Welcome to the School of Education's newsletter, Sigma, which you can access online at http://www.soe.umich.edu/sigma/index.html. If you have any comments or suggestions, please send them to . Deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday. The next Sigma will be Friday, April 25, 2003.
Sigma Vol. XXXII, No. 14, April 18, 2003
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CALENDAR: April 19 - 25
AERA Annual Conference, April 21 - 25, Chicago
Staff Advisory Council Coffee Hour
Date: Tuesday, April 22
Time: 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Location: Tribute Room
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1. BALANCING THE BUDGET
2. HURTADO RECEIVES COMMUNITY AWARD
3. STUDENTS RECEIVE AWARD FOR INNOVATION
4. WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEE
5. BE AWARE OF CONTRUCTION
6. CLEANLINESS
7. HRAA NEWS
8. SQUIRREL ALERT
9. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
10. CAMPUS EVENTS OF INTEREST
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1. BALANCING THE BUDGET
An email memorandum further outlining implementation of the new SOE cost-saving measures was sent to all faculty and staff on Wednesday, April 15 from Dean Wixson. If for any reason you would like it resent or would like a hard copy, please contact Dani Smith in the Dean's Office at drsmith at umich.edu or 647-1637.
2. HURTADO RECEIVES COMMUNITY AWARD
Associate Professor and current Director of the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, Sylvia Hurtado, was awarded the University of Michigan Latino Task Force "Community Award." The award was given to Prof. Hurtado at the recently held 2003 Latino Recognition Gala.
3. STUDENTS RECEIVE AWARD FOR INNOVATION
Marc Lavine, Alison (Ali) Shriberg and Elizabeth (ET) Tilden will receive one of three student excellence awards given during commencement by the Business School. The award for innovation is being given for their work in championing establishment of a School of Education/Business School dual master's degree program. The program is being completed as a student initiated degree program.
4. WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEE
Susan Rogers started April 7 as Manager, Marketing and Promotion at SOE Affiliate, the Society for College and University Planning. She can be reached at 998-6969 or skrogers at umich.edu.
5. BE AWARE OF CONTRUCTION
Beginning Monday, April 28, construction will begin on the SEB roof. The area at the northeast corner of the building, the loading dock, the area between Social Work and SOE, as well as the doors, will be inaccessible. The door at the northwest section of SEB is handicap accessible and will remain open. In addition, most of the doors and the sidewalk at the northeast corner of SEB on East University, will be blocked off and inaccessible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mike Napolitan at mnapoli at umich.edu.
6. CLEANLINESS
Please, if you use an SEB room, make sure you properly dispose of debris, trash, etc., when you are finished. Our rooms are in almost constant use and no one likes to come into a room in disarray. Thank you for being attentive to this problem and for your consideration of others.
7. HRAA NEWS
==2003 FSA Deductions for Bi-Weekly Paid Employees
For participants in 2003 Flexible Spending Accounts who are paid bi-weekly, FSA deductions will be taken from paychecks dated May 2 and May 16 but NOT from paychecks dated May 30. The policy is that when there are three pay dates in the same month, there will be no FSA deduction from checks on the third pay date. http://www.umich.edu/~benefits/plans/reimburse/biweeklyded.htm
8. SQUIRREL ALERT
Please be aware that squirrels do like to enter the building through open rooms, especially when no one is around and can inflict considerable damage to drapes, blinds and other items. When you use SEB rooms please check the windows to make sure they are closed. Thanks for everyone's assistance in preserving this beautiful old building.
9. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Full minutes are available from Becki Spangler in the Dean's Office.
==April 1, 2003 Meeting
*Review of Guidelines for Financial Policies
A draft of guidelines for the changes in financial policies announced at the faculty and staff meetings on March 20, 2003 was distributed. Discussion focused on the specifics of curtailing general fund expenditures including research incentive fund and on how best to implement the cost-cutting guidelines. Dean Wixson will send a revised draft for the Committee's continued input.
*Discussion of Working Group on Teaching Policies
Dean Wixson reported that she had asked for volunteers to serve on a committee that will evaluate and revise SOE teaching policies most likely for the 2004-2005 teaching year. The Committee provided advice on the composition of the group and Dean Wixson will make these appointments in the near future.
10. CAMPUS EVENTS OF INTEREST
The following events will be taking place around campus. You may get more information on each event via the listed web site, email or telephone (when available).
English Language Institute
Earlier, ELI had announced two presentations to be held on Friday, April 25. As one has been postponed, there will be only the presentation listed below:
"Educating Ourselves through International Experience"
by John Katunich, Graduate Student Research Assistant
Date: Friday, April 25
Time: 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Conference Room A (Room 3200), English Language Institute
Trueblood Theatre Series
"The Love List": A new play by Norm Foster
Dates & Times: Thursday, May 1, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 2, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.
"Broad Strokes": Book and lyrics by Rob Anderson; music by Ben Stellpflug
Dates & Times: Thursday, May 8, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 9, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 10, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.
"Dead and Kicking": A new screenplay by Tim Pollock
Dates & Times: Thursday, May 15, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, May 16 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 17 at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Tickets available at the Michigan Union Ticket Office. Call 763-TKTS for more details.
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Sigma is a weekly publication of the University of Michigan School of Education (bi-weekly during the summer). To subscribe to Sigma, please send an email to . SUBSCRIBE should be the subject.