Survey reveals UM faculty more civic-minded than peers

UM faculty are more civic-minded and involved in their community than those at UM's peer institutions, according to the results of a recent national survey of university and college faculty.

According to the Higher Education Research Institute Faculty Survey, 68 percent of UM's faculty spend at least one hour each week engaging in community or public service, compared with 50 percent of faculty at other public institutions in the country. Additionally, 52.3 percent of UM faculty responded that instilling a commitment to community service in their students is "essential/very important," compared with 39.4 percent at peer institutions.

"UM faculty demonstrate time and again their commitment to educating engaged citizens of local and global communities," said Arlene Walker-Andrews, UM associate provost for undergraduate education and policy. "And they exhibit their dedication through their interactions with students and outreach to communities throughout the state, nation and world."

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Employees donate nearly $110,000 to local nonprofits

The 2011-12 Charitable Giving Campaign at UM raised $109,714 for local nonprofit organizations.

"This is truly an impressive accomplishment by UM faculty and staff in a challenging economic environment," said James McKusick, dean of the Davidson Honors College and chair of the 2011-12 campaign.

Although the total number of donors was down from previous years, the average amount of each donation increased from $187 last year to $231. Several departments, offices and academic units increased their total giving this year.

For the first time the Charitable Giving Campaign implemented a secure online giving system. More than 93 percent of the total campaign donations were submitted using the online system.

Lecture to examine current scientific knowledge on AIDS

An internationally recognized researcher known for his contributions in human and animal genetics, evolutionary biology, AIDS and other fields will deliver the next installment of the President's Lecture Series at UM.

Stephen J. O'Brien will present "Three Decades of Genomics and AIDS: Tiptoe Towards a Solution" at 8 p.m. Monday, March 5, in the University Theatre. O'Brien, who founded and currently heads the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute, will discuss the state of scientific knowledge on the disease.

O'Brien also will give a seminar, "A Moving Landscape of Comparative Genomics in Mammals," earlier that day from 3:10 to 4:30 p.m. in Gallagher Business Building Room 123. O'Brien's seminar will be held in collaboration with the UM Philosophy Forum and the Montana Ecology of Infectious Diseases program. Both events are free and open to the public.

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Men Can Stop Rape to facilitate workshops, training

Representatives from Men Can Stop Rape, a national organization aimed at preventing men's violence against women, will be at The University of Montana on Thursday and Friday, March 1 and 2, to facilitate workshops and training sessions.

UM's Division of Student Affairs is bringing the group to campus in an effort to combat issues discovered through a University investigation on alleged sexual assaults on and off campus. A report on the investigation is online at http://www.umt.edu/president/.

For a complete schedule of events, read the full news release.

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Pharmacy program accredited for maximum period

The national Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education has granted the Skaggs School of Pharmacy's Doctor of Pharmacy program at UM accreditation for the next eight years, the maximum term allowed.

ACPE cited the progress the school has made since its last accreditation review, including the use of interviews as part of the admissions process. The accreditation report also commended the school for developing a policy that could lead to a model for teaching professionalism, its innovative Integrated Studies course and for being ranked in the top 12 pharmacy programs nationally for research funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The accreditation site visit team also was impressed with the collegiality and positive attitude of the faculty and cited the Skaggs Building facilities as a strength. As a concern, the team noted faculty and staff salaries are well below the national average for pharmacy schools.

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Online learning conference open for registration

The fourth annual Extended Learning Institute will be held Thursday and Friday, March 8-9, at UM. Registration costs $60 and is now available online.

The two-day event titled "New Visions of Learning in a Networked World" is designed to spark dialogue and share best practices and new ideas for those who teach online or support online students. The event is open to anyone interested in online learning at higher education institutions.

Ray Schroeder will deliver the conference keynote address at 8 a.m., Friday, March 9. Schroeder is the associate vice chancellor for online learning and founding director of the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service at the University of Illinois-Springfield.

The conference is sponsored by UMOnline, UM's School of Extended & Lifelong Learning and the Montana University System.

Environmental policy lecture rescheduled

A noted conservationist specializing in aquatic ecology, the Endangered Species Act, river management and research coordination will present the first installment of the spring semester Natural Resources and Environmental Policy Forum at UM.

Yvette Converse with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will deliver "The Great Northern Landscape Conservation Cooperative: A Collective Vision for our Landscape" at noon Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the Law Building Castles Center. Converse originally was scheduled to give her lecture Feb. 14 but had to postpone due to illness.

Converse coordinates the cooperative initiative, which brings together various agencies and organizations to develop conservation planning for sage/steppe ecosystems, high elevation mountain habitats, diverse wetland ecosystems and important river basins, including the Upper Missouri River.

President seeks improved Foresters' Ball

Started as the Lumberjacks' Dance in 1916, the Foresters' Ball has a long and storied tradition at UM. The event raises money for student scholarships and showcases programs in UM's College of Forestry and Conservation.

The event also has been a magnet for excessive drinking, and President Royce Engstrom said that must change for the University to continue hosting the event.

In a Feb. 21 letter to forestry college Dean James Burchfield, Engstrom said he will permit the Foresters' Ball next year if substantial changes are made to the event.

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Bitterroot College Program creates new advisory council

Officials with the Bitterroot College Program of UM recently launched a new BCP Advisory Council. The new 12-member council replaces the steering committee that guided the college program's early development.

The council held its first meeting Feb. 22 in Hamilton. The council is a public board and welcomes members of the public to observe and participate in its meetings.

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Survey: Montanans more positive about economy

Montana's consumers were significantly more upbeat about the economy than their counterparts elsewhere in the country at the close of last year, according to a poll conducted by UM's Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

BBER Director Patrick Barkey reports the most recent Montana Poll Index of Consumer Sentiment from December 2011 was 106.6, up from 100.8 in December 2010. The Montana index peaked at 132.5 in December 2007.

In contrast, the University of Michigan's nationwide Index of Consumer Sentiment suggests that U.S. consumers have become increasingly downcast. The U.S. index was 69.9 in December 2011, down from 70.6 in December 2010.

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UC hosts Diversity Film Series in March

The University Center at UM will debut the Diversity Film Series with a showing of "Wal-Mart: The High Price of a Low Cost" at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in UC Rooms 326-327.

Sponsored by the Women and Gender Studies program and the Student Involvement Network, the series will show films the first three Thursdays in March. Each film starts at 6 p.m. The series is free and open to the public.

On March 8, "Miss Representation" shows in the UC Theater, and "Laskar Pelangi" plays on March 15 in UC Rooms 330 and 331.

After each film an educational forum will address topics in the film such as economic power, treatment of employees, how media portray women and socioeconomic status.

More information is available by calling 406-243-5622 or emailing sean.jeffrey@mso.umt.edu.

Student Affairs seeks immersion program applicants

The Division of Student Affairs at UM will accept applications beginning Tuesday, Feb. 28, for a student-employment program that allows individuals to explore career opportunities in various Student Affairs departments.

The Student Affairs Immersion Learning program, or SAIL, gives successful applicants the opportunity to spend autumn semester in four-week rotations in each of three selected Student Affairs departments to gain knowledge of specific programs, services and operations. During spring semester SAIL interns will spend 16 weeks in one selected department. Interns are awarded in-state tuition waivers and are paid $10 per hour for working 15 to 20 hours a week.

For more information or to apply, visit the SAIL website, call program coordinator Byron Drake at 406-243-4139 or email byron.drake@umontana.edu.

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UM hosts Academic WorldQuest competition

Nearly 60 teams of high school students from around the state are heading to UM to compete at the World Affairs Council of Montana's eighth annual Academic WorldQuest competition on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

This year's event marks the largest Academic WorldQuest competition in council history, and the third largest in the nation.

The competition tests students' knowledge of international affairs, geography, history, culture and more. Four-person teams have prepared for several months to answer questions from 10 categories, including U.S. energy policy, U.S. economic competitiveness and the Middle East. Each school will bring its best and brightest students to UM to compete.

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Campus community invited to Chill Out event in UC

The University Center at UM will host a variety of groups and organizations that provide stress-relieving tips and methods at the Chill Out event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in the UC Atrium.

Curry Health Center will offer biofeedback and light therapy. TRiO Student Support Services will provide information about time management and study tips. A student group will give crafting lessons. Participants can play games on a Wii to get moving, and napping areas will be available. Tea and snacks will be provided.

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Museum celebrates new exhibits with reception, lectures

The Montana Museum of Art & Culture will host an opening reception for two new exhibitions from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 2, in the Performing Arts and Radio/TV Center Lobby at UM.

The exhibitions, "Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib: Black Hole/Whiteout" and "Curiosity: Selections from the Permanent Collection," will be on display through May 21. The exhibitions are free and open to the public.

"Black Hole/Whiteout" features two immersive video installations by collaborators Hironaka and Suib. The MMAC exhibition marks the first time the pieces, conceived as counterpoints, will be shown together. 

"Curiosity: Selections from the Permanent Collection" features seldom-seen aspects of the vast treasury of the MMAC Permanent Collection, which numbers nearly 11,000 objects. 

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New exhibits open at campus galleries

The University Center Gallery at UM will display works by local artist and illustrator Courtney Blazon in an exhibition titled "My Street Has Strange Houses."

The collection of multimedia, two- and three-dimensional pieces is on display through March 23. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in the UC Gallery, with an artist talk starting at 5:30 p.m. Read more

Two UM School of Art MFA thesis exhibitions, "Giving the Ghost" and "Suspension of Belief," will be on display Feb. 28-March 16 in the Gallery of Visual Arts.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1. All events and exhibitions are free and open to the public. Read more

Theatre & Dance presents 'The Cherry Orchard'

The UM School of Theatre & Dance will present "The Cherry Orchard" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28-March 3 and March 6-10 in the Masquer Theatre.

"The Cherry Orchard," the final full-length play written by Anton Chekhov, tells the story of the impoverished Ranevskaya family that is unable to face their beloved estate being auctioned off. A local merchant presents numerous options to save it, including cutting down the prized cherry orchard. The tragic comedy charts the abrupt descent of a wealthy Russian family and, with a fresh adaptation by another master of the stage, creates a bold meditation on social change.

To show appreciation for their long-standing commitment and service to UM, President Engstrom and the School of Theatre & Dance will provide faculty and staff one free ticket to "The Cherry Orchard." In addition, a second ticket for each performance may be purchased for $9.

Faculty and staff can present their Griz Cards at the UMArts Box Office in the PAR/TV Center to redeem their free ticket. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour prior to performances.

ING consultant available for financial planning

A representative with ING (403b plan) will be on campus each Wednesday in March to assist faculty and staff with personalized options for financial planning.

Appointments are required for sessions, which will be held in University Center Room 215. Call 542-3148 to make an appointment.

President Engstrom's office hours

President Engstrom welcomes members of the campus community to meet with him to discuss issues and topics of their choice. Call 243-2311 or email prestalk@umontana.edu to make an appointment to meet with President Engstrom during these times.

President Engstrom's scheduled office hours for spring semester are:

• Thursday, March 15: 1-3 p.m.
• Friday, April 27: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 30: 2-4 p.m.