COVID-19 hotline connects campus community to resources
The University of Michigan has launched a COVID-19 hotline to better serve the campus community by connecting them to U-M resources and support during the pandemic. The U-M COVID-19 Hotline provides a triage structure that allows community members to reach the appropriate unit based on their COVID-19 related needs and follows the recommendation of the Campus Health Response Committee. The phone number is 734-936-7000. The COVID-19 Hotline uses pre-scripted messages for the Ann Arbor, Dearborn or Flint campuses, and includes the following menu options for the Ann Arbor campus: reporting to the COVID-19 Concerns line; University Health System for students seeking medical care for COVID-19 symptoms; Occupational Health Services for employees seeking to report COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result; Student Life and housing related questions for students; U-M Environment, Health & Safety for general COVID-19 safety questions, workplace issues, facility concerns or cleaning or disinfection guidance; University Human Resources for employees with work-related questions; campus community members seeking mental health support resources.
Schlissel, Collins issue statement on executive order
President Mark Schlissel and Provost Susan M. Collins issued a statement recently saying the Trump administration’s recent executive order on combating race and sex stereotyping has the potential to undermine diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at U-M and across the nation, and is a direct violation of free speech rights. The executive order seeks to ban federal contractors from conducting racial sensitivity training, and places off limits the discussion of “divisive concepts” in federally funded training, and potentially, in organizations that receive federal grants. “The educational efforts this order seeks to prohibit are critical to much-needed action to create equitable economic and social opportunities for all members of society; to confront our blind spots; and to encourage us all to be better teachers, scholars and citizens,” the statement said. Read the full statement.
Great Lakes Discovery RFP open for therapeutic research proposals
The Fall RFP Cycle is now open for Great Lakes Discovery, an alliance between U-M and Deerfield Management to commercialize U-M therapeutic projects that hold promise in developing potentially life-saving drugs and disease treatments. Letters of intent will be accepted through Nov. 30. Selected applicants will be invited to complete a more comprehensive full proposal application. A joint steering committee will provide feedback to all applicants regardless of selection status. Great Lakes Discovery will host a virtual information session led by members of the joint steering committee at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 21. It will provide an overview of the collaboration along with information on the application process and selection criteria. For more information on the RFP cycle or the information session, visit greatlakes-discovery.com.
National Center for Institutional Diversity accepting applications for Diversity Scholars
The National Center for Institutional Diversity is accepting applications for its Diversity Scholars Network. The DSN is an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional community of scholars committed to advancing understandings of historical and contemporary social issues related to identity, difference, culture, representation, power, oppression, and inequality — as they occur and affect individuals, groups, communities, and institutions. More than 900 scholars from more than 200 institutions are included in the DSN. The network is open to all tenured, tenure-track, clinical and research faculty (including lecturers), research staff, and postdoctoral fellows dedicated to diversity scholarship. This year, the DSN will continue its mission of highlighting its members work through NCID’s networks and social media channels, as well as through a slate of virtual programs during the academic year. Applications are due by Dec. 11. For more information, visit the DSN website.
Center for RNA Biomedicine releases annual report
The Center for RNA Biomedicine has released its annual magazine and report, “2020, the year of the RNA virus.” With special contributions from 10 RNA faculty members, the report includes features on the center’s two core facilities — the Bru-seq Lab and the Single Molecule Analysis in Real-Time (SMART) Center — and broadly reports on the center’s activity with a few highlights. With the publication, the Center for RNA Biomedicine aims to demonstrate the strong impact and achievements of the scientific collaborations within the U-M RNA research community. To view the report, visit the Center for RNA Biomedicine website.
Faculty Senate forum for Board of Regents candidates Oct. 9
Four of the 10 candidates for two seats on the University of Michigan Board of Regents will talk about their views and take audience questions during an upcoming Regent Candidate Forum organized by the Faculty Senate. The event will be 10-11:30 a.m. Oct. 9 via Zoom. It is open to the public. Incumbent Democratic Regent Shauna Ryder Diggs and challengers Republican Carl Meyers, Libertarian Eric Larson and Green Party candidate Michael Mawilai are scheduled to participate. Each will have up to five minutes for a statement. Faculty Senate Chair Colleen Conway will moderate questions submitted by community members. For more information, visit facultysenate.umich.edu.
— Compiled by James Iseler and Jeff Bleiler, The University Record
