September 20, 2010

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Around Campus
Campus and Community
Accolades

From the Chancellor

It’s hard to believe we have completed four weeks of classes already.  The mornings are much cooler, the leaves are turning color, and this is Homecoming week.  It must be fall!  Even the calendar says so.

The first month has gone well as new students become adjusted to the University of Minnesota, Crookston.  New faculty and staff are making the same adjustments.  Our returning students, staff, and faculty have been helping newcomers feel comfortable with their fellow students and colleagues.  Hallways are full between classes, and activities in the Sargeant Student Center and the residence halls are moving into full stride.  As always, it’s good to have everyone back on campus.  The energy and enthusiasm make a real difference and add a definite vitality compared to the campus environment we see in the summer.

Some returning students have made comments to me about changes they’ve seen since the end of spring semester.  Significant upgrades in residence halls, refinished faculty offices, the new flagpole project, and the look of the campus grounds are all noticed.  Students recognize the continuing investment in the campus.  Thanks to the many staff members who have worked over the summer to make these improvements.

One change that is also noticed is the loss of the dairy herd that supported teaching in the animal agriculture programs.  Despite our best efforts to establish a small dairy herd, that will not happen.  Dr. Del Vecchio and his faculty continue to develop plans to add animals to support their teaching mission.  We will be able to use some of the animal facilities at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center and will be moving animals in soon.  I appreciate how the faculty have worked hard to find an alternative to the dairy herd.  Their commitment to students is impressive.

We continue with the strategic positioning work and will have a campus forum on Thursday, September 30, to gather feedback, comments, and suggestions from the campus community.  In the meantime, information is available on the Chancellor’s website, and a moodle site has been developed for your comments and ideas.

The Board of Regents held a one-day meeting on September 8.  The agenda was limited with the short meeting and contained very few items pertaining to the Crookston campus.  The Educational Policy and Planning Committee discussed the University Plan, Performance and Accountability Report.  Two major issues discussed were public perceptions of the University and the agreement between the University of Minnesota and the Metropolitan Council, Hennepin County, and the City of Minneapolis related to the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (CCLRT).

Recently I attended a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  Issues discussed were expansion and sports sponsorship flexibility.

I wish the best to you all as we head into the semester full-swing.

- Chuck

Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston

Featured Events & Activities

EDA Center Research Brownbag, Wednesday, September 22 – noon to 1 p.m., Alseth-NWSA Business Board Room, Dowell Hall

Homecoming Coronation, Thursday, September 23 – 8 p.m., Kiehle Auditorium

Outstanding Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fame Recognition, Friday, September 24 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, tickets $20 per person

Homecoming Festivities: “Glitz, Glamour, and Golden Eagles,” Saturday, September 25 – Parade around the Campus Mall, 10:30 a.m.; Teambacker Tailgate featuring music by Four Wheel Drive, 11 a.m., Parking Lot E; Soccer vs. St. Cloud State, 11 a.m.; Football vs. MSU Moorhead, 1 p.m.;  Postgame Social, Minakwa Golf Club, Crookston

Connecting Children and Nature Conference, Wednesday, September 29 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., locations across campus

Campus-Wide Garage Sale, Thursday, September 30 – 9 a.m. department acquisitions and transfers; 10:30 a.m. open to the campus community; noon to 5 p.m. open to the public; Garages 10-12, Parking Lot A

Thursday Commons: Strategic Positioning Session, Thursday, September 30 – 12:15 to 2 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

Faculty and Staff In-Service Day, Friday, October 8 – no classes

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/today or review our news page at blog.lib.umn.edu/umcweb/news.

Around Campus

Administrative Affairs -

Feedback, discussion, and suggestions are welcome at the September 30 Thursday Commons Strategic Positioning Forum, set for 12:15 to 2 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.  The program will be interactive and will be facilitated by Jody Horntvedt of University of Minnesota Extension.  The goal is to generate additional ideas and feedback to the work various planning groups have completed over the past several months.  Attendees are encouraged to review the various reports and meeting minutes posted online at www.umcrookston.edu/chancellors-office/strategic2010 prior to attending the forum.  There are no classes scheduled on Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m., so make plans to take part in this event.

Academic Affairs -

Robert McMaster, vice provost and dean of undergraduate education for the University of Minnesota, is scheduled to visit the campus on Tuesday, October 5.  This will be his first time on the Crookston campus.  He will arrive the evening of Monday, October 4, and spend the night in the guest room in Evergreen Hall.  During his visit on Tuesday he will receive a tour of the campus and will meet with administration and academic department heads.  An open forum with faculty is scheduled at 1 p.m. at with students at 2 p.m. that day.

Paul Collits, Ph.D., senior research fellow in regional development at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University’s Hamilton campus in New South Wales, Australia, will meet with U of M, Crookston faculty members on the evening of Thursday, September 23, at 5 p.m. in the Alseth-NWSA Business Boardroom.  Collits is currently undertaking research into the effectiveness of local economic development efforts, the drivers of regional economic performance, rural in-migration, people attraction strategies, and innovation and networks.  He is also developing an international collaborative research and community learning project examining rural community decline and survival in “heartland” regions in Australia and the United States.

Student Affairs -

Kim Cousins has been hired as the at-risk student coordinator for the Academic Assistance Center.  A returning employee, she was previously employed in the Academic Assistance Center at UMC from 2003-08. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota, where she has taught in the College of Education and Human Development.  She also holds an M.S. in curriculum and instruction education from Bemidji State University, Bemidji, Minn.

International Programs -

Nearly 40 Chinese students are currently attending the U of M, Crookston.  These students are eager to interact with the community and learn more about American culture while sharing their Chinese language and culture.  The International Programs Office will offer a unique opportunity to Crookston Public Schools students of all ages as well as to UMC students through a 10-week after school Mandarin language and cultural program.  The 10-week program will begin on Tuesday, October 5.  The cost is $25 for the Language Course (Tuesdays), $25 for the Culture Course (Thursdays), or $40 for both courses and includes a snack and beverage during each class and a participation certificate.  The program will be held at Crookston High School, but it is meant for students of all ages.  Due to the new bussing schedule, parents will need to commit to dropping their child at CHS at 3:45 p.m. and will need to pick up their child at 4:45 p.m.  Individuals interested in this program should sign up in the International Student Office, 12 Hill Hall, or should contact Rae French at 218-281-8339. 

Library -

The UMC Library now subscribes to the following new databases: Robert Morris Associated (RMA) Online, GreenFile, Biography Index, Testing Reference Center, Small Business Index, Birds of North America, SPac (dairy), and a number of electronic books (Ebrary).  If faculty or staff have questions about these databases, they should contact one of the library staff members.

Interlibrary loan articles may now be delivered to the computer desktop at no charge.  The articles are converted into a pdf format and sent via e-mail.

The Library is in the process of installing new more powerful desktop computers for student use and loading them with software not on the standard laptop load, such as Adobe CS5.

Digitizing of NWSA and UMC Yearbooks from 1910-2000 is now complete.  The yearbooks are fully searchable and browseable.  To begin, go to umclibrary.crk.umn.edu/DigitalProjects.html.

Technology Services -

Dennis Wilsher has been hired as an information technology professional in Technology Support Services.  He comes to the U of M, Crookston from the Cherokee County Campus of Spartanburg Community College, Gaffney, South Carolina, where he served as an information technology specialist.  He is certified by Microsoft in several areas and has served as a technical support specialist through IT Professionals 4 BC Ltd. as well as a network technician for Poquoson City Public Schools, Poquoson, Virginia.  He holds an electronic design technology degree from McGraw Hill University in Toronto, Ontario, as well as an associate degree in social work from the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, British Columbia.

Facilities and Operations -

The campus is making progress in the Otter Tail Power Company Campus Energy Challenge goal of reducing electrical energy consumption by ten to fifteen percent.  For the week of September 6-12, 2010, kilowatt-hour use for the campus was down an average of 17% compared to 2009.  Graphs of weekly electrical energy consumption comparing corresponding dates in 2009 to 2010 are currently posted and updated on a regular basis online at www.energychallengeison.com/umcrookston.  Everyone is encouraged to do their part by turning off the lights when they are the last person leaving a room, by unplugging their cell phone charger when it's not actually charging their phone, and by shutting down their computer for the night.  Little things like these can and do add up to substantial energy savings.

If a facilities-related issue arises that needs attention after regular business hours or on weekends and holidays, faculty and staff are reminded to use the same number that is used for work orders, that being 4-2900 from any campus phone (612-624-2900 when dialing from off campus or via cell phone).  This line is staffed to receive calls and will notify the appropriate Crookston staff member immediately, if necessary. 

Development & Alumni Relations -

The Outstanding Alumni & Athletic Hall of Fame Recognition and Banquet will be held Friday, September 24, in Bede Ballroom with 6 p.m. social, 6:30 dinner, and program to follow.  Congratulations to this year’s outstanding alumni James Clack, ’80; and Jan Patenaude, ’77; and Athletic Hall of Fame recipients June Shaver, ’76 & ’82; Ken Essay, ex. ’94; Rick Spaeth, ’86; and the 1982 Football Team.  Reservations are required. Tickets are $20 per person.  Contact Rose Ulseth in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at 218-281-8439.

This year’s homecoming festivities have the theme “Glitz, Glamour, and Golden Eagles.”  On Saturday, September 25, the annual Homecoming Parade around the Campus Mall begins at 10:30 a.m.  At 11 a.m.  the Golden Eagles Women’s Soccer Team faces the St. Cloud State Huskies.  At 11 a.m. Teambackers will host a tailgate featuring music from the band Four Wheel Drive.  The Golden Eagles Football Team will face the MSU Moorhead Dragons at 1 p.m. on Ed Widseth Field.  A post-game social will be held at Minakwa Golf Club in Crookston.

University Relations -

University Relations is preparing to launch the U of M, Crookston Student Stories Blog, a blog that showcases current students and recent graduates and lets them tell the story of their own student experience. On roughly a weekly basis a new video or article will be posted representing the wide spectrum of degree programs offered at the U of M, Crookston.  The effort began as a student project for Elizabeth Kern and Boe Beito.  Several of the first videoclips were developed, filmed, and edited by these two students, with oversight by Andrew Svec, director of communications, public relations, and marketing.  Special thanks also to Tom Sondreal, senior media producer in Media Services.  The blog is still being finalized and will officially launch September 27. To preview the first entry, go to http://blog.lib.umn.edu/umcweb/studentstories.

Athletics -

David Jackson has been hired as an assistant men’s basketball coach and assistant intramural coordinator.  He comes to UMC from Rend Lake College, in Ina, Illinois, where he served as assistant men’s basketball coach and as director of the Southern Illinois Cowboys Summer Basketball Program.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, with an emphasis in education, business, and computers.

The U of M, Crookston Golden Eagles and Crookston Parks and Recreation have teamed with the NFL to sponsor the fourth year of Youth NFL Flag Football for grades 3 and 4.  The league began Sunday, September 12, and will play every Sunday at 1 and 2:30 p.m. on Widseth Field with playoffs and a Superbowl game set for October 24.

Campus and Community

Michael Knudson, a 2009 graduate of the U of M, Crookston in natural resources--wildlife management, has been appointed to serve as a Minnesota GreenCorps staff member working in the area of green infrastructure and stormwater management.  He will be stationed at the Center for Sustainability, 109 Hill Hall, on the Crookston campus.  Minnesota GreenCorps is a statewide initiative designed to help preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals. The program places AmeriCorps members with local governments, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations around the state, where they serve for eleven months on focused environmental projects.  The program is coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Chris Waltz has been named the northwest region coordinator with Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs).  He will be based on the Crookston campus in 262 Owen Hall Annex.  A 2009 graduate of the U of M, Crookston, Waltz spent the last year as a Minnesota GreenCorps staff member based in Crookston, where he helped local governments reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from their public buildings and vehicle operations.  In his current role with CERTs, he will work directly with community members and local community groups interested in pursuing clean energy projects and will help connect community members to technical resources, potential funding sources for projects, and project ideas and planning tools. In addition, he will run community energy efficiency campaigns, host energy tours and workshops, and give presentations to local organizations at community meetings, local energy fairs, and other events.  CERTs is a joint program of the University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, the Southwest Regional Development Commission, the Minnesota Project, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and the Green Institute.

Accolades

Associate Professors Harouna Maiga and Lyle Westrom, together with Sue Westrom, presented a workshop entitled “Developing an Agricultural Education Program in Malian Public High Schools” at the Malian Symposium of Applied Sciences in Bamako, Mali, Africa, in early August.  The workshop was designed to develop an agricultural education program for Malian high schools and, later, farm business management for Malian farmers.  Exploratory research is being done regarding the establishment of an agricultural education teacher education program in Segou, Mali, to train and license teachers.  The goal is to launch one new public school program annually in each of seven regions within Mali.  The conference was initiated by the Maliwatch Organization, which was founded by Malians living in the United States and Europe in order to provide vision for issues in their home country.  Lyle and Sue Westrom also gave a keynote address at a plenary session entitled “World Agriculture and Food Production: Challenges and Hope” at the symposium.  The presentation dealt with one of several key issues facing Mali today.   Harouna Maiga, who serves as the president of Maliwatch, also chaired the mini-symposium on agriculture, where many agricultural research papers were presented.

Assistant Professor Sonia Spaeth is one of the featured artists in the East Grand Forks Campbell Library’s Autumn Colors Art Exhibit, which runs from September 13 through October 16.  The exhibit is comprised of works in several different media and features visual artists from Crookston and the surrounding area including John Gilstad, Lisa Hatlestad, Ross Hier, Marita Kendig, Mary LaFrance, Hyley Lee, Sue Neufeld, Gary Stegman, Sonia Spaeth, and the Sisters of Mount Saint Benedict.  The exhibit can be viewed during the Campbell Library's regular hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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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