September 8, 2009

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Accolades

From the Chancellor

We are starting our third week of classes and all is going well.  It’s been great to experience the energy and excitement students, faculty, and staff bring to the campus.  Athletic teams are well into the season with competition in a number of places.

Enrollment for the fall semester continues to grow compared to the past years.  Growth in online programs continues at a rapid rate.  On-campus students increased as well.  We won’t release official numbers until all University of Minnesota campuses report their enrollment.  With that said, we are very pleased with enrollment for this fall.

A number of new faculty and staff have joined the campus and will fill a very important role in the teaching and learning experience for students.  Short bios can be found online.  Please welcome them when you see them.

Work continues on Evergreen Hall and the surrounding area.  All rooms are full and occupied.  Most of the remaining work is on sidewalks, roadways, shelter, and landscaping, and that is progressing well.  Classes are being conducted in the new classroom, and study rooms and lounge areas are nearly complete.  The dedication ceremony will be on Friday, October 2, as part of homecoming week activities.  President Bruininks and First Lady Susan Hagstrum will be attending.  Tours of the facility will be offered as part of the dedication.

Meetings continue with representatives of Otter Tail Power Company to develop plans to move forward with the Campus Energy Challenge Grant awarded to the Crookston campus.  With the return of students, now is a great opportunity to engage them in energy conservation initiatives.

Many students, staff, and faculty participated in the recent Ox Cart Days celebration in Crookston.  A large number of people came to the campus for the ice cream social and the Sunday evening fireworks.  UMC was also well represented at the Saturday evening parade.  Thanks to everyone who helped make the celebration a success for the community.

– Chuck

Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston

Featured Events & Activities

Club Fair, Wednesday, September 9 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center

U of M, Crookston Alumni Association Board Meeting Wednesday, September 9 – 6:30 to 8 p.m., Kiehle 116

College Outdoor Skills Day, Thursday, September 10 – 4 to 7:30 p.m., Crookston Gun Club

Study Abroad Fair, Monday, September 14 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Workshop for Faculty and Staff, Thursday, September 17 – 10 a.m., Kiehle 116

Thursday Commons: Diversity Discussion with Rusty Barcelo, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Vice President for Equity and Diversity, Thursday, September 17 – 12:15 to 2 p.m., Bede Ballroom

Faculty Assembly Meeting, Friday, September 18 – 3 to 4:30 p.m., Dowell 207

Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, September 19 – 8 a.m. to 1  p.m., Crookston Airport, sponsored by Alpha Eta Rho (UMC's aviation fraternity)  and Crookston Aviation

Admissions Campus Preview Day, Saturday, September 19 – check-in begins at 9:45 a.m. in Sargeant Student Center, program begins at 10 a.m.

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 blog.lib.umn.edu/umcweb/news.

Around Campus

Administrative Affairs –

The start of fall semester marks a new academic year, with the beginning of flu season soon to follow.  This year there is potential for unusual challenges with the addition of the 2009 H1N1 influenza, now considered a pandemic or global event.  Because of this, it is important to review current expectations for impact on the University community, the challenges this flu outbreak may cause, and our plans for addressing them.  It is also important to stay alert to these messages as pandemics can change quickly and unpredictably. Resource information has been posted online at www.umcrookston.edu/facilitiesmgmt/prepared, with prominent links to that site from the UMC Today page and the main campus Web page.  Frequent hand washing and covering coughs are two good strategies to minimize the spread of this virus.  Hand sanitizer bottles have also been placed throughout the campus.  Campus officials have refined plans to deal with the challenges that may arise, and they will keep the campus community informed via the Web, e-mail, and other means.  Anyone with specific questions about the H1N1 influenza should contact Stacey Grunewald inStudent Health, 145F Sargeant Student Center, or call 281-8512. Since the U of M has asked the campus to report the number of ILI (influenza like illness) along with H1N1 on a weekly basis, it is important for faculty, staff, and students to contact Student Health if they have the following symptoms:  fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headaches.  Those who report these symptoms will be asked to stay in their residence hall or home until they no longer have a fever for 24 hours without the use of medication.  As a result the campus may see a higher incidence of absenteeism as the H1N1 continues to make its way through the area.

University of Minnesota Vice President for Equity and Diversity Rusty Barcelo, Ph.D., will visit the Crookston Campus on Thursday, September 17.  During her visit, she will meet with officials from the local school district, the chancellor, and student, faculty, and staff groups.  A highlight of her visit will be a discussion on diversity scheduled for Thursday, September 17, from 12:15 to 2 p.m. in Bede Ballroom.  All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend.

Academic Affairs –

Karen Miller has been hired as a lecturer in communications in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Department. She holds a master of arts degree in English from the University of North Dakota (UND), Grand Forks.  She is currently completing a doctorate in English at UND.  Miller has taught as an adjunct on the Crookston campus since 2005. From 2000 to 2006, she taught at UND in the English Department.

In order to encourage undergraduate research on the UMC campus, funding has been set aside for projects approved on campus also known as Undergraduate Research Opportunities-Crookston (UROC).  The process for awarding these funds is separate from the University-wide Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP).  All proposals submitted for campus funding need to be approved by the appropriate unit head and submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs by October 12, 2009, 1:00 p.m. for spring semester 2010 projects and by March 8, 2010, 1:00 p.m. for summer and/or fall semester 2010 projects.  Late proposals will not be considered.  Guidelines and more information will be distributed via campus e-mail.

Student Affairs –

College students from around the area are invited to attend College Outdoor Skills Day Thursday, September 10, 2009, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Crookston Gun Club, located north of the campus.  Programs will be offered throughout the evening, including fly-fish casting, target archery, slingshots/wrist rockets, outdoor survival, outdoor first aid, rifle shooting, trap shooting, and tree stand safety.  These events are free, but students interested must pre-register.  For more information or to register, contact Laura Bell, lab coordinator and naturalist, at 218-281-8131 or lbell@umn.edu.

The Crookston Student Association (CSA) will hold elections to fill five senator positions on September 15 and 16 in the Sargeant Student Center.  CSA is the student governing body on campus.  

Alpha Eta Rho, UMC's aviation fraternity, and Crookston Aviation will host their annual Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake Breakfast Saturday, September 19, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crookston Municipal Airport. Pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, and orange juice will be served. Cost: in advance - $6.00; at the door -$8.00; kids ages 4-12 -$3.00; ages 3 and under are free.  Pilots in command receive a free meal.  The Crookston Classic Cruisers and their vehicles will be on display free of charge during the event.

Finance & University Services –

Final work on Evergreen Hall and the surrounding area is progressing.  The resurfacing of Parking Lot E to the south of the building and the construction of the roadway that connects to Parking Lot D should be finished soon.  Additional sidewalks to the north and west that connect to Skyberg and Centennial Halls are in place.  The center of the courtyard area will feature a pergola, the concrete base for which has been completed.  A basketball half-court area has been surveyed and marked.  The building is functional and currently occupied by students.

International Programs –

The campus has welcomed 23 new international students for fall semester 2009.  These new students represent Canada (7), China (7), Denmark (2), Germany (1), Pakistan/United Arab Emirates (1), and South Korea (5).  Ten of these new students are enrolled in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.  In total, there are 120 international students on campus this semester, including degree-seeking and ESL students.

The Office of International Programs has initiated the International Friends Program.  Staff members are seeking host families and individuals who are interested in befriending an international student and in sharing their time and hospitality with them.  Please contact Kim Gillette at 281-8442 for more information.

Human Resources –

The Crookston campus and the University of Minnesota Office of Human Resources invite all administrators, faculty, and staff to take part in workshops about the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), scheduled for Thursday, September 17.  A 90-minute informational session for faculty and staff is offered at 10 a.m. in 116 Kiehle, and a two-hour training session for department heads and supervisors is offered at 1:30 pm. in 308 Selvig.  Pre-registration is not required.  FMLA allows employees to balance their work and family life by taking reasonable unpaid leave for a serious health condition for the birth or adoption of a child, care of an immediate family member who has a serious health condition, or is called to certain active duty status in the armed forces.  These workshops will explain related policies and procedures.  For additional information contact Les Johnson at 281-8345.

Development & Alumni Relations –

The annual Athletic Hall of Fame and Outstanding Alumni Banquet and Awards Program will be held on Friday, October 2, in Bede Ballroom.  The evening begins with a social at 6 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program.  The 2009 inductees to the Athletic Hall of Fame include Christina (Nettum) Cyr, '97; Al Strandberg, ex. '79; and Frank Fee, president and general manager of KROX AM radio.  Those receiving outstanding alumni awards include Mary Jo (Melbye) Eastes, '79; David Genereux,'80; Troy Olson, '89; and Karissa (Dahl) Olson, '99.  Tickets are $18 per person. Contact Rose Ulseth in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 218-281-8439 or rulseth@umn.edu.

Mark your calendars for Homecoming Week, September 28 through October 3.  A full schedule of the week’s events is available at www.umcrookston.edu/homecoming.

University Relations –

All students, faculty, and staff not involved with classes or other meetings on Wednesday, September 16, from 2 to 2:30 p.m. are asked to wear maroon and gold and gather at the south entrance of the Sargeant Student Center at that time.  University Relations is working with KVLY TV on a video shoot for an “Invest in Your Valley” promotional spot that will air on channels 4, KXJB, and 11, KVLY, in October.  The goal is to gather a sea of people wearing maroon and gold for the video ad.  A rain site has not yet been confirmed.

Athletics –

The Athletic Department kicked off the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program in Lysaker Gymnasium Wednesday, August 26.  The U of M, Crookston is one of 34 institutions selected to participate in the program during the 2009-10 year.  The program was created to support student-athlete development initiatives of NCAA member institutions and to enhance the quality of the student-athlete experience within the context of higher education.  Topics include, time management, study skills, sportsmanship, nutrition, community engagement projects, stress management, and other student development issues.  The program is offered to incoming freshmen and transfer students and is held every Wednesday at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. through December 9.  

UMC Athletics, the NFL, the City of Crookston, and Hugo's will sponsor Youth NFL Football for grades 3 and 4 at Widseth Field Sundays starting September 13 and running through a Superbowl game on November 1.  Cost is $35 and includes NFL jersey and flags.  Free tailgates for friends and families are offered every week starting at noon.  Sign-up sheets are available at Hugo's and at the Sports Center or call 218-281-8423.

Accolades

Paul Aakre, assistant professor, ag systems management,demonstrated farm-scale oil extraction using the Komet press and canola on August 13 at the Energy/Alternative Fuels Field Day at the Central Lakes Ag Center in Staples, Minn.  The event brought together a number of experts and researchers from across Minnesota who are focusing on energy crops and alternative fuels production.

Minnesota Public Radio recently aired a feature story on alumnus Nate Emery, ’05, and his research and work on reviving the population of prairie chickens in northwest Minnesota.  The story is available online here.

Publication notes:  The E-Update is published twice each month August through April and once each month 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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