Editor’s Note: The following items were approved by the Regents at their March meeting.
By Diane Brown, Facilities and Operations, and Jane R. Elgass
Gifts
The Regents accepted $7,911,365 in gifts, with $2,941,849 from individuals and $4,969,516 from corporations, foundations, associations and others.
Tenure appointments
The following tenure appointments were approved:
Suresh K. Mukherji of the University of North Carolina was appointed associate professor of radiology with tenure and associate professor of otorhinolaryngology without tenure, effective April 1.
Kyung-Dall Lee of the U-M was appointed associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences with tenure, effective April 1.
Academic administrative
David Gordon of Pfizer Global Research and Development was appointed professor of pathology with tenure and assistant dean for diversity and career development, Medical School, effective March 16.
Jeffrey Alan Alexander was appointed acting dean, School of Public Health, effective April 1–Oct. 31 while Dean Noreen Clark is on administrative leave.
Cathleen M. Connell was appointed associate dean for academic affairs, School of Public Health, effective Feb. 1.
Lt. Col. Steven E. Rienstra was appointed chair of the Army Officer Education Program, effective Feb. 21.
David K. Wehe was appointed director, Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project, effective Jan. 1.
Sarah C. Zearfoss was appointed assistant dean and admissions officer, Law School, effective March 1.
Endowed, named professorships
Julian A. Levinson was appointed the Samuel Shetzer Endowed Professor of Jewish American Studies and assistant professor of English, effective Jan. 1.
Edward Goldberg was appointed the George W. Morley Collegiate Professor of Obstretrics and Gynecology, effective March 16.
Yaron Z. Eliav was appointed the Jean and Samuel Frankel Professor of Rabbinic Literature and assistant professor of Rabbinic literature, effective Jan. 1.
Department reorganization
The Department of Biology has been reorganized into two departments—Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology—effective July 1.
The present organization was created more than 25 years ago by the merger of the departments of botany and zoology, reflecting advances in life science research initiated by the determination of the structure of DNA and its identification as the molecule carrying genetic information.
Changes in life sciences continued, prompting a reorganization of biology into two broadly defined groups, one focusing on molecules and cells and the other on the biology of organisms and ecosystems. A recent external report strongly recommended a similar reorganization at the U-M.
The change is designed to encourage academic growth of the disciplines and enhance the Life Sciences Initiative.
Retirement
Wayne K. Davis, professor of medical education, was appointed professor emeritus, effective March 31. He holds a B.A. from Central Bible College and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the U-M, joining the faculty in 1971 as a research scientist and lecturer in the School of Education.
In 1973, Davis was named assistant professor in the then-named Department of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Professions Education (now Department of Medical Education), named associate professor in 1977 and professor in 1982. He also was associate professor in the School of Nursing in 1973–95.
“Prof. Davis,” the Regents noted, “authored or co-authored numerous journal articles, books, chapters and other publications. He served on editorial boards of four medical education journals and was associate editor of Academic Medicine. He was widely recognized for his contributions in the areas of diabetes and arthritis education, the behavioral and psychosocial aspects of diabetes care, and Medical School curricular development and evaluation.
Facilities projects
The following facilities projects were approved.
Biophysics Lab
Space renovations for the new Laboratory for Single Molecule Spectroscopy, part of a Michigan Life Sciences Corridor grant, will involve 9,700 gross square feet of the third and fourth floors in the Biophysics Research Division of the Chemistry Building. The project will include standard laboratory distribution of services such as gas, compressed air and de-ionized water, as well as installation of fire protection and telecommunication systems.
The estimated cost of the project is $965,000, and funding will be provided by the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor, Office of the Provost, Office of the Vice President for Research and the Biophysics Research Division. The Plant Extension Department will design the project. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with an anticipated completion date of late fall 2001.
General Clinical Research Center
U-M Hospitals and Health Systems received approval to expand and renovate space in University Hospital for the General Clinical Research Center. Operating out of the patient units 7A and 7B, the Center provides an institutional focus for transitioning clinical research into direct patient care. The Center has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that will permit the renovation and expansion of the inpatient and outpatient clinical research programs for the Health System. (Information on the grant is on page 3 of the Record.)
This project provides for the expansion of the outpatient program and placement of activities presently situated in Unit 7B. In addition, Unit 7A will be renovated to increase its functionality in support of the inpatient clinical research initiatives. To accommodate these changes, some space in the Med Inn Building also will be addressed.
The total project is estimated to cost $1,137,824. Funding of $568,912 will be provided from the NIH construction grant, with matching funds provided from the Office of the Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs. The project is scheduled for completion in summer 2002.
Northwood IV
The cedar siding on Northwood IV Family Housing town houses will be repaired and stained. When this phase of family housing was built in 1969, cedar siding was selected because of its ability to last many years when it is properly protected from sun degradation and weathering. The project includes repair and staining of the cedar siding on up to 300 town houses and is estimated to cost $850,000. Project repairs include screwing warped boards into place, replacing damaged boards and caulking around window frames. After repairs are made, the siding will be cleaned and sealed with an opaque stain. The stain color selections are consistent with other units that have been refurbished. Funding will be provided by the Division of Student Affairs. The project is scheduled to begin in late April and continue through fall 2001.
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
A new plaza will be built north of the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) Building on North Campus. The project will improve more than one-half acre of landscaping, including the area surrounding the two nearby lab buildings, and provide benches in a park-like setting. In addition, a small canopy will be added to the west entrance of the NAME Building. The project will involve the removal of the existing parking lot. An equivalent number of spaces will be created in the adjacent lot located to the northeast.
The estimated cost of the project is $600,000, with funding provided primarily by a gift and by the College of Engineering. The project will be designed by the SmithGroup. Construction is scheduled to begin in May and be completed before September.
Women’s Gymnastics
The issuing of bids and awarding of a construction contract will be undertaken for the Women’s Gymnastics Facility. The Regents approved the schematic design in February.
The 20,000-gross-square-foot building will be located near the tennis facility on South State Street. The project is estimated to cost $3.2 million and will be funded with a $3.5 million donation by Donald R. Shepherd over the next six years. Construction is scheduled to begin in April and be completed by spring 2002.
U-M-Dearborn University Mall
The exterior schematic design of the U-M-Dearborn University Mall renovation was approved by the Regents. The complete renovation of the 82,400-square-foot building will provide space for student services, student organizations and auxiliary services. The building will serve as a central location for students and visitors entering the Dearborn campus.
Completion of energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, construction of an important entryway connecting the Mall to the new College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters Building, and purchase of new furnishings also will be included in the project, following approval in November of a $2.1 million increase in the project budget from the original November 1996 budget of $10,938,000. The increase will be funded by previously approved State Capital Outlay funds.
U-M-Dearborn Field House
Issuing of bids and awarding of a construction contract will permit renovation of the U-M-Dearborn Field House. The renovations, to be primarily funded from student fees, will replace the ice rink, ice production system, roof and multipurpose gym floor. Also approved was a $200,000 increase for the project budget to $3.9 million due to unexpected environmentally related costs for removing and disposing of the gym floor. The budget increase will be funded from the Environmental Impairment Liability self-insurance fund. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring and be completed in the fall.
