Diag stone repairs to improve area around bronze ‘M’
A treasured symbol on the University of Michigan’s Central Campus is getting a makeover just in time for the fall semester. With the help of donor funds, a construction project is underway to replace the existing stone surrounding the bronze ‘M’ on the Diag. To address cracking and deterioration, a Diag Improvements Project has been established to replace and repair the surface materials in the area and their subbase infrastructures. Initial work includes replacing the stone surrounding the iconic “M” and its existing concrete subbase — a project supported by funds from a donor knowledgeable about stone construction. The effort costs about $200,000, with donor funds covering half of expenses. The work is expected to be complete prior to the start of the fall academic semester.
UM-Dearborn to launch three master’s programs this fall
UM-Dearborn has developed graduate programs in three growing fields that will begin in the fall. The courses have active enrollment currently. The three new degree programs are the Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, which was driven by student demand and the metro region’s large growth in the field; a Master of Science in Marketing tailored for those looking to sharpen the promotional side of a business education; and a Master of Public Administration and Policy, which will help public and nonprofit leaders master the parts of their jobs where public policy and administration intersect.
Applications sought for Career Development Fund
Applications are now being accepted for the Voices Career Development Fund. Grants of up to $1,000 are available to support staff participation in seminars, workshops, apprenticeships, continuing education and professional certification. Grants can also be used to cover the cost of related equipment or supplies such as textbooks or computers. All regular U-M staff members (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses and Michigan Medicine) in good standing with one or more years of service are eligible to apply. Applications are reviewed by the Voices of the Staff Program Management Team and announced in the fall. The application deadline for 2019-20 grants is July 31. For more information, visit myumi.ch/LB7W1.
LSA professor, UM-Dearborn lecturer earn Fulbright honors
Christine Aidala, associate professor of physics, LSA, and Amira Shourbaji, English Language Proficiency Program lecturer, UM-Dearborn, have been awarded Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for the 2019-20 academic year. Shourbaji will begin a 10-month fellowship in Bahrain this fall, leading English-language classrooms at the country’s main teacher’s college. Aidala will work with theoretical physicists at the University of Pavia in Italy to develop a set of measurable parameters for the Large Hadron Collider Beauty experiment at the European Centre for Nuclear Research.
Heather Bruegel elected to Police Department Oversight Committee
Heather Bruegel, a registered nurse at University Hospital, has been elected as the bargained-for staff representative to the Police Department Oversight Committee for the two-year term beginning in July 2019. The committee receives and makes recommendations regarding grievances against any police officer deputized by the university. The six-member oversight committee consists of two student members, two faculty members (one Senate and one non-Senate faculty), and two staff members (one union and one non-union). For more information, visit myumi.ch/Jy9NN.
UM-Dearborn staff contributions honored during annual awards
UM-Dearborn honored more than 120 staff members last month during the annual Chancellor’s Staff Recognition Awards ceremony. The ceremony June 5 recognized staff members for the significant contributions they make toward the university’s mission. Among the awards presented during the ceremony were those for: Exceptional Service, Exceptional Performance, Exceptional Team Award, Exceptional Long-term Achievement and Outstanding Services to the Metropolitan Community and University. For a full list of award winners, go to myumi.ch/JNWqK.
— Compiled by Safiya Merchant, The University Record
