April 22, 2008

Inside this Issue

Board of Regents Update
Events & Activities
Search Committees Make Progress

From the Chancellor

The past few weeks have been filled with a number of on-campus and off-campus events typical for this time of year. Registration of students for fall semester 2008 is also in progress with new student registration underway as of Friday, April 18.

Travels – Celebrations and Connections
I traveled to Minneapolis April 4 to attend the U of M Tate Advising Award presentation for Associate Professor of Agronomy Chuck Habstritt and three other individuals. It was great to see Chuck recognized for his contributions to students and also nice to see it was the second year in a row that someone from the University of Minnesota, Crookston was honored with this prestigious award. Former AVC Pam Holsinger-Fuchs was recognized last year.

I also attended the inauguration of Stephen Lehmkuhle, Ph.D., as the first chancellor of the University of Minnesota, Rochester that same day. It was a great University and community celebration and a special opportunity for me to connect with many friends from the area.

The spring meeting of the All-Campus Advisory Council was held at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen on April 9. A number of campus updates were provided to members followed by a rich discussion. During lunch, long-time campus supporter and Advisory Council member Ken Broin was presented a Board of Regents award in recognition of his years of service. Regent Vice Chair Clyde Allen and Senior Vice President Robert Jones helped in presenting the award to Ken who was joined by his wife, Hank.

Board of Regents Update
The Board of Regents meeting was held April 10 and 11. The items of particular interest to the Crookston campus included the Board’s approval to award Sodexo the contract for management of dining services operations on campus and to award the University-wide beverage services management to Coca Cola. A question and answer sheet is posted online and provides more background on the decision to contract with Sodexo to manage dining services. The contract with Coca Cola provides funds to the Crookston campus to support student activities. If you would like to apply for Coca Cola funds for your unit or club, please see Student Activities Director Lisa Samuelson.

Other major items included the following: Leadership Development Initiatives; the annual investment report; Pre K-12 update; College Readiness Initiatives; the Semi-Annual Capital Planning and Management Report; a Light Rail Transit update; and challenges in the Academic Health Center. While some of the topics may not seem as relevant to the Crookston campus, it is important to follow these and other issues to determine where the University of Minnesota, Crookston can make connections. It’s often through the Regents’ discussion that a role for the Crookston campus may be explored and determined.

Campus Notes
Many other year-end activities fill the calendar for spring semester and keep us connected and informed as a campus community and region. The Student Awards Ceremony, Public Engagement Day, Beautiful U Day, Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony, Faculty and Staff Day and Black Student Association Awards Program all recognize important contributions to the student experience. I offer my congratulations to the many individuals who have been recognized for their outstanding service to the campus.

I want to especially acknowledge the contributions of Crookston Student Association President Katie Jeremiason. She and other Board members and advisors of CSA have worked hard to involve students in campus governance and identify specific CSA objectives. I also congratulate newly-elected 2008-09 CSA President Marshall Johnson and Vice President Megan Hulst and look forward to working with them and other Board members next year.

Search committees continue to meet and work to identify candidates for a number of faculty and staff positions on campus. Currently candidates are being interviewed for the following positions: Math, Science and Technology Department head, marketing faculty in the Business Department and soil science and animal science faculty in the Agriculture Department. Phone interviews are being completed for the director of communications position and a search will begin for a director of diversity programs. Thanks to the many individuals who serve on search committees to complete the hiring process.

Over the past few updates, I’ve referenced the end of the semester and graduation being near. It’s no longer near, it’s upon us. Commencement Committee Co-chairs Laurie Wilson and Meloni Rasmussen have led the team who is working hard to complete the arrangements for Commencement on Saturday, May 3. I encourage all faculty and staff to participate in Commencement activities. The graduates are the outcome and product of our work. Congratulate them, enjoy celebrating with them, wish them well in the future and invite them to return to campus as members of the Alumni Association.

And to the Class of 2008 – congratulations on a job well done. We look forward to celebrating with you and your family and friends on May 3.

Chuck
– Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston 

Featured Events & Activities

Equity, Diversity and Ethics Program, April 22 – Roundtable discussion from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with nationally recognized speakers and community guests will focus on issues of race, gender and effective business ethical procedures surrounding hiring processes and college admittance procedures. The event is sponsored by the Black Students Association (BSA) and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).

Student-Athletic Awards Ceremony, April 23 – Join the campus in recognizing the accomplishments of student-athletes beginning at 6 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium.

Commencement, May 3 – Congratulations, Class of 2008! Everyone is invited to a reception at 11 a.m. in the Student Center and for the ceremony at 2 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium. For more details, visit the Web

Staff Day, May 5 – Recognize and celebrate the success and accomplishments of staff at the U of M, Crookston. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Student Center Bede Ballroom followed by awards.

New Student Registration, May 9, 12, 15 and 16 – For more information on upcoming new student registration, visit www.UMCrookston.edu/visit or call 218-281-8569.

We look forward to seeing you. For more details or to discover what's happening this week, visit UMC Today at www.UMCrookston.edu/umcnews or review our news page at www.UMCrookston.edu/umcnews/stories.

Publication notes: The E-Update is published twice each month August thru April and once each month in the summer, May thru July. Issues are posted online.

If you have any questions regarding the information in this news update, please send them to urumc@umn.edu.