Michigan Technological University

A native of Bessemer, Michigan, Margaret Holley Chapman grew up in Lake Linden and graduated from Calumet High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lawrence College in 1932 and went on to attend Michigan College of Mining and Technology, becoming the first female to receive a degree from the college. After receiving a B.S. in General Science in 1933, she also received a B.S. in Chemistry in 1934 and worked on a master's degree in 1934 and 1935. She worked in the Corrosion Lab for a time and was a junior serologist for the Michigan Department of Health, located at the college in 1937. Mrs. Chapman became a social case worker with the Maine Department of Health and Welfare in Caribou, Maine. In 1971 she became a trustee of the Michigan Tech Fund, the first woman to serve as a Fund Trustee, a position she held until her death in 1978.

Michigan Technological University was founded in 1885 as the Michigan Mining School and in 1985, Michigan Tech kicked off a year of celebration for its centennial. The celebration coincided with the academic year, beginning with a chicken barbecue and continuing with a year-long schedule of events, including banquets, dedications, awards ceremonies, alumni events, performing arts events, sports events, symposia, conferences, lecture series, open houses, and exhibits. Also included in the celebration, a Centennial Yearbook was published, prepared by Professor David Halkola featuring 10 chapters, each following the history of the university under its ten presidents.

The Four Million Fund was Michigan Technological University's first major capital campaign. The major objective was to finance the first section of a student development complex, including an ice arena and an all-purpose student activities center. Campaign funds would also finance programs not funded by the state such as scholarships, library books, teaching aids, and initiative research.

The Ad Hoc Task Force on Promotion and Tenure was established to study and make recommendations on the University tenure and promotion policies and procedures. President Pintar requested that Vice President Whitten comment on the Task Force he had proposed, to study MTU Promotion and Tenure policy. He stated that he had inherited an issued raised by several Deans and Faculty members over difficulties and abnormalities regarding promotion and tenure policies. Given a wide variety in policies at college and departmental levels, an Ad Hoc Task Force was desired to broaden the input to the study.

Founded in 1895, the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) is a non-governmental, voluntary organization that accredits 8,500 public and private schools and districts. NCA CASI accredits schools and districts in 19 states, the Navajo Nation, and the Department of Defense Dependents' Schools worldwide. NCA CASI accredits a range of schools from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary, including: early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, adult/vocational, college preparatory, special purpose, unit (K-12), and non-degree granting postsecondary schools.

Gordon Hellman₂s life represented the American dream. He was the son of Finnish and Swedish immigrants who came to this country to seek employment and a better life. Gordon was the youngest of 12 children, born in 1920 in Dollar Bay, Michigan. After graduating from Michigan Tech in 1942, Gordon enlisted in the US Navy. He was sent to Officer Candidate School in Plattsburg, New York where he received his commission as an Ensign. Returning to civilian life, he worked at Buick in Flint where he did engineering on military components for the war. After his stint in the automotive industry, he returned to Michigan Tech in 1948, starting as an instructor in Mechanical Engineering and eventually rising to the position of Professor of Mechanical Engineering. During his time as professor, he taught thermodynamics, heat transfer, and power plant operations. He established the first courses in industrial engineering, helping to start the first production engineering and power generation labs. When Hellman became Michigan Tech's Physical Plant Director in 1965, he held the responsibility for the university power generation and distribution, security, campus planning, development and maintenance. This included his responsibility for overall construction management for new university buildings such as the Library, Fisher Hall, Civil Engineering, Chem Bio, Mechanical Engineering, Married Student Housing, Student Activities Center and the Hockey Arena for a total of nearly $300M. Well known for his dedication and accomplishments as an educator, administrator and planner, Gordon was also a visionary in the community, participating and promoting growth not only through his contributions at Michigan Tech University, but also the Physical Plant Administrators Association, Hancock Planning and Development Commission, Kiwanis, Newman Foundation, Boy Scouts, the Sisters of Crandolet and the Portage View Hospital Board. Gordon Hellman retired from Michigan Tech in April of 1984 being recognized as Professor Emeritus in Mechanical Engineering. He passed away in May of 2005 (excerpted from http://www.me.mtu.edu/legacy/hellman/index.html; accessed Nov. 2009).