Proposed UM-Flint faculty bylaws open for public comment
Public comment is being sought through Oct. 7 on a set of recently developed faculty bylaws for UM-Flint. Chancellor Deba Dutta recently formed a task force to review the UM-Flint shared governance model with a focus on the development of Flint faculty bylaws. The task force was composed of equal members from the UM-Flint faculty and administration, with support and consultation provided by the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel. The new bylaws developed by Shared Governance Task Force have been shared with and reviewed by the Vice President and Secretary, the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel, and by the Flint and Dearborn Committee of the Board of Regents, and are now presented for public comment. They can be viewed online. Submit comments to PublicComments.Bylaws@umich.edu by Oct. 7. The bylaws will be brought to the Board of Regents for final approval at its Oct. 22 meeting.
New Wolverine Access gateway launched
Visitors to Wolverine Access will now see and experience a new gateway to university systems and resources. The new Wolverine Access makes it easier to find and “bookmark” frequently-used tools and resources within the U-M digital universe, has a mobile-friendly design that is easy to use on all devices, and is built on a more modern and secure platform that provides a customizable individual experience. Information and Technology Services has worked with colleagues in schools, colleges and units over the last several months to ensure a smooth transition to the new design. The new Wolverine Access will not change the university systems, websites and resources that are accessed through the Wolverine Access gateway. In addition, an option to use the “classic” Wolverine Access will be available into 2021. Visit wolverineaccess.umich.edu.
U-M COVID-19 dashboard earns ‘A’ rating from researchers
The university’s COVID-19 data dashboard earned high marks in a recent evaluation by a team of Yale and Harvard researchers. “We Rate Covid Dashboards,” a new Twitter account and website that grades pandemic dashboards created by colleges and universities, awarded U-M an “A” grade for being easy to read, sharing community data trends and identifying how many students are in isolation or quarantine, among other criteria. U-M is one of 14 schools to receive the grade out of 156 schools the researchers have evaluated. The researchers involved in the project include two Yale School of Medicine professors and Ayotomiwa Ojo, an LSA alumnus who is now a medical student and master of public policy candidate at Harvard. U-M’s COVID-19 data dashboard debuted in August with cumulative data about the total number of tests and cases, information about positivity rates and isolation numbers since March 8. Visit the dashboard at campusblueprint.umich.edu/dashboard, and “We Rate Covid Dashboards” at ratecoviddashboard.com.
Support services available for mental and emotional health
This year has provided an abundance of challenges. For those who could benefit from someone to talk to, support is available year-round for all faculty and staff on every U-M campus and at Michigan Medicine. Confidential short-term counseling is always available to university faculty, staff, retirees and their adult family members at no charge by visiting the website. Michigan Medicine employees can contact the Office of Counseling and Workplace Resilience at 734-763-5409 or counseling@med.umich.edu or visit the website. Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campus employees can contact the Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office at 734-936-8660 or fascco@umich.edu or visit the website. Learn more about online screenings, health plan benefits and support groups and workshops for mental and emotional wellness.
Big Ten announces 2020 Michigan football schedule
The Big Ten Conference announced Sept. 19 an eight-game conference-only schedule for the 2020 football season, starting Oct. 24 and culminating with a ninth game for each school during Big Ten Championship Week on Dec. 19. The conference announced the return of the season on Sept. 16 after suspending the season Aug. 11. Michigan will begin the season by traveling to Minnesota on Oct. 24, and will end the eight-game regular-season slate with “The Game” against Ohio State in Columbus on Dec. 12. Other road games will be played at Indiana on Nov. 7 and Rutgers on Nov. 21. Home games will be played against Michigan State on Oct. 31, Wisconsin on Nov. 14, Penn State on Nov. 28 and Maryland on Dec. 5. The Big Ten has enacted a policy where all games will be played without fans. Information regarding game times and TV network selection will be announced later.
Recreational Sports facilities reopen with modifications
Recreational Sports reopened its three comprehensive recreation facilities Sept. 28 after being closed for six months due to the pandemic under the executive order from the state of Michigan. Changes have been made to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the recreation spaces. Students and Recreational Sports members will be required to make reservations to work out and to swim, face coverings will be required while working out, and facilities will be operating at decreased capacities and hours to allow for increased cleaning during the day. A new U-M Rec Sports app has been created to allow for contactless entry, to make facility and pool reservations, and more. Indoor programming, indoor rentals and all court activities will be unavailable in the initial reopening phase. For more information or to download the app, visit recsports.umich.edu/covid-19-updates/facilities-status/.
— Compiled by James Iseler and Jeff Bleiler, The University Record
