Employee Recognition Day slated for April 20

UM has designated Friday, April 20, UM Employee Recognition Day to show appreciation to all employees and to celebrate the impressive contributions they make to the success of the University.

UM Employee Recognition Day will be celebrated throughout campus and will conclude with a reception for all employees from 3 to 5 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. Members of the UM Pep Band will kick off the event with a performance, and a group of UM students will drum and perform a Native American Jingle Dress Dance.

The reception will include hors d'oeuvres, faculty and staff awards, prize drawings and celebration of "Griz family -- living connected." 

Assistant professor earns prestigious grant

UM Assistant Professor Mike Rosulek recently received the National Science Foundation's most prestigious award for junior faculty.

The Faculty Early Career Development award, also known as a CAREER grant, is given annually to junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research.

CAREER grant awards generally range from $400,000 to $1 million. Rosulek will receive $492,588 over five years, which will support his research in secure multiparty computation, a branch of cryptography.

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Researchers receive conservationist award

Two researchers at UM's Flathead Lake Biological Station have received one of the state's highest honors for their work in conservation.

The Montana Environmental Information Center honored research Professor Jack Stanford and research Assistant Professor Bonnie Ellis with its 2012 Conservationist of the Year award at a recent ceremony.

Jim Jensen, MEIC executive director, said the award is the highest recognition of lifetime achievement in environmental conservation in Montana. It was first awarded posthumously to former lawmaker and conservation pioneer Lee Metcalf. Other recipients include K. Ross Toole and Arnold Bolle.

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UM offers sessions on reporting sexual assault

Lucy France, UM's Title IX coordinator, will facilitate two training sessions to inform all employees about the University's requirements to address any known sexual violence against UM students and report sexual assaults to the Title IX coordinator.

Sessions will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, April 16, and from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, in the University Center Theater. All employees are strongly encouraged to attend one of the sessions. 

Departments seeking individualized training sessions can call France at 406-243-5710.

Kyi-Yo event celebrates Native heritage, lifestyle

The public is invited to enjoy the unique talents of some of the best Native American dancers and drum groups in North America at the 44th annual Kyi-Yo Celebration on Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, at UM's Adams Center.

The theme of this year's celebration is "Empowerment through Education." It recognizes the strength and perseverance of Native people and culture, as well as the commitment of Native American students who have embarked on the path to embrace education and strengthen their families and communities.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Friday, with a Grand Entry at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Saturday, with Grand Entries at 1 and 7 p.m.

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Celebrate Earth Week with UM, community events

UM invites the public to participate in annual Earth Week activities through Sunday, April 22, on campus and around the community.

Events kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14, with the 20th annual Run for the Trees 5K walk and run. The race, sponsored by Missoula Parks and Recreation, starts and ends at McCormick Park, and all participants receive a T-shirt and a free tree seedling to plant. Race entry costs $20 for ages 12 and younger and $25 for teens and adults.

Earth Week activities also will include Earth Service Day and the Ecopentathalon on Saturday, April 21. Service opportunities start at 9 a.m. and include river cleanup, prairie restoration on Mount Sentinel, sorting recyclables on campus and helping prepare UM's food gardens for another growing season.

Those willing to help at several events are encouraged to take part in the Ecopentathalon, in which they participate in at least four activities and ride a bike to and from each one. Participants who complete the challenge will be eligible for prizes.

A complete schedule and event details are available online.

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UM hosts conference on central, southwest Asia

The 10th Annual Central and Southwest Asia Conference at UM will be held Wednesday through Friday, April 18-20. All events are free and open to the public.

The conference will be held in the University Center Theater. The following keynote sessions will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. each day:

• Wednesday, April 18: "Unwinnable Wars, Wasted Billions: A Solution to Afghanistan?" Presenter: Edward Girardet, journalist, writer and producer.  

• Thursday, April 19: "Central Asia in Transition: Will Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan Go Through Their Own 'Central Asia Spring'?" Presenters: Jeff Renz, UM law professor; Anvar Askarov, visiting scholar from Kyrgyzstan; and Erica Marat, George Washington University.   

• Friday, April 20: "A Chinese Future for Central Asia?" Presenter: John Fox, U.S. Army War College international relations professor and U.S. State Department foreign service officer. Montana Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger will give opening remarks.

A complete schedule is available online.

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Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival returns April 27-28

The UM School of Music will host the 32nd annual Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival Friday and Saturday, April 27-28.

For more than a decade, the festival has been named for celebrated clarinetist DeFranco, who has visited Missoula each year to collaborate with the UM jazz program and world-class jazz artists. Unfortunately, due to health concerns, DeFranco will not be able to play with this year's featured artists and students, but he may still attend the festival.

The festival's clinics provide educational opportunities for hundreds of aspiring jazz musicians, and the concerts inspire thousands of audience members. This year's featured artists are Bob Sheppard on saxophone and Ignacio Berroa on drums. All festival events will take place in the University Theatre.

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International journalist to speak on taking risks

An international photographer and filmmaker who has worked for CNN, The New York Times, PBS Frontline/World and UNICEF will bring his insights about taking risks, exploring the globe and connecting internationally to UM for the School of Journalism's 2012 Dean Stone Lecture.

Thomas Nybo, who has worked in more than 70 countries and now is based in Atlanta and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, will present "Danger Lessons: How Embracing Risk Can Lead to Job Security and Personal Fulfillment." The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, in Gallagher Business Building 106. It is free and open to the public.

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Event to raise awareness of sexual violence

UM's Student Assault Resource Center will host its fifth annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes event from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, on the Oval. The focus of this year's event is to empower everyone to be an engaged bystander, as well as continue to support ending sexual assault and relationship violence.

During the march, men and women will show their commitment by walking a mile around the Oval in fun and funky shoes. Participants are encouraged to bring any kind of shoes they wouldn't normally wear, such as flippers or high heels.

The walk also is open to the public, as well as UM students, staff and faculty. Prizes will be awarded for the best walks, best shoes and most enthusiasm.

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New Crown of the Continent e-magazine available

The 57-page winter 2012 issue of the Crown of the Continent e-magazine has been released and can be found online.

Articles in this issue include "Memories of 'The Bob,'" "The Rocky Mountain Front: A Profile" and "Frank F. Liebig: Ranger." Tony Bynum also provides a stunning montage of landscape and wildlife photography.

The region called the Crown of the Continent encompasses Glacier National Park and spans the Continental Divide from the Elk River headwaters and Crowsnest Pass in Canada to Rogers Pass and the Blackfoot River drainage in Montana.

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University hosts educators' career fair

UM will provide teaching candidates with a career fair to network with regional, national and international school districts on Sunday and Monday, April 22-23.

Teacher candidate registration begins at 12 p.m. in the Phyllis J. Washington Education Center. Teacher candidates then can attend Montana school district information sessions until 5 p.m. At 5 p.m., the Welcome & Strategy Session will go over what to expect at the career fair and will include a school administrator and teacher candidate during a mock interview.

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Group workshop for students to foster leaders

The University Center at UM will host a group workshop titled "Transitions" on Tuesday, April 17, designed to teach outgoing student group leaders goal-setting strategies and how to pass down a legacy and vision to incoming leaders.

Both current and incoming leaders are encouraged to attend the workshop, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. in UC Room 326. The event is free, and registration is not required.

The workshop will include a presentation on how to effectively transfer leadership and group vision at the end of the year. The workshop will give leaders the opportunity to learn how to create binders to guide next year's leaders and members and ensure continued group success.

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Program focuses on neighborhood relationships

The Associated Students of UM recently awarded the ASUM Off-Campus Renter Center with funding for a new Neighborhood Ambassador program.

The program encourages relationships between student renters and permanent homeowners in a portion of the University District. The program includes roughly 39 blocks located between Woodworth and Daly avenues, east of Ronald Avenue. 

The program received support from ASUM, the Missoula Police Department's Quality of Life Officer Dustin Delridge, Missoula Mayor John Engen and many University District homeowners.   

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UC to host Spring Art Fair this week

UM's University Center will host the annual Spring Art Fair Thursday through Saturday, April 19-21, on the first floor of the UC. The event is free and open to the public.

Vendors at the fair will sell unique, handcrafted art from local and regional artists, including jewelry, photography, clothing, ceramics and more. The fair also will feature live music and door prizes. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

More information is available online or by calling 406-243-5622.

Top ceramic artist to give lecture, demonstration

Tip Toland, one of the nation's foremost figurative ceramic sculptors, will present a lecture about her work on Tuesday, April 17, and demonstrate her techniques on Wednesday, April 18, at UM.

Her Tuesday lecture kicks off at 6:10 p.m. in Social Science Building Room 356. Her Wednesday demonstration runs from noon to 5 p.m. in the ceramics studio of the Art Annex, located on the south side of the Adams Center. Both events are free and open to the public.

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Enjoy original works during 'Poetry-For-Lunch'

UM students will read their original works during "Poetry-For-Lunch" from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Lobby. The event is free and open to the public.

Students whose creative works were accepted for publication in The Oval, UM's undergraduate literary magazine, or who are enrolled in Professor Joanna Klink's Advanced Poetry Class will present. The reading coincides with the launch of the 2012 issue of The Oval, which will be available for purchase at the event.

The Mansfield Library and UM Department of English will sponsor the event, which celebrates National Poetry Month.

Enter to win tickets to Five Valleys Land Trust event

Five Valleys Land Trust will celebrate its 40th anniversary at its annual banquet and auction at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in the University Center Ballroom at UM. The event will feature dinner, live and silent auctions, and live music by local favorite Tom Catmull.

Tickets are $45 before April 23 and $50 after. Funds directly benefit the organization's on-the-ground conservation projects in the Missoula area and throughout western Montana. Tickets can be purchased by calling 406-549-0755, emailing ana@fvlt.org or online.

All UM students, faculty and staff who become Five Valleys Land Trust members between now and Sunday, May 6, will be entered into a raffle to receive two free tickets to the banquet.

HRS hosts info session on benefits changes

Human Resource Services at UM will host several informational sessions on changes being made to employee benefits, effective July 1.

Most sessions will be held in the University Center Theater, and a complete schedule is available online.

All insurance-eligible employees should have received online and hard copies of Annual Benefits Election materials by this week. Online benefits election will start Monday, April 30, and end Wednesday, May 23. Signed signature pages are due to HRS in Lommasson Center Room 252 by 5 p.m. Friday, June 1.

Sign up for Spring WellCheck at UM

Spring WellCheck health screenings will be held from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday through Friday, May 30-June 1, in University Center Room 330. It is open to all insured UM faculty, staff and retirees, plus their insured spouses and children ages 18 and older.

Registration for the blood draw is available online. First-time users will need to create an account and enter company code MUS2012, then follow the on-screen instructions. Separate accounts must be created for insured spouses and adult children. 

Call 866-932-6467 or email info@itstartswithme.com for registration assistance. Do not call Human Resource Services.

Staff Senate raffle continues this week

UM's Staff Senate will continue selling tickets for its spring raffle this week.

Tickets cost $1 each or $5 for six and can be purchased from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, April 16-19, in the Lommasson Center.

Those entered will have a chance to win a sports, romance or family fun package, with prizes that include a whitewater rafting trip, a liquid nitrogen birthday party from spectrUM, and a great dinner and date options for a romantic night out.

The raffle drawing will be held the morning of Friday, April 20. Proceeds will help the Senate sponsor recognition events for UM staff.

Call Judy Wellert at 406-243-5542 for more information.

Find 'UM News and Events' on Facebook

University Relations has launched a "UM News and Events" page on Facebook, allowing users to receive official UM news releases, photographs, videos and other useful information via the social media site. University Relations hopes you will like and share this new resource, which can be found online.

Help improve ForUM, win prizes

University Relations has created a short survey to gather feedback to help improve UM's employee newsletter. The survey can be found online, and survey takers will be entered into a drawing to win Griz prizes from UR.

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 406-243-2311 or email prestalk@umontana.edu to make an appointment.

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

• Friday, April 27: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, May 30: 2-4 p.m.