U of M Crookston Campus E Update an internal administrative news digest September 6, 2016

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1 U of M Crookston Campus E Update an internal administrative news digest September 6, 2016 From the Chancellor This year we celebrate two very important milestones in our history. We will enjoy two anniversaries our 50 th year as an institution of higher learning and our 20 th year of offering online academic programs. It is a good time to reflect on our remarkable history of reliance, transformation, and of being responsive to the needs of our students, our region, and our state. For those who are not familiar with the story, here is a very brief sketch of our campus history. (For a longer history go to: After very successfully serving as the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) beginning in 1906, conversations began in the 1960s that an additional higher learning option was needed beyond what could be provided at the boarding high school. Interestingly, Dr. Bernard Youngquist, the superintendent of the NWSA at the time, was one of the leading proponents of a change. After considerable discussion, it was determined in 1965 that the NWSA would transform to a two year technical college. Dr. Stanley Sahlstrom was chosen as the first provost and soon became a legend for his ability to sell the new college to anyone he met. Through his hard work and that of many others, the campus recruited 26 faculty to instruct the 187 students that arrived on September 21, 1966, as the first students at the new University of Minnesota Technical Institute. As an interesting side note, for the first two years the campus served as home for both the new tech and for the NWSA, with the final graduating class of the latter in The initial academic programs, while retaining their strong roots in agriculture, began with offerings in three areas: agriculture, business, and general studies. We were on our way as a college! Later in the fall, the campus announced its new mascot was the Trojan (you won t be surprised to learn that NWSA alumni are the Aggies!), and a couple of years later the name of the institution was changed to the University of Minnesota Technical College. Remarkably, Dr. Sahlstrom continued to serve as provost for 21 years, after which, in 1985 a new provost of the campus was selected, Dr. Donald Sargeant, a longtime campus faculty member and administrator who would serve almost as long. Soon thereafter two name changes occurred are are still used today: the institution became the University of Minnesota Crookston and the title of the campus leader was changed to chancellor. The late 1980s and early 1990s were financially challenging times for Minnesota, and there was considerable effort to reduce costs in the public sector, including in Minnesota higher education. This resulted in the consolidation of MnSCU (now Minnesota State), while the University of Minnesota was examining difficult budget reductions which included the closing of campuses. During this time the Waseca campus was closed and there was some discussion of also closing the Crookston campus. It was a time of great uncertainty and there was strong advocacy to maintain the Crookston campus by college leaders, faculty, students, community leaders, Regents, and state legislators. The campus, under the forward thinking leadership of Dr. Sargeant, decided to view this great challenge as an opportunity, and leaders proposed the transformation not only to a four year institution, but also, consistent with our technological roots dating back to the NWSA, to provide laptops to all students. Long story short, the Regents approved the conversion to a baccalaureate granting

2 institution offering degree through three academic units agricultural, business, and technical studies. Thus, in the fall of 1993 students arrived at the first campus in the nation to issue laptops to all students and faculty. A few years later we became the Golden Eagles to acknowledge a new status as a four year university. It is an interesting side note that the laptop contract was approved by the Regents on a Friday, the computers then immediately shipped in already packed trucks from Florida, and they arrived over the weekend, and were then distributed on the first day of classes. Sound familiar? Some things don t change! This is a history of an institution responding to the needs of students by originally creating the NWSA and then transforming to the Tech and, yet again, transforming into the four year laptop UMC. To continue to respond to student needs, there was soon a realization that many students could not access a traditional education due to work, family responsibilities, and being place bound. Again, this was seen as an opportunity, and because of our comfort with technology, in 1996 the campus became the first University of Minnesota campus to offer an online only degree, which was in Applied Health. As you know, we now have 14 degrees fully online with additional programs in the pipeline as we continue to serve the state in this modern extension of the land grant mission. Thus, this year we celebrate both a half century of service as a college and two decades of service via online instruction. It is a good time to celebrate the many folks who played a role in helping us get here: the leaders of the campus who worked so hard to both establish and transform the campus; the community leaders and legislators who advocated for our creation and continuance; the faculty who were open to teaching new subjects and via new modalities as the need arose; the staff who through it all have been there supporting the students in numerous ways; and finally the students who have benefitted from all the changes along the way. It is a great story of resilience and of remarkable nimbleness. It is a great story of always focusing on the students and their needs and of changing to meet them as necessary. It is a history of which we should all be proud. I hope you will participate in events throughout the year as we celebrate both our 50 th and 20 th anniversaries. Please join us for our first festivity on Wednesday, September 21, in the celebration, fifty years to the day, of those first 187 students who arrived on campus. We will also be celebrating all the folks who have helped us along our journey of service and excellence. And this now includes you. You are a part of this history. Your continued commitment to excellence and your willingness to change, which have been such important parts of our history, will now be critical to our future. Thank you. Fred Wood Chancellor University of Minnesota Crookston Featured Events & Activities What s on Wednesday (W.O.W.): Hypnotist Frederick Winters, Wednesday, September 7 7 p.m., Kiehle Auditorium, free to UMC students, faculty, and staff Home Football Opener, UMC Golden Eagles vs. Concordia University St. Paul, Saturday, Sept p.m., Ed Widseth Field Zhong Qju Chinese Mid Autumn or Moon Festival, Thursday, September 15 3 to 4:30 p.m., Prairie Room, Sargeant Student Center, free and open to the public

3 UMC Hosts Crookston Chamber & Visitors Bureau Mixer, Thursday, September 15 5 to 7 p.m., Bede Ballroom, rooms A&B Home Volleyball Opener, UMC Golden Eagles vs. U of M Duluth, Thursday, September 15 6 p.m., Lysaker Gym, UMC Sports Center Constitution Day, Friday, September 16 Music on Monday Featuring Collin Hauser, Monday, September 19 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center, free Alumni Brew Bash Tour at Day Block Brewing Co., Minneapolis, Minn., Tuesday, September 20 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Day Block Brewing Co., 1105 Washington Ave. S, Minneapolis, Minn. Soup and Substance: The Ethics of Hunting, Wednesday, September 21 Noon to 1 p.m., Bede Ballroom UMC Founders Day 50th Anniversary Reception, Wednesday, September 21 4 to 6:30 p.m., Bede Ballroom, free and open to the public Home Women's Soccer Opener, UMC Golden Eagles vs. Minot State University, Friday, September 23 4 p.m., UMC Soccer Field Banned Books Week, Monday, September 26, through Friday, September 30 events and locations across campus For details on these and a comprehensive listing of other events or to discover what s happening this week, visit UMC Today at or review our news page at Learn more about events across the entire University of Minnesota system via Brief: Around Campus Academic Affairs UMC will celebrate Banned Books Week from Monday, September 26, through Friday, September 30. One of the highlights of the week will be visiting author Sherry Roberts from Minneapolis. Roberts will visit a number of classes and talk about her book, Book of Mercy. Public readings from banned books will be held, and students are encouraged to pick up a free copy of a banned book during the week's book giveaway. Banned Books Week events at UMC are sponsored by the Academic Success Center. Check the UMC Today page for specific times and events. Banned Books Week is an annual national event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Learn more at

4 Student Affairs Aaron Meyer has been hired as a career development counselor for Career Services. He holds an M.Ed. in counseling as well as a bachelor s degree in psychology, both from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Meyer has served as a residential life coordinator at UMC since January of In his new position, he will lead student career counseling efforts for the campus. He began his new responsibilities on August 29. Christen Schoenborn has been hired as an assistant counselor for Counseling Services. She holds an M.S. in college counseling and student affairs from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), and she is currently working on licensure to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her bachelor s degree in community health education with a minor in psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Schoenborn comes to UMC after serving as a counselor at Summit Guidance Center in Moorhead, Minn., where she administered comprehensive diagnostic assessment for clients and provided therapy services while working toward professional licensure. She also has worked as an academic coach in Disability Services at MSUM and as an activity coordinator at Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead. At UMC her position will be 75% time, and in addition to counseling, she will coordinate the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug (ATOD) Awareness Program. Evelyn Ayala has been hired as an intern counselor for Counseling Services. She is a doctoral student in the counseling psychology program at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks. She earned an M.A. in experimental psychology from California State University, San Bernadino, and she holds bachelor s degrees in psychology and in human development, both from Cal State, San Bernadino. Additionally, Ayala serves as a volunteer research assistant under the supervision of Rachel Navarro, an assistant professor in UND s Department of Counseling Psychology, for the National Science Foundation s research group working with other universities to learn more about Latinos and women s experiences in STEM fields. At UMC her position will be 50% time, and in addition to counseling, she will coordinate LGBTQ services for the campus. Admissions & Enrollment Management Josh Roysland has been hired as an admissions counselor. He holds a B.A. in university studies with a concentration in business, history, and music from North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D. He has experience in the hospitality and food service industry and also has served as assistant women s basketball coach and intramural sports supervisor at UMC. Additionally, he is a writer, producer, and the founder of Dakota Drive Music, an independent music record label based in Minneapolis, and he, himself, has written, recorded, and released two albums of music. He s also served as an actor and extra in films and television. He began his work in Admissions at UMC on August 24. International Programs Join the Confucius Institute satellite office at the University of Minnesota Crookston for an afternoon celebrating the Chinese Mid Autumn or Moon Festival on Thursday, September 15, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Prairie Room, Sargeant Student Center. Moon cake, tea, and snacks will be served. This festival has origins dating back 3000 years and centers around the harvest and the autumn full moon. This event is free and open to the public.

5 Facilities & Operations Parking Lot E, located between Evergreen Hall and Ed Widseth Field, has been expanded to create approximately 30 additional parking spaces on campus. The expansion was built to the east of the current lot space. The Facilities & Operations Department is working with the contractor to continue the landscaping project at the Wellness Center. The main delays have been due to the rain and wet conditions as well as obtaining a soil sample that meets the specifications for topsoil the University had in construction documents. The soil sample was approved last week, and earthwork and landscaping will proceed over the next week as weather conditions allow. Development & Alumni Relations The second event of the Alumni Brew Bash Tour will take place on Tuesday, September 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Day Block Brewing Co., 1105 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. All UMC and NSWA alumni and friends, as well as current and retired faculty and staff members are encouraged to attend. To RSVP, contact Sue Dwyer (sdwyer@umn.edu or ) or watch the alumni Facebook page at for more details. The next stop in the tour will be Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at the Drekker Brewing Co. in Fargo, N.D. University Relations UMC will host a Crookston Chamber & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Membership Mixer on Thursday, September 15, from 5 to 7 p.m., in Bede Ballroom, rooms A & B. The event is free and open to all members of the Crookston CVB, UMC faculty and staff, and the general public. Snacks and beverages will be available. University Relations and the Chancellor s Office will host the UMC Founders Day 50 th Anniversary Reception on Wednesday, September 21, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center. The event is free and open to the public. Members of the campus and local community are welcome to enjoy cake and refreshments to celebrate UMC s 50 years as an institution of higher education and 20 years of offering college degrees online. On Wednesday, September 21, 1966, 187 new college students arrived on campus to prepare for classes at the newly opened University of Minnesota Technical Institute at Crookston. Athletics Elizabeth Fox has been hired as an assistant coach for women s soccer and softball. Fox, a former soccer and softball player at Newbury College in Brookline, Mass., will serve as assistant coach for both sports. Fox earned her Bachelor of Arts in public relations and advertising with a minor in psychology from Newbury College, graduated Summa Cum Laude, and was a member of Lamba Pi Eta, Tau Xi Chapter of the National Communication Association Honors Society and Alpha Chi National College Honor Society. In addition, she has worked as a head counselor at Beaver Summer Camp, as a communications intern at Make A Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as a substitute teacher in the Orono, Maine, School District, and as a recreation employee at Orono Parks and Recreation.

6 Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) For the academic year, an action project on new faculty orientation helped UMC advance quality in AQIP Category 3, Valuing Employees. This project was an outgrowth of conversations during meetings of the faculty engagement group, and was developed and executed by Stacie Varnson, Ph.D., with assistance from Les Johnson, Ed.D. From Orientation Week throughout the fall and spring semesters, workshops and activities were targeted to new faculty to help them become acquainted with UMC systems and technology, institutional culture, and practices such as assessment and advising. A Moodle shell later migrated to the Academic Affairs website was developed to house resources and information specific to new faculty. At the end of the academic year, new faculty members were surveyed on their use, and the effectiveness, of the various components of the program. The responses were very positive, and contained many helpful ideas that we are incorporating into the program for this year. University of Minnesota System Regent Dean Johnson, chair of the U of M Board of Regents, and U of M President Eric Kaler recently announced the hiring of Douglas Peterson as the new General Counsel for the University of Minnesota. He comes to the University of Minnesota from Stinson Leonard Street LLP, a top 100 law firm with an office in Minneapolis. There, he was a partner practicing in the areas of complex business litigation and white collar defense. Previously, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota where he tried a variety of criminal cases and argued numerous cases before the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He has also served as a clerk for the Honorable Robert G. Renner, U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota. Peterson received his J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude in economics from Yale University. As chief legal officer of the University of Minnesota system, Peterson will provide legal services to the Board of Regents and senior leadership and will lead the Office of the General Counsel. He will begin his new role on September 19, 2016, pending Board of Regents approval. Campus and Community Crookston s first annual Chalk It Up! event will take place on Saturday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Downtown Square. It is a community/family event open to all ages and will feature chalk art, food trucks, and live music by Crookston s Anthony Diaz. Everyone from Crookston and the surrounding communities is invited to come and create artwork. No artistic background is needed. All participants will be given a 4 x 4 foot square and chalk. It costs $5 to register. The back up rain day is Saturday, September 17. Learn more and register at Accolades The University of Minnesota Crookston has been listed among the top 50 Best Online Colleges and Universities for 2016 by College Choice. College Choice is an independent online publication that posts rankings and reviews aimed at helping students and their families choose the best college for their needs. UMC came in at number 36 on the national list, which is available online at online colleges and universities. Additionally, UMC s online degree program in Information Technology Management is listed among the top 20 (at number 12) Best Online Bachelor s in Management Information System Degrees for 2016 by College Choice. That list is available online at online bachelors in management information systems

7 degrees, and UMC s online degree program in Health Management is listed among the top 20 (at number 20) Best Online Bachelor s in Healthcare Administration for 2016, with the list posted at online bachelors in healthcare administration. ********************* Publication notes: E Update is published approximately twice each month except for May, June, July, and December, when it is published only once. Issues are posted online at relations/campus e update. If you have any questions regarding the information in this news update, please send them to urumc@umn.edu. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.