December 20, 2010

Inside this Issue

From the Chancellor
Featured Events & Activities
Around Campus
Accolades

From the Chancellor

It seems only a short time ago we welcomed new freshman on campus, and then returning students arrived as well.  While we are all aware of the budget challenges the state of Minnesota and, ultimately, the University face, everyone has worked hard to provide an exceptional teaching and learning experience for students.  I thank each and every faculty and staff member for your dedication and contribution to student success.  I’m grateful for your commitment that has provided the opportunity to serve more students on campus and online through increased enrollment.

I want to welcome the new head football coach, Chuck Moller, to campus.  I’m sure you will have the opportunity to meet and get to know him over the next days and months.  Coach Moller can build on the established foundation and help us further develop a strong tradition for our football program.  We're happy to have him on board.

I wish you all the very best during the extended time of the campus closure.  Please enjoy some well-deserved time off with family and friends.  Drive carefully so you will return safely on January 3.  Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! 

– Chuck

Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston

Featured Events & Activities

Floating Holiday, Thursday, December 23 - Campus Offices and Buildings Closed

Christmas Eve Holiday, Friday, December 24 - Campus Offices and Buildings Closed

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

Floating Holiday, Thursday, December 30 - Campus Offices and Buildings Closed

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

U of M, Crookston Alumni Association Annual Meeting, Wednesday, January 5, 2011 – 6 p.m., Kiehle 116

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 at 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.  Classes for spring semester 2011 will begin on Monday, January 10, 2011.

Business Affairs and Human Resources -

Regarding employee payroll during the winter closure, please note that the closure period includes one payday on Wednesday, December 29, 2010.  For those faculty and staff on direct deposit, paychecks will be deposited as usual.  For those not on direct deposit, paychecks will be mailed on December 27 to home addresses.  Please allow time for mail processing and check Employee Self-Service to be sure that the correct home address is on file.  If employees are interested in signing up for direct deposit, they can do so through Employee Self-Service.

Facilities and Operations will not provide custodial service during the December 23-January 2 closure, and all campus doors will remain locked.  During that time utility services will be maintained, however heat will be turned down to approximately 60 degrees for campus buildings with the exception of campus residence halls, Lysaker Gym during scheduled practice hours, and the campus greenhouses.  Snow will be removed from main campus roads and around the Mall for emergency vehicle access as well as from sidewalks as needed.

Student Affairs –

Campus residence halls will reopen to students at 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 9, 2011.   That evening 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.

For spring semester 2011 the Office of International Programs expects to welcome a total of 35 new degree-seeking students and 21 new English as a Second Language (ESL) students representing the countries of South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Nepal.  These new students are expected to arrive the first week in January and will begin orientation on Wednesday, January 5.

Development & Alumni Relations –

The U of M, Crookston’s 4th Annual Holiday Social grossed nearly $8,500 for student scholarships.  Proceeds from the raffles and silent auction will benefit UMC scholarships.  More than 100 people gathered on the evening of December 1 to celebrate the season, while bidding on more than 20 holiday baskets, purchasing handcrafted items and artwork, as well participating in three new raffles.  Over 50 winners left the evening with many holiday treasures.  Special thanks go to Hugo’s Family Marketplace, Shear Sister’s Salon, AmericInn of Crookston, Lynn Willhite Watercolor, UMC’s Horticulture Club and Bookstore, Sodexo, Irishman’s Shanty, Mugoo’s Pizza, Best Buy Liquor, Crooks Club, Happy Harry’s Bottle Shop, and the entire community for donated various items, baskets, wine, and services to raise awareness for scholarships.  This year’s social was a success through the involvement of Emily Knutson, Sherry Just, Ardith Pelton, Judy Neppel, Barbara Muesing, Jeannine Windels, Diane Bachmeier, Michelle Christopherson, Mary Tricia Sanders, Amber Bailey, Stephanie Helgeson, Natasha Kuhle, Leanne Butt, Kim Knutson, ADawn Melbey Mike Fields, Kayla Klein, Amanda Ovesman, Amanda Flint, Amy VanTreck, Lauren Snively, Carly Mirwaldt, Katelyn Mueller, Rebecca Whittrock, Tiffany Rask, Katie Muller, and Kayla Krueger.

The U of M, Crookston Alumni Association will hold its Annual Meeting (postponed from November 29, 2010) on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. with a light meal in Kiehle 116. Agenda items will include year-end committee reports, approval of new board members, election of officers, and upcoming events.

University Relations –

President Bruininks will preview the U of M's 2011 legislative request and talk about the challenges faced by higher education in these trying economic times at the U of M Legislative Briefing on Wednesday, January 19, 2011.  The event will be videocast live from McNamara Alumni Center in the Twin Cities to all campuses of the University.  On the Crookston campus the event will be viewed in Kiehle Building 116, where light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served on site starting at 5:30 p.m.  Photos and activities will begin at 6 p.m., and the formal program will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Students, faculty, and staff interested in attending the event on the Crookston campus or any campus should register online at www.umn.edu/groots.

Athletics –

Charles "Chuck" Moller has accepted the position of head football coach for the Golden Eagles.  Originally from Eagle Bend, Minnesota, Moller has built a career coaching football that spans more than twenty years.  Most recently he has served as assistant football coach for Phoenix College, in Phoenix, Arizona, but he has been a member of the football coaching staff at Oklahoma State University (2001-2004) and at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California (1997-2001), where he helped coach a team to the Rose Bowl in 2000.  Moller earned his bachelor's degree in physical education, elementary through secondary, at the U of M, Morris, and pursued graduate work in athletic administration and physical education while he was at North Dakota State.  Learn more.

Sixteen Golden Eagle student-athletes were recently named to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) All-Academic Teams for the 2010 fall athletic season. To be eligible for this honor, a student-athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing with at least one full academic year at that institution, must be a member of the varsity traveling team, and must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better.  The Golden Eagles doubled the number of team honorees this year after finishing with eight on the team last fall.  Learn which student-athletes earned this honor.

On Saturday, January 1, 2011, the Golden Eagle Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams will travel to Marshall, Minn., where they will face Southwest Minnesota State in conference games – 4 p.m. for the women and 6 p.m. for the men.  Then the teams are off to Mankato, Minn., on January 2, where they will face Minnesota State in conference play – 2 p.m. for the women and 4 p.m. for the men.

Campus and Community -

Entrepreneurs from Northwest Minnesota who want to turn their breakthrough idea into a profitable business venture will have until December 31, 2010, to complete and submit their application for consideration in this year’s IDEA Competition.  The IDEA (which stands for Ingenuity Drives Entrepreneur Acceleration) Competition is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose—to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace.  The competition awards up to five $10,000 prizes each year to regional entrepreneurs.  The U of M, Crookston is among the sponsors of the IDEA Competition.  Learn more.

Accolades

Dan Svedarsky, Ph.D., UMC professor of natural resources, research biologist at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC), and director, Center for Sustainability, was among eight individuals recently recognized as  fellows at the fall annual meeting of The Wildlife Society in Snowbird, Utah.   The title of fellow recognizes members who have distinguished themselves through exception service to the wildlife profession.  Svedarsky received the Minnesota Award from the Minnesota Chapter of The Wildlife Society in 1999 and served as national president of the 9,000-member organization in 2007-08. He currently chairs the College and University Wildlife Education Working Group of The Wildlife Society which organized a symposium on educating wildlife professionals offered at the Utah meeting.  He also presented a paper at the symposium along with U of M, Crookston colleagues Phil Baird and John Loegering.

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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