December 6, 2010

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Around Campus
Accolades

From the Chancellor

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving break even though the weather caused some to change their travel plans.  In some cases relatives or friends weren’t able to travel to the area.  In any case, a four-day weekend was a good thing to prepare for the final weeks of the fall semester.

I want to acknowledge those who hosted students in their homes for Thanksgiving.  I am aware of some who, when their plans were changed, opened their homes to international students for the day.  Thanks to all of you, especially Dr. Tom Baldwin and Ardith Pelton, who hosted more than 20 students for Thanksgiving.  The willingness to share with others is one of the things that make the University of Minnesota, Crookston special.

Senior Vice President Jones has convened what he has named a University of Minnesota System Council that includes the chancellors of the Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Rochester campuses, CFANS Dean Al Levine, Bilogical Sciences Dean Bob Elde, Extension Dean Beverly Durgan, and Senior Vice President Frank Cerra.  The purpose of the council is to better align the University resources in a region, to develop a structure to understand the opportunities, and to leverage resources outside the region to serve the region we work in.  To date, we’ve met twice with system vice presidents to explore opportunities to leverage their resources.  I’ve met with Dr. Albert Sims to discuss current collaborations we have with the Northwest Research and Outreach Center.  We will be asking our respective units to provide specific examples of collaborative work as a start.  We will also work with the Extension Regional Center, the Regional Sustainable Development Partnership ,and Area Health Education Center in Crookston.

This week candidates for the head football coach position will be on campus for interviews.  The search committee, chaired by Dave Rolling, Ph.D., has been very proactive in reviewing qualifications of candidates, conducting phone interviews, and scheduling campus visits.  My thanks to the members of this committee for their work during a very busy period of the semester.

On behalf of the campus community, I want to extend condolences to Bill Tyrrell and his family on the sudden death of his wife Mary.  Mary was often on campus and a great supporter of the University of Minnesota, Crookston.  We will all miss her and want to support Bill and his family during this difficult time for them.

– Chuck

Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston

Featured Events & Activities

New Student Registration for Spring Semester 2011, Tuessday, December 7 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Check-in at Sargeant Student Center

Flu Shot Clinic for Students, Faculty, and Staff, Wednesday, December 8 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, please bring University ID

Last Day of Classes, Friday, December 10

Final Exams, Monday, December 13, through Thursday, December 16

Faculty and Staff Holiday Get-Together, Thursday, December 16 – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center

Floating Holiday, Thursday, December 23 - Campus Offices Closed

Christmas Holiday, Friday, December 24 - Campus Offices Closed

Furlough Days, December 27, 28, 29 - Campus Offices and Buildings Closed

Floating Holiday, Thursday, December 30 - Campus Offices Closed

New Year’s Eve Holiday, Friday, December 31 - Campus Offices Closed

First Day of Classes, Spring Semester 2011, Monday, January 10, 2011

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 –

The University of Minnesota, Crookston campus will be closed Thursday, December 23, 2010, through Sunday, January 2, 2011.  During this time, most campus buildings and services, the business office, the library, and other spaces will be closed or unavailable.  This closure is a cost-savings measure purposely scheduled at a time when campus activity is naturally reduced and effects of reduced services are minimized. Utility savings will be realized by turning the heat down in most buildings, and labor savings will be achieved through a three-day furlough for many employees.  Nearly all employees will be unavailable during this time.  A website www.umcrookston.edu/winterclosure has been established with full details of which specific services will and will not be available during the campus closure time.  The campus will return to normal staffing and hours on Monday, January 3, and classes for spring semester 2011 will begin on Monday, January 10, 2011.

Faculty and staff from across the campus community—the U of M, Crookston, the Northwest Research and Outreach Center, the Northwest Area Health Education Center, and the Crookston Regional Extension Center—are invited to the annual Campus Community Holiday Get-Together on Thursday, December 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bede Ballroom.  A free lunch will be served followed by a short program.  Those who wish to take part in the white elephant gift exchange should bring a “garage sale worthy or better” white elephant gift.  Attendees are encouraged to dress in festive clothing and to bring a dessert to share.

Academic Affairs –

The Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) admissions panel has recommended that the University of Minnesota, Crookston be admitted to AQIP, which provides an alternative evaluation process for organizations already accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).  This recommendation will be forwarded to the Institutional Actions Council for final approval.  A small working group from campus will attend the 2011 AQIP Strategy Forum February 9 - 11, 2011.  The Strategy Forum is designed specifically for institutions new to AQIP and asks teams to identify two important institutional challenges their institution has not yet settled on a strategy for addressing.  At the event the group will learn how to create specific, measurable action projects that respond to serious challenges.

Student Affairs –

A registration session for new students enrolling for spring semester 2011 is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Check-in will be at the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center.  The full schedule for the day is available online.

All campus residence halls will close for break at 4 p.m., Thursday, December 16, and will reopen at 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 9, 2011.  Over the break residence halls will be open only to students who have registered to stay with the Office of Residential Life and Security Services.  Brown Dining Room will close on Thursday, December 16, at 1:30 p.m., and the Eagles Nest will close that day at 2 p.m.  The Evergreen Grill will not be open that evening.  No meals will be provided by Dining Services during the break.  On Sunday, January 9, 2011, the Evergreen Grill will open at 7 p.m.   On Monday, January 10, 2011, the Eagles Nest returns to regularly scheduled hours opening at 7 a.m., and Brown Dining Room returns to regularly scheduled hours, opening at 7:30 a.m.

Development & Alumni Relations –

Please consider the U of M, Crookston for any end of thecalendar year giving. The office of Development & Alumni Relations will be closed December 23 through 31 during the upcoming holidays and furlough days.  Anyone wishing to make a contribution prior to year-end is asked to please contact Corby Kemmer, director, Development & Alumni Relations.  He will be on call during the furlough days at 701-430-9880 or e-mail at ckemmer@umn.edu.

Please keep Bill Tyrrell and his children Ryan and Britt in your thoughts and prayers after the loss of his wife Mary last Wednesday.

University Relations –

Staff from University Relations worked with regional media to gain coverage of the new Immersive Visualization Lab developed by the Math, Science, and Technology (MST) Department.  Adel Ali, Ph.D., professor and department head, MST Department, was interviewed in a feature story printed in the December 1, 2010, edition of The Grand Forks Herald.  The following day, KVLY TV aired a segment about the lab during its evening newscasts.

Athletics –

Wednesday, December 8, will be Golden Eagle Faculty and Staff Night.  In appreciation of the support from faculty and staff, UMC Athletics will provide free chili and sub sandwiches to faculty and staff starting at 5 p.m. in the UMC Sports Center.  Faculty and staff will also be recognized during the games in Lysaker Gym, where the Women’s Basketball Team will play a non-conference game against Dickinson State at 6 p.m., and the Men’s Basketball Team will face the College of St. Scholastica in a non-conference game at 8 p.m.

The UMC Teambackers will hold a Golden Eagle Coaches Luncheon at noon on Friday, December 10, at the Crookston Eagles Club.  Lunch will be served and coaches will give updates on their seasons to date, along with outlooks on their upcoming games.  Selected student-athletes will speak about their season, upcoming games, and opponents.  On Saturday, December 11, the Golden Eagle Women's and Men's Basketball Teams will host MSU Moorhead in NSIC action. Game times are set for 2 p.m. for the women and 4 p.m. for the men at Lysaker Gymnasium.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) recently announced that three Golden Eagle Football players had earned All-Conference recognition following the 2010 season.  Cecil Brown (DB), a sophomore from Edison, Ga.; Cody Hendrickson (DB), a junior from Wright, Minn.; and Scott Steuck (OL) a junior from Dassel, Minn. were all recognized as NSIC North All-Conference Honorable Mention team members.

Accolades

The Collegiate Crops Judging Team from the University of Minnesota, Crookston finished in the top two at  the National Collegiate Crops Judging Contests, held in Kansas City, Mo., on November 16, and in Chicago, Ill., on November 20.  Members of the team from the U of M, Crookston included: Sophomore John Plass, Tulelake, Calif.; Sophomore Andrew Gorentz, Dent, Minn.; and Senior Jon Borge, Ada, Minn, as well as alternate team member: Junior Marc Walter, Plummer, Minn.  Learn more.

Publication notes:  The E-Update is published twice each month August through April and once each month May through July.
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If you have any questions regarding the information in this news update, please send them to urumc@umn.edu.

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