Each year as we enter the summer season, I get questions from the public about what goes on at the university – “Do you work in the summer?” “Does the university stay open?” “Do you get the whole summer off?” These questions are probably left over from a time when some colleges did, in fact, close for the summer. The people asking the questions do not intend to be critical, just curious! 
 
In fact, summer is a busy time for campus employees, whether or not they are physically present. Although some faculty elect to teach summer school, others spend the summer conducting research – often in the field or at distant locations where research information might be found. They also spend time developing and preparing to teach new classes and revise others that will be offered in the fall – no small task with a curriculum that is ever-changing.
 
A number of important conferences take place each summer for senior university administrators – for chief academic and fiscal officers, human resources officers, library directors, and presidents and chancellors of regional public universities, to name but a few. Our Board of Regents meets twice in the summer, and President Coleman holds an annual retreat for senior staff in July.
 
Summer is also the time when we complete special projects that cannot be undertaken during the academic year – either because there are no large blocks of time available or because the completion of certain projects would inconvenience users. This summer we have an extensive list! This list includes upgrades to Northbank elevators, relocating some ITS offices and EHS to Northbank, replacing the UCEN roof, upgrading the men’s locker room in the Rec Center, and completing the Theater box office. On the “sustainability” list are projects such as the central energy plant’s boiler upgrade and upgrading our campus irrigation system so that it won’t operate while it’s raining! We expect the Flint River Trail to be restored this summer and the satellite dish to be removed. Most exciting will be the major renovations to the Kiva and Happenings Room in the University Center. I guarantee that you will not recognize the new Kiva after it is transformed! All in all, these and many other campus projects too numerous to list will keep our facilities and grounds staff busy throughout the summer.
 
Because we have new degree programs ready to roll out in the fall, our academic units will be preparing for these new programs this summer. Our Strategic Planning Steering Committee and others will be working diligently to revise and edit the draft plan so that it will be ready for acceptance in the fall. Likewise, we will continue the work of updating our campus Master Plan, and the MSB renovation committee will continue its work in order to meet a very short deadline.
 
These are only a few of the many projects that will be undertaken in the three short months of summer. Through the season, of course, we will have two sessions of summer school taking place, with enrollments increasing over last year. Several groups will host conferences on campus and we will have a large number of visitors who are part of our orientation program for entering students. 
 
All in all, our collective “to do” list is long, so it will be a busy summer. The pace may be different in this season, but if we can accomplish our goals, we will see some significant differences as we start the fall semester 2011.  Enjoy the season and the progress!

Ruth J. Person
Chancellor

Compete

Earlier this month, we hosted a visiting team from the Higher Learning Commission for the review of our upcoming new degree program, Doctor of Anesthesia Practice. While the visit went very well, we will not know the official outcome for some time. The team visitors (both of whom I know from former HLC teams I’ve served on) were very complimentary about our campus – always good to hear!

Convene

Sharing a special moment with “Super Volunteer,” Heather Nassar

On June 9, we convened our very first Alumni Volunteer Recognition event with a picnic at Ross House. About 50-60 of our wonderful volunteers who do so much for us to assist with commencement, staff events, serve on the board of directors or committees, and recruit students gathered so that we could recognize their service. Our chair of the Alumni Society Board, Clarence Jennings, had this to say:  "I am extending my thanks to you for hosting the Alumni Recognition last evening. Dr. Person, you opened the doors to your home and truly made me and the alumni feel at home.

Ever since your arrival at the Flint Campus, the support extended by you and your staff has allowed for more engagement with the alumni in our community. The work that we do as ambassadors for the University of Michigan-Flint has been made easier with your leadership. Again, I say thank you."

We could not accomplish all that we do without this group, and we are always looking for more volunteers! Contact Brent Nickola at 810-424-5448 if you would like to volunteer, and be sure to join us on August 19 for our signature alumni event, “Go Blue on the Bricks!”

Connect

Sharing a moment of fun with members of Theta Chi

On June 8, some of our staff had the opportunity to connect with one another at the annual Staff Recognition Dinner. Staff who were recognized represented 230 years of service! Included in this group was one 30-year veteran – Karen Arnould. We could not succeed without this support from our long-time staff.  Congratulations to all!   Dr. Mary Jo Sekelsky and I had a chance to connect with the brothers of Theta Chi and view the on-going improvements to their house on June 24.

On My Calendar