The University Record, October 25, 1999 Editor’s Note: The following actions were taken by the Regents at their October meeting.
By Wono Lee
News and Information Services
Haven addition OKd
The Regents approved the revised scope of the Mason Hall and Haven Hall Renovation Project, one of the projects in the University’s plan to renovate existing Central Campus facilities.
“During the Mason Hall/Haven Hall project’s programming phase, it became apparent that the programs intended for occupancy would be severely compromised if we attempted to force a fit into the existing poor quality available space,” said Robert Kasdin, executive vice president and chief financial officer. “The programs involved include History, American Culture, and Political Science, all from LS&A.
“Since the present location of Haven Hall is strategically critical to all of these programs, we are proposing to expand the building. The proposal is to construct an addition to the east side of the Haven Hall building as well as create new space over what is referred to as the ‘Fishbowl,’ adding approximately 67,000 gross square feet.
“The Mason Hall renovation the project will include an interactive learning center, some counseling offices and other support functions.
With the addition to Haven Hall, the total square footage of the two halls will be 213,000. There will be no effect on parking since only existing Central Campus LS&A departments are involved.
The preliminary estimate for the total project is $38 million. The state will fund up to $28.5 million of the total.
The Regents also approved the design of the proposed addition to Haven Hall.
Four appointed to professorships
Faculty appointments to endowed and titled professorships include:
Alfred E. Chang, professor of surgery, will hold the Hugh Cabot Professorship of Surgery, effective Nov. 1.
Frederic E. Eckhauser, professor of surgery, will be the C. Gardner Child Professor of Surgery, effective Nov. 1.
Simon E. Gikandi, professor of English, will be the Robert Hayden Collegiate Professor of English, effective Sept. 1, 1999.
Timothy M. Johnson, associate professor of dermatology, of surgery, and of otorhinolaryngology, will hold the William B. Taylor Collegiate Professorship of Dermatology, effective Nov. 1.
“Dr. Chang’s major areas of research interest include cancer immunotherapy and multimodality treatment of cancer,” said Medical School Dean Allen S. Lichter. “His expertise is recognized through leadership positions and committee membership in a number of professional societies and organizations in his specialty. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and was cited in the publication Best Doctors in America on two occasions, 1996 and 1998. At the U-M, Dr. Chang developed a research training program in surgical oncology and mentored many surgery residents, serving as an excellent academic role model.”
“Dr. Eckhauser’s major areas of clinical interest include pancreatobiliary cancer, chronic pancreatitis and portal hypertension,” Lichter said. “His current collaborative research focuses on multimodality treatment of pancreatic and periampullary cancer and the role of islet cell autotransplantation. He is the principal or co-author of 150 original articles in refereed journals and 63 chapters in books or monographs on subjects concerning gastrointestinal disease, teaching and research. He also has served on editorial advisory boards and has been an invited reviewer for numerous medical journals.”
“Prof. Gikandi is the author of five books, including works of cutting-edge scholarship such as Maps of Englishness: Writing Identity in the Culture of Colonialism (1996) and Writing in Limbo: Modernism and Caribbean Literature (1992),” said LS&A Dean Shirley Neuman. “He is the recipient of many awards and fellowships, including an Andrew Mellow Fellowship at Harvard University, a Fellowship of the American Council of Learned Societies, and, locally, a Fellowship of the Institute for the Humanities (1996-97) and a Faculty Recognition Award (1997). He served on the editorial boards of many distinguished journals in his field.”
“Dr. Johnson’s research specializes in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer and reconstruction and surgical repair of soft tissue defects utilizing flaps and grafts,” Lichter said. “He is the author or co-author of over 70 scholarly articles, published or in press. He has given numerous invited lectures on skin cancer and soft tissue reconstruction in the United States, South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. Dr. Johnson serves on a number of national committees, including co-chairing the Melanoma Committee for the American Academy of Dermatology. Through patient care, research, education and leadership, he has developed one of the premier melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer programs in the United States.”
Tenure appointments approved
Tenured faculty appointments included:
Dena Goodman, of Louisiana State University, will be professor of history and of women’s studies, effective Jan. 1.
Bryan Rogers of Carnegie Mellon University will be professor of art and dean of the School of Art and Design, effective Jan. 1.
$16.8 million in gifts accepted
The Regents accepted $16,810,128 in gifts received during September. The total included $10,391,152 from individuals, $2,116,326 from corporations, $3,671,526 from foundations and $631,124 from associations and others.
Haessler granted emeritus status
Robert W. Haessler, associate professor of operations management, was given the emeritus title.
“A very dedicated researcher and teacher, Prof. Haessler recognized early the importance and impact of computer-based technologies on improving production productivity and managerial decision-making,” the Regents said. “This focus, combined with his research on manufacturing control systems, led to his work as co-director of the ongoing Sloan Trucking Industry Program, a sponsored research project shared with the College of Engineering. Prof. Haessler has also been involved with the Tauber Manufacturing Institute, a joint program of the School of Business Administration and College of Engineering.”
Haessler joined the U-M in 1975.
IST Building to get addition
The proposed design of the two-story addition to the Institute of Science Technology (IST) High Bay Building on the North Campus was approved.
The 20,000-square-foot addition will be used by the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science. The project is estimated to cost $6 million.
Funding will be provided from College of Engineering funds on hand and obtained through fund-raising efforts.
Kasdin noted that, “Parking survey data shows there are a sufficient number of available parking spaces in lot NC8 to accommodate the addition.”
The Regents also authorized the University to issue the project for bids.
Tunnel near Union to be replaced
Replacement of a section of the tunnel and associated utilities near the Michigan Union was approved.
Utilities for several University buildings located west of State Street, except South Quad, are served by the State Street North tunnel next to Betsey Barbour House and the State Street South tunnel next to the Michigan Union.
“The tunnel sections located under the street and sidewalks, where salt is used in the winter months, are subject to accelerated structural deterioration,” Kasdin explained. “The North tunnel was beyond the point of temporary repairs and was replaced in 1993. The South tunnel is found to be at the point where it needs to be replaced.
A 100-foot long section and all the utility piping contained within the tunnel will be replaced at an estimated cost of $1.7 million. The construction will start in early 2000. The roads and sidewalks will be restored to pre-construction condition prior to the start of the Ann Arbor Summer Arts Festival.
