Living the Dream Members of UM's United Black Students, an organization dedicated to breaking down racial barriers through student involvement and academic growth, take a break from a fun-filled day of activities with Miami-Dade youths during the Martin Luther King Week of Celebration at South Miami Community Center last Saturday. The group partnered with other organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Non Violence Project USA, to participate in team-building exercises, arts and crafts projects, and educational sessions about non-violence with the kids.

By utilizing local middle school students as their audience, graduate fellows from UM will work with teachers to incorporate more research-based and quantitative activities into the classroom. Graduate fellows will use the school setting to help improve their ability to deliver science information to a non-science audience. In addition, increased exposure to more hands-on activities developed by the graduate fellow and teacher teams will help middle school students to achieve and retain their interest in science.

“A vital component to nurturing student interest in science is to develop interesting research-based lesson plans,” says Michael Gaines, professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences and principal investigator on the project. “Our graduate fellows will lend this science expertise to the students, and they will receive some valuable lessons from the students and teachers in return.”

“In very short order, middle school teachers who work with this project’s graduate fellows will develop deeper understanding of science so that middle schoolers will improve their science FCAT scores without sacrificing the ‘wow!’ of science. Over the long run, this can only help their middle schools and subsequent high schools improve on the state report card,” says Professor Walter Secada, chair of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education and the project's co-principal investigator. 

To learn more, click here.

Teaching and Learning at UM receives high marks
The University of Miami School of Education’s Department of Teaching and Learning ranks fourth in research productivity in the field of teacher education and professional development. This month, Academic Analytics’ released its 2006-2007 national ranking of departments at major academic research institutions.

The Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index (FSP Index) was developed by Academic Analytics in order to evaluate departments and university specializations by field and discipline. The FSP Index measures the annual productivity of faculty on several factors, including publications, citations of journal publications, awards and honors, and federal research funding.

To learn more, click here.

UM/Sylvester to award breast cancer research grant
The Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute (BFBCI) of the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center will support one-year pilot projects in the amount of $50,000 to encourage the development of basic, translational, and clinical research in breast cancers. The support of pilot projects is intended to move findings in a scientific field toward novel clinical implementation while provoking further clinical observations in the laboratory. A goal of this funding mechanism is that research projects will ultimately grow into full R01 proposals. Support from the Women’s Cancer League allows the BFBCI to fund projects of relevance to ovarian cancer during this round of grant funding. An applicant whose project was funded in the previous grant cycle is not eligible the following year. Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows early in their career are not eligible. The application deadline is Saturday, March 31. For an application or more information, call 305-243-6292 or e-mail cllanos@med.miami.edu.

RecycleMania hits UM campus Forget about the Bowl Championship Series or the Final Four. This year, the University of Miami is competing in the ultimate college tournament. RecycleMania 2007 is a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in the United States that provides campus communities with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction. This year’s competition begins Sunday, January 28. Over a ten-week period, UM will compete against 200 other colleges and universities in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. The goals: to increase recycling participation by students, faculty, and staff and heighten awareness of schools’ waste management and recycling programs. During the competition, weekly results are posted on the RecycleMania Web site, www.recyclemaniacs.org, so that local newspapers and other media can report on the competition status. Watch future Green U updates in e-Veritas for promotions and competitions related to RecycleMania 2007. The contest is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and is part of the University's Green U initiative to implement sustainable practices. Through the use of innovative promotional ideas, driven by students, the University intends to continue the recycling efforts and to change the community culture to recycle first.

Women’s Basketball Employee Day tickets available today
Women’s Basketball Employee Day is on Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m., when the Hurricanes take on the Florida State Seminoles. All employees may receive one complimentary ticket to the game and may purchase up to five additional tickets for family members for $1 each. A ticket registration form must be filled out in advance, which can be downloaded here.

Participants should bring a valid ‘Cane Card along with the registration form to the sales tables at the Coral Gables campus today, Thursday, January 25 and Tuesday, January 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., outside the Whitten University Center breezeway. For more information, call 305-284-2263. Tickets can also be obtained at the Hecht Athletic Center Box Office on the Coral Gables campus.

Professional development courses available
The Professional Development and Training Office (PDTO) exists to ensure that professional development activities are designed and implemented that meet or exceed research-based standards for effective professional development at UM. PDTO offers performance consultations and courses among a host of additional services to the entire University community. To browse a list of upcoming PDTO courses available this month, click here.

UMatter cervical cancer prevention campaign continues
The newly developed vaccine that helps to prevent cervical cancer is available to UM Humana Plan members at no cost. The vaccine is available for girls and women between the ages of 9 to 26. Seventy percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts are caused by certain types of the human papilloma virus, HPV.    

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Even if you are not in the vaccine-eligible age group, you can be proactive and help prevent cervical cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the single most common factor associated with invasive cervical cancer is never or rarely being screened.

To help protect the health of your family and our community, you are urged to:

• Continue to get regular Pap Tests as recommended by your health care provider.
• Attend the upcoming UMatter lectures; dates will be announced for all campuses.
• Look for letters with raffle entries if you or your dependents are vaccine eligible.
• Talk to your family, friends, and health care provider about this issue.
• Get vaccinated.

For additional information, visit www.cervicalcancercampaign.org, www.cdc.gov/women, and www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/hpv-vaccines.

Communication skills for emerging leaders
Because people come into contact with various personalities and individuals with conflicting goals on a daily basis, the Leadership Academy is offering a three-hour seminar exploring leadership communication skills. Guided by the Employee Assistance Program, participants will learn about constructive communication within professional and non-professional relationships. This seminar has a CBL prerequisite. To register for the CBL, visit netlearning.miami.edu. The next session will be held on Tuesday, January 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Max Orovitz Building, room 139, on the Coral Gables campus. For more information, call 305-284-6604. For help with registration, call 305-243-3090.

Only two days remaining to register for Walking ’Canes program
You can walk off those extra pounds you put on over the holidays when the Walking ’Canes program begins! All UM employees are eligible to participate and can register online through Friday, January 26 at www.miami.edu/walkingcanes.

The top ten winners will have lunch with President Shalala, compliments of Chartwells. All participants who finish the program have an opportunity to win an iPod and other great prizes. So start the new year on the right step, and mark the calendar for Walking ’Canes.

For more information, call 305-284-5433 or e-mail wellnesscenter@miami.edu.

Looking ahead: The Hurricanes open the season on Saturday, January 27 with the Alumni Game and FanFest. The first regular season match-up is on Friday, February 2, against Mercer. Baseball holds inaugural FanFest this Saturday The Hurricanes baseball season begins with the annual Alumni Game at Mark Light Field on Saturday, January 27. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Prior to the game, the Hurricanes will be hosting their Inaugural Hurricanes Baseball FanFest from 4 to 7 p.m. A free event, FanFest includes a bounce house, a speed pitch area, a team autograph session, a Gameworks kids interactive area, the Qdoba homerun derby, and more. Baseball season ticket holders can participate in the annual season ticket holder batting practice day. For a complete list of activities, visit this Web site. Be a part of the action: Hurricanes baseball season tickets are available now. Baseball season tickets on sale now Coming off of a No. 5 finish at the 2006 College World Series, the most recognizable baseball team in college sports is primed for the 2007 season and will begin the hunt for their fifth national championship. Purchase your season tickets today, and catch all of the excitement against ACC conference opponents Florida State, Georgia Tech, NC State, and more. All employees receive 50 percent off the regular season ticket price. Payroll deduction forms can be obtained via e-mail at akelley@miami.edu or by visiting this Web site. For more information or to order your tickets, call 305-284-2263. Women’s tennis action this weekend The fifth-ranked women’s tennis team will be on the courts on Friday, January 26. They will host FAU at 2 p.m. at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center, on the Coral Gables campus. On Saturday, January 27 they host the Princeton Tigers at 2 p.m. Admission is free for all home tennis matches. For more information visit www.hurricanesports.com.

Exchange unused temporary parking passes
The last day for departments to exchange supplies of unused and expired one-day and seven-day temporary parking passes for current parking passes is Wednesday, January 31. The one-day parking passes and the seven-day parking passes of orange and green card stock with a last possible validation date of December 31, 2006 are eligible for exchange. These even exchange transactions may be completed at Parking and Transportation Services in the Flipse Building, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

English course for International Teaching Assistants
The Intensive Language Institute is offering a free, non-credit English course for International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) who have not met English proficiency requirements. Open to qualifying ITAs who have not achieved a score of 55 on the SPEAK test or wish to improve their spoken English skills, the course is an opportunity to get more practice with pronunciation, fluency, and communication skills vital to success in the classroom. The course will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 to 5 p.m., and will run from Tuesday, January 30 to Thursday, April 5 in Allen Hall on the Coral Gables campus. To register, call 305-284-4727. For more information, call 305-284-1326 or e-mail jcayuso@miami.edu.

Is law school in your future?
Register now to attend the Multicultural Admissions Fair at the School of Law on Saturday, February 3 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Get pertinent information from law professors, administrators, and law students about Miami’s curriculum and special programs, the application process, financial aid and scholarships, and succeeding in law school. To register and review the agenda, visit this Web site. For more information, call 305-284-6746.

Workshop for legal professionals: Protecting LGBT-headed families
The UM School of Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights present "Protecting LGBT-headed Families: A Workshop for the Legal Professional" on Friday, January 26 in the Alma Jennings Foundation Student Lounge at the School of Law on the Coral Gables campus. Presenters include Karen Doering, senior counsel at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, St. Petersburg, Florida; Patrick Gudridge, UM professor of law; Caryn Lubetsky, executive director and founder of the HIV Education and Law Project, Inc.; Elizabeth Schwartz, family and estate planning attorney and family Mediator; Leeford Tritt, professor of law at the University of Florida; and Jonas Urba, counselor-at-law and civil circuit mediator. The program begins at 8:15 a.m. and is scheduled to run until 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 305-284-6276 or e-mail cle@law.miami.edu.

Through January 28. Miami Jewish Film Festival. The festival's tenth season will host films at various area locations including the Cosford Cinema on the Coral Gables campus. The School of Communication is among the festival's sponsors. For a complete list of screenings, visit www.caje-miami.org/mjff.

Today, Thursday, January 25 Live Concert: The Fray. The Denver-based quartet's first single climbed into the top 10 on the Billboard singles chart and was streamed more than a million times on MySpace.com in one month. Their music is featured on television shows such as Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, What About Brian, One Tree Hill, and Bones as well as in HBO's summer promos. The group is currently nominated for 2007 Grammy awards for Best Pop Performance and Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group. Show starts at 8 p.m. in the BankUnited Center with opening act MuteMath. Ticket price is $30.75 (plus applicable fees). To purchase tickets, charge by phone at 305-358-5885 or visit www.Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.BankUnitedCenter.com.

Friday, January 26 Surf Movie: Sipping Jetstreams. UM's Surfrider Club and the South Florida Surfrider Foundation present Taylor Steele's Sipping Jetstreams at 8 p.m. in the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach. The film follows today's best surfers to the world's most untouched destinations. For more information, visit iwave.rsmas.miami.edu/surf.

Friday, January 26 Live Concert: John Mayer. Mayer's third studio album, Continuum, released in September 2006, follows the multi-platinum Room for Squares (2001) and Heavier Things (2003) and marks his first turn as a producer. The show starts at 8 p.m. in the BankUnited Center with opening act Josh Rouse. Ticket price is $39.50 (plus applicable fees). To purchase tickets, charge by phone at 305-358-5885 or visit www.Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.BankUnitedCenter.com.

Monday, January 29 Film Series: The Filmed City. The degree program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies presents their spring 2007 film series titled The Filmed City. Every Monday night, view award-winning films from Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Havana. The next film is Lesbians of Buenos Aires, directed by Santiago Garcia. Three women, through their personal stories and humor, lead moviegoers on a tour of Buenos Aires and the struggles of homosexual women in Latin America. The event begins at 7 p.m. in Learning Center 190, on the Coral Gables campus. The Filmed City is co-sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, the Center for Latin American Studies, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, UM Chapter.

Thursday, February 1 Touchdown at the LoweDown. Kick off Super Bowl weekend at the Lowe Art Museum from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy tasty tailgate food, live music, and cocktails courtesy of Bacardi. Admission is $5 at the door but is free for Lowe members. The Lowe Art Museum is located at 1301 Stanford Drive on UM’s Coral Gables campus. For more information, call 305-284-3535 or visit www.lowemuseum.org.

Saturday, February 3 Super Bowl Gridiron Celebrity Hoops. Gridiron Celebrity Hoops IX is uniquely positioned as the only celebrity basketball game officially sanctioned by the National Football League. NFL players, prospective NFL draft picks, world-renowned streetballers, and celebrities from music, television, and film get together for a game of hoops to support the campaign to eradicate child abuse and neglect through quality foster care and adoption programs. Participants include NFL stars Terrell Owens, Jason Taylor, Ray Lewis, and Santana Moss among others. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the BankUnited Center on the Coral Gables campus. Tickets start at $35 plus applicable fees, and are available for purchase in person at the BankUnited Center box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, and via charge-by-phone at 305-358-5885 or www.Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.BankUnitedCenter.com.

Monday, February 19 Encounter Point. Join the School of Communication, Hillel, OASIS, and The Sue and Leonard Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies at the Cosford Cinema on the Coral Gables campus for a screening of Encounter Point, beginning at 7 p.m. The film is a critically acclaimed documentary about the Middle East that explores the individual lives of Jews and Palestinians who, despite losing loved ones in the ongoing violence, work passionately toward reconciliation and an end to the conflict. This event features a question-and-answer session with director Ronit Avni following the screening.

Tuesday, February 27 Blue Man Group. Blue Man Group is perhaps best known for their successful theatrical productions combining comedy, music, and multimedia artistry to create a form of entertainment that is totally unique. They have also recorded two albums: the Grammy-nominated Audio and The Complex, which became the musical basis for The Complex Rock Tour and Blue Man Group's live concert DVD. The group will perform at the BankUnited Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $85 (plus applicable fees), and are available at the BankUnited Center box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone at 305-358-5885, and online at www.Ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit www.BankUnitedCenter.com.