CEW+ awards more than $485,000 in scholarships
CEW+ has awarded more than $485,000 in scholarships to nontraditional students this year, marking the organization’s largest total to date. The 2019-20 cohort includes 14 doctoral students, 27 master’s degree students and 31 undergraduate students. Among them are students who are: parents and primary caregivers, returning to the classroom after a prolonged interruption, underrepresented in STEM fields, first-generation and international students, or overcame great obstacles to achieve their higher-education degree. The awards range from $1,000 to $11,500, to cover the cost of tuition and living expenses, with Mary Malcomson Raphael Scholarships for nominated doctoral students ranging from $4,000-$25,000. Besides providing financial support, the CEW+ Scholarship Program helps students navigate U-M processes including financial aid, academic decision-making and applications to other funding sources. The CEW+ scholarship application process opens in early winter. For current application requirements, visit cew.umich.edu/funding/cew-scholarships in mid-December, or email cew-scholarships@umich.edu.
Copernicus Program in Polish Studies elevated to Copernicus Center
After nearly a half-century of active programming and instruction, the Copernicus Program in Polish Studies has been elevated by LSA to the Copernicus Center for Polish Studies. The Nicolaus Copernicus Endowment was established in 1973 in cooperation with faculty, students and the Polish Americans of Michigan who contributed generously with their time and financial assistance. It was recognized as a program in 2014 and is entering a new phase as a full-fledged center. The Copernicus Center, under the leadership of Geneviève Zubrzycki, professor of sociology, will support faculty research and Polish language instruction, and offer fellowships and internship opportunities for students. The center also will bring programming including lectures, films and exhibitions.
Regents meeting set for Sept. 19
The Board of Regents is scheduled to conduct its regular meeting at 4 p.m. Sept. 19 at the U-M Golf Course. To offer public comment at the meeting, sign up in advance at regents.umich.edu/meetings/publform.html. Public comments on agenda items will be taken prior to their consideration. Comments on nonagenda items will follow the regular business agenda. People with disabilities who need assistance should contact the Office of the Vice President and Secretary of the University in advance at 734-763-8194. For more about regents meetings, go to regents.umich.edu.
UM-Dearborn prepares to offer a doctorate built for the auto industry
UM-Dearborn’s College of Engineering and Computer Science is preparing to launch an entirely different breed of doctoral program — this one designed for fully-employed, part-time students coming from the auto industry. The new doctoral program in Automotive Systems and Mobility is not a Ph.D. Rather, it’s a different type of terminal degree called a Doctor of Engineering or D.Eng. Dewey Jung, an associate professor of mechanical engineering who’s helping spearhead the program’s launch, said demand is primarily coming from people who are employed in the local auto industry but want to advance into research-oriented leadership roles in their fields or companies.
Authorized drone operations to occur near Michigan Stadium
People may see drone activity near Michigan Stadium this fall. The authorized flights will occur on the following dates, each of which coincides with a remaining home football game weekend: Sept. 27, Oct. 4, Oct. 25, Nov. 15 and Nov. 29. No drone activity will occur on the day of a home football game. Drones will fly along predetermined routes and will not be flown over occupied residential buildings. Regents’ Ordinance prohibits the operation of drones on campus. It is unlawful to fly a drone over campus unless covered by the exceptions cited in Regents’ Ordinance Article XV, Section 5, which includes law enforcement purposes. For more information, email dpss-safety-security@umich.edu.
Rackham launches task force on graduate student mental health
Rackham Graduate School has created the Rackham Mental-Health Task Force to better support the well-being and success of graduate students at the University of Michigan. Recent research shows approximately half of all graduate students experience psychological distress, with a higher prevalence of mental-health problems than among the highly educated general population. The Rackham task force brings together faculty, graduate students, mental-health professionals and other staff members to explore and expand ways to support graduate students’ mental health. As it begins its work, the task force is asking for input from the U-M community. Email ideas or suggestions regarding the focus of the task force, or how it can best serve graduate students at U-M to rackham-mhtf-contact@umich.edu. For more information, go to myumi.ch/51lwB.
— Compiled by James Iseler, The University Record
