Registration open for Summer Programs Summit
Registration is now open for the Summer Programs Summit, an annual event sponsored by the Center for Educational Outreach where faculty and staff who provide summer academic opportunities to youth can meet and collaborate. Participants share ideas, information, resources and best practices for creating meaningful summer programs for youth. This year’s summit, which will take place Feb. 22 in the Michigan League, will feature a panel discussion with a high school counselor and two high school students from the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in Detroit. To register, visit tinyurl.com/jhw2zdz.
President Schlissel to host town hall in new provost search
A community town hall seeking input regarding the search for a new provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan will take place Feb. 13. President Mark Schlissel and members of the search committee will be in attendance to listen to the community’s ideas. Schlissel appointed the 11-member committee last month to replace Martha E. Pollack, who left the university Jan. 31 to become president of Cornell University. The town hall event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Michigan League, Vandenburg Room.
U-M-Dearborn gets grant for Arab American studies
The University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Arab American Studies has been awarded a $100,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support student research and community engagement on Arab American subjects. The center is one of 37 inaugural recipients of the NEH Humanities Access Grant, which is awarded to programs designed to benefit youth and underserved communities. The grant requires matching funds, so the center will need to raise $100,000 from donors to match federal support. The center will use the funds to launch a first-year seminar and research internship program designed to encourage more undergraduates to pursue a minor in Arab American studies and consider careers in public humanities. The funds will also allow the center to engage in research related to and discussion with the diverse populations within the Arab and Muslim communities of southeast Michigan.
Reminder: Donate blood through Mitten Matchup
This year’s Mitten Matchup Blood Challenge against Michigan State University continues through March 1. To make an appointment to donate blood, visit the American Red Cross website at redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code “goblue” to find local drives. Donors are advised to eat iron-rich foods and drink plenty of water before they donate blood. Both universities are hoping to raise 2,000 pints of blood during this year’s drive.
Reminder: Nominations sought for President’s Staff Innovation Award
The University of Michigan Office of the President in collaboration with Voices of Staff is seeking nominations for the President’s Staff Innovation Award, which honors staff members or teams whose big ideas and “outside of The Cube” thinking help make the university a better, more inclusive community. Nominations are due Feb. 28. Two prizes will be available: a $2,000 award for an individual staff member and a $3,000 prize for the chosen team. Nominations should represent an improvement or increase in efficiency, productivity, cost savings, achievement of environmental or health and well-being goals and enhancement of the diverse culture and climate of the university. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/z3j4gcf.
— Compiled by Safiya Merchant, The University Record
