Stories indexed with the term ‘UM Board of Regents’

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on a letter that University of Michigan faculty sent to UM regents on April 20, questioning the high salaries of university administrators. From the letter: “The University is in desperate and urgent need of fiscal reform. Arresting the steep increases in salaries to top administrators, reforming the secretive bonus culture of the Fleming administration building, terminating the toxic AST project, and refocusing the attention of the University on its core mission of teaching, research, and service should save the University many tens of millions of dollars per year. We urge you to work with incoming President-Elect Schlissel to introduce and implement these necessary reforms as soon as practically possible.” The 40-page document includes a … [Full Story]

The University of Michigan board of regents will consider a proposal offering in-state tuition to undocumented students who meet certain qualifications, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press. If approved, the proposal would also offer in-state tuition to any member of the military currently serving or honorably discharged. [.pdf staff memo of proposed new qualifications for in-state tuition] The regents meet on Thursday, July 18 at 3 p.m. in the North Atrium of Building 18 at the North Campus Research Complex (former Pfizer complex). [Source]

The Detroit News reports on the University of Michigan’s decision to raise tuition by 1.1% for the 2013-14 academic year. It’s the lowest tuition increase in nearly 30 years. The increase was approved at the June 20 UM board of regents meeting, but was opposed by regents Andrea Fischer Newman and Denise Ilitch. The article quotes Ilitch, who has voted against tuition hikes in previous years: “The business model must change. The continuing raising of tuition is not sustainable. This is not a university problem. This is a national problem.” [Source]

Another major dormitory renovation – this time for West Quad and the adjacent Cambridge House at the Michigan Union – was approved by University of Michigan regents at their Feb. 21, 2013 meeting. The project, estimated to cost $114.5 million, is part of the multi-year Residential Life Initiative, which has included “deep” renovations to Mosher-Jordan, Stockwell, Couzens and Alice Lloyd residence halls, as well as work that’s underway at East Quad and South Quad.

West Quad and Cambridge House, built in 1937 and located at 541 Thompson St., house about 1,100 students. The renovations will cover 370,000 square feet and include infrastructure upgrades as well as creation of new community spaces. In describing the project, Royster Harper – UM’s … [Full Story]

Moving ahead on a project initially authorized at their Sept. 20, 2012 meeting, University of Michigan regents approved a schematic design for a major $60 million renovation of South Quad, a nine-story dormitory located at 600 E. Madison. The unanimous vote was taken at the board’s Feb. 21, 2013 meeting.

The project entails renovating 106,700 square feet of the building’s first two floors, and includes expanded student dining facilities, updated bathrooms, refurbished student lounges, music practice rooms, group study spaces, and infrastructure upgrades. South Quad, built in 1951, houses about 1,180 students as well as the university’s honors program.

SmithGroupJJR is the project’s architect, and a representative from the firm was on hand to give a brief presentation. The major change … [Full Story]

Taking another step on a project originally approved at a Nov. 15, 2012 meeting, University of Michigan regents have signed off on the schematic design for a $2.6 million renovation of the UM College of Pharmacy building. The action took place at the regents Feb. 21, 2013 meeting, when the board also authorized staff to issue the project for bids and award construction contracts.

The project will add more offices and cubicles to the basement and first floor, and create a small lobby entrance. It will cover about 12,000-square-feet in the building, located at 428 Church St. in Ann Arbor. The design work is being handled by the architectural firm SHW Group. Jim Luckey of SHW made a brief presentation … [Full Story]

Fourteen items disclosed under the state’s conflict-of-interest statute were authorized by the University of Michigan board of regents at its Feb.21, 2013 meeting. The law requires that regents vote on potential conflict-of-interest disclosures related to university staff, faculty or students.

The items often involve technology licensing agreements or leases. This month, all items were approved unanimously and without discussion. They related to the following businesses and organizations: ResolveAble Inc. (option agreement); Optimal Process Technologies LLC (license agreement); HiperNap LLC (option agreement); H3D Inc. (license agreement); Ektapharm Inc. (option agreement); Cardiavent Inc. (amendment to option agreement); Biocrede Inc. (option agreement); Armune BioScience Inc. (research agreement); Ambiq Micro Inc. (amendment to license agreement); Ascentage Pharma Group Corporation Ltd. (amendment to license agreement); Talley Photo+graphics … [Full Story]

A $27.45 million project to move offices and “dry” research collections of the University of Michigan departments of anthropology, paleontology and zoology was approved by the UM board of regents on Feb. 21, 2013. The collections, labs and offices are now in three locations: at the Ruthven Museums building (1109 Geddes), Campus Safety Services building (1239 Kipke, near the Crisler Center) and the Clarence Cook Little Science building (1100 N. University Ave.).

The new location will be at the university’s Varsity Drive building (3600 Varsity Drive, off of Ellsworth Road), where about 71,000 square feet of space will be renovated to accommodate these departments and collections of bones and other objects. The project will be … [Full Story]

The University of Michigan’s board of regents has formally appointed Martha E. Pollack as the university’s new provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Also appointed was Mark West as the new dean of UM’s Law School. The appointments were made at the board’s Feb. 21, 2013 meeting, as part of several appointments in the meeting’s consent agenda.

Pollack, who currently serves as vice provost, will replace Phil Hanlon, who was named president of Dartmouth College late last year and will begin his tenure there in July of 2013. [.pdf of memo recommending Pollack for provost] Her term runs from May 6, 2013 through June 30, 2015.

West now serves as associate dean for academic affairs … [Full Story]

Two outgoing University of Michigan regents – Martin Taylor and Libby Maynard – were recognized at the board’s Dec. 13, 2012 meeting, the last one of their 16-year tenure. The two Democrats did not seek reelection this year. They will be replaced by Democrats Mark Bernstein of Ann Arbor and Shauna Ryder Diggs of Detroit, who is Taylor’s daughter-in-law. Bernstein and Diggs were the top two vote-getters in a statewide election for the regents’ seats on Nov. 6.

Regent Julia Darlow read a resolution of appreciation for Maynard, a Flint-area resident and alumna of the School of Social Work. The resolution cited Maynard’s “strong support for the University’s affirmative action efforts, women’s and gender equity issues, and initiatives to increase the … [Full Story]

Three key reappointments were highlighted during the Dec. 13, 2012 meeting of the University of Michigan board of regents. They were among several personnel actions approved by regents in one vote. [.pdf of all personnel actions]

Jerry May, UM’s vice president for development, was reappointed to a third five-year term from Feb. 1, 2013 through Jan. 31, 2018. At the Dec. 13 meeting, president Mary Sue Coleman praised May’s work, saying he has met or exceeded expectations for every single task. In her letter of support for his reappointment, Coleman cited his leadership of the most successful capital campaign in UM’s history. Called the “Michigan Difference,” the campaign surpassed $3 billion in donations. UM is gearing up for another major … [Full Story]

At the Dec. 13, 2012 meeting of the University of Michigan board of regents, provost Phil Hanlon briefed regents on the university’s annual letter to the state budget director, outlining the fiscal 2014 budget needs of the Ann Arbor campus. [link to .pdf of budget development letter] The 10-page letter, officially from UM president Mary Sue Coleman, makes the case that UM needs state support, and provides details of UM’s cost containment efforts, affordability, and impact on the regional economy.

The university also responds to the state’s request for suggestions for “formula funding” – a mechanism to standardize appropriations for higher education. The letter argues that this formula approach to funding for higher education, which has resulted in one-time allocations, … [Full Story]

In the latest step toward building a new parking structure on Wall Street, University of Michigan regents authorized staff to issue bids for the $34 million project and award construction contracts. The action came at the board’s Dec. 13, 2012 meeting.

In July of 2012, regents had approved a schematic design for the six-story, 720-space parking structure on Wall Street, near the Kellogg Eye Center and the UM medical campus. The overall project had been authorized in April 2012. [schematic of structure – view from Maiden Lane] [... [Full Story]

Four items disclosed under the state’s conflict-of-interest statute were authorized by the University of Michigan board of regents at their Dec. 13, 2012 meeting. The law requires that regents vote on potential conflict-of-interest disclosures related to university staff, faculty or students.

The items often involve technology licensing agreements or leases. This month, all items were approved unanimously and without discussion. They related to the following businesses and organizations: JV Biolabs LLC (sub-lease agreement at 2900 Huron Parkway); Avicenna Medical Systems (contract to license Avicenna’s chronic disease management software, called Avitracks); Echo360 Inc. (contract to license UM technology); and Vortex Hydro Energy LLC (master agreement for collaboration between UM and the startup business).

As an example of these items, disclosure of the contract with … [Full Story]

In separate votes, University of Michigan regents approved three infrastructure projects on Ann Arbor’s central campus totaling $16.55 million. The approvals came during the board’s Dec. 13, 2012 meeting.

The largest project is $8.5 million for a new chiller plant, to be located in the lower basement of the South Quad residence hall at 600 E. Madison. The chilling system would serve three buildings: South Quad, West Quad, and the Michigan Union. The project will be funded by UM’s housing unit and coordinated with the $60 million overhaul of South Quad, which regents approved at their September 2012 meeting.

Also approved was a $5.75 million project to upgrade the feed water system at UM’s central power plant, located at … [Full Story]

A $4.375 million renovation project for the University of Michigan Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory was authorized by regents at their Dec. 13, 2012 meeting. The renovation will take place in UM’s North Campus Research Complex (NCRC), the former Pfizer facility on Plymouth Road.

Specifically, the lab will be located in 8,900 square feet on the ground floor and first floor of Building 22. Currently the lab is housed in the Space Research Building and the Carl A. Gerstacker Building on UM’s north campus.

Renovation is expected to be finished in the winter of 2014 and will support about 10 construction jobs during the work, according to a staff memo. The project will be funded with resources from UM’s College of … [Full Story]

A $4.4 million renovation of Mason Hall – focused on upgrades to the Angell Hall Courtyard computing site and three computing classrooms – was approved by the University of Michigan regents at their Dec. 13, 2012 meeting.

Mason Hall, located at 419 S. State, is connected to Angell Hall. The renovation will cover 32,000 square feet and include expansion of the computing site, improved accessibility, and infrastructure upgrades. The project will be funded through investment proceeds and the provost’s office. The work is expected to be finished by the fall of 2013 and will provide about 14 construction jobs.

Regent Andrea Fischer Newman asked whether the changes would affect the “Fishbowl” – a reference to the glass-walled computing center. Tim Slottow, … [Full Story]

A major renovation to the entrance of Schembechler Hall at 1200 S. State moved forward, with University of Michigan regents authorizing staff to issue bids and award construction contracts on the $9 million project. That action occurred at the board’s Dec. 13, 2012 meeting. Regents had previously approved a schematic design at their July 2012 meeting, and had signed off on the overall project in January.

The building was constructed in 1990 for UM’s football program. It contains locker rooms, meeting rooms, medical treatment rooms, training areas, weight rooms, and administrative offices. The project will add about 7,000 square feet to the building, renovate an additional 7,000 square feet, and integrate the Margaret Dow Towsley Sports Museum area. The main entrance will … [Full Story]

Several real estate deals – including one involving the building that houses Blimpy Burger on South Division – were authorized by University of Michigan regents at their Dec. 13, 2012 board meeting.

The university is buying three properties on the east side of South Division Street, north of Packard – at 545, 549 and 551 S. Division – for a total cost of $1.5 million.

The two properties at 549 and 551 S. Division are being purchased for $1.075 million. Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger, which has been in business since 1953, leases the building at 551 S. Division. The deal is expected to close on Dec. 31, but the lease to Blimpy Burger will run through Aug. 31, 2013. Tenants will … [Full Story]

The University of Michigan leases space at six locations that each cover more than 50,000 square feet. Most of the spaces are used by various University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) units. The item of information was presented at the Dec. 13, 2012 UM board of regents meeting.

The largest amount is 240,920 square feet at the Domino’s Farms complex in Ann Arbor, used for several different UMHS departments, including sports medicine, plastic surgery, preventive cardiology, and some Medical School groups, including internal medicine.

Other leased space in Ann Arbor includes: (1) 125,815 square feet at the KMS Building at 3621 S. State Street, which is leased from State 94 Properties LLC for hospital clinical billing and other UMHS groups; (2) 70,754 … [Full Story]

Timothy G. Lynch’s appointment as University of Michigan vice president and general counsel was approved by regents as part of their consent agenda. The vote came during the board’s Nov. 15, 2012 meeting. His appointment was announced by the university earlier this week. He replaces Suellyn Scarnecchia, who resigned earlier this year. Since June 1, Debra Kowich has served as interim general counsel.

Most recently Lynch has served as the acting general counsel and deputy general counsel for litigation and enforcement with the U.S. Department of Energy. Other previous experience includes serving as an assistant chief litigation counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and as an assistant attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of … [Full Story]

Continuing an upgrade of the University of Michigan’s tunnel infrastructure on the Ann Arbor campus, regents approved a $3.2 million project to replace 100 feet of concrete tunnel along South University Avenue. The approval came during the board’s Nov. 15, 2012 meeting.

According to a staff memo, the work includes “replacing a portion of the low pressure steam line and condensate return line in the tunnel, maintaining operation of the affected utilities during construction, and repairing paving and landscaping disturbed by the project.” The project has been designed by Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc., and is expected to provide about 13 on-site construction jobs. The work is set to be finished by the fall of 2013.

This report was filed from … [Full Story]

Ten items disclosed under the state’s conflict-of-interest statute were authorized by the University of Michigan board of regents at their Nov. 15, 2012 meeting. The law requires that regents vote on potential conflict-of-interest disclosures related to university staff, faculty or students.

The items often involve technology licensing agreements or leases. This month, all items were approved unanimously and without discussion. They related to the following businesses and organizations: ImBio LLC, BHJ Tech Inc., Newline Builders, Arborlight LLC, Arbor Ultrasound Technologies LLC, HiperNap LLC, Inmatech Inc., the Institute for Social and Environmental Research Nepal, PsiKick Inc., and Lycera Inc.

By way of example, the Lycera disclosure is required because four people who have an ownership stake in the company – Gary Glick, Anthony Opipari, … [Full Story]

The University of Michigan athletic department plans to spend $6 million on a project to repaint the top and underside of the Michigan Stadium bowl. UM regents signed off on the project at their Nov. 15, 2012 meeting.

The work will entail removing existing paint, removing or replacing corroded steel, and repainting with a corrosion-resistant paint to protect the metal. Because much of the existing painted surface contains lead-based paint, the project will also include lead-mitigation work, according to a staff memo.

Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. will design the project, which is expected to provide about 15 on-site construction jobs. The job is expected to be finished in the the summer of 2014 and will be funded from athletic department resources.

This … [Full Story]

A major renovation at the University of Michigan’s North Campus Research Complex – costing an estimated $17.5 million – was approved by regents at their Nov. 15, 2012 meeting. The project will cover about 68,000-square-feet in the east wing of Building 20, which was originally constructed in 1956. The site is within the former Pfizer campus, purchased by UM in 2009. Tim Slottow, the university’s chief financial officer, told regents that this work had been anticipated when the university acquired the complex.

As described in a staff memo, the renovation will upgrade the area to be used for interdisciplinary biomedical research. The project will be funded with UM Medical School resources and designed by SmithGroupJJR. It’s estimated that about 40 … [Full Story]

A $2.6 million renovation of the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy building will add more offices and cubicles to the basement and first floor, and create a small lobby entrance. The project, approved by UM regents at their Nov. 15, 2012 meeting, will cover about 12,000-square-feet in the building, located at 428 Church St. in Ann Arbor.

The design will be handled by the architectural firm SHW Group, with about nine on-site construction jobs provided during the work.

This report was filed from the Anderson Room at the Michigan Union on UM’s central campus in Ann Arbor, where the regents held their November meeting.

A $16.8 million renovation of the University of Michigan’s William L. Clements Library – including an 8,500-square-foot underground addition to house portions of the library’s collection and mechanical equipment – was approved by UM regents at their Nov. 15, 2012 meeting. The library, built in 1923 and located at 909 S. University Ave., specializes in American history and culture from the 15th to the 19th century. The changes will make the collection more accessible, according to university staff.

As described in a staff memo, the project will make upgrades to the building’s infrastructure “in a manner that utilizes historic preservation techniques.” The project will include exterior restoration as well as interior renovations to heating and air-conditioning, fire-suppression, security systems and … [Full Story]

A $23.27 million addition and renovation at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance will be named in honor of Bill and Dee Brehm. Approvals for the project and renaming of the Earl V. Moore Building were approved in separate votes by UM regents at their Nov. 15, 2012 meeting.

The project includes a 21,000-square-foot addition to house a new rehearsal hall, lecture hall, classrooms, practice rooms and studios, and storage space. The structure will be located to the south of the existing building, which on UM’s north campus. The project will also include renovation of the first floor north wing to increase the number of practice rooms, and the west side of the second floor … [Full Story]