Vimal Agarwal

The meeting commenced with a roll call and the welcoming of Ken Kettal as interim vice president for communications. Key discussions included the university's partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the state of Michigan to develop a supercomputing research center, with site review ongoing in Ipsellani Township. Updates were provided on upcoming events such as the Congressional Breakfast and a panel discussion in Chicago regarding American science leadership. Athletic achievements, including top-10 rankings for several teams and alumni competing in the Olympics, were noted, alongside the ongoing leadership transition planning. A major presentation detailed the opening and impact of the Dan and Betty Khan Healthcare Pavilion, highlighting its design for patient-centered care, advanced surgical technology (including integrated MRI), and initial high case volumes demonstrating increased access. Committee reports covered audit services, institutional finances, Michigan Medicine finances, personnel compensation, governance, and discussions about the presidential transition. One Regent raised concerns regarding federal immigration enforcement activities near campus, calling for transparency and accountability measures for enforcement operations on university property. The consent agenda included approvals for various finance and property items.

The forum hosted by the University Senate provided candidates for the Board of Regents an opportunity to address constituents. Key discussion points raised by candidates included addressing institutional challenges such as the Provost issue, the Anderson issue, COVID-19 response, issues surrounding the former President Schlissel, labor relations, campus safety and environment, and efforts toward carbon neutrality. Candidates also emphasized the value and accountability of the University of Michigan education, noting its high ranking as the best value in the country, and highlighted initiatives like the Go Blue Guarantee program. Furthermore, topics included investments in the Flint and Dearborn campuses, and the importance of faculty and research support, given the significant research funding received by the institution. Military and union representation perspectives were also shared by candidates.

This plenary session addresses the future direction and critical challenges in bioscience graduate and postdoctoral training. Key themes include re-evaluating the 'postdoc' role, enhancing data collection for career outcomes, improving mentoring practices, and clearly defining diverse career pathways for PhD graduates. The discussion aims to develop effective training strategies, cultivate an informed workforce, and reinvigorate enthusiasm for bioscience careers.

This document outlines the U.S. Census Bureau's strategic approach for conducting a complete and accurate 2020 Census. Key pillars include leveraging technology and automation for efficiency, re-engineering address canvassing, optimizing self-response through diverse channels and a communications and partnership campaign, utilizing administrative records to streamline operations, and modernizing field operations with technology. The plan emphasizes ensuring data security and confidentiality while providing public access to census data.

This document highlights the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research's (ISR) extensive international partnerships. It showcases ISR's role in sharing methodological expertise, conducting cross-national research to test social theories across diverse settings, and building global capacity in survey and public opinion research. ISR actively collaborates with numerous countries, including China, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, and India, to apply social theories to human problems, forecast economic situations, and train future leaders in social science research.