UAF has been awarded the first phase of funding--$2.5 million from the National Science Foundation--to construct the Alaska Region Research Vessel, a 236-foot ice-capable vessel to support research in high latitudes. The ARRV will replace the Alpha Helix, which was officially retired last year. The ARRV will be owned by the NSF and operated by UAF. Total cost to build the ARRV is estimated to be $123 million. Funding for the remaining phases is contingent upon UAF meeting designated milestones. The expected completion date for the ARRV is 2011.
TVC is offering a one-credit TVC tuition waiver for English, math and study skills courses for the second year, though its Pathway to Student Success program. Free workshops will be offered, beginning with a stress and time management workshop Sept. 25. TVC is hosting an informational open house Sept. 4 from 4-7 p.m. at the TVC Center. For more information call 2800 or visit www.tvc.uaf.edu.
The Development Office is celebrating a 45 percent increase in philanthropic giving by alumni, friends, corporations and foundations in FY 2007. Unrestricted gifts to the annual giving program topped $185,000, more than double the previous year. Scholarships given to students at UAF totalled $700,000.
Marty Parsons has accepted the position of finance director and will begin his duties this fall. Parsons currently serves as the director of the budget and administration office at the University of Michigan. Parsons takes over the position left by Joe Trubacz, who is now the chief financial officer for UA. Steve Meckel, Facilities Services, is serving as interim finance director until Parsons assumes his duties.
Abhijit Biswas and Ilker Bayer, OEM, were invited to serve as distinguished speakers at the Joint College Colloquium Series on Nanotechnology hosted by the Donaghey College of Information Science and Systems Engineering at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Aug. 31.
Pramod Karulkar, OEM, was invited to give a presentation at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's Workshop on Electronic Cortex.
Carol Gold's, CLA, new book, Danish Cookbooks: Domesticity and National Identity, 1616-1901, was recently published by the University of Washington Press in the U.S. and by the Museum Tusculanum Press in Denmark.
Hector Douglas, IMS, had his research findings on behavior of alloanointing in birds and the possible protection it provides against parasites published in the German journal Naturwissenschaften.
Theresa John, CRCD, was reappointed by Gov. Palin to the Alaska State Council on the Arts. John fills the position representing rural Alaska.
CES has released its first DVDs in the Preserving Alaska's Bounty series, Canning Basics and Canning Meat and Fish in Jars. The cost for each DVD is $5. New publications on lingonberries and Alaska blueberries, providing detailed nutrition, storage and recipe information, are also available. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/ces/.
Toastmasters International is starting a club on campus this fall through the Office of Multicultural Affairs. For more information contact 7300 or fyoma@uaf.edu.
The UA Museum of the North is seeking volunteers to lead tours for school groups during the semester. Free volunteer training takes place Sept. 10-21. For more information or to sign up for the training call 6948.
Facilities Services will be performing annual ski trail maintenance and will begin to cut in winter walking trails during the next several weeks. When you are using the trails, watch for equipment.
The TVC Center for Professional Development and Continuing Education is offering courses for fall 2007 in the certified public manager program and workshops in recreation, personal development, business, computers and culinary arts. Please register one week prior to the first day of class. For more information call 2858 or visit www.tvc.uaf.edu/programs/prodev/.
The UAF weekly science calendar has resumed. Submit information about science-related events on campus by noon the Wednesday before the event to cgc@iarc.uaf.edu. For more information visit www.cgc.uaf.edu.
UAF will join Golden Valley Electric Association's Sustainable Natural Alternative Power program this fall. The program connects producers with purchasers of renewable energy, including UAF students, faculty and staff who can actively participate in alternative energy production. For more information contact jbarrett@fs.uaf.edu.
Sign up to receive news releases and feature stories via e-mail or submit announcements and story ideas to UAF's online newsroom at www.uaf.edu/news/.
Employee notice, protection for whistleblowers: Any employee may in good faith report to testify before a public agency concerning: a violation of federal, state or local law; a danger to public health or safety; gross mismanagement; a substantial waste of funds or clear abuse of authority; or a matter under investigation by the state. Employee protections and obligations regarding reports of these matters of public concern are fully stated in Alaska statutes 39.90.100 through 39.90.150, which are available for review at UAF University Relations, 201 Eielson Building.
Harvey Karp, a nationally recognized pediatrician and author of Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block, presents a public workshop Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ($15 admission), and a professional seminar Sept. 6 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. ($75 admission), at the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts at Pioneer Park. The presentations are sponsored by TVC, the Resource Center for Parents and Children and the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.
Career Services hosts the Student Job Fair Sept. 12-13 in Wood Center from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information call 7596 or visit www.uaf.edu/career/.
The UA Museum of the North is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Sept. 15. The museum's winter hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and noon-5p.m. weekends starting Sept. 16. Admission is $5 for UAF faculty and staff and free for UAF students. For more information visit www.uaf.edu/museum/.
The Arctic Energy Summit Technology Conference, an IPY event, takes place Oct. 15-18 in Anchorage. For more information and registration contact the Institute of the North at (907) 771-2444 or visit www.arcticenergysummit.org.
Todd Paris, UMP, won second place in the 2006-2007 Monthly Image Competition held by the University Photographers' Association of America.
UAF has received a $40,000 planning gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to begin a program to increase the number of Alaska Natives earning Ph.D. degrees.
Dan Odess, museum and CLA, received a $54,886 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the old whaling culture and origins of whaling in Chukotka, Russia.
UA received a $3 million grant as a National University Transportation Center to improve transportation in cold regions through research, technology transfer, education and workforce development. The grant came as part of an $18 million grant to 13 universities nationwide administrated by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Innovative Technology Administration.
The CES Anchorage district team was awarded the 2007 Communicator Award for the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents. Marianne Kerr and Susan Bybee will accept the award at the national meeting in Atlanta in October. Candi Dierenfield will also be recognized at the national meeting with the Aim High Award.
Nanook volleyball's home matches will be available by videostream. The athletics department is working with media technology firm Penn Atlantic to offer the Internet broadcasts. The pay-per-view broadcasts will be available at www.pennatlantic.com or through www.alaskananooks.com. The Nanooks' next home game is against UAA Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Patty Center gym.
Former Nanook hockey captain Lucas Burnett has signed with the Anchorage Aces. Burnett joins former Nanooks Corbin Schmidt and Cam Keith.
The 2007 NCAA rifle championships, held in Fairbanks in March, have been nominated for the 2007 SportsTravel Award given out by SportsTravel Magazine. For more information or to vote visit www.sportstravelmagazine.com.
Sept. 5, 2007: Updates for the UAF directory are due. Proofs can be reviewed at www.uaf.edu/directory/proof07/. Please update your information at http://edir.alaska.edu, or notify your administrative contact with any changes. Contact the OIT Support Center at 8300 or helpdesk@alaska.edu for assistance.
A New Year
Welcome back! As summer draws to a close, Judy and I savor the lasting memories of long summer days under the midnight sun, as well as travel that took us far from our adopted home in the far North. At the same time we look ahead to a year full of promise and renewal.
UAF and Alaska are extraordinary in so many ways. The past year brought many special moments, including kicking off the International Polar Year, opening ceremonies or breaking ground on new facilities and saying goodbye to people whom we hold dear.
The new academic year brings a renewed vitality to campus that is as invigorating as the slight chill in the morning air. As freshmen make their way to their dorms for the first time, and faculty prepare for fall classes, we make the final transition from summer into fall. We welcome these new arrivals as well as our new provost, Susan Henrichs, and new CLA Dean Ron Davis.
I am humbled to be a part of this great university. I am also honored to lead a remarkable team of faculty, staff and students here at UAF. This new academic year promises a bright future for America's arctic university. I encourage you to attend the UAF convocation and state of the university address Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. in Schaible Auditorium as we celebrate the successes of the past and look forward to the future.
