Instant Messages
Notes and News from Student Affairs
Spring 2012, Volume 7, Issue 4
Students Build Community—Dr. Bonnie Gorman, Dean of Students
“You’re the greatest.” Those were
Nancy Grimm’s, Director of the
Multiliteracies Center, closing words
to the Learning Center coaches at
their annual appreciation banquet held
at the end of March. I haven’t
attended this banquet in a number of
years, but I recalled it as a delightful
evening and was pleased to be invited
again this year. I wasn’t disappointed.
shirt and tie since, as a senior, he was
interviewing; in years three and two, he
claimed school was so hard he slept in
Fisher Hall, so underneath that shirt and
tie, was his bathrobe and jammies. He
closed by stripping down again and
returning to what he was wearing the day
he arrived on campus—a Michigan Tech
t-shirt and shorts, so proud and excited to
be a Husky. Michigan Tech has been
“438 percent” better than he ever
expected!
It’s a tradition at this event for the
graduating seniors to be recognized
Edward Leonard
and for a senior coach to say a few
In the end though, what struck me most
Senior Coach
words or tell a story about their
was that in this digital age, students found
Physics Learning
experiences working as a coach. I
such reward in the work itself and in the
Center
wish each of you could have heard
relationships they’ve formed. For them,
what was said. The stories they told were as differ- being a coach meant developing an understanding
ent as each of the centers themselves—some were of what it “means to be human.” It’s cool to be
funny, some touching, others expressed
there when “we turn students’ headlights on.”
appreciation for their Center coordinators and their And, “we are making a difference in the lives of
peers. For example, Edward Leonard, from the
others.” Reflecting on this event, I am in awe of
Physics Learning Center, recounted backwards his this group of very successful students and inspired
four years at Tech, and with each year (and story) by their contributions to the Michigan Tech
he took off a layer of clothes. So he started in a
community.
Headlines—Dean of Students
COMPASS—Spring OTL Training on March 25 Kicks Off Activities for Orientation 2012
Conduct Services—Student Accountability and Restorative Research (STARR) Project Shows
Educational Impact Conduct Services Has on Students
Counseling and Wellness Services—Taglione From Counseling and Wellness Services and the
Association of Psychology Students Bring Movie Producer to Tech
Registrar’s Office—Over 950 Graduates will be Participating In Commencement this Spring;
854 Undergraduate and 199 Graduate Students!
Student Disability Services—MUB Improves Accessibility—New Electronic Door On East Entrance
Headlines—Student Life
Center for Diversity and Inclusion Is the Proud Recipient of the Promising Practices Award
Sponsored by the Student Affairs Partnering With Academic Affairs Knowledge Community within
NASPA
Housing and Residential Life—Broomball Weathers the Weather Completing the Season With
Ridkidonk as the 2012 Season Champions. See Photo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/
irhcbroomball/6945699597/in/set-72157629128959574
Student Activities Hosted 12 HuskyLEAD Sessions This Year With Very Strong Attendance
New Staff in Student Affairs
Left:
Jenny Mileski, Admissions
Cindy Cowell, Financial Aid
Right:
Matt Jennings
Athletics-Volleyball
Headlines—Enrollment Services
Admissions—Coming in May: Admissions Hosts Leadership Institute for High School Junior Women
Interested in STEM
Career Services Along With Generous Sponsorship From The Kohler Company, Hosted the Spring
2012 Business and Dining Etiquette Dinner with Over 325 Students Attending
Center for Pre-College Outreach Launches On-Line Quiz “What Kind Of GEEK Are You!”
Enrollment Services Information Systems Staff Receives SQL Training
Financial Aid Awarding New and Current Student Financial Aid 2012-13 Academic Year
International Programs & Services Receives Funding to Perform Study Abroad Site Visit in
Costa Rica
“Nobody succeeds beyond his or her wildest expectations unless he or she begins with some wild
expectations”. ~Ralph Charell
Message from the Vice President for Student Affairs—Dr. Les Cook
For the past 125 years, Michigan
Tech has pushed the boundaries
providing both an education and
an experience. We appeal to
students that desire an excellent
education in an environment ripe
with opportunities for adventure.
We pride ourselves on attracting
those who are bright,
motivated, and adventurous, or
what we commonly refer to as
“crazy smart” students.
Over spring break I had the good
fortune to travel with 23
Michigan Tech students to Utah
for an Alternative Spring Break
ski trip. All of these students are
bright, motivated and certainly
adventurous. In between hiking
to peaks of 10,000 feet and
What does crazy smart look
like? You don’t have to look
hard at Michigan Tech to find
the answer. Take Sam Hoyt
for example. Sam, a junior
Graduating Senior Phill Mercier
from Arkansaw, Wisconsin, has
and Les
made a name for herself as one of
Skiing in Utah
the best 3-point shooters in the
Alternative Spring Break Trip
GLIAC league. In fact, she broke
a school record by scoring 37
points in one game this year.
jumping off cliffs, student Garrett
Pretty crazy.
Lord was negotiating for a couple
of summer job opportunities.
What about first year mechanical This summer he will be working
engineering student Joel Florek, for Palantir Technologies, a high
and senior applied physics
tech company that provides
student Travis Beaulieu, and their analytics platforms for premier
organization of AsfalisMed?
financial and intelligence clients.
Their idea is to utilize QR codes Their mantra is “We help solve
on student ID cards to store
the world’s biggest problems.”
medical information that medical Bright motivated and certainly
personnel could access quickly in crazy smart.
emergency situations. As of this
writing they have competed in
In their book, Abundance: The
close to five different
Future is Better than You Think
competitions where they will win authors Peter Diamandis and
anywhere from a few thousand to Steven Kotler write about how
upwards of one hundred thousand bright our future can be. Despite
dollars to fund their entrepreneu- the enormous challenges facing
rial idea. Yes, motivated!
the human race and our home
planet, they write that within 20
to 35 years, we have the ability to
provide enough food, water,
energy, health care, and
prosperity through technological
advances. Optimistic? Yes, but
also realistic.
One of the reasons I love
working at Michigan Tech and
with our students is that I find
they are the best antidote to
today’s pervasive pessimism.
The light I see in their eyes is
also the light at the end of the
tunnel. Our students are going
to get it done; they are going to
be the ones to solve the issues
described in this book, no
question about it. It’s our job at
Michigan Tech to get them ready
for it.
At Michigan Tech our mission is
to prepare students to create the
future. At the end of this book
the authors write, “You need to
be a little crazy to change the
world, and you can’t really fake
it.” I couldn’t agree more.
Michigan Tech affords our
students the opportunity, a place
where they can be authentic,
adventurous, motivated, smart
and a little crazy.
With all good wishes,
Headlines—Athletics and Recreation
Athletics—Academic Honors Keep Rolling in for Michigan Tech Student-Athletes
Recreation—Ice Plant Replacement on Schedule for this Summer
Conference Presentations and Publications
Region VII National Orientation Directors Association Conference, March 16-17, 2012
Presenter: Katie Cooper, COMPASS
Title: Meeting at the Crossroads: Working with International Programs to Include English as a Second
Language Students into Orientation
Michigan Association of International Educators (MAIE) Conference, March 14-16, 2012
Co-Presenters: Katie Cooper, Susan Liebau, Heather Simpson, COMPASS
Title: Welcoming ESL Students in New Student Orientation
Michigan Association of International Educators (MAIE) Conference, March 14-16, 2012
Presenter: Tara Evans, International Programs and Services
Title: IS-CHAT
Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA), March 2012
Presenter: Rachel Wussow, Student Activities
Title: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed & Something Blue of Officer Transition
National Association for Campus Activities (NACA), March 2012
Presenter: Rachel Wussow, Student Activities
Title: Your Leadership Comic Book
Association for Student Conduct Administration’s Annual Conference, Feb 1-4, 2012
Co-Presenter: Rob Bishop, Dean of Students Office
Title: Roundtable Discussion on Ethical Decision-Making
Co-Facilitator: Rob Bishop
Title: All Day Pre-Conference Training on Restorative Justice
Michigan Pre-College Conference & Outreach Conference, November 2011
Co-Presenters: Steve Patchin, Cody Kangas, Center for Pre-College Outreach
Title: Science & Engineering Festivals: Igniting the Global Passion for STEM
Michigan Space Grant Consortium Annual Conference, November 2011
Presenter: Steve Patchin, Center for Pre-College Outreach
Title: Mind Trekkers Science & Engineering Festival at the Houghton County Fair
Blog: Great Lakes Association of College and University (GLACUHO), April 3, 2012
Author: Laura Williams, Housing and Residential Life
Title: Connecting Community to Community
Magazine Article: Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA), April 3, 2012
Co-Authors: Rachel Wussow, Student Activities and Kara Sokol, University Marketing
and Communication
Piece: Remember Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue in Officer Transition
Magazine Article: GLACUHO Trends, March 2012
Author: Michael Malloy, Housing and Residential Life
Title: Who is Allowed at Student Conduct Hearings?
The newsletter committee members include Lynda Heinonen, Susan Liebau, and Mary Ann Struthers.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please forward them to lheinone@mtu.edu.