Volume 24, Number 1, August 18, 2004
Calendar
News Items
Faculty and Staff
Opening
Week August 23-27
Chancellor Burton and I are
very happy to invite you to all the activities of August 23-27,
Welcome Back Week, on our campus. There have been so very many great
changes. For my own self, I am so delighted to have joined the UMC
family and the Crookston community. My wife, Jinny, will be joining
me in the first part of September. Right now, I’m traveling around to
all the churches, basing my own future spiritual life on the food in
the various fellowship halls.
Attached is the schedule for the Welcome Back week. I’ve tried to follow the format of years past – breakfast on Monday, a family picnic on Wednesday, with plenty of white space for you to settle in and meet folks. You’ll note that I set aside Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. for a discussion of plans for Academic Affairs for the year.
Our University, UMC, is moving forward. Chancellor Burton has given me a very good, solid framework for implementing Academic Affairs. I am looking forward to a strongly consultative environment with our structure for next year. I’m so much looking forward to meeting and working with you, our faculty and staff.
So, look at the
attached agenda for Welcome Week and let’s plan a kick-off that is
worthy of a great University!
--Joe Massey, vice chancellor, Academic Affairs
New Student Orientation August 27-29
The schedule of events for
New Student Orientation, August 27-29, is available.
Massey
Hired as UMC Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Joseph G. Massey, Ph.D., has been
hired to serve as vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University
of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC). He will be responsible for overseeing
all academic affairs of the college, including the five newly
restructured academic departments, the UMC Library, Technology Support
Services, Media Services, Academic Assistance Center, Student Support
Services, Center for Distance and Continuing Education, assessment, and
the First Year Experience Program. He began his new responsibilities
July 15, 2004.
According to UMC Chancellor Velmer S. Burton, Jr., Massey will also be instrumental in continuing UMC’s new academic initiatives, strategic planning, and working with the Higher Learning Commission on UMC’s self study and site visit for re-accreditation.
“We are eager to have Dr. Massey join us,” said Burton. “He is a well respected faculty member and administrator within the University of Minnesota System. His experience with that system and his background in faculty development will fit well with our goals to broaden UMC’s academic offerings, strengthen our faculty, and continue the evolution of the UMC campus.”
Massey holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in forest economics from the University of Minnesota. His bachelor’s degree is from Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to his graduate work, he worked in the brewing industry in Ohio and Wisconsin.
He most recently served as assistant vice provost for faculty development at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus and as a professor and head of the Department of Wood and Paper Science for the College of Natural Resources. There, he was responsible for coordinating the University of Minnesota’s participation in the Academic Leadership Program and the Department Executive Officers Program of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation; for establishing and directing the U of M’s Provost’s Academic Leadership Initiative, a leadership development program for department heads and chairs across U of M campuses; for administration of the teaching, research, and outreach programs within a department of 14 faculty, 60 undergraduate students, and 40 graduate students; and for maintaining a research program on the application of operations research principles to forest products manufacturing.
Prior to coming to the University of Minnesota, Massey served on the faculty at Texas A&M University as a professor and associate department head in the Forest Science Department. Five of his Ph.D. advisees are now faculty members in major universities.
Over his 27-year academic career, Massey has published numerous books and journal articles and has presented papers and research findings at many national and international conferences. His research interests have evolved from artificial intelligence and knowledge management systems to issues in faculty professional development. Research topics have included improvements in the forest product industry and the integration of computer software, Internet, and interactive television technologies into industry and educational systems. Most recently he presented “Integrating the Scholarship of Teaching into the University of Minnesota’s Initiatives: The Preparing Future Faculty Program" at the Carnegie Foundation’s 2004 Colloquium on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in San Diego, California, with Ilene Alexander and Timothy Delmont.
In the area of outreach, Massey recently served as a member of the Council on Public Engagement, and he has chaired the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Community Service Committee for the past several years. This year he also initiated a new program at the University, the Provost’s Academic Leadership Initiative, a program for the professional development of chairs and heads across the University of Minnesota System. In addition, he has worked on a large number of assignments and projects in the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
Svedarsky
to Serve as Head of UMC Natural Resources Department
University of Minnesota,
Crookston (UMC) officials have chosen W. Daniel Svedarsky, Ph.D. and
professor of natural resources, to serve as department head for the
college’s Natural Resources Department.
A member of the UMC faculty since 1969, Svedarsky also serves as a research biologist at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center. He holds a Ph.D. in wildlife biology from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D., and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He has served as the program leader for UMC’s natural resources degree program and, most recently, as UMC’s interim vice chancellor for academic affairs.
“I’m delighted by this leadership opportunity to work with a dedicated group of faculty and staff in this newly structured department as we work with a great bunch of students,” noted Svedarsky. “While I have enjoyed my interim responsibilities as the chief academic officer for the campus, I have missed the close involvement with students and my field research.”
Svedarsky is recognized as one of North America’s top experts on the greater prairie chicken, and much of his research has focused on the status and management of that species. He has also researched effects of fire as a management tool for native tallgrass prairie and the restoration of gravel pits for wildlife habitat purposes. He is the senior author of a recently published booklet entitled Landowner’s Guide to Prairie Management in Minnesota.
In December of 2003 Svedarsky attended the Wildlife Society’s Third International Wildlife Management Congress in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he presented a paper entitled Economic Impacts of Nature-based Recreation in Northwest Minnesota, a summary of research on which he collaborated with colleague John Loegering, UMC assistant professor of wildlife ecology, and with David Arscott, now working at the Stroud Water Research Center.
Most notable among the numerous honors Svedarsky has received for his teaching and research are his induction into the University of Minnesota’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers in 1998 and the University of Minnesota’s Horace T. Morse Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education, which he received in 1997. These are two of the premier faculty honors at the University of Minnesota. He is also a recipient of the Minnesota Award in recognition of his contributions to wildlife management in Minnesota and the Hamerstrom Award for his work with prairie grouse in North America.
Since 1972, Svedarsky has served as the founder and director of the Red River Valley Natural History Area, a facility of the Northwest Research and Outreach Center. He was the North Central Representative to The Wildlife Society for 3 years, past president of the North American Wildlife Technology Association, and a charter member of the Society for Ecological Restoration. He also holds membership in the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, the North Dakota Natural Science Society, the Prairie Grouse Technical Council, and the Nature Conservancy.
“Dr. Svedarsky has had an extremely distinguished career at UMC,” said UMC Chancellor Velmer S. Burton, Jr. “His passion for natural resources and his dedication to students are evident to anyone who works with him. He has also done an outstanding job serving as UMC’s interim vice chancellor for academic affairs and in the development of new academic programs as UMC continues its evolution into a more comprehensive university. He is a true asset to the campus, the community, and the state.”
The announcement of department heads at UMC caps a six-month discussion of academic restructuring for the campus. The goal of the process, according to Chancellor Burton, was to take the current academic administrative structure and align it more closely to the kinds of structures one would see at other four-year colleges. Burton says the resulting structure at UMC more closely matches the one in place in departments at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus.
The five departments making up UMC’s new academic structure include the Agriculture Department; the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Department; the Business Department; the Math, Science and Technology Department; and the Natural Resources Department. David DeMuth, Jr., Ph.D. and associate professor of physics and math, was recently selected to serve as department head for the Math, Science and Technology Department; Ronald Del Vecchio, Ph.D. and professor of animal science, has been named department head for the Agriculture Department; Sharon Neet, D.A. and professor of history, was chosen department head for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Department; and Susan Brorson, Ph.D. and professor of business management, was named department head for the Business Department.
UMC’s Natural Resources Department includes bachelor’s degree programs in aviation, golf facilities and turf systems, horticulture, and natural resources. Within natural resources students can select programs in natural resource management, park management, water resource management, wildlife management, natural resources law enforcement, natural resources aviation, and law enforcement aviation.
Svedarsky and chief pilot, Larry Leake, developed the two hybrid programs in aviation. “We have the only programs of this type in North America,” noted Svedarsky, “and they are among the faster growing majors on campus.” This fall, the UMC Natural Resources Department will co-host the annual meeting of the International Natural Resources Pilots Association with the University of North Dakota.
Over the next year UMC officials also plan to develop bachelor’s degree programs in environmental science and in emergency management, which will be administered through the department pending their approval by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents.
UMC Names Chaffee Assistant Director of Athletics
University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC)
officials have selected Brandy Lietz Chaffee to serve as assistant
director of athletics and senior woman administrator for the UMC
Athletics Department. She will be responsible for marketing,
promotions, monitoring gender equity issues, game management and
assisting in fundraising. She began her new responsibilities on June
18.
“We’re excited to have Brandy back as part of UMC and our department,” said Stephanie Helgeson, UMC’s director of athletics. “She was a great contributor to our team in the past, and we look forward to working with her and the skills she now brings to the table.”
Chaffee is a 2000 graduate of UMC, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management. Since March of 2001, she has worked as a program associate at the University of Minnesota’s Institute for New Media Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication on the U of M’s Twin Cities Campus. There she served as the events coordinator, website editor and developer, scheduler, office manager, and budget planner.
Prior to her work at the Institute for New Media Studies, Chaffee was the sports information director for UMC’s Athletics Department. She also served as an assistant coach for UMC’s women’s basketball team during the 1999-2000 season.
Funding for the assistant director of athletics position comes, in part, from a grant UMC has received from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Strategic Alliance Matching Grant Enhancement Program. The grant will sponsor the hiring of the assistant director of athletics/senior woman administrator in a matching program that will provide 75% salary and benefits the first year, 50% the second, and 25% the third. UMC will be called on to provide the balance in those years and to fund the position fully in years four and five.
Helgeson and Liz Tollefson, assistant director of development, co-authored the grant proposal. The NCAA program funding the grant has made it a priority to enhance the ethnic and gender representation in all facets of Division II athletics administration, and in the award letter, mentioned that the selection committee felt that UMC, as evident through the grant proposal, had demonstrated a commitment to that priority as well.
UMC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and an official member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). UMC's hockey team competes in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA).
Interim Vice Chancellor
for Enrollment Management
James Mootz, Ph.D., has been named the
Interim Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and began his duties
on July 19. Functions or activities reporting to him will be admissions
activities, marketing and student recruitment, and financial aid. Dr.
Mootz brings a wealth of experience in the area of student recruitment
and admissions from both Winona State University and the University of
Minnesota, Morris. A national search is underway for the permanent
position of Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management to be chaired by
Joseph Massey, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Director
Named for the Center of Distance and Continuing Education
I am very happy to
announce that Michelle Christopherson has accepted our offer for her to
become the new Director for the Center of Distance and Continuing
Education, effective September 1, 2004. I want to thank the search
committee under the leadership of Christo Roberts for its work and for
the counsel it gave me in the selection process. I have asked the
search committee to continue on for a while to serve as my advisory
committee for the Center, to which it has agreed. I want to thank Dan
Svedarsky and Ron Del Vecchio for their help in aiding in Michelle’s
transition from Ag and NatR to hew new position.
Please join me in
congratulating Michelle on her achievements and her selection for this
very important position in our community. Let’s give her a big, virtual
round of applause!
--Joe Massey, vice chancellor, Academic Affairs
Sorenson
Joins Agriculture Department
I am pleased to announce that
Brent Sorenson will be joining the Agriculture Department, effectively
immediately. Brent requested that his professional home be transferred
to the agriculture department for both the welfare of the agronomy
discipline within the agriculture department and for his professional
development. Dan Svedarsky, Ron Del Vecchio, and I discussed this
prospective move and concur fully. Brent will continue his involvement
in the development of our new program, Environmental Sciences.
--Joe Massey, vice chancellor, Academic Affairs
Staff Updates
As the new school year quickly
approaches and things get busy, I wanted to take a minute and let you
know that I’m the Interim Assistant in the Chancellor’s office. For
some of you I’m a familiar face; for others, not. If I can assist you
in any way, please feel free to give me a call. If you’re in the
building, stop in and say hi. Hope to see you soon.
--Barbara Ricord, Office of the Chancellor
Ox Cart Days Ice Cream
Social
at UMC
As you know, part of the
celebration of Ox Cart Days involves an ice cream social on Friday,
August 20 at 3 p.m. on the campus mall at the Peterson Gazebo. It is an
opportunity to host the community and share in the Ox Cart festivities.
Volunteers are needed to serve ice cream for the social. Would you consider helping dish ice cream that afternoon? Please respond to this ltollefs@umn.edu if you would be willing to help UMC welcome Crookston to our campus for ice cream. If it should rain, we will host the ice cream social in the Rotunda of the Kiehle Building.
The second round of
Crookston Idol will take place at 4:30 that afternoon. It is a great
chance for us to be part of the fun!
Thanks for your consideration.
--Liz Tollefson, assistant director, Development
UMC Student Center
Construction Update – 8/9/04
Construction of the new student
center is progressing rapidly and is on schedule. Installation of the
structural roof rafters is almost complete. Roof plywood and shingles
are currently being installed on the west and south sides. Interior
walls are now being erected at the first floor along with plumbing,
ductwork and electrical systems. The exterior is complete at the new
second story link to Owen Hall and the One-Stop. This link is now open
for student and staff use at the first floor. Exterior brick masonry is
proceeding at the south side and will be complete within 2 weeks.
Window installation at the south side will commence soon. Students and
staff will then start to see the final exterior materials coming
together on the mall side of the building.
--Bob Nelson, vice chancellor, Student Affairs
Call for International
Student Volunteer Hosts
This is the first year for an
International Student Orientation which will be taking place Thursday,
August 26. I’m writing to see if anyone on campus would be interested
in serving as a host (mentor) for any of these students for their first
semester at UMC. This would not be a big time commitment and would be a
lot of fun. International students can really enhance your life and I
would encourage anyone who has ever thought about doing it to consider
it for the fall semester. The time commitment would be just to meet the
student at least once a month to either go out for dinner, go fishing,
go out for coffee, etc. We have 23 new international students from all
over and they would love to have an experience outside of UMC. If you
are interested in hosting an international student, we will be having a
dinner at 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 26. Please RSVP Rae French so that
I can find out which student(s) you may be interested in hosting.
For any questions
regarding international student hosting, please feel free to contact me
at 8339 or email
rhowe@umn.edu. Thanks for thinking about this.
--Rae French, coordinator, First Year Experience
Maintenance Requests
This is a notice to let you know
that the “nuts and bolts” system online, that some of you have used for
maintenance requests, is no longer working. If you have any requests
that you would like to submit, please email me and I will get the
message to the correct person. If you need any assistance with
anything, such as moving a file cabinet or something like that, please
email me for that as well. Thanks for your cooperation.
--Michelle Ramstad, Facilities Management
Farewells
Jennifer Loy Johnson Ganyo,
lecturer of composition, has accepted a position at Minnesota State
University, Moorhead, as an Associate Professor in the New Center for
Multidisciplinary Studies, <http://www.mnstate.edu/center/>
where she will teach Expository Writing as well as socio-historical
writing based courses.
“I
have not written many letters of farewell in my career, but this one
proves to be by far the most difficult. In the last six years, I have
come to view UMC as a second home, and the decision to leave was not an
easy one. Though I am excited about this new opportunity, I am truly
sad to leave behind my friends and colleagues at UMC. I learned so very
much from so many of you, and also from UMC’s students. I wish you the
best in the future, as together you take UMC to new levels of
extraordinary higher learning.”
Steve Shirley, assistant professor of marketing, has accepted the position as Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. He will assume those duties in late-August.
“The
decision to leave UMC certainly has not been an easy one. However, this
is a unique opportunity to contribute to another institution in a
different capacity, and I simply feel it is the right decision at this
time. The past seven years at UMC have been very enjoyable. It has
been a great pleasure to collaborate with so many good people throughout
the years. I have found particular satisfaction working with the SIFE
club and the Study Abroad initiative – it has been enjoyable to watch
each of those programs grow. I have many fond recollections of
interactions with faculty, staff, and students, and will always look
back on these years as an important and fulfilling chapter in my life.
Thanks for all of the lasting memories and best wishes for a bright
future.”
Aziz Rahman, assistant professor of soil and water resources, has accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an opportunity that will enable him to work in the area of his stated preference, cropping systems agronomy, based in Bozeman, Montana.
“The
past eight years at UMC have been both professionally and personally
satisfying. It has been a great pleasure to collaborate with so many
good people throughout the University of Minnesota system. I look
forward to the possibility of future collaboration.”
Carrie Tollefson, office of the chancellor, has resigned her position to attend law school in the fall.
“While
I am looking forward to the opportunity to pursue a new dream, I will
certainly miss being here. I have enjoyed my time at UMC immensely as
both a student and a staff member. I wish you all the best in the
coming year.”
Thank You and Contact Info
“I want to thank you all for the
warm farewell party on June 8. Your presence meant a lot to me. I
greatly appreciate many of you who stopped by at other times.
“My family and I are very grateful to all UMC faculty and staff for giving us untiring support since we arrived here in Crookston seven years ago (one week before the ’97 ice storm!). It’s been such a blessing to be a part of the UMC family. I have been very fortunate to work with each of you and you have made a big difference in my life and career. Although I’m not on campus, I still teach several UMC courses at a distance and will be working on several technology projects with ITC staff (including academic gaming).
“I will be keeping UMC in my prayers. If you have any personal prayer requests anytime, I would love to include them in our family prayers. I’m a big believer in PRAYERS!”
My contact information:
Work Address:
Office of Faculty Development and Online Learning
Southern Adventist University
PO Box 370
Collegedale, TN 36315
Phone: 423.238.2806
Home Address:
5611 Misty Valley Drive
Ooltewah, TN 37363
--Dan Lim
Opportunities and Thanks
“I write to inform you that I
have accepted the director of marketing position at the Washington
Pavilion of Arts and Science in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This
position offers me a new opportunity to advance professionally in the
areas of communications and marketing. It is also a good fit as I have
a strong interest in promoting the arts. <http://www.washingtonpavilion.org/>
“I want to thank everyone at UMC for the tremendous opportunities and support you have given me over the past fourteen years. During my tenure here the opportunities for personal and professional growth have been many, and they have prepared me well for my future career path. My time here has been personally and professionally fulfilling, and I’ve made many, many friends. UMC is an excellent, caring faculty and staff. You should all be proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and the future truly looks bright!
“As I leave, I wish the
entire campus community the best in your efforts to continue UMC’s
evolution into a premier institution of higher education. I will always
speak highly of the accomplishments of this campus and its students,
faculty, and staff.”
--Andrew Svec
Accolades
Please
join me in congratulating John Loegering for receiving the first
ever Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society Advisor Award. This is an
award presented by the international professional wildlife organization
and is a tremendous honor for John and awesome recognition for our
program and campus. John started this student organization from scratch
four years ago and has now brought it to national visibility. John will
be recognized at the annual meeting of The Wildlife Society in Calgary
this September. Way to go, John!
--W. Daniel Svedarsky, head, Natural Resources Department
Community Events
Crookston celebrates its heritage
with the Ox Cart Days Festival. The four-day celebration includes
something for everyone from “Ox Cart” races to pageants and parades.
The 2004 Festival is set for August 19-22, with the theme “Moments to
Remember” celebrating Crookston 125th birthday! Visit the
Crookston Convention & Visitors Bureau web site for the featured events
schedule and information. <http://www.visitcrookston.com/oxcart.htm>
Special Dates
Belated Birthday Wishes
August 11 – Val Uttermark
August 16 – Trish Ramstad
August 17 – Dennis Magsam
Reminder: Faculty and staff are encouraged to share well wishes for birthdays, anniversaries, births, etc. with the rest of the campus. Please send items for this week’s special dates via e-mail to Sue Dwyer at sdwyer@umn.edu. Thanks.
UMC Bulletin
The UMC Weekly Bulletin is posted
at:
<www.UMCrookston.edu/campusinfo/wkbulletin/bulletin.htm>
Publication Information:
The UMC
Weekly Bulletin is published by University Relations weekly September
through May. Copy deadline is noon on Tuesday of each week. The Weekly
Bulletin is produced by Sue Dwyer, word processing specialist.
Please send items for the bulletin electronically to Sue Dwyer at
sdwyer@umn.edu.
Disability accommodations will be provided upon request for all events. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.