July 6, 2009

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Accolades

From the Chancellor

The month of June seemed to pass quickly even though it had 30 days just like every other year.  While the campus is quiet—students and most faculty are gone for the summer—meetings and work have continued.  Final budget work, the administrative retreat, campus maintenance, recruitment and registration have kept us busy.

The University Board of Regents approved President Bruininks’ budget recommendation for 2009-2010 on June 24.  This is a very difficult budget with a base reduction by the State of Minnesota of about $80 million.  The Crookston Campus state reduction is about $1.25 million.  This has resulted in difficult decisions including the loss or reduction of a number of positions.  The budget outlook for 2010-2011 and beyond will continue to be a challenge.

We held our annual administrative retreat on campus on June 2-3.  This provided an opportunity to review past accomplishments and, most importantly, allowed time to focus on the future.  We spent time exploring suggestions on increasing revenue, reducing costs, improving efficiency and productivity, and considering where new investments may position the campus for the future.  Considerable time was spent discussing recruitment strategies and how we might improve retention and graduation rates.  We also reviewed a process for making decisions on academic programs, including the development and implementation of any new programs or the difficult decision to end a program.

Over the next few weeks we will refine the discussion and prepare to share the retreat topics with the campus community in mid-August.  This will provide the opportunity to gain additional ideas and suggestions to move the campus forward.

I mentioned previously that the campus has been quiet.  That doesn’t mean there hasn’t been activity.  The Northwest School of Agriculture annual reunion was held on June 26-27 and was well attended.  Alumni gathered to share experiences with classmates and friends.  All went well with the exception of a thunderstorm and tornado warning that resulted in moving alumni and guests to a safe area.   Despite that, there were many positive comments on the festivities, and attendees left with smiles on their faces.

During the same week, two camps were held on campus—one, an equine camp offered for the first time, and the second, a computer game design camp in its fourth year.  It was great to see the young people on campus along with the NWSA alumni.

Construction of the new residence hall is moving toward completion.  This 128-bed apartment style building will be a great addition to the campus.  It will include a new classroom with technology enhancements to improve the teaching and learning experience, student lounges, an honors room, and a small fitness room.  The Regents voted to approve the name, Evergreen Hall, for the new building.  A dedication ceremony is planned as part of the homecoming celebration.

Recruitment of new high school graduates and transfer students continues to be a high priority.  In addition, staff members are beginning to make contact with students for enrollment for the fall of 2010.

I will attend the July meeting of the Board of Regents this week and two one-day retreats next week.  President Bruininks will host his Executive Team retreat on Thursday, and Senior Vice President Jones will host a retreat for the coordinate campus chancellors on Friday. 

I hope summer is going well for everyone.

– Chuck

Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston

Featured Events & Activities

Heart of the Valley Golf Tournament, Thursday, July 9 – 11 a.m. brats and beverages, 1 p.m. tee off for nine holes at Heart of the Valley Golf Course, Ada, Minn.; five-person teams, scramble, $40 per person covers all fees

New Student Registration for Fall Semester 2009, July 10, 20; August 10

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp, July 12-18

Teambackers  Golf Classic, Saturday, July 18 – 10 a.m. registration, 11 a.m. shotgun start for 18 holes at Minakwa Golf Club, Crookston, Minn.; five-person teams, $85 per person covers all fees, scholarship contribution, and games

U of M, Crookston Alumni Association (UMCAA) Board Meeting, Wednesday, July 29 - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Kiehle 116

UMC Women’s Golf Classic, Tuesday, Aug. 11 – Noon registration, 12:45 p.m. shotgun start for nine holes at Minakwa Golf Club, Crookston, Minn.; four-person teams, $30 per person covers all fees, scholarship contribution, and games

For details on these and a comprehensive listing of 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 –

Terry Cook and Robin Thompson of U of M, Twin Cities’ Department of Emergency Management (DEM) have met with campus leaders and have recommended that additional representatives be added to the Emergency Management Coordinating Committee for the Crookston campus.  There is concern regarding a potential resurgence of the H1N1 flu this fall, and the Crookston campus will develop and plan for how such a situation would be handled.  Robin Thompson will also serve as a member of that committee and as liaison with the DEM.  Peter Phaiah, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, will lead initial efforts for this committee. 

Academic Affairs –

Several faculty searches for the 2009-2010 academic year have resulted in hires:

Rob Proulx has been hired as a lecturer in agronomy.  He holds a master of science degree in applied plant sciences with a specialization in agronomy/agroecology from the University of Minnesota.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from the U of M, Crookston in 2006 and taught courses in crop and weed identification, grain and seed evaluation, and integrated crop management on the Crookston campus this past spring semester.

Kristie Walker has been hired as a lecturer in golf and turf management.  She earned her Ph.D. and M.S., both in agronomy, from Purdue University.  She has a strong background in soil science and has done research involving nitrogen applications on turfgrass species as well as management factors affecting putting green speed.  She taught classes in the area of golf and turf management at the Crookston campus spring semester 2009 on an interim basis.

Oxana Wieland has been hired as a lecturer in economics.   She holds a Ph.D. in economics from Baikal State University of Economics and Law, Irkutsk, Russia, as well as an M.Ed. in teaching mathematics from the University of Minnesota.  While at Baikal State University in Russia, she served as an assistant professor teaching economics, management, and statistics.  She also served as a permanent trainer and advisor for Baikal State University’s Center for Improvement of Qualification. Most recently she has taught mathematics at Brooklyn Center High School, Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Todd Woods has been hired as a lecturer in communication.  He earned both an M. Ed in educational technology and an M.A. in communication from the University of Arkansas.  In addition to serving as a teaching specialist at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, he has developed video, web, and interactive CD courses in engineering for the University of Arkansas; served as a consultant in the development of online curriculum for an online university; and designed e-learning systems for a leading instructional design firm.

Searches are currently in progress for faculty positions in accounting and business management.

The Center for Adult Learning (CAL) has been selected to serve as the University of Minnesota Digital Campus Calling Center. The calling center serves all five coordinate campuses and will maintain student support and a referral call center to answer and respond to student inquiries concerning University of Minnesota for-credit and non-credit online programs.  CAL staff members will serve as both information resources and advocates for online students, ensuring those students receive accurate information in response to their questions in a timely manner.  Learn more.

International Programs -

In an effort to integrate more options for study abroad into the curriculum, a small team of faculty—Harouna Maiga, Chuck Lariviere, and Terrill Bradford—visited the French National Agricultural Research Institute (INRA) in Paris, France, and its allied agricultural universities from June 23 to July 1.  While in France, the group made several stops including Tours, France, where they investigated a variety of options for collaboration and linkages with INRA.  The trip was funded in part by a grant from the University of Minnesota’s Office of International Programs as well as by professional development dollars.  Integration of study abroad into the curriculum offers a variety of options for students to gain international exposure, and it moves the Crookston campus toward President Robert Bruininks’s goal of achieving 50% of U of M graduates having a study abroad experience.

Student Affairs –

The new apartment-style residence hall under construction will officially be named Evergreen Hall.  The Board of Regents approved the name at the June 12 meeting.  The name was recommended by a committee appointed by Chancellor Casey consisting of Mark Huglen, associate professor, communication; Megan Hulst, vice president, Crookston Student Association; Harouna Maiga, associate professor, animal science; Andrew Svec, director, communications, public relations, and marketing; and Gary Willhite, director, residential life and security services.  This committee forwarded the recommendation after surveying students, faculty, and staff on the Crookston campus.  Evergreen Hall is an appropriate name not only because numerous evergreen trees surround the site, but also because the name suggests the sustainability or “green” principles guiding the design and construction.  The name has added significance because lumber from evergreen trees removed from the site to accommodate construction will be used in the interior for finishing and for mantle pieces of the planned fireplaces in the commons areas.  See photos of the construction progress.

Finance & University Services –

An outdoor emergency siren and voice alert system will be installed this summer east of the Sports Center by the University of Minnesota’s Department of Emergency Management.  The siren and voice alert system will alert and inform anyone outdoors on campus in the case of an emergency. 

Installation of a sprinkler system in Dowell Hall is progressing on schedule.  The system is roughed in on first floor, and work will begin on the south half of second floor in the coming week.  The installation is scheduled to be completed in August prior to the start of classes.

Development & Alumni Relations –

The 2009 Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) Reunion was held June, 26 & 27 on campus.  Nearly 200 alumni and guests attended the two-day event.  Congratulations to the Class of 1959, who celebrated their golden reunion, and thanks to all who attended and participated.  Special congratulations to our 2009 Top Aggies: Walter Lunsetter, ’32 and Willard Brunelle, ’49.  Mark your calendars as we look forward to hosting the 2010 NWSA Reunion next June 25-26, 2010.

The practice football field has officially been named Jim LeClair Field in honor of Jim LeClair, ’70.  Jim LeClair enrolled at the U of M, Crookston in the fall of 1968 and excelled as an athlete in football, serving as captain in his sophomore year.  After graduating from the U of M, Crookston in 1970, he went on to play football at and graduate from the University of North Dakota.  He was then drafted by the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, with whom he played for twelve seasons.  Since those days he has been a successful coach, businessman, entrepreneur, and civic leader as well as a good friend to his alma mater.

Upcoming golf tournaments include the Heart of the Valley Teambacker Golf Tournament, Thursday, July 9, in Ada, Minn., and the Teambacker Golf Classic, Saturday, July 18, at Minakwa in Crookston.  Contact Bill Tyrrell at 218-281-8436.

The first annual golf tournament coordinated by the UMC Alumni Association, the Midway Alumni Golf Classic, is set for Monday, August 17, at the Alexandria Golf Club in Alexandria, Minn.  All alumni and friends of the U of M, Crookston are encouraged to attend.  The event begins at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start.  Cost is $75 per person.  For detailed information contact UMCAA President Cindy Bigger, ’79, or visit the event page on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=94422993847.

With fiscal year 2009 at a close (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009), early projections show total gifts up significantly and total commitments down only slightly. 

The 2009-2010 Teambacker Fund Drive will begin the week of July 20.  For information contact Bill Tyrrell at 218-281-8436.

Special thanks go to an alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous and who recently contributed a major gift in support of student scholarships creating a significant endowment which will begin in fall 2010.

University Relations –

The U of M, Crookston web site has begun the transition to a content management system, with a full redesign in progress utilizing official University of Minnesota web templates.  This process will also involve the move to a new web-based calendar system, a new method of posting campus news releases, and a new UMC Today page.  The transition to the new look for the site will be gradual as individual departmental sites are updated.  To see examples of the new look visit: www.umcrookston.edu/studentexperience, www.umcrookston.edu/healthservices, and www.umcrookston.edu/studentactivities.

Athletics –

Women’s basketball player Megan Eul of Rosemount, Minn., and football player Cody Brekken of Crookston recently attended the 2009 NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Eul and Brekken were two of only 233 Division II student-athletes selected to attend the event. The conference offers student-athletes a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing the opportunity to enhance leadership, communication, decision making, and problem solving skills.

Kristin Chase has been hired as an assistant athletic trainer and will begin her duties in August.  She comes to the U of M, Crookston from the University of North Dakota (UND), where she served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the women’s volleyball and softball programs.  She earned a bachelor’s in athletic training from Minnesota State University, Mankato and is currently finishing her master’s in kinesiology at UND.  She also completed an athletic training internship at the University of Denver in 2002-2003.  Chase is a board certified athletic trainer with licensure in the state of North Dakota.

Accolades

Kenneth Johnson, instructor, marketing, presented the session "Customer Service in Small Companies for Big Gains" at the Riverland Association Tourism Conference in Thief River Falls on May 12.  The well-received session was designed to assist participants in evaluating the level of customer service they currently provide and to propose strategies and recommendations for future continuous service improvement in order to offer exceptional customer service.  Johnson will be performing customer service audits for regional businesses with Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) students in the future.  Individuals and organizations interested in having a customer service audit may contact him at 218-281-8178 or via e-mail at joh02053@umn.edu.

An article by Mike Vivion, instructor, aviation, appears in the July 2009 edition of Plane and Pilot Magazine.  The article provides details about the U of M, Crookston’s aviation degree program and its various emphases.  Learn more at planeandpilotmag.com.

Three students interning with Facilities and Operations on the grounds crew this summer earned ribbons at the Polk County Fair for submissions of flowers from the U of M, Crookston grounds.  Yvonne Valgen of Halstad, Minn., earned first place for a shrub rose submission, which also earned the best overall rose award, and third place columbine; Kenny Mendez of Crookston earned third place coreopsis, third place daylily, and third place marigold; and Keunyung “Yung” Kim of Gwangju, South Korea, earned second place hosta and third place shrub rose.

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

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

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