December 1, 2008

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Around Campus

From the Chancellor

I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving break with a chance to relax and spend time with family and friends.  Even during a time of financial uncertainty we all have much to be thankful for. 

With the return of students from the break, all attention turns to the end of the semester and classes, projects, and final exams, which take place December 15 through 18.  I know it will be a busy and intense period and want to extend best wishes for a successful completion of the semester to all students.  Faculty members have worked hard to create an exceptional teaching and learning experience, and staff members have given an equal effort to support student success.

While the end of fall semester is approaching, a number of committees will be working to prepare for spring semester.  I recently appointed two committees, one to review principles, policies, and procedures for student fees and one for course fees.  I’ve asked both committees to begin their work this month and complete their recommendations early in January.  It’s been about five years since the process has been reviewed, and this review will assist groups and organizations as they prepare requests for student and course fees for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Student registration for spring semester 2009 is going well with total numbers ahead of last year at the same time.  This will assist with the scheduling of classes.  Thanks to department heads, faculty, and staff for their attention to this important matter.

- Chuck

Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston

Featured Events & Activities

Presentation "Uncomfortably Numb: Depression, Suicide and the College Experience," Monday, December 1 – 7 p.m., Kiehle Auditorium

Women’s Holiday Social and Silent Auction, Tuesday, December 2 – 4 to 6 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

Ag and Natural Resources Day, Friday, December 5

Admissions Preview Day, Saturday, December 6 - 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Last Day of Instruction for Fall Semester 2008, Friday, December 12

Finals Week, Monday, December 15 through Thursday, December 18

Faculty and Staff Holiday Get Together, Thursday, December 18 – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

New Student Registration Day, Friday, December 19 - 12:30 to 5 p.m., Northern Lights Lounge, Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

Holiday Break, Thursday, December 25 & Friday, December 26 – campus offices closed, no classes

Holiday Break, Thursday, January 1, 2009, & Friday, January 2 – campus offices closed, no classes

U of M, Crookston Goes Tobacco-Free, Thursday, January 1, 2009

Spring Semester 2009 Classes Begin, Monday, January 12

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 19 – campus offices closed, no classes

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

Administrative Affairs –

The annual Faculty and Staff Holiday Get Together will be held Thursday, December 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bede Ballroom.  All faculty and staff are invited, including everyone from the University of Minnesota, Crookston, the Crookston Regional Extension Office, the Northwest Research and Outreach Center, and the Area Health Education Center.  A buffet lunch featuring lasagna will be served, and door prizes will be awarded.  Attendees are encouraged to bring holiday treats for the pot luck dessert table as well as a gift for the “white elephant” gift exchange.

Academic Affairs –

The U of M, Crookston Agriculture and Natural Resources Departments will host Ag and Natural Resources Day, formerly known as Ag Activities Day, Friday, December 5.  Approximately 1,300 high school students are expected to take part in the event.  They will complete in 20 different contests held across campus, ranging from horticulture and forestry to ag mechanics, livestock, and sales.  The day culminates with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Sport Center’s Lysaker Gymnasium.  For a full schedule, visit www.umcrookston.edu/ag/AAD/Schedule.htm.

Students enrolled in Sport and Recreation Management lecturer David Rolling’s Sports Marketing class were challenged to develop a marketing plan for the Crookston Community Pool as a service-learning project.  They will present their plan to city officials and others on Wednesday, December 10, at 1 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, rooms D and E.  Any interested faculty and staff are welcome.  Students involved in the presentation include Jeff Chandler, Travis Coulson, Mitchell Dolfuss, Tyler Dugan, Josh Franklin, Kirk Graham, Vanessa Houle, James Matthews, Linda Morgan, Laudyn Nelson, Jake Solberg, David White, and Allison Zajicek. 

Student Affairs –

Mark Meier, licensed clinical social worker from Equalicare, will present "Uncomfortably Numb: Depression, Suicide and the College Experience" on Monday, December 1, at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium.  The educational presentation, sponsored by the Office for Students with Disabilities, Student Health, and Counseling Services, addresses the topics of depression awareness, suicide prevention, and intervention as well as improving overall wellness. 

Mariam Maiga, a senior from Crookston studying business management with an emphasis in marketing, has been elected a senator for the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC).  The SSCC represents the student body at large from across the University of Minnesota system.  One student from each campus is chosen to serve as a senator for this committee.

Golden Eagle Mix, the online radio station developed and presented by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), is up and running. Access it on the web at www.goldeneaglemix.com. Contact students Mariam Maiga, maiga003@umn.edu, or Stephanie Onken, onken015@umn.edu, with comments, questions, or to advertise on the Golden Eagle Mix.

Development & Alumni Relations –

Teambackers has surpassed $111,000 to date, a substantial increase over previous years.  After the first five months of fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009) Total Commitments are closing in on $250,000 and Total Giftshave surpassed $520,000.  In this unsettled economy, private support remains a critical component for sustainability, success, and momentum for the U of M, Crookston. 

All alumni and friends are encouraged to return to campus for Ag-Arama, Friday, January 30, 2009 and Saturday, January 31, 2009.

All alumni and friends are invited to attend the annual Arizona Social, Friday, February 20, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ViewPoint Resort in Mesa, Arizona.  Anyone planning to attend is asked to contact Sue Dwyer at 218-281-8401 or sdwyer@umn.edu. 

This is a good time of year to remember the U of M, Crookston in philanthropic giving and to utilize the gift as a tax deduction.  Please contact Corby Kemmer, director, Development & Alumni Relations, at 218-281-8434 or ckemmer@umn.edu to assist with philanthropic opportunities.

University Relations –

The University of Minnesota, Crookston now has an official YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/UofMCrookston.  The channel features previously developed TV promos as well as more recent student profiles.  More will be added throughout the year.  The channel also provides links to selected clips created and posted by students.  Special thanks to Amber Bailey, e-communications manager, and Tom Sondreal, senior media resources producer, for their work on the student profile clips.

Athletics –

The Fargo-Moorhead Acro Team will perform at half-time of the U of M, Crookston women’s and men’s basketball games against Bemidji State University on Saturday, December 6, at Lysaker Gymnasium. The women tip-off at 6 p.m.; the men tip-off at 8 p.m.  The F-M Acro team is a group of spirited, athletic gymnasts who specialize in entertaining crowds throughout the United States with their precision acrobatics, tumbling, and mini-tramping. The group has performed at countless venues including NCAA, NFL, and NBA games.

Seven Golden Eagle athletes earned recognition for their academic performance with the announcement of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s All-Academic Teams for the 2008 fall athletic season.  Student-athletes earning the honor include Cody Brekken,  Crookston, Minn., football;  Timothy Ennis, Lancaster, Calif., football;  Megan Hannon, Green Bay, Wis., soccer; Stephanie Lee, Port Chester, N.Y., soccer; Anna Ogaard, Maple Grove, Minn., soccer; Cassie Yates, Buffalo, Minn., volleyball; and Riley Zsedeny, Pelican Rapids, Minn.  To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a member of the varsity traveling team, must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing, and must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better.

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

Accolades

Alvin Killough, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, addressed the topic of health equality when he led a session entitled “Does Culture Matter? Approaches to Risk Reduction and HIV Prevention among Minorities” at the National Health Disparities Conference, held November 12-14 in Prior Lake, Minn.  He presented the session along with Wynfred Russell, director of the Center for Multicultural Services at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minn.

Jack Geller, Ph.D., professor and department head, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department, and Bruce Brorson, M.S., associate professor, Business Department, both presented at the November 14 meeting of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force, held in Eagan, Minnesota.  Jack Geller, who serves as a member of the task force, presented “Broadband Enters the Mainstream,” and Bruce Brorson presented “Historical Perspective – Business Use of the Internet in Minnesota.”  The mission of the task force is to study the issues and make recommendations to the governor and Minnesota legislature regarding the goal of providing statewide high-speed Internet access by 2015.

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.