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ForUM
Aug. 23, 2010 | Vol. 39, No. 1 
   
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Recent UM Publications

 

Welcome to ForUM, the e-newsletter for University of Montana staff, faculty and administrators. ForUM is published weekly during the academic year except during scheduled academic breaks.



 Events Set to Begin 2010-11 Academic Year
 

UM President George M. Dennison will outline UM's institutional priorities for the upcoming academic year Friday, Aug. 27, during the annual State of the University address.

The public is invited to the 10 a.m. event, which takes place in the Montana Theatre of UM's Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. Refreshments will be available starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Montana Theatre foyer.

During the event, new UM faculty members and administrators will be introduced, and faculty members who have earned promotions and tenure during the past year will be recognized.

A live video stream of President Dennison's State of the University address will be available on the UM home page.

In addition, Provost Royce Engstrom, President Dennison and UM faculty and staff will welcome students to the new academic year during the Academic Convocation, which begins at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, in the Adams Center.

The first day of autumn semester classes is Monday, Aug. 30.

UM Home Page 

 UM Researchers Discover Global Shift
 

Earth has done an ecological about-face: Plant growth that once flourished under warming temperatures and a lengthened growing season is now declining -- struck by the stress of drought.

UM researchers Maosheng Zhao and Steve Running discovered the global shift during a routine analysis of NASA satellite data. The 10-year decline is slight -- just 1 percent -- but the shift could impact food security, biofuels and the carbon cycle.

"We see this as a bit of a surprise, as well as potentially significant on a policy level because previous interpretations suggested that global warming might actually help plant growth," Running said.

The team published their findings Aug. 20 in Science.

Read the Full Release 

 Summer Enrollment Hits Historic High
 

UM broke its all-time summer semester record enrollment with 4,177 students registered this year. Student numbers jumped 522 from last year's summer enrollment of 3,655.

The University also set a new record for full-time equivalent students, which hit 1,426 this summer. An FTE represents 15 undergraduate or 12 graduate semester credits.

Of the 4,177 students registered for summer semester, 3,683 were enrolled at the University's mountain campus and 494 at UM's College of Technology.

 

 UM Makes List of Best Colleges
 

UM once again is ranked as one of the top four-year colleges and universities in North America by The Princeton Review.

The 2011 edition, "The Best 373 Colleges," was released Aug. 3. The rankings are based on surveys of more than 122,000 undergraduate students. The 80-question survey asks students to rate their school on several topics and report their campus experiences. Top schools, such as UM, receive a two-page profile with student comments. Only about 15 percent of the nation's four-year colleges and two Canadian colleges made the list.

"Inclusion once again among the 373 best colleges listed by The Princeton Review indicates that the University has sustained its programs and services despite the economic conditions," said UM President George M. Dennison. "We value this listing because it reflects the opinions of students, and as such serves as a beacon to attract other outstanding students to the campus."

The Princeton Review also rates schools on a scale of 60 to 99 using data collected during the 2009-10 academic year. UM received an 86 for "Quality of Life" and a rating of 94 in the "Green" category.

The Princeton Review 

 2010 Pollner Professor Selected
 

Washington Post reporter Eli Saslow will be UM's 2010 T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professor. He'll join School of Journalism faculty for autumn semester, teaching a seminar on reporting and writing and serving as a mentor for the staff of UM's student newspaper, the Montana Kaimin.

Saslow is a national enterprise reporter at the Post and has worked as a political and sports enterprise writer at the newspaper. Before coming to the Post, he worked for The Star-Ledger in New Jersey and The Buffalo (N.Y.) News.

The professorship was created in 2001 to honor Pollner, a 1999 UM journalism alumnus who died in an accident. Saslow will be the school's 10th Pollner professor. He will deliver the T. Anthony Pollner public lecture on Monday, Oct. 18.

School of Journalism 

 Graduate School Associate Dean Appointed
 

J.B. Alexander "Sandy" Ross has been appointed associate dean of the UM Graduate School.

Through the half-time appointment, Ross, a UM professor of chemistry, will oversee the daily operations of the Graduate School and will work closely with the associate provost for graduate education on policy and development.

Ross brings considerable experience in graduate education. In addition to mentoring many graduate students, he has led the Sloan Foundation Native American Graduate Student Program at UM and has provided assistance to the University's associate provost for graduate education during the past two years.

UM Graduate School 

 Distinguished Alums Receive Awards
 

Four outstanding UM graduates will receive 2010 Distinguished Alumni Awards at a ceremony Friday, Sept. 24, during Homecoming festivities. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. The public is invited to attend.

Distinguished Alumni Awards are the highest honor presented by the UM Alumni Association.

This year's award recipients are John Badgley of Edmonds, Wash.; Patrick Cheney of State College, Penn.; Joseph P. Mazurek of Helena; and Colleen L. McGuire of Washington, D.C.

Read the Full News Release 

 Blackboard Supplement Labs Offered
 

Open labs for UM faculty members interested in setting up or using a Blackboard supplement for a face-to-face class will be offered by Extended Learning Services in August and September.

Faculty members are invited to drop in to labs, which will take place in James E. Todd Building Room 211 on the following dates and times:
  • Thursday, Aug. 26: 9-11 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 31: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 3: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 8: 1-3 p.m.
For more information, call Mary Engstrom at 243-6333 or e-mail mary.engstrom@mso.umt.edu.

 

 Faculty, Staff Invited to Welcome Back Picnic
 

UM's annual Faculty/Staff Welcome Back Picnic will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24. The annual Mexican buffet will be held at the Kirkwood Memorial Grove, River Bowl East, located along Campus Drive across from the Fitness and Recreation Center.

The event is open only to UM faculty, staff, administrators and retirees.

For more information, call Angela Priest of UM Faculty-Staff Wellness at 243-2027 or e-mail apriest@mso.umt.edu.

 

 Help Welcome International Students
 

The Missoula International Friendship Program is seeking volunteer families, couples and single people to become Community Friends to international students and scholars who will begin studies at UM this fall.

To complement their experience, MIFP provides a structured opportunity for students to meet local residents and share leisure and family activities once a month for the first two semesters of their University experience. This is not a home stay, and Community Friends have no financial obligations for the students or scholars. MIFP provides support and activities for Community Friends and their students/scholars.

Those who are interested can download an application form on the MIFP website (click on "Forms") or call UM Foreign Student and Scholar Services at 243-2226 to request an application form.

Completed applications should be received by Friday, Aug. 27, to be available for matching this fall.

Missoula International Friendship Program 

 WelcomeFeast Information Tables Available
 

WelcomeFeast will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, on the UM Oval. The annual fall event includes free food, fun, live music, games and prizes to welcome students, faculty and staff to campus. The theme of this year's WelcomeFeast is "Get Your Griz On."

Information tables are available for the event, which also aims to help students connect early with members of the campus community. Campus organizations and departments can sign up for tables to provide information about student services during WelcomeFeast.

For more information or to request a table, call University Center Administration at 243-5082.

 

 Connect with Student Workers at Job Fair
 

Employers and student workers can connect at the Fall Student Employment Job Fair at UM on Thursday, Sept. 2.

The fair, hosted by the Office of Career Services, is free and will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. It is open to any business, organization or department that needs college students for part-time jobs, internships or volunteer opportunities. Employers with work-study openings also are invited to participate.

Registered employers will receive a career fair booth, snacks and free parking. Career Services will have students on hand to help employers bring in their job fair materials and assist with setup.

Employers can register on the Career Services website or by calling 243-2002 for registration materials. For more information, call Janay Whisman, student employment coordinator, at 243-5627 or e-mail studentjobs@umontana.edu.

Career Services 

 Deadlines Extended for Student Firefighters
 

Classes at UM begin Monday, Aug. 30, but the Montana University System has announced it will extend important deadlines for students fighting wildfires. The extension gives student firefighters extra time -- until Sept. 20 -- to meet registration, financial aid, housing and other deadlines.

To take advantage of the extended deadlines and reserve space in courses for which they are registered, UM students fighting fires must call 406-243-6566 by Monday, Aug. 23. The number, in operation 24 hours a day, will play a recording asking students to provide their name, student identification number, the name of the agency they work for, and information about their assigned rooms in residence halls, family housing or elsewhere.

The extension applies to all students involved in the firefighting effort, including those providing support services for fire crews, as well as National Guard members and other military personnel.

 

 Consultant Available for Retirement Planning
 

TIAA-CREF consultant Patrick Connell will be available in the University Center by appointment Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 15-17, to assist faculty and staff with retirement planning.

To make an appointment and verify room location, call the TIAA-CREF Phone Center at 800-732-8353.

 

 University Relations Serves Campus Community
 

UM's Media Relations Policy requires that University Relations staff prepare and distribute all University news releases (except athletics) to local, state and national media.

University Relations also maintains the UM Events Calendar, which is posted on the home page and is an excellent venue for publicizing University-related events. Events posted to the calendar are distributed weekly during spring and autumn semesters to all campus and local media, including newspapers and radio and TV stations.

The faculty/staff e-newsletter, ForUM, is e-mailed to subscribers from University Relations each Monday during academic semesters. (Subscribe on the website.)

The UM Style Guide and Graphics Standards Manual also are available on the University Relations website.

Check out other UM newsletters and publications produced by University Relations staff, such as the annual President's Report, Research View, Vision, Main Hall to Main Street, TGIF, and the Montanan, UM's alumni magazine, on the Publications section of the University Relations website.

University Relations staff are available to answer questions about these and other services to the campus community at 243-2522.

 

 Autumn Semester Dates
 

  • Friday, Aug. 27: State of the University address, 10 a.m., Montana Theatre; Academic Convocation, 1 p.m., Adams Center.
  • Monday, Aug. 30: Classes begin.
  • Monday, Sept. 6: Labor Day holiday.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 2: Election Day. No classes. UM offices closed.
  • Thursday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day holiday.
  • Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25-26: Thanksgiving holiday.
  • Monday, Dec. 13: Last regular class day.


 

 President Dennison's Office Hours
 

Each semester, President Dennison welcomes members of the campus community to meet with him to discuss issues and topics of their choice. Please call 243-2311 or e-mail prestalk@umontana.edu to make an appointment to meet with President Dennison during these times.

The president's office hours for autumn semester are:
  • Tuesday, Aug. 24: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 2: 9-11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 15: 1-3 p.m.
  • Monday, Sept. 20: 3-5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 12: 10-noon
  • Friday, Nov. 5: 8-10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 10: noon-2 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 23: 10-noon
  • Wednesday, Dec. 1: 3-5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 14: 3-5 p.m.


 

 Faculty/Staff Socials
 

Socials will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. most Fridays during autumn semester in the Davidson Honors College Lounge. Autumn semester dates and event sponsors are:
  • Sept. 3: President Dennison
  • Sept. 10: Sponsor TBA
  • Sept. 17: Sponsor TBA
  • Oct. 1: Sponsor TBA
  • Oct. 8: President Dennison
  • Oct. 15: Faculty Senate and Provost Engstrom
  • Oct. 29: Sponsor TBA
  • Nov. 5: President Dennison
  • Nov. 12: Sponsor TBA
  • Nov. 19: Sponsor TBA
  • Dec. 3: Sponsor TBA
  • Dec. 10: Provost Engstrom


 

 News About U
 

News About U Anthropology and Native American studies Professor Neyooxet Greymorning facilitated a Native language teacher training for the Saanich people June 7-9 on Vancouver Island. June 21-23 he facilitated a language workshop for Umatilla language instructors in Oregon. Following the workshop, he and his daughter Amber Greymorning co-presented "The Language that Connects Us to Place" at the 17th Stabilizing Indigenous Language Symposium held June 26 in Eugene, Ore. Amber told three stories in Arapaho, translating after each, and then interpreted how the story related to the land and environment.

Career Services counselor Cheryl Minnick, a nationally certified resume writer, has contributed to a new book titled "The Twitter Job Search Guide: Find a Job and Advance Your Career in Just 15 Minutes a Day." The book is a guide to using Twitter in the job hunt. It addresses how individuals can build their professional brand, boost their online identity, find job leads, discover unadvertised positions, research companies, uncover industry trends, prepare for interviews and raise their value as an expert in their field. "The Twitter Job Search Guide" is available from JIST Publishing.

English Professor Kevin Canty's story collection titled "Where the Money Went" was published in Dutch and in French and by Vintage Contemporaries in paperback in the U.S. this summer. Canty also participated as a faculty member for the Summer Literary Seminars in Montreal. A review and excerpt of Canty's most recent book, "Everything," appeared in the Sunday, Aug. 13, issue of The New York Times Book Review.

Extended Learning Services Director Keith Lynip has been appointed to the University Professional & Continuing Education Association's Commission on Leadership and Management. Lynip will work with other commissioners to identify emerging trends and best practices that build the leadership and management abilities of higher education professionals working in continuing education. UPCEA is the country's largest professional association dedicated to continuing and professional education.

History Professor Anya Jabour launched her latest book, "Topsy-Turvy: How the Civil War Turned the World Upside Down for Southern Children," with a reading and book signing Aug. 4 at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The event, which was featured in The Washington Post's literary calendar Aug. 1 and in an article by Cameron Glover on the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire website Aug. 10, was organized as part of the National Archives' "Discovering the Civil War" exhibit, which commemorates the sesquicentennial of the war.

 

 Publications
 

Books and Publications Canty, Kevin. 2010. Everything. New York City: Nan A. Talese/Doubleday.

Emmons, David. 2010. Beyond the American Pale: The Irish in the West, 1845-1910. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Jabour, Anya. 2010. Topsy-Turvy: How the Civil War Turned the World Upside Down for Southern Children. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee.

Sriraman, Bharath (with others). 2010. The First Sourcebook on Nordic Research in Mathematics Education: Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark and contributions from Finland. Part of The Montana Mathematics Enthusiast: Monograph Series in Mathematics Education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Zoellner, K. (co-author). 2010. "Libraries across the Education Continuum: Relationships between Library Services at the University of Montana and Regional High Schools." Behavioral & Social Sciences Librarian, 29(3):184-206.

 

Submissions must reach University Relations, 317 Brantly Hall, by noon Tuesday for inclusion in the following week's newsletter. Be sure to note that the submissions are for ForUM. E-mail submissions may be sent to campnews@mso.umt.edu. Items will be included as space permits. For more information, e-mail Brenda Day, ForUM editor.
phone: 406-243-2522
fax: 406-243-4520