The University of Toledo has canceled morning classes for Wednesday, March 12. A decision regarding afternoon classes will be made and communicated by 10 a.m.

Despite canceled classes, the University will remain open. Due to the Lucas County Level 3 Snow Emergency, only employees classified as essential to University operations should report to work. Those who have questions regarding their status should contact their supervisor for clarification.

The University of Toledo Medical Center and its outpatient clinics, as always, will remain open.

To receive the fastest updates on severe weather and other campus emergencies, sign up for UT Alert to receive text messages on your phone by visiting https://stuweb00.utoledo.edu/redalert. Log in with your UTAD credentials.

In 2007, Dr. Mario Capecchi received a Nobel Prize for his work in genetics. Next week he’s coming to The University of Toledo.

Capecchi, the Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics and Biology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, will give a public lectures at UT on Tuesday, March 18.

Capecchi

“Dr. Capecchi is not only a skilled scientist, but also a brilliant educator and speaker,” said Dr. Akira Takashima, professor and chair of the UT Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. “I think those who attend his lectures at UT will be inspired by the work that he’s done throughout his life.”

Capecchi’s free, public lecture on Tuesday, March 18, will begin with a reception at 5:15 p.m. in the Collier Building Lobby. His talk, “The Making of a Scientist — An Unlikely Journey,” will begin at 6 p.m. in Collier Building Room 1050. He will discuss the triumphs and tribulations he experienced on his path to becoming who he is today and discuss the importance of science in our society.

“This lecture is meant to stimulate people into wanting to go into science and why I think science is fun,” Capecchi said. “What makes science seem hard is jargon. If you strip out the jargon, what we do really isn’t that complicated.”

Capecchi won the Nobel Prize along with Sir Martin Evans and Dr. Oliver Smithies for their work with gene targeting in mouse embryo-derived stem cells. This research could lead not only to better management, but also to cures for every known human disease.

On Wednesday, March 19, Capecchi also will give a University Distinguished Lecture to scientists and academics about his work with genetics. Capecchi will present his lecture, “Gene Targeting Into the 21st Century: Mouse Models of Human Diseases From Cancer to Neuropsychiatric Disorders,” at 8:30 a.m. in Health Education Building Room 100.

Throughout his stay in Toledo, Capecchi will meet administrators, students and faculty in the departments of Medicine, Physiology and Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, and Medical Microbiology and Immunology. He also will be a guest judge in the final round of oral and poster presentations for the 2014 Graduate Research Forum.

To RSVP for the March 18 public lecture, email hscevents@utoledo.edu or call 419.383.6122 by Tuesday, March 11.

Click here to download a photo of Capecchi.

Media Coverage
The Blade (March 31, 2014)

The Human Resources Management Excellence Awards were established in 1998 by The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation Department of Management to encourage and recognize excellent progress and achievement in the field of human resource management among area organizations.

“These awards are given annually to an individual or HR department having a profound impact on their organization’s performance through demonstrated commitment, innovation and leadership in the human resource function,” said Dr. Clinton Longenecker, professor of Management and chair of the Awards Selection Committee.

Nominations are being accepted from now through March 30. Anyone can nominate any organization, including their own.

To nominate an organization, email the following information to clinton.longenecker@utoledo.edu:

•  Nominator’s name, title, name of nominator’s organization and contact information
•  Name of the nominated human resource department along with contact information for someone within that HR department
•  A paragraph describing why this HR department is deserving of this recognition.

Nominated organizations will be contacted and asked to provide additional information.

Winners must have at least one designated HR practitioner; be actively involved in the continued development and improvement of their organization’s HR function; make significant contributions to improve organizational performance through their collective HR efforts; and provide vision, guidance and leadership in developing or improving the major HR practices in their organization.

The awards will be presented May 13 at the Toledo Area Human Resource Association meeting in Perrysburg.

Previous Human Resource Management Award for Excellence winners include Spangler Candy Company, SSOE, Mercy Health Partners, Owens Corning and Sauder Woodworking.

The Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals will hold oral argument at The University of Toledo College of Law on Wednesday, March 12, at 9 a.m. in the McQuade Law Auditorium.

The court will hear argument in four cases. Arguments set for the session include a child custody dispute, an appeal from a murder conviction alleging ineffective assistance of counsel, and a contract dispute between business partners.

Sessions are open to the public.

“The opportunity for students to observe judges and lawyers in a real court session is a valuable part of the College’s oral advocacy curriculum,” said Terrell Allen, legal writing professor and director of the Legal Research, Writing, and Appellate Advocacy Program. “We appreciate the court’s willingness to provide this useful experience and instruction for our students.”

The first session begins at 9 a.m., and the second session starts at 10:15 a.m. After adjourning, the court and counsel will answer audience questions during a brief question and answer period.

More information is available on the court’s calendar and docket.

Do you want to learn more about law and the legal system, but you don’t plan to practice law? Do you want to earn a degree in law, but you don’t want to devote three years of full-time study to obtain a juris doctor? Do you want a master’s degree in a fascinating field?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, the Master of Studies in Law Program at The University of Toledo College of Law may be just right for you.

The College of Law is accepting applications to its Master of Studies in Law Program for classes starting fall 2014.

The Master of Studies in Law Program is designed primarily for professionals in a variety of career settings who could benefit from a better understanding of law and the legal system but do not want to practice law. Master of studies in law students will gain a solid foundation in the law and can enhance their careers, without investing the equivalent of three years of study to obtain a juris doctor.

“Law touches almost every field of human endeavor,” said Daniel J. Steinbock, dean of the College of Law, “and knowledge of it can be invaluable for many professionals, as can the analytic skills honed in a law school.”

Students earn the master of studies in law degree by successfully completing 30 credit hours. Full-time students can complete the program in two semesters, and part-time students are welcome to arrange a workable program for themselves. Day and evening courses are available, making it convenient to attain a master of studies in law degree while working.

After one introductory course, master of studies in law students complete classes alongside juris doctor students, although they are graded on a different scale. Master of studies in law students may tailor their studies to concentrate in a specific area of law, including health care, human resources, criminal justice, business and many more.

The Master of Studies in Law Program can benefit those who work with lawyers, whose work is governed by laws or regulations, or who work in fields in which knowledge of the law provides an edge. Although designed primarily to enhance existing careers, the program also can help re-direct and launch career paths.

Master of studies in law classes will begin in August.

For more information about the Master of Studies in Law Program, see utoledo.edu/law/admissions/apply/mlw.html or contact the Law Admissions Office at Law.Admissions@utoledo.edu or 419.530.4131.

University of Toledo Innovation Enterprises announced today the finalization of a six-month reorganization process that looked at the leadership, committee and organization structures.

The move, part of a continued effort to adopt the most current best practices in economic development and University research commercialization, requires approval from UT’s Board of Trustees.

William Fall, CEO of the William Fall Group, was named to chair the UTIE Board of Directors, pending approval by UT trustees. In addition, the UTIE board recommended separating the position of CEO from the position of chair and established four new operating committees, three of which were charged with oversight of specific portfolios of firms invested in by UTIE.

“As Innovation Enterprises continues to grow and mature as an organization, UT President Lloyd Jacobs asked us in 2013 to start looking for ways to integrate the most current best practices into the UTIE governance model,” Fall said.

“We’re investing in ideas, technologies and companies that have the potential to really change people’s lives and transform this community,” Fall said. “The state of Ohio has asked Universities to take a leadership role as engines of economic development and we feel these changes will make a strong organization that much more impactful.”

Three of the four new committees will focus respectively on firms advancing biomedical technology, information technology and alternative energy. Fall said the change would enable subject matter experts in each area to focus more of their efforts on specific areas, rather than the entirety of UTIE’s portfolio.

A fourth committee will focus on providing business development services to young firms that could have the idea or product to commercialize, but not necessarily possess all the grant writing, marketing, finance and other expertise needed to succeed.

“Innovation Enterprises has reached a natural point in its life cycle where it is time to take a look at what’s been accomplished and what can be improved,” UT President Lloyd Jacobs said. “Names in leadership positions will change, but this effort is about creating a governance model with the endurance and flexibility to survive and thrive in an incredibly dynamic academic and commercial environment.”

Fall and Jacobs said the integration of economic development into universities’ teaching, research and health care delivery missions is an area of agreement that spans elected officials from both parties and across all levels of government.

“UT was among the first universities to embrace the commercialization of laboratory research and the general role of economic driver,” Jacobs said. “It’s essential to this University and this region that we continue our leadership in this arena.”

Media Coverage
The Blade (March 6, 2014)
The Blade (March 7, 2014)

The inaugural Jesup Scott Honors College Lecture Series will conclude with a talk from Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow, entitled The Future of Education, on Monday, March 10 at The University of Toledo.

Crow

Crow is the 16th president of Arizona State University responsible for guiding the transformation of ASU into one of the nation’s leading public metropolitan research universities, combining academic excellence, inclusiveness to a broad demographic, and maximum societal impact — a model he designed known as the “New American University.”

Under his leadership, the University established transdisciplinary research initiatives and witnessed an unprecedented academic infrastructure expansion, the tripling of research expenditures and the attainment of record levels of diversity.

The lecture will be at 7 p.m. in Doermann Theater. Tickets are available at utoledo.edu/honorslecture.

“In a time when people have been questioning the relevance of traditional higher education and the value of a college degree, Dr. Crow has transformed ASU to exceed expectations of students and the community at large,” said Dr. Scott Scarborough, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “His talk is a great opportunity for anyone interested in the future of education.”

Prior to joining ASU, Crow was executive vice provost of Columbia University. An adviser to the U.S. departments of state, commerce, and energy on matters of science and technology policy, he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Public Administration, and has published on science and technology policy and the design of knowledge enterprises.

The Jesup Scott Honors College Distinguished Lecture Series kicked off in September with education innovator Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy. In November UT heard from political consultant James Carville and from business strategy expert Richard Rumelt in January.

The next round of speakers for the Jesup Scott Honors College Distinguished Lecture Series has been set.

The series next year will kick off Sept. 15 with Karl Rove, who served as senior advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000–2007 and Deputy Chief of Staff from 2004–2007. Musician Crystal Bowersox, the Toledo native and 2010 American Idol runner up, will talk and perform Nov. 10. Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and political commentator for CNN who served in President Bill Clinton’s administration, will speak Jan. 21. And Toledo Museum of Art Executive Director Brian Kennedy will deliver the final lecture in the series in March, the date is to be determined.

Click here to download a photo of Crow.

The NUTURES program at The University of Toledo will host a Family Science Night at Imagination Station 6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 1 for families with kids in pre-K through third grade where families can explore the science center, participate in science activities, win prizes and more. 

Participants will learn about water erosion by constructing a river to flow in a specific direction and how your heart rate reacts to different activities. Families also will work together to complete an engineering challenge as they build an 18-inch tower from newspaper and tape that needs to support the weight of a baseball and stand up to a fan.

“Families are encouraged to explore, discuss and think together,” said Deanna Bobak, project director for the NURTURES program. “When children learn and play right alongside their parents and siblings, the entire family walks away with a greater interest and understanding of science.”

“Imagination Station is proud to be able to partner with NURTURES to bring STEM education to families,” Lori Hauser, CEO of Imagination Station, said. “Involving the entire community in science education, as NURTURES does, is a great for northwest Ohio.”

NURTURES, which stands for Networking Urban Resources with Teachers and University enRich Early Childhood Science, is a partnership led by The University of Toledo’s Judith Herb College of Education, in collaboration with Toledo Public Schools, area nursery schools and day cares, and science and community organizations.

The program, which is supported with a $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation, works to include discovery in early childhood science education by engaging students in preschool through third grade, as well as their parents and teachers. The Sci-FUN community event helps the program with its goal to reach 10,000 families.

The next Nurtures Sci-FUN community event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at Wildwood Preserve Metropark.

For more information visit nurtures.utoledo.edu.