April 2008

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Michigan News

At commencement on April 26, ABC News anchor and special correspondent Bob Woodruff, JD'87, will serve as speaker and will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the 10 a.m. ceremony on the Diag. Other honorary degree recipients include Frances E. Allen, MA'57, computer scientist; Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astronomer; William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell, sports broadcaster; Njabulo Ndebele, vice chancellor and principal of the University of Cape Town; and Jack O'Brien, '61, MA'62, theater director. James "Jim" Abbott, '86-'88, former pitcher for U-M and several Major League teams who was born with one hand, will speak at UM-Flint's ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on April 27.

Sure, the US economy is struggling. But it should start looking up by late 2008 and 2009, say U-M economists. In their annual spring forecast update, Saul Hymans, U-M professor emeritus of economics, and colleagues Joan Crary and Janet Wolfe, predict 2.5 percent growth in the GDP during the second half of 2008, followed by an even stronger 2.9 percent gain in real GDP in 2009. Light vehicle sales will stabilize, housing starts will pick up by 30 percent after bottoming out, and the price of oil will drop from the current $110 per barrel to an average of $88. Core inflation should remain in check at about 2.5 percent this year and next, and consumer spending should stabilize at a lower but not disastrous rate of 2 percent growth.

In the Know

The Partnership for Public Service has published a report outlining government-wide hiring needs through September 2009. Over the next two years, the following are the top five areas of expected job growth:

• Security, protection, compliance and enforcement—inspectors, investigators, police officers
• Medical and public health—physicians, nurses, pharmacists, medical technicians
• Engineering and sciences—engineers, biologists, physicists, chemists
• Program management/administrative—program managers and analysts who monitor program operations and effectiveness to administrative staff
• Accounting, budget and business—revenue agents and tax examiners

Learn more about these growing fields and check out a list of available federal internships at www.makingthedifference.org.

Career

The powerful Michigan network is coming to your neighborhood. Don't miss the Alumni Association's career-focused events held across the country, featuring prominent speakers who offer inside information and the latest on workplace trends. You'll also have networking opportunities and a chance to learn how to put the Michigan network to work for you. We'll be in Boston, New York City, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and Flint, Michigan, and Alumni Association members save on admission. Visit www.umalumni.com/careerevents to reserve your spot today.

AAUM Member Benefits

If you have no health insurance, you risk medical bills that can quickly add up after just one accident or illness. The Alumni Association can help with a great benefit—GradMed® Short Term Medical Insurance. Use it for up to 185 days to fill the gap in between jobs, when you start a new job and before employee benefits begin, or when coverage is lost for other reasons. Both accidents and illnesses are covered, but pre-existing conditions are excluded. Rates are reasonable and next-day coverage is available. Go online or call our plan administrator at 800.922.1245 for information and an application.

Stay even more connected to U-M through our special e-newsletters:

• e-TrueBlue: Career—This is the perfect e-newsletter for those looking for a new job, who want to improve their skills and who want to make important new career connections.
• e-TrueBlue: Sports—U-M sports fans will love this extra coverage of U-M teams, current and former student-athletes and upcoming events.

Each e-newsletter is sent monthly and is an exclusive benefit of AAUM membership. Subscribe online.

Special Opportunity

The Alumni Association is seeking a travel program assistant. For more than 35 years, the Association has offered alumni dynamic travel opportunities around the globe. The program assistant will provide alumni with quality customer service while offering administrative support to the travel program. Strong organizational skills and experience planning or assisting in program development are desirable. For a complete job description, visit the AAUM Web site.

Volunteer to be a blogger for the Alumni Association and give current U-M students insight on how to survive their first 9-to-5 job, what grad school is like and how to pursue their post-college dreams. We are looking for a four-month commitment and at least one post weekly. The incentive for maintaining the blog is a $250 Visa gift card, given at the end of the four months. If you are interested in blogging, email a description of what you're doing now to Andrea Kujansuu at aotlewsk@umich.edu. To view other alum's blogs, visit our Web site.

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Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, 200 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor, MI, 734.764.0384, 800.847.4764, malumni@umich.edu