Category Archives: Administrative News

On Wednesday, February 6th, 2013, President L. Rafael Reif announced the creation of the Institute-Wide Task Force on the Future of MIT Education and requested that its members work to “reinvent the residential campus model and perhaps redefine education altogether.”  Technology has changed very rapidly in the past decade, especially with the advent of the Internet and the omnipresent communication it entails.  However, the institution from which the Internet grew out of has failed to fully adopt the potential of these emerging technologies to change a model of education that has been relatively the same for hundreds of years.  In support of the initiative, MIT launched the website future.mit.edu in early April designed to engage the MIT community in a larger conversation about where education is headed.  It also serves as a resource for the Task Force’s three working groups: Education and Facilities for the Future, The Future Global Implications of edX and the Opportunity it Creates, and A New Financial Model for Education.

Enrollment is now open for fall spaces in MIT’s five childcare centers, including a new facility expected to be completed late this summer that will nearly double the number of children that can be accommodated on campus.

The David H. Koch Childcare Center, named in honor of lead donor David H. Koch ’62, SM ’63, joins four other MIT facilities known collectively as the Technology Childcare Centers (TCC). TCC also includes Eastgate Childcare Center (with an infant classroom at North Court), Stata Childcare Center, Westgate Cooperative Preschool and Lincoln Childcare Center (near Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington). The latter four facilities are also open for summer enrollment.

Continue reading the article on MIT news.  photo courtesy of the Klopfer Martin Design Group

Come to a community open house celebrating the historic restoration of MIT’s Great Dome, and the opening of Barker Library’s 24-hour reading room on Wednesday, April 10th, 2013, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in the Barker Library Reading Room.  President L. Rafael Reif will make remarks; refreshments will follow.

Read more

For U.S. citizens, the initial challenge of starting a business in America could be scraping together startup funds; for foreign-born entrepreneurs, the challenge is usually staying in the country. Under U.S. immigration policy, foreign nationals face strict visa requirements to get a company up and running, which can chase them back to their homelands or to nations offering easier visas. Because of this, policy reform has become a hot topic, recently gaining traction in Congress with the proposal of Startup Act 3.0, which would facilitate special “startup visas” for qualified immigrants.

But should we be trying to retain foreign talent? How will reform affect our nation? MIT News recently spoke about these issues with three MIT experts: Bill Aulet, senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship; Danielle Guichard-Ashbrook, associate dean and director of MIT’s International Student Office; and Edward Roberts, the David Sarnoff Professor of Management of Technology at MIT Sloan and founder and chairman of the Trust Center.

Read the interview on MIT news.  photo by Christine Daniloff

President L. Rafael Reif has announced the creation of an Institute-Wide Task Force on the Future of MIT Education, saying that the stunning rise of online learning may “offer us the historic opportunity to reinvent the residential campus model and perhaps redefine education altogether.”

In an email message today to the MIT community, Reif said that he has charged the panel — to be co-chaired by Professor Sanjay Sarma, director of digital learning, and Israel Ruiz, executive vice president and treasurer — with completing a preliminary report in approximately six months, and a final report in roughly one year. Sarma and Ruiz will select individuals from across MIT to serve on the Task Force.

Reif wrote in his charge to the Task Force that American higher education is currently in the midst of “disruptive changes,” with many students struggling to afford higher education even as colleges and universities are straining to cover the cost of providing that education. At the same time, he noted, rapid advances in online teaching are making it feasible to offer highly effective instruction to millions of learners at comparatively low cost — wherever in the world those individuals are located.

Continue reading the article on MIT news.  photos by Bryce Vickmark and Patrick Gillooly

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you have had a wonderful start to the new semester. Here (ODGEInfographic2012) please find an infographic summary of highlights of the activities of the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE), which includes the International Students Office (ISO) and support for the Graduate Student Council (GSC), during calendar year 2012, grouped by our strategic theme areas (http://odge.mit.edu/strategy).

Following is an update on selected ODGE new initiatives for 2013:

1)      Educational Innovation:  Read more

Residential graduate education, which is intimately entwined with the university research enterprise and mission of MIT, is evolving to include increasingly deeper and diverse collaborations between individuals, laboratories, universities and countries – ever more intellectually and socially engaged, interactive, rapidly connected to resources, information, the Institute, the nation and the world. Technology has enhanced graduate education significantly in many ways already; consider literature organization software, instrument training webinars, scientific social media platforms, online disciplinary discussion groups, remote experimentation and simulation, virtual scholarly conferences and open e-print archives − and yet it is still very early on. MITx, and more generally online learning, hold many possibilities to enhance the quality of graduate education: for recruitment competitiveness; for reducing cost-of- education; for building intellectual, collaborative and cross-disciplinary networks; for professional development and engaging with alumni; for innovations in teaching and research; and for educating society at massive scales to advanced levels. The work of this Task Force will feed into The Institute-Wide Task Force on MIT Education announced recently By President L. Rafael Reif: http://president.mit.edu/speeches-writing/presidential-charge-task-force-mit-education. Read more

MIT’s 39th Annual Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr will commence on Wednesday, February 6. All of the MIT community is invited by President L. Rafael Reif to a celebratory breakfast in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy. Included as Keynote Speaker is Paula Williams Madison, the Executive Vice President of Diversity at NBC Universal. Please register online at web.mit.edu/mlking by 5 pm on Monday, February 4 to join the celebration at 7:30 am in Morss Hall, Walker Memorial (142 Memorial Drive). Photo provided by the Committee on Race and Diversity.

MIT Department of Facilities reminds everyone to keep campus warm and safe in this cold weather by using revolving doors as much as possible to retain heat and conserve energy, and make sure that all windows and doors are shut securely before leaving each day. In addition, if you notice any door or window that is not closed properly, please report the location to their Customer Service Area at x3-4948. Use your cell phone to send a message with a photograph to txtdof@mit.edu.

The Benjamin Siegal Prize of $2500 is offered to the MIT student submitting the best written work on issues in science, technology, and society.  The Prize is open to undergraduate and graduate students from any school or department of the Institute.  Submit one hard copy of a single-authored work of no more than 50 pages written within the last two academic years to: SIEGAL PRIZE COMMITTEE; STS Program; E51-163.  The deadline for submission is Friday, February 15th, 2013. The prize was established in 1990 by the family and friends of the late Benjamin Siegal (S.B. 1938, Ph.D.).  For more information, visit web.mit.edu/sts, call (617) 253-3452, or email stsprogram@mit.edu.

Danielle Guichard-Ashbrook, MIT Director of the International Students Office and Associate Dean for Graduate Education, presented at the NAFSA Association of International Educators Regional XI Conference on “Guiding Internationalization” on November 14th in Portland, Maine. Her presentation, titled “Entrepreneurs, Investors & Inventors- How Can They stay in the U.S.?” explored the different options international citizens have to seek employment, education, and business opportunities in the United States. Director Guichard-Ashbrook presented along with Richard L. Iandoli and Madeline Choi Cronin of Iandoli, Desai, and Associates. Access other presentations from the 3-day conference.

The ODGE joins a virtual candlelight vigil for the families and loved ones of those affected by the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. Our hearts and thoughts are with you. Let’s come together and reach out to those around us who may need consolation and support. The following are recommended resources for graduate students:

MIT Medical

Office of the Dean for Graduate Education (ODGE)
RM 3-138, (617) 253-4860

Chaplains at MIT

Together.mit.edu

Last Tuesday night, MIT officials presented a preview of the Institute’s rezoning petition for the redevelopment of Kendall Square to members of the Cambridge Planning Board, who responded very favorably. The meeting was attended by members of the MIT administration and faculty. Since this summer, MIT Provost Chris Kaiser has sought faculty input on MIT’s Kendall Square proposal through a task force whose report Kaiser made public in October. The report recommended that MIT file a rezoning petition — but also that it address faculty concerns about the plans for development.

“It is very important to all of us at MIT involved with plans around Kendall Square — whether we serve on the faculty or the central administration or work for the MIT Investment Management Company — that we make clear that our work is by and for our entire community,” Kaiser said. “This planning is designed to serve ‘One MIT,’ as well as our neighbors in Cambridge.” Read the rest of the article on MIT news.  image by Elkus Manfredi Architects

Maria T. Zuber, the E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics, will become MIT’s next vice president for research, President L. Rafael Reif announced today. Zuber chaired MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences from 2003 to 2011, and has held leadership roles associated with scientific experiments or instrumentation on nine NASA missions over the past two decades. Claude R. Canizares, who has served since 2006 as MIT’s vice president for research and associate provost, has been tapped by Reif for a new vice presidential post with responsibility for MIT’s major international partnerships. Read the rest of the article on MIT news.  photos by Donna Coveney

On Wednesday, February 6th, 2013, MIT will mark the 39th anniversary of its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast and program, which serves to honor Dr. King’s legacy with a yearly breakfast and by hosting an event the evening before to recognize a broad range of committed people who embody his ideals in service to the community.

Consider nominating an individual or group for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award.  All of MIT’s alumni/ae, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff are eligible for nomination for this award.  Both individuals and groups, including living groups and student and professional associations, may be considered.  “Service to the community” is defined in the broadest sense and includes academic, research, religious, and secular contributions in which integrity, leadership, creativity, and positive outcome are apparent.

Nomination letters must be submitted by Saturday, December 15th, 2012, to Acia Adams-Heath at acia@mit.edu or in Room NE18-985.  For questions, contact Mrs. Adams-Heath or Professor John de Monchaux.  Both are members of the MLK, Jr. celebration subcommittee and would be happy to assist.  The MLK celebration subcommittee of the Committee on Race and Diversity will select all awardees, and the awards will be announced at the celebratory breakfast on February 6.

Dean Ortiz would like to invite you to subscribe (“Like”) her new Dean’s facebook page at: http://bit.ly/ChristineOrtiz. This page will serve to engage the MIT graduate community virtually, highlight opportunities and innovations in graduate education at MIT including entrepreneurship, service learning, international programs, interdisciplinary interactions, information on selected prestigious opportunities (e.g. fellowships, awards, professional development, etc.), raise awareness of personal support resources, promote graduate student accomplishments and research, host virtual challenges, solicit ideas and feedback for how to enhance graduate education at MIT, and include some of her activities as Dean. She will be maintaining and posting to the page herself. Don’t worry — “liking” is different from “friending” and your profile will not give her access to any of your personal information! It will only allow you to see her posts in your news feed.

2012 has been a stellar year for graduate admissions at MIT! We received the largest number of applications in the history of the Institute (22,588), admitted 3,504 students (16% selectivity or admit rate), enrolled 2,229 new graduate students (64% yield), bringing the total number of enrolled graduate students at MIT to 6,523. Regarding the newly enrolling graduate students, 32% are female, 44% are international (from 80+ countries worldwide), and 14% of domestic graduate students are under-represented minorities.

Sanjay Sarma, the Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, has been appointed MIT’s first director of digital learning, effective immediately.  In his new capacity, Sarma will work closely with the Institute’s faculty, staff and students to assess how new models of online instruction — such as the edX online-learning platform; MITx, the Institute’s course offerings on that platform; and other online tools that enhance students’ educational experiences — might become integral parts of MIT students’ on-campus education. These tools can also allow global learners access to MIT-quality instructional experiences. Read the rest of the article on MIT news.  photo by Bryce Vickmark

Music composed and performed by MIT’s renowned music faculty and students is now available in The Listening Room — a Web-based collection that showcases the Institute’s longstanding engagement with music. “The MIT mission is to serve humanity,” says Marcus Thompson, the Robert R. Taylor Professor of Music at MIT, “and the arts provide a powerful way for our students to grow in knowledge and understanding of the human condition.” Read the rest of the article on MITNews.

An urban transportation expert, a member of the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science, and a senior editor at The Atlantic are three of the six new Martin Luther King Jr. visiting professors and scholars on campus this academic year. Since its creation in 1991, MIT’s MLK Jr. Visiting Professors and Scholars Program has honored the late civil rights leader’s legacy by inviting scholars of diverse backgrounds to campus. While here, MLK visiting professors and scholars are deeply engaged in the life of the Institute through teaching and research; they enrich the Institute’s intellectual life and community while enhancing their own scholarship. To date, 68 visiting professors and 24 visiting scholars have come to MIT through the program. To see the visitors and read the rest of the article, visit MITNews.

Program Assistants (PAs) for the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) are responsible for working closely with the MSRP Director and Assistant Director of Diversity Initiatives to provide mentorship and facilitate a positive research experience for approximately 50 interns. PAs meet with interns to provide assistance and mentoring, and to assist them with various program requirements including scientific posters, abstracts and research papers. Applications are due Friday, December 14th, 2012 at 5:00pm, to Monica Orta, Assistant Director, Diversity Initiatives (mmorta@mit.edu). Read more

The purpose of MIT spouses&partners is to help newcomers to adjust to their new life at MIT and its surrounding area.  MIT spouses&partners assists and encourages spouses and partners to develop a family support system, and to build social and professional networks with each other, with MIT, and with surrounding communities.  MIT spouses&partners is organized and coordinated by MIT staff and funded by the Institute, provides information and referrals that connect spouses and partners with resources both at MIT and in the Boston area, fosters friendship in a new community, supports both the personal and professional growth of its membership, encourages spouses and partners to take initiative to organize and lead activities according to their interests, and offers confidential consultation and referral as needed.  Learn more about MIT spouses&partners and how to get involved.

MIT students interested in creating an educational video have the chance to earn $1,000 if their video is selected.  Last year Ian Waitz, MIT’s Dean of Engineering, launched the MIT-K12 project, driven by a series of questions: How can we change the perception of the role of engineers and scientists in the world?  What can MIT do, right now, to improve education at the K12 level?  What if MIT became a publicly accessible “experiential partner” to the country’s K12 educators?  What if MIT students generated short-form videos to aid the work those educators are already doing in their classrooms and homes?  Students interested in making a video for this important project can find more information on the website.

In a research laboratory at the vaunted Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a group of scientists, engineers and architects observes an ancient armored fish, known as polypterus, which has a completely flexible yet protective outer coat that changes shape in response to threats. Looking closely at its skin and scales, the group extrapolates design principles to help them create a new kind of human body armor that could protect soldiers at war, disaster area first-responders, even athletes. Across the room, another team of scientists studies the molecular structure of human cartilage in order to understand why people who suffer from osteoarthritis feel pain. They map out a detailed and microscopic snapshot of the disease, work that could one day lead to personalized medical treatments for arthritis patients. This may seem like the futuristic setting for a sci-fi thriller coming to your local multiplex, but it’s actually the real-life innovation incubator of Christine Ortiz,  professor of materials science and engineering at MIT, and Dean of the school’s prestigious graduate education program… Read the rest of the article on NBC Latino.

The Office of the Dean for Graduate Education is pleased to make available our strategic plan for 2011 – 2016: “From Imagination to Impact: Empowering graduate students to create the future.” The one-year long ODGE strategic planning process involved extensive interaction with and input from graduate students, faculty, administrators, and staff.  The focus was on-campus residential graduate education, in the context of a largely decentralized MIT infrastructure where individual graduate programs and faculty members possess great autonomy in directing graduate education in their disciplines.  Five major themes emerged:

• Supporting Educational Innovation and Excellence
• Competitiveness in Graduate Funding
• Administration and Policy
• Diversity and Climate
• Holistic Graduate Student Experience

To read more, visit the ODGE Strategic Plan webpage.

MIT plans to construct a roughly 14,000-square-foot Technology Children’s Center (TCC) that will nearly double the on-campus childcare slots available to Institute faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate students. The new facility, at 219 Vassar St., is expected to open in late summer 2013. The center was made possible through the generosity of MIT alumni David H. Koch, who provided a lead gift, and Charles W. and Jennifer C. Johnson. To read the rest of the article, visit MITnews.  photo by Benjamin F. Reynolds

The Graduate Student Life Grants program invites graduate students, spouses, faculty, or staff to submit creative, community building ideas for possible funding.  The program encourages you to apply for funds, especially in collaboration with other students or student groups.  Proposals may address a specific constituency such as families; they may cross departments or focus within a discipline; they may target several residence halls, or a variety of student groups.  Their purpose should be to explore the role and relevance of community in creating a more balanced and fulfilling graduate experience.  Previous successful grants include Weekly Wednesdays at the Muddy Charles, Greek Cooking Class, Science Policy Bootcamp, the FamilyNet website, and “An Evening with Tom Chapin.”  The application deadline is midnight on Friday, October 26, 2012.  Proposal authors will have the opportunity to answer any questions from the selection panel; funds will be released after December 7, 2012. For more information, visit http://odge.mit.edu/community/gslg/.

MIT Medical is offering walk-in flu shots for adults and MIT Students on Friday, September 28 and Thursday, October 11, as well as to children and families by appointment on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, October 1 through November 30.  Walk-ins must bring their MIT ID card and insurance card to the MIT Student Center, 3rd Floor, between 10:00am and 4:00pm.  Walk-in flu shots are available to MIT Medical patients, all MIT employees, MIT students, and retirees, while appointment-based flu shots are available to MIT Medical pediatric patients ages 6 months and older and their parents and siblings (call 617-253-4865).  For full details, visit mit.edu/fluinfo.

Cambridge has lost its place as the number one ranking university in the world, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the US university that specialises in science and technology, taking over the top slot. MIT came first, while Cambridge, which topped the list in 2011, came second and Harvard third in the QS World University Rankings, published on Tuesday. The QS table is based on measures of research quality, graduate employability, teaching and how international the faculties and student bodies are. To read the rest of the article, visit The Guardian.  To read more coverage of this story, visit Business Insider or BostInno.

The Corporation and Faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are proud to celebrate the inauguration of L. Rafael Reif as the Seventeenth President of MIT. We hope that you will join the celebration, which includes academic symposia September 19-21  in Kresge Auditorium as well as the inauguration ceremony on September 21st at 2:30PM in Killian Court. All are invited to these events; no tickets will be required. Dean Christine Ortiz will Chair a session on “MIT and On-Campus Education” at 10:30am on Friday morning, which will include remarks on MIT culture, fostering future leaders, and what’s happening to the lecture as a teaching tool. At the inauguration Friday afternoon, participants will hear greetings from the Academy, Professor Reif’s inaugural address, and music composed by MIT professors for the occasion. Senior Associate Dean Blanche Staton of the ODGE will Marshal staff colleagues (including Dean Ortiz and other members of the ODGE) with Eric Evans of Lincoln Laboratory in the Inaugural Procession. The ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception for the whole community.

The graduate student dental plan will open on September 1 and continue through September 15. This year there are two dental plan options:

1. The Delta Dental PPO Value Plan (see linked plan summary). This plan is also known as the MIT Graduate Student Dental Plan and is administered by MIT. General questions regarding this plan can be directed to Idalia Cuevas (icuevas@mit.edu) in the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education. Questions on coverage, network dentists and ID cards should be directed to Delta Dental at 800-872-0500.  The Group Plan Number is 009998-9005.  Please have the number handy when you call Delta Dental. Read more

On Monday, July 2nd, the Institute will welcome Rafael Reif and Chris Kaiser, MIT’s incoming President and Provost. There will be refreshments in Lobby 10 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at this event, open to the entire MIT Community. Please stop by at this casual gathering to greet and give best wishes to Professors Reif and Kaiser.

This year’s recipients of MIT’s Infinite Mile Awards include Heather Konar and Monica Orta of the Office of the Dean of Graduate Education. Winners were chosen from across the Institute to recognize individuals and teams who make extraordinary contributions within their organizations to help the institute carry out its mission: to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Heather Konar serves as Communications Officer in the Office of the Dean of Graduate Education, and has taken on both innovative and challenging projects in support of the graduate community, one of which has resulted in a professional development portal for graduate students.

Monica Orta serves as a model of the ideal engaged employee, displaying attitudes and behaviors as such, and is always willing to take up a new learning opportunity or challenge. She tirelessly contributes to the greater good and well-being of the team, enabling her colleagues to more effectively provide services to students, faculty and administrators.

Both Konar and Orta have attributes and accomplishments that reflect the idea of “going the extra mile.” Read more of these testimonials and other on the webpage for the 2012 Infinite Mile Award Winners. Pictured at left: Orta and Konar.

The Presidential Transition Advisory Cabinet, formed by the Undergraduate Association and the Graduate Student Council, will serve as a joint advisory committee for President-elect Rafael Reif during his upcoming transition this Summer and early Fall. The committee will include equal representation from both the undergraduate and graduate student bodies. Prospective members will be nominated jointly by the UA and the GSC’s nomination boards and confirmed by President-elect Reif. Membership will be limited and participants will be expected to speak knowledgeably on a vast collection of topics relating to MIT policy. Service on the PTAC will require exceptional responsibility and commitment to the student body. Applications are live and can be found on the PTAC 2012 Application webpage. PTAC’s official charge and description of structure can be found here. Deadline to submit the application is June 22nd by 11:59 PM.

IS&T strongly recommends that you take the following precautions if you are planning on traveling or working remotely:

• Back up your computer content
• Renew certificates for all web browsers you use
• Update passwords before and after trips
• Update software before traveling
• Use VPN for connecting remotely
• Beware of pop-ups, especially on hotel internet connections

For more information on loss, theft and computer safety, please visit IS@T News on Laptop Safety.

L. Rafael Reif, a distinguished electrical engineer whose seven-year tenure as MIT’s provost has helped MIT maintain its appetite for bold action as well as its firm financial footing, has been selected as the 17th president of the Institute. Reif, 61, was elected to the post on May 16 by a vote of the MIT Corporation. He will assume the MIT presidency on July 2. Read the rest of the MIT News story.

Millions of people now own mobile devices, so it’s no surprise that cyber criminals have ramped up their efforts to steal data from them. Cell phones, smartphones, and tablets can hold personal data, including location, home or work address, contacts, email correspondence, SMS or text messages, passwords, and other sensitive or risky information. These devices are relatively easy to lose or steal, since we carry them in our pockets and bags. But that’s not the only concern: data can be stolen even as you use your device. An aware user is a secure user. Regardless of the make or model of a device, or whether it’s your own or one provided by an employer, keeping data secure comes down to how you use and maintain the device. Here are best practices for keeping your data safe (courtesy of IS&T News).

On April 6, the Student Advisory Committee to the Presidential Search released their preliminary report, entitled “The Student Perspective on the MIT Presidency.” Drawing upon the responses they received from six town hall meetings, each of which were attended by between 10 and 60 people, as well as hundreds of student responses from online forms, paper questionnaires, focus groups, and informal discussions, the SAC described in their 20-page report what they found to be the most important challenges, desires, and concerns of MIT. This preliminary report does not contain the list of candidates that the SAC would like to nominate.  Continue reading the article on The Tech Online Edition.

The Graduate Student Council has announced its newly elected officers for the 2012-13 school year.

GSC President: Brian Leonard Spatocco (spatocco@mit.edu) – Materials Science and Engineering
GSC Vice President: Aalap Shirish Dighe (dighe@mit.edu) – Mechanical Engineering
GSC Treasurer: Eric Victor (evictor@mit.edu) – Chemistry
GSC Secretary: Bomy Lee Chung (bomy@mit.edu) – Chemical Engineering

Congratulations to Brian, Aalap, Eric, and Bomy, who will formally begin their new roles on May 9th, 2012!  The current officers will be training and transitioning the new team over the next month.

Are you still seeking jobs or summer opportunities? Did you know there is one final Career Fair this year? The Spring Career Fair (SCF) is the Thursday after spring break, April 5^th from 11am-4pm in La Sala de Puerto at the Stratton Student Center. In response to the cry for diversity of employers, this fair will host organizations seeking candidates across the curriculum.  Be sure to register on CareerBridge.