Video provides virtual tour of Michigan Union renovations
The Michigan Union will reopen after an extensive renovation in winter 2020. A “Tour of the Michigan Union, 2020” is available for a sneak peek of the University of Michigan’s campus living room. The virtual tour, created by Workshop Architects and Student Life Auxiliary Marketing, takes viewers on a walk-through of the facility based on architectural renderings of key Michigan Union spaces once renovations are complete. The $85.2 million renovation will enhance program and social space on the main level by enclosing the courtyard, expand and improve informal gathering spaces on the first floor through restoration of the original 1919 floor plan, and create state-of-the-art student organization and student involvement space. Access the virtual tour at myumi.ch/6Q9Xr.
New $5M gift will transform food allergy research, treatment and care
The Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center announced a major new initiative, the Michigan Food Allergy Research Accelerator. This program was made possible by a five-year gift from an anonymous donor for $5 million, which is renewable for a second $5 million after its period has lapsed. This gift aims to establish a program designed to transform how individuals understand the fundamental mechanisms that are driving an increase in food allergy rates in both children and young adults. Additionally, the program seeks to develop innovative strategies to diagnose and treat food allergies. Through this significant contribution, center-sponsored research can continue to flourish, including the center’s groundbreaking work on a nanoemulsion vaccine.
Senate Assembly approves electronic absentee voting
The university’s Senate Assembly approved new rules Feb. 18 to allow its members to cast absentee votes electronically. The Senate Assembly consists of 74 elected faculty members from the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses and is part of the central faculty governance system. The new rules do not aim to replace the group’s in-person meetings. Neil Marsh, who chairs the Assembly as well as the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, said electronic absentee voting would be used to address urgent matters that arise and cannot wait to be voted on until the next scheduled in-person Assembly meeting. As of now, Senate Assembly members will transmit their votes by email to the Secretary of the Assembly or his or her designate.
Nominations sought for 2019 Harold R. Johnson award
Nominations are being sought for the Harold R. Johnson Diversity Service Award, which was established in 1996 in honor of the dean emeritus of the School of Social Work. It recognizes faculty whose service goes above and beyond their regular duties and contributes to the development of a culturally and ethnically diverse campus community. Nominations will be accepted for all regular instructional and research faculty, including librarians, curators and archivists on the Ann Arbor campus, including the Medical School. Nominations can be made by faculty, staff and students, and must include a nomination letter, which should not exceed 2,000 words. The nomination deadline is March 23. Please send the nomination packets as a single PDF to: [email protected]. For more information, call Laura Harrington at 734-764-3982.
REMINDER: University Record won’t publish March 4, will resume March 11
The University Record will not publish a printed edition March 4 due to spring break. Weekly publication will resume March 11. The University Record’s daily email will not be sent the week of March 4-8, although major news items may be posted to the Record website. The email will resume March 11.
— Compiled by Lydia Murray and Safiya Merchant, The University Record
