October 6, 2008

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Around Campus

From the Chancellor

I want to express my appreciation to all who worked so cooperatively on the events of Homecoming Week. It was especially rewarding for me to experience the many activities involving students, staff and faculty. Several student activities added spirit to the week preceding Homecoming Day. A few highlights of the weekend include:

Athletic Hall of Fame and Outstanding Alumni Banquet - Bede Ballroom was filled with honorees and guests. It was inspiring to hear alumni speak of their experience as a student and express gratitude for the education they received.

Bonfire on Friday evening - sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Athletic Advisory Committee. It was great to see so many students participate.

Homecoming Parade on Saturday morning - We especially appreciated the Crookston High School Band marching in the parade. The many units in the parade added to the experience for those who watched.

Dedication of the Sargeant Student Center - The Northern Lights Lounge was filled with family and friends of former Chancellor Donald Sargeant and his wife, Mary Beth. Several speakers lauded the accomplishments of Dr. Sargeant and Mary Beth. We were especially appreciative of Regent Clyde Allen who attended. Dr Sargeant spoke of the support he received from faculty, staff, community members and others during his time at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. There were many positive comments from those attending the dedication ceremony.

Teambacker tailgate party - An enthusiastic crowd attended and enjoyed music food, beverages and shared experiences with one another.

Homecoming football game - A great conclusion to a wonderful week with a victory in the last three minutes of the game.

Thanks again to everyone who made it a rich experience for students, staff, faculty alumni and friends of the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

I will share President Bruininks’ recommendations for the 2009-2011 Legislative requests with the campus community in meetings over the next few weeks. The recommendations were presented to the Board of Regents at the September Board meeting.

Official enrollment numbers still haven’t been released, but preliminary fall 2008 student numbers look very good. New freshmen numbers and total student numbers continue to increase. We won’t have retention numbers for quite some time.

We do know the number of students who are taking 15 or more credits and the number of returning students is increasing, so I believe that will move us toward our goal of a graduation rate of 40% in 4 years, 50% in 5 years and 55% in six years.

We’re off to a great start!

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

Featured Events & Activities

Passport Drive, Tuesday, October 7 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center

Alumni Association Board Annual Meeting, Wednesday, October 8 - 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Kiehle 116

Employee Benefits Specialist Visit, Thursday, October 9 – Selvig 308, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment, contact Les Johnson, ext. 8345, or Jacquie Normandin, ext. 8346.

Faculty and Staff In-Service Day, Friday, October 10 – No Classes

Grant Writing Workshop, Friday, October 10 – 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dowell 207

Presentation by Dan McElroy, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Tuesday, October 14 – 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Residence Hall, Wednesday, October 15 - 11:30 a.m., outdoors near Brink Hall

Campus Blood Drive, Thursday, October 16 – 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

Admissions Open House, Thursday, October 16, and Friday, October 17 - 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Admissions Preview Day, Saturday, October 18 - 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, October 20-24

Torch & Shield Awards and Banquet, Wednesday, October 29 - 5 to 9 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

For details on these and other events 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 .

Around Campus

Academic Affairs

Lynette Krenelka, Ph.D., director of distance degree programs at the University of North Dakota, will present a full-day workshop, “Grant Writing: Getting the Results You Want,” Friday, October 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Dowell 207.  This workshop, designed for the beginning grant writer, teaches a proven model of grant writing designed to help make fund-seeking efforts more successful.  It also provides steps to effective planning, methods for identifying the best funding source, tips for developing and submitting a grant proposal, and follow-up activities.  For more information or to register, contact Steve Hannah, ext. 8382.

The Department of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will host a luncheon, presentation and conversation with Dan McElroy, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) on Tuesday, October 14.  DEED is the state’s lead agency focusing on business creation, relocation, expansion and retention through its community and business development division, as well as unemployment support and workforce development through its regional workforce centers.  The event begins with lunch at 12 noon, in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, followed by the presentation at 12:30 p.m.  Seating is limited for lunch; please RSVP by October 9.  Contact Trish Ramstad, ext. 8256.  No RSVP is required to attend the presentation only.

Student Affairs

The Study Abroad Program will sponsor a passport drive, Tuesday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center.  The drive is open to anyone from the Crookston campus or from the Crookston community.  Each individual applying for a passport will need to provide:  a certified copy of his or her birth certificate; a $25.00 check or money order made payable to the Polk County Recorder (cash not accepted); and a $75.00 check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State (cash not accepted).  Passport photos will be taken and will cost $5.00 for UMC students and children under age 16, $10.00 for faculty, staff and the public.  Make checks or money orders for photos payable to the University of Minnesota, Crookston.  Passports may also be renewed at this drive.  For more information please contact Rae French, ext. 8339.

Finance & University Services

The Business Office continues to work on issues related to the system-wide Enterprise Financial System (EFS) conversion.  Staff members are appreciative of everyone’s continued patience and support during this process.  They have attended multiple training sessions and will work next with EFS reporting.  Department heads, directors and other budget managers will be contacted individually when reports are ready to be distributed.

The Human Resources Office has made arrangements for Sue Smith, employee benefits specialist, to be available on campus Thursday, October 9, in Selvig Hall 308 to assist faculty and staff with retirement planning and to answer questions regarding the University’s UPlan, dental plans and disability insurance coverage.  To make an appointment, contact Les Johnson, ext. 8345, or Jacquie Normandin, ext. 8346.

Development & Alumni Relations

Homecoming 2008 was a rousing success.  Thank you to all alumni, friends and supporters who returned to campus; special thanks go to the Class of 1968.  The diligent teamwork and efforts of many University staff made the Homecoming weekend one of the best in years.   The weekend was even more meaningful with the naming ceremony of the Sargeant Student Center in honor of Donald H. Sargeant, Ph.D.  Congratulations to Don and Mary Beth.

The month-long Faculty and Staff Fund Drive has come to a close for 2008-2009.  This was the first such drive in six years, and it generated more than $10,000 for academic scholarships.  That amount will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, for a grand total exceeding $20,000 for student scholarship support.  Thanks to all who made a contribution in support of U of M, Crookston students.

The Teambacker Fund Drive has surpassed 185 members while raising more than $95,000 to date.

After the first three months of Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009), total gifts raised $471,000 and total commitments raised $180,000.  

With an uncertain economic future and rollercoaster markets, these are challenging economic times for many.  However, there’s not a better investment or return on investment than the University of Minnesota, Crookston.  For information on giving opportunities, please contact Corby Kemmer, director, Development and Alumni Relations, via phone 218-281-8434 or e-mail ckemmer@umn.edu.

University Relations

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new campus residence hall will be held Wednesday, October 15, at 11:30 a.m. outdoors near Brink Hall.  U of M, Crookston administration, faculty and staff will be joined by Crookston Mayor David Genereux and representatives from the Crookston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Community Contractors and Michael J. Burns Architects.

The U of M, Crookston, along with the Crookston Convention and Visitors Bureau, will sponsor a Meet the Candidates Forum Tuesday, October 21, from 7 to 10 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium.  Local candidates running for school board, city council, county commissioner positions and candidates for Minnesota House Legislative District 1B are scheduled to attend.  Audience members will have the opportunity to submit written questions and to meet candidates following the event.

Athletics

The Golden Eagles Women's Volleyball Team is soliciting pledges to support Dig for the Cure, a breast cancer fundraising and awareness effort that originated with collegiate volleyball in 2003.  Pledges can be made at a flat rate or a “pledge per dig” for the tally during the team’s Saturday, October 18, match at 7 p.m. with MSU-Moorhead.  All proceeds raised by the team during this community service project will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Minnesota affiliates.  Contact Heather Grieser, ext. 8410, for more information or to make a pledge.

Visit www.goldeneaglesports.com for schedules and cheer on the Golden Eagles.

Accolades

Sharon Neet, D.A., professor of history, presented a paper, “Two Histories of the Ruskin Utopia:  A Study in Contrasts,” at Brandon University’s Northern Great Plains History Conference, held September 24-27 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. The paper is part of her larger study of the socialist propaganda publications of J. A. Wayland and reform movements in pre-World War I America. 

Natural Resources Department faculty and staff members Laura Bell, lab coordinator and naturalist; Eric Castle, MLA, assistant professor of horticulture; and Dan Svedarsky, Ph.D., professor and department head, jointly presented the paper "Butterflies, Raingardens and Nature-scaping: the Forgotten Urban Watershed" at the annual meeting of the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association, held Sept. 25 in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  Over 100 professionals, including city and state park and recreation personnel, from across North Dakota attended the meeting.

Don Cavalier, director of the Career and Counseling Department, was recently appointed by President Bruininks as a representative to the All-University Civil Service Committee.  Don will represent the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Area. 

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.