UA Update: 1) UAP Debate, 2) Free Dinners, 3) Open Meetings, 4) Advising Award

[Martin F. Holmes]

1)  UA Debate:  Interested in learning about what next year?s UA will do for
you?  Want to ask the candidates some tough questions?  Hungry for free food?
Attend the UA Presidential Debate on Sunday, April 6 at 8pm on the first floor
of the Student Center.  There are four pairs of candidates all eager for your
vote!

******************************************************************************

2)  Free Dinners:  Interested in getting to know a member of the MIT faculty?
Need a recommendation?  Like free food?  This spring, the UA will present the
first annual UA Student Faculty Dinners, a dinner program for all
undergraduates.

Program Description:
Groups of 3-5 students can invite any faculty member and make their own
arrangements for a convenient date, time, and location for the dinner.  Student
and faculty participants will be reimbursed up to $20 per person.  Students may
be reimbursed for only one dinner, though they may attend additional dinners at
their own expense.

How do I sign up?
Just designate a student organizer to register the group through the website,
ua.mit.edu/institutefacultydinners.html.  Spots are filling up quickly, so start
thinking about groups and faculty members now!

******************************************************************************

3)  Open Meetings:  The UA Nominations Committee invites you to come hear from
your Institute Committee student advocates!

When:  Sunday, April 6th at 4PM
Where:  UA Senate Room (4th Floor of the Student Center:  W20-400)
Why: Come learn about Institute Committees and how the student advocates can
better represent undergraduates to the Institute!  These students help
determine policy that impacts your financial aid, academics, dining, housing,
and more!

******************************************************************************

4)  Advising Award:  Do you have a good advisor?  If so, you?re in luck.  The
Institute is going to give an award for the first time ever to a deserving
undergraduate faculty advisor!  How about nominating your advisor?

The Earll M. Murman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising, named in
honor of Professor (Emeritus) Earll Murman of Course 16, will be given on May 6
to a faculty member who has served as an excellent advisor and mentor for
undergraduates and who has had a significant impact on their personal lives and
academic success.

Send your email nomination letter by April 14 to Dean Donna Friedman,
friedman at mit.edu.  Or, drop a letter off at the Office of Undergraduate
Advising & Academic Programming,  room 7-104.

EARLL M. MURMAN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING
Presented to a faculty member who has served as an excellent advisor and mentor
for undergraduates and who has had a significant impact on  their personal
lives and academic success.   Suggested Criteria:

*Intentional and sustained contact with advisees to ensure academic success
*Caring, helpful attitude towards advisees, faculty, and staff
*Participation in and support of advising to build strong relationships with
advisees
*Monitoring of student progress toward academic and career goals
*Knowledge of resources to promote and support developmental advising
*Desire to contribute to the intellectual development of advisees through
informal engagements