happen. Expanding research and increasing support for instruction will take money, recognition, and rewards. For example, mini-leaves, research grants, teaching assistance, overload policies, and mini-grants will give incentives to faculty and demonstrate that the University values both teaching and research. We can do both, he said.
  
  
• We must excel in the use of technology as a teaching and learning tool to mitigate the challenges of education and health in rural America, he said. We should offer the benefits of higher education to those who are placebound or cannot come to campus because of family or work. We can reach new student populations through distance delivery. We must do it, or a proprietary institution will.
  
  
• The University must achieve effective communication within the institution and between the institution and its constituencies and friends, Weisenstein said. He believes in shared governance, but for it to work, one must have good horizontal and vertical communication. He advocates allowing ideas to emerge from all levels, and says it’s important that people make knowledgeable decisions that also involve staff. Internal communication is critical, as is external communication. It’s important that people understand what we’ re doing, he said.
  
  
• We must promote our accomplishments and programs so that they’re highly visible to those who benefit from them and those who invest in the University. UND does good work. We must tell our story, Weisenstein said, so people get excited about investing in UND and being at this institution.
  
  
• We must ensure that faculty and staff experience quality work lives to achieve the highest levels of professional success and satisfaction, Weisenstein said. Shared governance, rewarding work through technology, better offices, better classrooms, mini-grants, mini-leaves, all help faculty succeed and generate the time to make things happen.
  
  
• We must expand extramural funding through gifts, grants, contracts and entrepreneurial activities in support of students, quality programs, and new initiatives. Higher education is supported by tuition, the state, contracts (food service, bookstore, housing, etc.), gifts, grants, and entrepreneurial activities, Weisenstein said. And increased gifts can help offset tuition increases. He said they’ve increased annual research expenditures by 300 percent at his institution by providing incentives, assistance (staff can help faculty determine whether to bid on a request for proposals, help outline proposals, edit proposals, and assist with budget and administrative matters), and rewards. Faculty must write the proposal; they have the understanding and passion, but the institution can provide assistance so faculty can write competitive proposals. Weisenstein said UND has great faculty, which is one of the reasons he’s interested in coming here. Rewards, such as a good indirect cost return policy and policies that allow faculty to earn more money for grants, can also increase research monies. Non-extramural research also has value, he added. And contracts and entrepreneurial activities, such as distance learning delivery, can earn money to be reinvested. These activities, he said, are becoming more important and are worthy of investment.
  

He then took questions from the audience, the answers to which are summarized below.

• At his institution, Weisenstein said, the rewards for teaching and research are pretty balanced, and one isn’t valued above the other. Tenure, evaluation, and promotion policies support both. It’s important, he said, that people be able to demonstrate they work equally hard in both areas to avoid jealousy and suspicion. Trust is important.
  
  
• Weisenstein said his career path has been a bit unusual, and he’s worked in a lot of institutions. That’s an advantage, because he’s been able to see how different institutions address a lot of issues, and that broadens his options. In some cases, family concerns dictated moves. Universities are fantastic places, he said, and he wants to be part of that in a leadership position. He’s been at Bozeman for six years and is now interested in moving beyond Montana to the next step in his career.
  
  
• In his job search, Weisenstein said he’s looking for three things: a place he can help an institution succeed, a place he can be successful at doing that, and a place he enjoys and can have fun.
  
  
• It’s a real conundrum when you look at the conflict between increasing both research and enrollment while encouraging growth in continuing education. However, this can create additional resources. The key is an allocation system that returns money and growth to those who produce. If you don’t have incentives and rewards, there is a disincentive to produce, and achieving those goals is more of a struggle. Much of the success of a university depends on how resources are allocated. If you support and reinforce institutional goals, you can succeed. If you don’t, you won’t achieve those goals.
  
  
• Evaluating teaching on student evaluations is limiting, Weisenstein said. We need multiple measures, such as follow-up evaluations, and evaluation of the long-term value of a course. Peer evaluations, advocacy, and follow-up are critical. It’s also important to evaluate the students who come to us and the “product” we produce. We need to look at how much students learned. These are important issues for higher education, Weisenstein said, and those who can demonstrate the success of students will step to the front. UND has an opportunity to do this.

– Jan Orvik, editor, University Letter.

University celebrates Black History Month

The following are events for Black History Month, celebrating the culture and history of a beautiful diaspora. All events are free and open to the public.

Monday, Feb. 28, 3 p.m., Malcolm X Day, showing of Malcolm X: The Movie, Era Bell Thompson Cultural Center, 2800 University Ave.

Monday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., “Malcolm X: The Man, The Legend,” discussion on Malcolm X, Memorial Union River Valley Room.

Sponsors are Black Student Association, multicultural student services, women’s center, multicultural awareness committee, University program council, international programs, ARH programming board.

For more information, contact Farouk Aregbe, 777-4259.

Founders Day honorees named

The 2005 Founders Day banquet will be held Thursday, Feb. 24, in the Memorial Union Ballroom.
Retired and retiring faculty and staff will be honored. They are:

Michael Anderegg, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of English; Patricia Beckman, administrative assistant, Center for Learning and Instructional Technologies; Terry Buraas, equipment operator, dining services; Wilfred Cloutier, line service operator, flight support services, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences; Donald Devos, building services technician, facilities; Kasper Erhardt, security officer, University police; John Erjavec, professor of chemical engineering and department chair; Ronald Guthmiller, carpenter, facilities; Judith Hegg, dining room attendant, dining services; Diane Helgeson, associate professor of family and community nursing; Arthur Hiltner, professor of accountancy; Luverne Holweg, custodian, dining services; Arnold Johnson, assistant professor of electrical engineering and department chair; Linda Larson, assistant professor of pathology; G. Paul Larson, assistant professor of economics; Susan McIntyre, assistant professor of occupational therapy and department chair; Janice Miller, food service worker, dining services; Bernice Nokelby, painter, facilities; Mary Nygord, short order cook, dining services; Loraine Olson, administrative secretary, neuroscience; Evelyn Pede-Fox, telecommunications support specialist, telecommunications; Nancy Poole, clubhouse manager, Ray Richards Golf Course; Michael Powers, fire safety coordinator, safety and environmental health; Connie Strand, circulation supervisor, Harley E. French Library of the Health Sciences; Patricia Swangler, cook, dining services; David Teets, aircraft mechanic, flight support services, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences; James Uhlir, director of auxiliary services and transportation; Darlene Zimney, head nurse, Grand Forks Center for Family Medicine.

Those to be honored for 25 years of service to UND are:

Donald Anderson, laboratory technician, Center for Biomedical Research; Janice Audette, medical laboratory technician, anatomy and cell biology; Michael Beard, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of English; Jeanne Bjerklie, building services technician, facilities; Dawn Botsford, events coordinator, Office of Ceremonies and Special Events; Wanda Cary, administrative assistant, Grand Forks Center for Family Medicine; Mary Chisman, senior information analyst, Scientific Computing Center, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences; Louise Clayton, building services technician, facilities; Robert Czapiewski, maintenance mechanic, physics; Jill Devos, administrative secretary, division of genetics, pediatrics; Eileen Forsberg, administrative secretary, office of the dean, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences; Meralee Giese, administrative assistant, Energy and Environmental Research Center; Cedric Grainger, professor of atmospheric sciences; Nanak Grewal, professor of mechanical engineering; Judith Grinde, accounting/budget specialist, payroll office; Jean Hager, administrative officer, U.S.D.A. Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; Mary Haslerud Opp, director of public speaking and basic interpersonal communication, School of Communication; Susan Hunter, associate professor of practice and role development, College of Nursing; Connie Jones, accounting technician, outreach programs, Division of Continuing Education; Daniel Kasowski, director of flight support services, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences; Linda Kohoutek, admissions and records associate, School of Law; Ralph Koprince, associate professor of languages; Cynthia Kordecki, associate research archaeologist, anthropology; Debbie Krause, research dietitian, U.S.D.A. Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; Mary Grisez Kweit, professor of political science and public administration and department chair; Terri Lang, project coordinator, Center for Rural Health; Wendy Mayer, medical laboratory technician, U.S.D.A. Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; Patricia Moe, administrative secretary, electrical engineering; Eileen Tronnes Nelson, certified legal assistant, central legal research; School of Law; Patricia O’Donnell, pharmacist, student health services; Sheryl O’Donnell, professor of English; Kay Olesen, administrative secretary, office of the dean, School of Engineering and Mines; Loraine Olson, administrative secretary, neuroscience; Maureen Parkin, account technician, campus postal services; Kenneth Polovitz, assistant dean, student services, Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences; Morris Pung, science professional, biology; Dale Ricke, chief engineer; television center; Carol Schiller, dining room attendant, dining services; David Senne, housing maintenance supervisor, facilities; Gail Sullivan, senior database administrator, information technology systems and services; Mary Wavra, clinical laboratory scientist, student health services; David Westerman, technology development operator, Energy and Environmental Research Center; Patricia Willson, administrative clerk, U.S.D.A. Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center.

Connect ‘U’ND info session is Friday

Due to a scheduling conflict in the Lecture Bowl, we will hold our Connect ‘U’ND info session Friday, Feb. 25, from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl.

Agenda: leave accrual and other payroll items. Pat Hanson will demonstrate online PeopleSoft leave reports and cover other payroll items.

– Peggy Lucke, Connect ‘U’ND implementation project co-manager

President Kupchella, Miss North Dakota will appear at benefit concert

Prairie Rose, a local father-daughter trio of Mark Diers (information technology systems and services) and daughters Katy and Hannah, in conjunction with the Empire Arts Center and the Grand Forks Lions Clubs, will host Prairie Music, a concert to raise funds to benefit the Southeast Asia tsunami relief effort. Prairiegrass (a local bluegrass group), as well as special guests President Charles Kupchella and Miss North Dakota Ashley Ford, will lend their talents and support for this event.

The concert will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the Empire Arts Center. Ticket prices are $10 and can be purchased in advance at the Chester Fritz Auditorium Box Office, 777-4090. Tickets will also be available at the Empire the day of the show.

All performers are donating their talents, and except for a nominal cost for the venue, all proceeds will be donated to the Grand Forks Lions Clubs and forwarded to the Lions Club International relief operations in Southeast Asia. The Southeast Asian tsunami is considered to be the largest natural disaster in modern history. The devastation has affected people around the world, and the outpouring of help is a testament to human kindness.
For more information, go to: http://prairiemusic.dyndns.org.

— Mark Diers, Unix administrator, Information Technology Systems and Services.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces to hear arguments at law school

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces is scheduled to hear an oral argument at 11:15 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, during the court’s project outreach visit in the Baker Courtroom of the University of North Dakota School of Law. The public is invited to attend.

The case before the court is U.S. v. Rhodes. Sgt. Rhodes was tried before a general court-martial at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and was found guilty of the use and possession of psilocin and the distribution of ecstasy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces granted review of the petition of Sgt. Rhodes to hear constitutional and evidentiary issues.

The chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces is H.F. “Sparky” Gierke, a 1966 graduate of the UND School of Law. He assumed the duties of chief judge on Oct. 1, 2004, and has served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces since being appointed by President George Bush in 1991. Judges of the Court are appointed to serve terms of 15 years.

Born in Williston, N.D., Chief Judge Gierke earned a bachelor’s degree in 1964 from UND. Following law school, he attended the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s School at the University of Virginia. From 1967 to 1971 he served as a captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the Army. From December 1969 to December 1970, he served as a full-time trial judge in the Republic of Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal for Meritorious Service. Chief Judge Gierke served as a North Dakota Supreme Court Justice from 1984 to 1991.
Chief Judge Gierke presently serves as an adjunct professor of law at George Washington University Law School and Columbus School of Law of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Fla. He also serves on the Appellate Judges Conference’s Committee on Continuing Education.
The other four judges of the five-judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces are:

• Susan J. Crawford, appointed to the Court in 1991 by President George Bush. She served as chief judge from 1999 to 2004. She graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., and from the New England School of Law in Boston.
  
  
• Andrew S. Effron, appointed to the Court in 1996 by President Clinton. He is a graduate of Harvard University, Harvard Law School, and the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s School.
  
  
• James E. Baker, appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces by President Clinton in 2000. He graduated from Yale University in 1982 and Yale Law School in 1990.
  
  
• Charles E. Erdmann, appointed to the Court by President George W. Bush in 2002. He graduated from Montana State University and from the University of Montana Law School.

— School of Law.

PPT seminar set for Friday, Feb. 25

A seminar, “Role of FGF-Receptor in Developing Kidney,” will be presented by Carl M. Bates, assistant professor of pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Columbus Children’s Hospital and the Ohio State University, Friday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. at 5510 School of Medicine. Dr. Bates is invited through the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence Pathophysiology of Neurodegenerative Disease and the pharmacology, physiology and therapeutics department. Everyone is welcome.

– Pharmacology, physiology and therapeutics.

“On Teaching” box lunch session focuses on undergraduate advising

What Makes a Good Undergraduate Advisor?” This will be the topic of the next On Teaching box lunch discussion, scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, in the Badlands Room, Memorial Union.

In this session we’ll hear from Lisa Burger, student academic services, and several faculty and student members of the academic advising committee who have given a lot of thought to this issue. There will also be plenty of time for discussion.

To register and reserve a free box lunch, call Jana Hollands at 777-4998 by noon Monday, Feb. 28.

– Libby Rankin, instructional development.

Leadership workshop series will be held Wednesdays

The spring leadership workshop series will be held Wednesdays at 3 p.m. through March 2. The workshops will be presented in the River Valley Room at the Memorial Union. The schedule follows.

March 2: “Crossing the Bridge of Cultural Fear: Public Speaking for Communicators,” Shelle Michaels, graduate teaching assistant, communication.

All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend any part of the series, and we ask that faculty and staff inform their students of the upcoming presentation. The series is offered free of charge and pre-registration is not necessary.

The series is sponsored by the Memorial Union Center for Student Involvement and Leadership. Call 777-2898 for further information.

– Jenni Glick, project coordinator for leadership development.

One Mic will be held Wednesday nights

One Mic, an open mic night sponsored by multicultural student services and the Native Media Center, is an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to share their music, poetry, trivia, clean jokes and other performances. One Mic is held at the Loading Dock on Wednesday nights, March 2, 9, 30, and April 6 and 13.

– Multicultural student services.

Lecture will focus on death, disease in opera

As part of the medical school dean’s hour lecture series, “Death and Disease in Opera” will be presented by Gerald Gaul, ophthalmologist, North Dakota Eye Clinic, and Tim Rolek, conductor, Grand Forks Symphony, at noon Thursday, March 3, in the Reed T. Keller Auditorium, School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

This presentation will be broadcast at the following sites: SE Campus Room 225, SW Campus Conference Room A, and the NW Campus Office.

For additional information contact the dean’s office at 777-2514.

– School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Agenda announced for March 3 U Senate meeting

The University Senate will meet Thursday, March 3, at 4:05 p.m. in Room 7, Gamble Hall.

AGENDA

1. Announcements.

2. Minutes of the previous meeting and business arising from the minutes.

3. Question period.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

4. Annual report of the student academic standards committee, Nancy Krogh, chair.

5. Annual report of the administrative procedures committee, Nancy Krogh, chair.

6. Annual report of the intellectual poperty committee, Brad Myers, chair.

BUSINESS CALENDAR:

7. Report from the curriculum committee, Charles Moretti, chair.

8. Report from the committee on committees on the slate of candidates for election to Senate committees, Jan Goodwin, chair.

— Nancy Krogh (registrar), secretary, University Senate.

Teleconference will focus on transfer student experience

The University of South Carolina will satellite broadcast a nationwide teleconference on the transfer student experience Thursday, March 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The teleconference will be available at the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl. It will be free of charge; please forward this information to all who might be interested.

The conference will feature nationally known transfer researcher Frankie Santos Laanan, who will lead a panel discussion that will explore the challenges associated with the transfer experience for both transfer students and the institutions that serve them. The panel will provide best practice information that will help untangle the complicated transfer process, and the panel participants will offer strategies to assist students and their institutions in overcoming what is commonly called transfer shock.

— Brian Steenerson, registrar’s office, and Heidi Kippenhan, admissions.

Wind ensemble, band present March 3 concert

The Wind Ensemble and University Band, with James Popejoy, conductor; Robert Brooks, guest conductor; and Melissa Kary, graduate conductor, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in the Chester Fritz Auditorium.

They will perform the music of Gillingham, Mahr, Reed, Saint-Saens, Saucedo, Schuman, Smith, Ticheli, and Tucker.
General admission tickets are $5, students and seniors are $2, families are $10.

– Music.

Dreamweaver Users Group meets March 3

The spring semester meeting of the Dreamweaver Users Group is scheduled for Thursday, March 3, from noon to 1 p.m. in 371 Upson II Hall. Everyone is welcome.

Agenda:

• Meet and greet.
  
• Demonstration on using the synchronize feature of Dreamweaver.
  
• Demonstration on password protecting directories on www.und.edu.
  

Feel free to bring your lunch.

– Doris Bornhoeft, ITSS, 777-3706.

“Dream Team” musicians will play in Grand Forks, present lecture

Grand Forks Pro Musica 2004-2005 presents composer/pianist William Bolcom and actress/mezzo-soprano Joan Morris, Thursday, March 3, 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 5555 S. Washington St., Grand Forks.
Bolcom and Morris will present a free lecture on their collaborative works Friday, March 4, 1 p.m. at the Josephine Campbell Recital Hall in the Hughes Fine Arts Center.

William Bolcom and Joan Morris will appear in concert Thursday, March 3, as the fifth in a series of six Grand Forks Pro Musica concerts this year. The duo, cited as the “Dream Team of American popular song” by the Chicago Sun Times, is known worldwide for their cabaret, vaudeville, ragtime and American popular song styles. Their “Lime Jello Marshmellow Cottage Cheese Surprise,” spoofing church basement suppers is a popular selection from his cabaret songs, which were created for Morris and will be premiered in an orchestral version soon. Bolcom earned the 1988 Pulitzer Prize in Music, and is a major composer in the concert stage, film and theater. Recent premieres of the composer’s works range from the 2004 opera, “A Wedding,” by the Chicago Lyric Opera to two choral works, “May-Day” and “The Rhodora,” based on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poetry. Among other worldwide roles, Joan Morris appeared as Polly in the Guthrie Theater’s production of Bolcom and Darius Milhaud’s commissioned work, “The Beggar’s Opera.” Together, they have recorded 22 albums to date, the first of which is their best-selling “After the Ball – A Treasury of Turn-of-the-Century Popular Songs,” for which Morris received a Grammy nomination. All generations will enjoy their evening of music which ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous.

You are encouraged to purchase or to reserve tickets ahead of time and to carpool. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $5 for students; call 775-5545. All tickets are general seating.

The Grand Forks Pro Musica series is produced by Christopher Anderson to raise awareness and funding for North Dakota’s historic Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. Funding for the series is by ticket sales and private donations. This concert series is made possible by First Presbyterian Church, the artists, and the audience. Your tax-deductible donations to First Presbyterian are welcome to support the Grand Forks Pro Musica series and/or the Aeolian-Skinner project.

– Christopher Anderson, music.

Schoolhouses rock: Faculty lecture examines the North Dakota one-room school

Eight one-room schoolhouses remain in North Dakota. They contain only a handful of students from the first through the eighth grade.

Kathy Gershman, professor of education, will present a view of small schools for the March 8 installment of the Faculty Lecture Series, “Everyone Gets to Sing Solo: Twenty-First Century Perspectives on the One-Room Schoolhouse.” The lecture will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Fred Orth Lecture Bowl, with a 4 p.m. reception beforehand.

“I am interested in understanding what it feels like to get an education with one teacher and a small group of peers of many ages, not very different from the education in the earliest public school in North Dakota,” explained Gershman, who has been researching the topic all year. “Those of us in education always want to understand what works best to get kids to love learning.”

What she learned was a paradox. “Students who come from very small schools are, on one hand, confident self-starters, while on the other hand, quite adept at working resourcefully in a small group. These two attributes, independence and cooperation, are ones any teacher would strive to accomplish in her students, even — or especially — at the college level,” said Gershman, who has taught at the college level for 20 years.

Moreover, Gershman found that the children who attend the one-room schoolhouses are extremely loyal to their schools. She found that their teachers and parents believe they are well prepared for a move to a larger school for the next grade. This preparation would be due to “plentiful individualized attention of their teachers, peer relationships that are marked by helpfulness, full use of up-to-date computers, and access to various after-school sports or music opportunities.”

In addition, the community and students don’t want to see these small schools swallowed up by a larger system. They feel that the schools are affecting the students in the best way academically and personally. They believe, why make a change if things are going so well?

On the board of directors for the Kennedy Center National Committee for the Performing Arts, Gershman raises funds and oversees the education outreach of the Washington, D.C., organization. She is also a member of the Empire Arts Center fundraising committee and on the board of directors of the North Dakota Arts Alliance.

Public meeting will discuss storm water

The Federal Clean Water Act established storm water requirements to control the direct discharge of pollutants into waters of the state.

Under delegation from EPA and the NDSDH, the City of Grand Forks, University of North Dakota and Grand Forks County have been given responsibility for regulating the discharge of storm water from their jurisdictions to the Red River and the English Coulee, which flow through the City of Grand Forks.

This notice has been issued to meet the requirement to inform the public about the upcoming meeting so that they may provide comments on the storm water pollution prevention plans. Specific questions on any aspect of the city, the county or the University storm water pollution prevention plan may be directed to the contacts listed below.
The public meeting will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at the City Council Chambers, Grand Forks City Hall, 255 N. Fourth St.

For further information about the city plan, contact Wayne Lembke at 746-2644; for the county plan, contact Carole McMahon at 780-8412; and for the University plan, contact Paul Clark at 777-3005.

– Facilities.

Anthropology Club hosts film series

The Anthropology Club will host a film series at 7 p.m. in the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl. All films are free to the public and the University community.

Films and dates for the club’s Global Visions Film Series follow:

Tuesday, March 8, Quest for Fire; Tuesday, March 22, Lila; Tuesday, April 5, What the Bleep Do We Know?; Tuesday, April 19, Carandiru; Tuesday, May 3, The Story of the Weeping Camel.

– Marcia Mikulak, anthropology.

Enjoy International Nights each Thursday

The International Center hosts international nights on Thursdays at 7 p.m. The March 10 program will feature Liberia. Please join us. – International programs, 777-6438.

U2 lists workshops

Below are U2 workshops for March 14-24. Visit our web site for additional workshops in March, April and May. Reserve your seat by registering with U2 by phone, 777-2128; e-mail, U2@mail.und.nodak.edu; or online, www.conted.und.edu/U2/. Please include workshop title and date, name, department, position, box number, phone number, e-mail address, and how you first learned of the workshop. Thank you for registering in advance; it helps us plan for materials and number of seats.

• PowerPoint XP, Beginning (tentative offering): March 14, 16, and 18, 9 a.m. to noon, 361 Upson II (nine hours total). Create presentations, add graphics and objects to slides, add tables and charts to slides, prepare a presentation, sort slides, add slide transitions, and animate text. Presenter: Maria Saucedo.
  
• Excel XP, Beginning: March 15 and 17, 9 a.m. to noon, 361 Upson II (six hours total). Introduces Excel basics, edit worksheets, perform calculations, format worksheets, work with multiple worksheets, create and modify charts, set display and print options. Presenter: Maria Saucedo
  
• Preparing for the Unthinkable: Bioterrorism, WMDs and Disease Catastrophes: March 17, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Conference Room, Auxiliary Services. The word emergency has transitioned greatly since the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on “9-11.” In addition to severe weather, natural disasters, fire, and disease, Americans are now forced to prepare for even more risks . . . collectively known as terrorism. Terrorism can vary from verbal or written threats to attacks using weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). This seminar will discuss terrorism, the possible consequences of terrorist acts, and planning as a community to prevent such problems. Presenter: Jason Uhlir.
  
• Excel XP, Intermediate: March 21 and 23, 9 a.m. to noon, 361 Upson II (six hours total). Prerequisite: Excel Beginning. Work with templates, filter and sort data, import and export data, work with advanced formulas, analyze and share data. Presenter: Maria Saucedo.
  
• HTML, Creating a Web Page Using HTML: March 22 and 24, 1:30 to 4 p.m., 361 Upson II (five hours total). Learn how to create a web page with Hyper-Text Markup Language, graphics, and links. Presenter: Doris Bornhoeft.
  
• Defensive Driving: March 24, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 211 Skalicky Tech Incubator. This workshop is required by state fleet for all UND employees who drive state vehicles on a regular (monthly) basis, received a traffic violation, or had an accident while operating a state vehicle. Employees are encouraged to bring a family member. This workshop may also reduce your North Dakota insurance premiums and could possibly remove points from your driving record. Presenter: Officer Tom Brockling.

— Julie Sturges, U2 program assistant.

American Indian research forum will be April 7

The third annual American Indian Research Forum will be held Thursday, April 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the River Valley Room, Memorial Union.

The theme of the 2005 daylong seminar is “Enhancing the Health of Northern Plains Indians,” and will feature local and regional leaders and researchers active in this area of work.

The research forum provides an opportunity for researchers and others involved in Native American health to network and forge new collaborations and partnerships. Participants will discuss research priorities, identify culturally appropriate community-based methods, and share research results.

This year’s event will include poster presentations by students and other researchers. Posters will have a 4’x 6’ area for display. Titles and brief (100-word) abstracts should be submitted to Leander McDonald, Center for Rural Health, Box 9037, Grand Forks, ND 58202 by March 25. For additional information or inquiries about the poster presentations, please call McDonald at 777-3720.

This event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the USDA-ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center and co-sponsored by the School of Medicine and Health Sciences Center for Rural Health. For additional information about the research forum, please contact me.

— Brenda Ling, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, 795-8300.

R&D Showcase will be April 22 at Alerus

R&D Showcase IV, “The Next Step: Commercializing Science,” is set for Friday, April 22, at the Alerus Center. See www.conted.und.edu/rdshowcase for information.

Hosted by UND, this is your opportunity to:

• Discover how the research conducted by our universities can develop into business opportunities and commercial success for North Dakota.
  
• Learn how the Red River Valley Research Corridor can position itself to be a world-class technology park that will stimulate the economy of North Dakota and the surrounding region.
  
• Benefit from the experience of national experts who have helped researchers capitalize on their intellectual property and turn it into business opportunities.
  
• Enhance your knowledge of biotechnology as well as significant research developments in the areas of aerospace, computational science, energy, engineering, materials science, microelectronics, and polymers and coatings.

There is no cost to attend the R&D Showcase IV. A complete registration brochure will be mailed in early March. If you would like to join the R&D mailing list, please e-mail conferences@mail.und.nodak.edu (subject line: R&D mailing list).

The R&D Showcase IV is a great opportunity to promote your organization and share how your products and services enhance research and economic development in the Northern Great Plains. By becoming a sponsor of the R&D Showcase, your organization will receive valuable exposure to over 400 leaders in education, research, business and government. Visit www.conted.und.edu/rdshowcase for details on how you can sponsor the R&D Showcase IV.

The showcase is sponsored and planned by Fargo-Cass County Economic Development Corporation, Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation, North Dakota Department of Commerce, North Dakota EPSCoR, North Dakota State University, North Dakota University System, Red River Valley Research Corridor, and UND.
For more information, contact conference services at 777-2663, e-mail: conferences@mail.und.nodak.edu, or visit www.conted.und.edu/rdshowcase for more information.

Please forward this information to your colleagues. We hope to see you at the Alerus Center on April 22.

– Jennifer Raymond, coordinator, conference services.

Graduate student helps discover new binary near-Earth asteroid

Vishnu Reddy, a master’s student in space studies, has determined that a recently discovered near-Earth asteroid (NEA), 2005 AB, is a binary object that is actually composed of two asteroids. This is the 23rd discovery of a binary NEA out of the 3,167 currently known NEAs.

Reddy, remotely using a 26-inch telescope and imaging camera at the Badlands Observatory in South Dakota, measured the reflected light from the asteroids from Feb. 1-8, 2005, to determine the rotation period of the primary asteroid, which is 3.337 hours. Observations to confirm this discovery were made by observers at the Ondrejov Observatory in the Czech Republic.

The derived light curve also shows that the secondary asteroid orbits the primary every 17.9 hours. Binary asteroids are relatively recent discoveries and may provide crucial new insights into these asteroids and their dynamical and collisional evolution. Binary asteroids are also important from an impact hazard point of view: if a binary asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, new strategies must be developed to attempt to divert two objects instead of one. It has been estimated that as many as ~20 percent of the NEA population may include binaries.

Reddy is also an experienced asteroid hunter who has discovered 17 asteroids. He is currently finishing his master’s thesis, which involves near-infrared spectral observations and interpretations of two olivine-rich asteroids, 246 Asporina and 446 Aeternitas. He will present these results at the 36th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Houston during the week of March 12.

– Atmospheric sciences.

Library presents display on Native American Education and the U.S.

In conjunction with the Grand Forks community’s second annual Exploring the American Indian Experience, staff at the Chester Fritz Library have prepared an exhibit, Native American Education and the United States. The display explores the history of efforts by white European settlers, religious missionaries, and later the United States government to force Native Americans to learn in schools not of their choosing. Since the first Indian school was established in 1568 in North America by Jesuit priests in Havana, Fla., Native Americans have suffered many indignities at the hands of priests, missionaries, government officials, and other educators. Hundreds of treaties signed over the course of the 19th century incorporated some manner of funding for Indian education and other efforts to “civilize” and “Christianize” peoples who already had complex societies and religious beliefs of their own. Reports exposing the many deficiencies of American educational policies toward Native Americans would be written, read, praised, and eventually forgotten. Only recently, since the 1960s and a general awakening of civil rights awareness, has an era of self-determination and local control pervaded Native American education.

Part of this exhibit explores attitudes of white educators and educational reformers toward Native Americans during various historical eras. Other cases cover Native American music in education, and the colonial, federal, and self-determination periods of Native American higher education.

The display cases are located on the second floor of the Chester Fritz Library to the right of the entrance gates, and additional cases will be found by the entrance to the Reading Room. The exhibit is available for viewing during regular building hours. Materials for the display were assembled by library staff Felecia Clifton, Victor Lieberman, and Janet Rex. All materials are from the collections of the Chester Fritz Library and the Gordon Erickson Music Branch Library.

– Wilbur Stolt, director, Chester Fritz Library.

Unsatisfactory progress forms due March 11

Unsatisfactory progress report forms are due in the registrar’s office at noon Friday, March 11. Please adhere to the following procedures to assure that accurate and adequate information is transmitted to students.

1. The departmental office picks up forms Wednesday morning, March 2, and transmits them to teaching faculty through routine procedures.

2. Faculty complete a form for each class section.
NOTE: Forms for all sections are to be completed and returned. If no students are deficient, the blank sheet must be signed and returned. It is considered verification that the instructor considers no students to be deficient at this time.

3. If the form includes names of students who have never attended class, mark them as failing. This information should initiate action by the student to correct any error in registration prior to the last day to drop (Friday, April 1).

4. If a student is attending a class and the name is not listed on the deficiency form, it is an indication that the student’s registration is in error. The student should not be allowed to continue attending the class, but should be directed to the Office of the Registrar to correct the problem.

5. The unsatisfactory progress report forms are to be completed by all faculty members and returned to the registrar’s office no later than noon Friday, March 11. Adherence to this schedule is essential since computer processing is done over the weekend. Reports not received in our office by noon March 11 will not be accepted, and it will become the responsibility of the faculty member to contact the deficient students. Unsatisfactory progress reports will be mailed to the students during the week beginning March 14.

6. Do not send through the mail. Please return forms directly to the registrar’s office, 201 Twamley Hall.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please call our office at 777-2712.

– Ray Pospisil, assistant registrar.

Student technology fee proposals sought

The student technology fee committee is calling for proposals for fall 2005 technology fee dollars.

The committee will make recommendations on proposals based on the following: student benefit, innovation, impact on the curriculum and/or research, how the project addresses your unit’s strategic plan, dean’s ranking, number of students served, disciplines served, level of support, access for equipment, technical support, matching funds from the department/unit, and technology available for redeployment.

Please note: All proposals must be submitted using the fall 2005 (061) STF request form.
Forms may be accessed at: www.und.edu/org/stf/forms.html or you may request one via e-mail from Kim Pastir at kimberleypastir@mail.und.nodak.edu. Departments/units should submit the proposals to their deans or directors for review and prioritization. Units which answer directly to vice presidents should submit proposals to them for review and prioritization. Vice presidents, deans and directors may have earlier deadlines.

The deadline to submit proposals to the student technology committee at Box 9021 is Friday, March 18.

Proposal writers must consult with the various support offices on campus for costs associated with installation of equipment, accessibility issues, security concerns and adaptive technology. Unless departments are prepared to pay for these out of their own budgets, proposal writers should obtain estimates and include them as a part of the budget for the proposal. In addition, proposal writers must consult with disability support services regarding adaptive technology needed for the proposal and with the Center for Instructional and Learning Technologies regarding the equipment requested for compatibility, installation issues, and ensuing issues.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the proposal process, please contact Kim at 777-3231.

– Student technology fee committee.

Proposals sought for Reflecting on Teaching colloquium

Proposals are now being accepted for the second biennial all-campus colloquium, Reflecting on Teaching. Sponsored by the Office of Instructional Development and the Bush Foundation, the colloquium is designed to bring UND faculty together to share scholarly approaches to teaching. We particularly invite proposals on classroom research, course and curriculum design, innovative teaching techniques, assessment of student learning, and philosophical issues related to teaching.

Sessions will be 50 minutes and 75 minutes in length. We welcome proposals for entire sessions, but you may also propose a 20-minute individual presentation that can be combined with one or two others. If there is enough interest, we will also hold a poster session/resource fair where individuals may display posters or materials related to teaching and/or course design.

Proposals submitted by Wednesday, March 9, will receive first consideration. They should include:

1. Cover sheet: Please list presenter name(s), position, department, campus phone and e-mail, proposed title of presentation, proposed session format (individual/group presentation, poster session etc.), and time requested (20 min, 50 min., 75 min.).

2. Proposal (one or two paragraphs): Please describe what you would like to do in this session. In addition to the content of the presentation, describe what you want to accomplish and how you intend to use your time. Priority will be given to presentations that model best practices in teaching by having clear objectives and engaging the audience.

Decisions on proposals will be made in April. If your proposal is accepted, we will be back in touch then to ask for preferred times and A/V equipment needs.

Questions? Contact Instructional Development Director Libby Rankin (777-4233) or any of the Bush staff members: Jim Antes, Joan Hawthorne, Anne Kelsch, Ken Ruit, and Dianne Stam (administrative intern).

Program offers midterm feedback on teaching

If you are thinking that it would be useful to receive midterm feedback from students in one of your classes, now is the time to arrange for an SGID (Small Group Instructional Diagnosis). The SGID process, facilitated by a trained faculty colleague, is a method of generating student perceptions about how their learning is progressing in your course. Since it is conducted by an outsider to your class, students are free to be direct, but since it is normally done around midterm, you receive the feedback at a time in the semester when there is still ample opportunity for you to consider any changes that might improve student learning. The SGID process is flexible enough to be used with both large and small classes, and yields information likely to be useful to both beginning and experienced faculty.

For more information about the SGID process, contact Joan Hawthorne at 777-6381 or joan_hawthorne@und.nodak.edu. If you would like to request an SGID, contact Jana Hollands at 777-4998 or jana_hollands@und.nodak.edu.

— Joan Hawthorne, University writing program.

Business, registrar’s offices open at 9 a.m. daily

The business and registrar’s offices will be closed from 8 to 9 a.m. through Aug. 12 in preparation for PeopleSoft implementation. The offices will be open for business from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (tellers 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Monday through Friday. We appreciate your understanding and patience as our staff prepares to go live this summer.

– Nancy Krogh, University registrar, and Ginny Sobolik, business office.

Nominations sought for Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors

Nominations are sought for Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors. Included below are the criteria and procedures for nomination and selection. Nomination packets are due in the respective dean’s office by Tuesday, March 1. Nominators must be a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, full professor, or department chair. For a list of current and former Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors, visit www.und.edu/dept/our/cfdp.

Criteria

• Demonstrated achievement across research, teaching, and service with significant national or regional recognition in any one of these missions.
  
• Significant professional contributions throughout his/her career. However, the basis for selection of Chester Fritz Professors will be heavily weighted toward one’s accomplishments at UND.
  
• Recognition by University of North Dakota colleagues as a faculty member who has made a valuable contribution to the quality of UND’s academic programs.
  
• Full-time member of the faculty, which includes all ranked teaching and research personnel. Department chairs are eligible if they are full-time members of the faculty. (Full-time administrators, e.g., vice-presidents and deans, are not eligible).

Nomination process

The nomination packet should contain sufficient information for the committee to evaluate the nominee.

1. The nominator(s) must submit a nomination letter. Nominator(s) must be a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, full professor, or department chair.

2. College deans must second all nominations in writing.

3. Letters of support from other faculty are encouraged.

4. A current curriculum vitae of the nominee must accompany the nomination.

— Martha Potvin, interim vice president for academic affairs and provost.

Undergraduate summer research oppertunnity available

The North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (ND EPSCoR) Advanced Undergraduate Research Award (AURA) program is an important and successful means for increasing the number of undergraduate students in research. AURA activities give undergraduate students an opportunity opportunity to directly experience academic research and to learn about graduate school at a point during their studies when they need to make critical decisions about their future careers.

It is expected that AURA students become contributing members of their research groups and be mentored into research careers. It is also expected that AURA students will apply for at least one nationally competitive undergraduate scholarship, such as the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program.

Applications musts be received by noon Friday, March 11, in the ND EPSCoR office, Box 7093, 415 Twamley Hall.

Application forms are available from ND EPSCoR’s web page at www.ndepscor.nodak.edu/soar.htm.

For more information, please contact me at 777-2492 or RichardSchultz@mail.und.nodak.edu.

— Richard Schultz, ND EPSCoR.