The Regents will meet beginning at 1:30 p.m. May 18 at the Henry Ford Estate, U-M-Dearborn. At the Dearborn campus, agenda items will include a presentation by John Thomas, associate professor of biology, U-M-Dearborn, about involving undergraduates in research, followed by a public comments session at 4 p.m.
The meeting will resume at 9:30 a.m. May 19 in the Regents’ Room, Fleming Administration Bldg., with a special public comments session on tobacco-related stocks. Individuals can sign up for either public comments session by visiting the Web at www.umich.edu/~regents/regents2.html or by sending e-mail to public.comments@umich.edu.
An eight-member committee, formed in September 1999, unanimously recommended in April that the Regents approve a resolution directing Robert Kasdin, executive vice president and chief financial officer, to “sell all of the University’s currently owned shares of stock (and not to purchase any new shares) in companies that, either themselves or through their subsidiaries, manufacture significant quantities of cigarettes or other tobacco products.”
Other agenda items for the two-day meeting include annual faculty promotions and a follow-up discussion of media rights led by James Hilton, special assistant to the provost for media rights.
Register now for Workplace 2000
The 20th annual career development conference, “Workplace 2000,” will be held May 16–18 at the Michigan League. The conference, sponsored by the Offices of Human Resource Development and Conference Management Services, will include workshops, special information technology displays and a Health and Resource Fair with information on child care, elder care, family care, health care, U-M services and volunteer opportunities.
Pre-conference workshops are $59 and the conference is $89, including all lunches and refreshments. Register on the Web at www.cms.housing.umich.edu/workplace/registration.htm or www.umich.edu/~wkplace. For more information, call (734) 764-5305.
Neel memorial service is May 22
A memorial service for James V. Neel, professor emeritus of human genetics and internal medicine, will be held at 9:30 a.m. May 22 in the Rackham Amphitheater. A reception will follow the memorial service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the James V. Neel Fund, which will be used to support an annual fellowship and an annual lectureship in the Department of Human Genetics. Contributions may be sent to: U-M Medical School, Department of Human Genetics, Box 0618, 4708 Medical Science II, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0618.
Marketing Communications has moved
Marketing Communications (MC) has moved from 109 E. Madison St. to 200 Hill St. 3297.
University Faculty/Staff Directories, campus maps and University Profiles can be purchased at the new office; by phone, (734) 764-9270; or through e-mail to mcmail@umich.edu. All contact information for MC consulting and design services remains the same.
State income tax rate is reduced
The Michigan income tax rate is being reduced from 4.3 percent to 4.2 percent, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2000. Payrolls processed after May 1 will reflect the new 4.2 percent rate. The annual exemption amount remains at $2,900 for each personal exemption.
Labs explore P-Card reconciliation
The M-Pathways Project will offer several informal, drop-in P-Card labs in May. The labs are intended to support online P-Card reconcilers who are unsure of the online reconciliation process or who would like expert help as they begin to reconcile transactions. M-Pathways and Accounts Payable P-Card Group members will be available throughout the labs to help participants with the reconciliation process and answer questions. Questions regarding specific unit business practices cannot be addressed at the labs.
Individuals who wish to participate in a P-Card lab should have transactions to complete at the session. Bring receipts, M-Pathways passwords, appropriate Chartfields and the P-Card training manual to the lab.
Workshops will be held on the following days in the Amethyst Room, Administrative Services Bldg.: 9 a.m.–noon May 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 22, 24 and 26; and 1:30–4:30 p.m. May 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 23 and 25.
Waldinger to speak May 10
Thomas Waldinger, physician and U-M alumnus, will present “Wisdom of Life Through My Patients” 8–9 a.m. May 10 in Ford Amphitheater, University Hospital. Waldinger will discuss his book of the same title, which has been one of Oprah Winfrey’s Bookclub selections. A reception follows the free, public program.
Presentations explain paperwork for foreign nationals
Employment Services, Faculty/Staff Records, Payroll and the International Center will give three presentations this month for international visitors, staff, faculty, students, consultants and department administrators. Sessions will be held 8:30–10:30 a.m. May 19 in the East Conference Room, Rackham Bldg.; 8:30–10:30 a.m. May 22 in the East Room, Pierpont Commons; and 2:30–4:30 p.m. May 23 in Suite G18, Wolverine Tower.
Program topics include visas necessary for students, employees and independent consultants; mandatory health insurance coverage; tax treaties; IRS forms; the need for a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN); and the application for an ITIN.
Department administrators who process paperwork necessary for foreign nationals to enter the United States and paperwork to authorize all types of payments are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Cheryl Meszaros, (734) 763-1544 or cherylam@umich.edu.
Plant Building Services is accepting window-washing requests
The Plant Building Services department is accepting window-washing requests from units and departments on a customer-pay basis. Building Services will oversee the project, for which it has a contract with a window cleaning company. All requests must be received by July 30.
If interested in having your building’s windows washed, call the Customer Response Team, (734) 936-1465, or Carie Kloack, (734) 764-5458, to obtain an estimate or to schedule the window cleaning.
May 7–13 is Arson Awareness Week
President Lee C. Bollinger has signed a proclamation designating May 7–13 as Arson Awareness Week on the Ann Arbor campus, urging “all citizens to help support the efforts of the local police and fire departments in preventing arson.” Arson costs were estimated to be $280 million in Michigan last year.
Michigan Alumni Reception is May 23
The annual Michigan Alumni Reception will begin at 4 p.m. May 23 in the Radisson Hotel, Lansing. The reception, open to the University community and alumni from across the state, will include a special session with Reps. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) and Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods) at 4 p.m. President Lee C. Bollinger and Steve Grafton, executive director of the Alumni Association, will give remarks at 5 p.m. All members of the Legislature have been invited to attend.
To make a reservation, call Phyllis Taylor, (734) 763-9752, or Holly Purves, (517) 372-7801.
Clinical trials conference to be broadcast here
The explosion of new technologies, such as gene therapy and xenotransplantation, is prompting major changes in the conduct and nature of certain clinical trials used for product approval. While the potential benefits may be extremely high, the risks may be unknown or very difficult to characterize or communicate.
To address these issues, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Drug Information Association are sponsoring a conference on “Sound Clinical Trial Practices in the Era of Gene Therapy” on May 25. Because of high interest in these issues, the Office of the Vice President for Research has made arrangements for a live satellite broadcast of the conference 1–3:30 p.m. in Room F2305, Auditorium, Maternal and Child Health Center.
The program is intended to educate sponsors, investigators and institutions to ensure the highest possible quality and safety standards. FDA and National Institutes of Health roles and perspectives in basic regulatory requirements, as well as special issues of gene therapy, will be presented. Record-keeping, informed consent, patient issues, adverse events, audits and investigations also will be discussed.
Program details are on the Web at www.diahome.org/meetings/programs/00141pro.htm.
Flint area code overlay delayed
The implementation plan for the 810 area code overlay has been delayed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). On Feb. 5, the Flint area (including the U-M Flint campus) received an additional area code—586. Mandatory dialing of the new area code was scheduled to begin May 6.
The FCC has raised questions about the authority of the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) and the Michigan telecommunications industry to implement relief for the 810 area code. It is anticipated that the FCC will request public comment for the proposed 810/586 overlay plan before approving it.
No delays have been announced for the overlay implementation plans that will affect Ann Arbor and Dearborn:
An area code overlay increases the amount of telephone numbers by assigning an additional area code to the same geographic area. As a result, seven-digit dialing is no longer possible within the affected area. Callers must dial “1” plus the area code plus the seven-digit phone number for all calls.
If you have questions or concerns about the planned overlays, contact ITCom Customer Services of the Information Technology Division, (734) 763-2000.
‘Glass II’ to open May 13
“Glass II,” an all-state, all-media competition featuring works made of glass and pieces investigating the qualities of glass, will be on display May 13–June 26 at the Alfred Berkowitz Gallery, Mardigian Library, U-M-Dearborn.
An opening reception will be held 1–3 p.m. May 13, with an awards presentation at 2 p.m. For more information, call the Library, (313) 593-5400, or the Art Museum Project, (313) 593-5058.
Software Council to meet May 11
The Ann Arbor Software Council will meet at 5:15 p.m. May 11 in Room 18, Wolverine Tower. The increasing role of computer modeling and simulation in commercial and public sector industries will be the topic of the meeting’s program. Several representatives from Ann Arbor high-tech companies and the College of Engineering’s Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization will lead the presentation.
The meeting is $10 for Software Council members, $15 for prospective members and $5 for students. Advance registration on the Web at www.annarborchamber.org is required. For information, contact Martha Johnson, martha@annarborchamber.org or (734) 214-0101.
Art Museum wants your face
The Museum of Art is looking for approximately 40 individuals from the U-M community to be featured in a new video projection by New York video artist Chris Doyle. Doyle will be on campus May 18–19 taping the first 40 people who sign up. Each person’s face will be incorporated into a new video work that contrasts contemporary American faces with faces from early American portraits in the Museum’s collection. The resulting work will be projected onto the north wall of the Museum after dark Sept. 7–11.
The 15–20-minute tapings will be held 9 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m. May 18–19 at the Media Union. Participants must sign a release.
If interested, send e-mail to umma.video@umich.edu as soon as possible. Include your name, e-mail address or phone number and three times you will be available.
Matthaei holds children’s programs today, May 9
The Matthaei Botanical Gardens will hold two programs for children today (May 8) and May 9.
For more information, call (734) 998-7061.
Linux security is topic of IT forum
“Forum 1: Linux Security: Keep It Simple,” sponsored by the Office of Policy Development and Education, will be presented by Jon Leonard, senior systems administrator, School of Information, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. May 10 in Auditorium B, Angell Hall. For system administrators, the forum will teach installation and configuration techniques for the Linux operating system. Participants also will explore available tools and methods for simplifying Linux to achieve secure systems.
The $40 registration fee includes lunch. To register, send an e-mail message with Chartfields numbers to Joyce Ruppert, jartar@umich.edu. For more information, call Paul Millis, (734) 647-4274.
IT Zone offers High-Tech Tuesday programs
The Ann Arbor IT Zone will offer three High-Tech Tuesday programs this month at the Launch Pad, 330 E. Liberty St. The interactive and informative gatherings are geared toward IT professionals. Topics are:
The programs are free for IT Zone members, $25 for non-members and $5 for students. Individuals may register on the Web at www.
annarboritzone.org or pay by cash or check at the door. For more information, send e-mail to mail@annarboritzone.org or call (734) 623-8286.
Dearborn’s CDC hosts summer camps
The U-M-Dearborn Child Development Center (CDC) is offering two summer day-camp programs for children kindergarten–7 years of age. The Camp of the Arts will run weekdays July 10–21 and offer children a chance to experiment with various art media. Children will present a drama production for parents on the last day of camp.
Campus Adventures, a program featuring daily explorations of the Dearborn campus and Henry Ford Estate, will run July 24–Aug. 4. Each child will receive a disposable camera to document adventures and will learn about topics related to field trips, including robotics, computer labs and pond study.
For more information, call the Center, (313) 593-5424.
IT Zone honored by MEDC
The Ann Arbor IT Zone received an award for “Excellence in Economic Development” from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) April 12 at the Michigan Information Technology Summit 2000. The Summit also was sponsored by the Michigan Information Technologies Roundtable and Microsoft Corp.
The IT Zone’s membership includes 125 dot.com companies, software developers, Web designers and architects, as well as Internet service providers and computer network equipment and service providers. The group’s mission is to promote the growth of the technology industry in southeastern Michigan by bringing together entrepreneurs, emerging and established companies, business service providers, and university and community resources. IT Zone collaborators include the University, Washtenaw Development Council, Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, and several local businesses and community leaders.
Program to explore housing choices for senior citizens
The Housing Bureau for Seniors will hold a free program, “Housing Transitions for Seniors: Exploring Your Housing Choices,” 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. May 17 at the Turner Senior Resource Center, Suite C, 2401 Plymouth Road, as part of Senior Housing Awareness Week. More than 20 senior citizen housing sites in the community will hold open houses May 14–21.
The program will include a panel discussion and guest lecture. A panel of senior citizens will discuss the decision to make a housing change, the alternatives they considered and the lessons they learned from their experiences. A question-and-answer session will follow the discussion.
Jack Baker, principal of Blue Hill Development, will address valuing and selling a home in today’s “hot” real estate market, financial and estate planning considerations, and other financial and housing alternatives.
Program spaces are limited; call (734) 998-9339 to reserve a seat. Sponsors include University Commons, Alterra Clare Bridge of Ann Arbor, Chelsea Retirement Community and University Living. Besides assisting people in making affordable and appropriate housing choices, the Housing Bureau for Seniors provides assistance with housing counseling, property tax management, shared housing options and eviction prevention.
May is Better Hearing & Speech Month
Forty-two million American have some type of communication disorder. While the personal cost of the disorders is high, affecting every aspect of daily life, proper treatment can eliminate or minimize the isolating effects of most communication disorders. Many do not know they can be helped. For example, more than half of individuals age 65 and older are likely to have impaired hearing and most can be helped.
Illness or accidental injury can impair your ability to hear, talk and even think. Communication disorders exact an estimated $30 billion each year in lost productivity, special education and medical costs. To protect your speech and hearing, wear a bicycle helmet, fasten your seatbelt and turn down the volume on your headphones. With proper precautions and care, you can minimize or eliminate many problems.
The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology departments in the Health System have comprehensive programs that address a wide range of disorders, including cochlear implant, head and neck cancer, pediatric and adult traumatic brain injury, swallowing disorders, transgender and aphasia rehabilitation.
For more information, call (734) 936-7080 (Speech-Language Pathology) or (734) 936-8013 (Audiology).
Nominations due May 19 for Distinguished Alumni Service Award
The University community is invited to nominate individuals for the Distinguished Alumni Service Award. The award is presented annually to U-M graduates who have distinguished themselves “by reason of services performed on behalf of the University of Michigan, or in connection with its organized alumni activities.” The Alumni Association bestows the award, the highest honor it gives to an alumna/us, at the request of U-M alumnus Spencer Scott, ’22.
Nominations are due May 19. For a nomination form and award criteria, contact Phyllis Taylor, (734) 763-9752 or phtaylor@umich.edu.
African American Senior History Preservation group to meet
A new African American Senior History Preservation group will meet 1:30–3:30 p.m. every other Thursday beginning May 11 at the Turner Senior Resource Center, 2401 Plymouth Road. The group will share memories and experiences related to growing up in a segregated society. The first four group topics are family life, religion and church, health and folk medicine, and land and home ownership. Each session will be videotaped, and copies will be distributed to libraries, schools, the African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County and other groups. All are welcome to participate. For more information, call (734) 764-2556.
Arboretum to host three programs
The Nichols Arboretum will host a Restoration Workday, Mother’s Day walking tour and lecture on environment and health next week. Event times, dates and locations are:
For more information, call (734) 998-9541.
Web site documents civil rights tour
Getting on the bus became a new educational experience for nine U-M undergraduate students and five graduate students on an eight-day odyssey into the deep South.
The 14 members of the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program set out on a journey through Atlanta, Memphis, Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma and everywhere in between to learn about the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Their learning experiences are documented at “Get on the Bus” available on the Web at www.umichstudent.com/getonthebus/index.html.
Students and instructors’ journal entries offer a look into the emotional and intellectual impact of the historic sites, as well as the contemporary remnants of the struggle for civil rights, that the group viewed during the trip.
Cancer Center hosts Oncology Update
Primary care and oncology advanced practice nurses and physician assistants are invited to the Third Annual Oncology Update to be held 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. June 3 in the Towsley Center. Sponsored by the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the session will feature a series of lectures by experts in hematology, oncology, surgery, urology, dermatology, information science, internal medicine and bone marrow transplant.
The event will provide an overview and update of practical issues related to cancer. Registration is required by May 19. To register, call Joyce Robertson, (734) 763-1400 or (800) 800-0666, or send e-mail to OCME@umich.edu.
Engineering offers intensive course
The College of Engineering is sponsoring an intensive two-part summer course for its Accelerated Six Sigma Program. The class will be taught in two one-week sessions—June 26–30 and July 24–28. The program is designed for vice presidents, directors, project managers, design engineers, manufacturing engineers, product design engineers, quality control executives and plant managers.
The program focuses on effective quality analysis; analytical and problem solving techniques; extensive case studies from the practical experience of both instructors and participants; computer software to effectively analyze, present and communicate data; and customer-driven problem resolution. Participants will be required to complete a project demonstrating their knowledge of key course concepts. At the end of the course, students may apply for Six Sigma certification from the U-M by providing a publishable case study that demonstrates the use of Six Sigma concepts toward reducing costs, increasing quality or accelerating lead-time.
Register online at http://cpd.engin.umich.edu, call (734) 647-7200 or send a fax to (734) 647-7182.
Nominations sought for Public Servant of the Year Award
The Public Administration Foundation Inc., an affiliate of the U-M-Dearborn, is seeking nominations for the Michigan Public Servant of the Year Award. All municipal, county, court and state employees, except for elected officials and educators, are eligible for the award. The award recognizes a career public servant for job dedication, accomplishments, job longevity and community service.
The nomination deadline is May 26. Nominations, from individuals not related to the nominee, may be sent to Larry L. Leatherwood, Public Administration Foundation,
U-M-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128; or sent by fax to (313) 593-9961. For nomination forms, call Monique Davis, (313) 436-9135.
Aphasia Conference is June 1–4
Aphasia is a speech or communication disorder resulting from stroke or injury that affects an estimated one million Americans. “Speaking Out—2000,” a conference that addresses issues relevant to survivors and their families and specialists, will be held June 1–4 at the Marriott Conference Center, Ypsilanti. Joseph Chaikin, stage actor and stroke survivor, will deliver a keynote address and dramatic performance June 2.
“Speaking Out,” sponsored by the Communicative Disorders Clinic and the National Aphasia Association, will offer presentations on aphasia management, programs and coping strategies. Topics include “Advocating for Yourself and Those You Care About,” “Functional Neuro-Imaging and Aphasia: Recovery Patterns,” and “Music and Art Therapy.” The conference also features panel discussions, break-out sessions, computer demonstrations, exhibitions, a resource and video library and special performances. Exercise physiologists from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago will conduct a wellness activity and exercise class for attendees and their family members on Friday and Saturday.
Space is limited, so early registration is advised. The conference is $100 per person for survivors and their families and $250 for professionals, including program materials, activities and breakfast and lunch June 2–3. For more information and to register, call the Communicative Disorders Clinic, (734) 764-8440, or visit the Web at www.umich.edu/~comdis.