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UM-Flint Campus News from the Desk of Chancellor Ruth J.
Person
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Greetings in
the New Year!
The year 2011 promises to be an especially busy one for all of us at
UM-Flint. At the top of the list, of course, will be the completion
of both our Strategic Plan and our campus Master Plan for space and land
utilization. We will also begin the planning process related to our
successful capital outlay request to renovate the Murchie Science
Building.
The Higher Learning Commission
will be rolling out a new model for maintaining accreditation in
2012-13. Called the "Pathway Construction Project," this
model proposes to separate the continued accreditation process as
currently carried out through PEAQ into two components: the
Assurance Process and the Improvement Process. This will be our
year to learn more about what we will need to do differently for our next
visit in ten years. Our School of Management will also be preparing
for its upcoming AACSB accreditation visit in 2012.
I expect that our Strategic Plan
will identify new academic areas we need to pursue. In the
meantime, already in the works is a Master's degree in Public
Health. I am very excited about the potential addition of this
program and about the collaborative nature of the program with the Ann
Arbor campus. I hope to be meeting with the new dean of public
health in Ann Arbor very soon to learn more about programs there and
potential for future joint efforts.
Ruth J. Person
Chancellor
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*COMPETE*
I had the
pleasure of serving as chair of the Michigan Road Scholars selection
committee for this year's class. I am pleased to report that four
members of our faculty were selected from a very competitive pool of
applicants. They are: Dauda Abubakar, Stephanie Roach, Rie
Suzuki, and Huey-Ming Tzeng. Congratulations!
Senior Campus
Counselor Tamara McKay successfully defended her dissertation and was
awarded her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Wayne State
University. Jennifer Hogan (Executive Director for University
Relations) was awarded her Masters of Arts and Social Science degree
at our own winter commencement. Congratulations to Tamara and
Jennifer!
I was recently appointed by the Genesee County Board of Commissioners to
a three-year term on the Genesee-Shiawassee Workforce Development
Board. Provost Voland will serve as my alternate.
I'm pleased to
note that our Ice Hockey Club continues to do well, with a 15-4-0 record
so far.
Earlier this
year I nominated Dr. Mary Jo Sekelsky, Vice Chancellor for Student
Affairs, to the Harvard Institute for Educational Management
Program. This program is one of the premier leadership
opportunities for senior officials in higher education. I was
fortunate to be one of the members of the class of 1989 and found this to
be a great experience; I still interact with a substantial number of my IEM
classmates. Mary Jo has been accepted into the program for the 2011
class. Congratulations, Mary Jo!
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*CONVENE*
On January 25,
our next Town Hall will be held to hear about developments related to our
Strategic Planning Process. Specifically, the discussion will
center around strategies and outcomes. Our consultant, Dr. Sal
Rinella, will be with us, as well as an observer from Penson Associates,
Dr. Howard Cohen (Chancellor Emeritus, Purdue University Calumet).
The Chancellor's
Advisory Committee on Budget and Strategic Planning will be hosting its
annual Budget Forum on January 27 for the entire campus community.
After my brief presentation on "Where Does the Money Come From and
Where Does it Go?" we will hear from members of the senior
leadership team about their budget plans and requests.
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*CONNECT*
Together with Hurley Medical Center, our Music Department
sponsors a 2nd Friday Music Series each month at the hospital for staff
and visitors. This effort is a great example of "Curriculum in the
Community," and the results shown below indicate that the program is
very successful (scored on a 1-5 scale, 5 being the highest score).
January 17 is our annual MLK Day of Service. Many
members of our campus community will be spending the day providing
service to a variety of community agencies. Last year I spent
the day touring various locations where UM-Flint folks were serving and I
will probably do the same this year. I will also spend time sorting
books to donate to the Flint Public Library. Last year I donated
over 100 trade paperbacks and hardbacks, thinking they would go to the
Friends book sale. However, they were so current and in such good
condition that the librarian who accepted them said they'd be put into
the library's collection. They were thrilled to have such good
additions to the collection! Also, on MLK Day, a Habitat for
Humanity home in Flint will be dedicated at 5:45 p.m. This home was
renovated as a joint project between our Student Veterans Association and
the men of Kappa Sigma. I'll be joining our two student groups for
the dedication to congratulate them on a job well done!
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On My Calendar
January 5:
Hurley Board Retreat
January 7:
Outstanding Jury Recital
January 10:
Press Conference
January 11:
Executive Officers
Meeting (Ann Arbor)
Dinner with Student Government
January 12:
Meeting with Governor Snyder
January 13:
Hurley Governance Committee
MLK Tribute Dinner
January 17:
MLK Day of Service
Habitat for Humanity Dedication
January 18:
Executive Officers
January 19:
ABWA Tribute to
Mary Jo Sekelsky
January 20:
Regents
President's Dinner
January 24:
Hurley Public Health
January 25:
Town Hall
Executive Officers
January 26:
Hurley Board of Managers
January 27:
CAC/BSP Budget
January 28:
Faculty Recital
Workforce
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*Person(ally) Speaking*
What are the odds that a random
meeting of two Michigan alums at an event would generate a lifetime
connection? In the mid-eighties two young professional women
located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area were seated at the same
table at a University of Michigan alumni event (neither one, by the way,
has any recollection of what the event was or where it was held!).
They struck up a lengthy conversation that led to other meetings over the
years, though mostly they were "holiday card" friends.
Fast forward to 2008. One of the friends (me) moved to Flint.
The other, in California, is a native of Flint and visits family, so now
we actually get together several times a year. This year we got
adventurous and tried to attend a sold-out UM Alumni tailgate and
basketball game. Thanks to my new best friends in the Alumni and
Athletics offices, we spent the day at the events (and met lots of fellow
alums)! A twenty-five year connection based on a random event goes
on. It's the power of the Michigan Difference -- so attend an
alumni event -- you might just gain a lifelong friend. Go figure...
and Go Blue!
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Thank you for reading "BlueNotes!"
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