Crookston Campus E-Update
an internal administrative news digest
March 25, 2008
Inside this Issue
Events & Activities
Budget News
Dining Services Contract Update
Torch Magazine Debuts Annual Report Issue
From the Chancellor
We welcome students back from spring break this week and know that the next six weeks will move by quickly with more classroom projects, field trips and hands-on activities to enhance learning opportunities that have been going on all semester. I encourage you to make the most of these next several weeks.
Warm Welcome for State, International Leaders
Thanks to the campus community, we hosted a successful visit from our Chinese partners from Zhejiang Economic and Trade Polytechnic (ZJETP). President Shuming Li said he was impressed with the day’s program and pleased to once again be in Crookston to meet face-to-face with old friends. We signed an historic U of M English as a Second Language agreement and look forward to sending faculty and staff back this spring to China to help develop a program at ZJETP. Meetings were also held with faculty and staff who have traveled to ZJETP, Chinese students studying on the Crookston campus and students who will be traveling to China and visiting ZJETP in June.
All We were also pleased to host a successful visit from University President Bob Bruininks and Senior Vice President Robert Jones, who met with students, staff and faculty, community members and campus partners. It was an important opportunity to engage in dialogue with the President and Vice President Jones and for them to learn more about current issues on campus.
I want to thank the many people who helped make the visits successful. Staff and faculty from Dining Services, Facilities, University Relations, International Programs, Student Affairs and the Ag Department all worked diligently on preparations and activities. I’d like to especially thank Assistant Professor Jingpeng Tang, Ph.D., and Assistant to the Chancellor Barbara Ricord for their assistance as well.
Budget News
The ramification of the state budget situation on the University of Minnesota is still unclear. I had previously communicated that our campus would know what our allocation would be by mid-March. That decision is being postponed until the state allocation to the University is finalized. The Board of Regents won’t be receiving the 2008-09 budget recommendations as previously planned at the April 10-11 meeting.
Torch Annual Report Out
I encourage you to take a few minutes to look at the first edition of the Torch Annual Report that is being distributed this March. Moving forward, the Torch Annual Report issue, which includes the Special Donor Report, will be published each spring and traditional Torch issues will be published in summer and fall. My thanks to Torch editor and Assistant Communications Director Elizabeth Tollefson for directing the re-design and production; to staff in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations for their support in preparing the report; and to University Relations for spearheading the innovate strategy for connecting with our alumni and friends.
Other Campus Notes
Negotiations continue with representatives from a preferred vendor for dining services on campus. A decision to work with a vendor or remain self-operational will be made soon. The Dining Service and Beverage Contract recommendations for all campuses are scheduled to be presented at the April 10-11 meeting of the Board of Regents.
On March 19, I met with Crookston campus representatives of CAPA, the U of M Council of Academic Professionals & Administrators, to gather input from their members on a compensation plan for Professional & Administrative (P&A) employees for 2008-09 salary increases. I extend my thanks to CAPA chair and Academic Assistance Center Director Rand Rasmussen, Ph.D., for organizing the meeting.
This will be a very busy time for everyone as we prepare for graduation on May 3. Graduation is a celebration of individual success and of the work of faculty and staff in preparing students for graduation. My thanks to everyone for their contributions to student success and providing the personal service we are known for as they students to earn their prestigious University of Minnesota degree.
Chuck
– Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston
Featured Events & Activities
Campus Camp-in, April 4-5 – High school students have a chance to visit and hear about what the Crookston campus has to offer, plus stay overnight and get a great taste of student life. Check-in begins at 2 p.m. on Friday. For more details, contact Admissions at 218-281-8569 or visit http://www.umcrookston.edu/visit.
Student Awards Ceremony, April 10 – Celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of students at the U of M, Crookston. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. in the Kiehle Auditorium.
Public Engagement Day, April 17 – Welcome U of M Vice President for Public Engagement Andrew Furco, Ph.D., who will be on campus to celebrate and underscore the community engagement activities taking place across the Crookston campus and to recognize the valuable partnerships the campus and community share.
Student-Athletic Awards Ceremony, April 23 – Join the campus in recognizing the accomplishments of student-athletes beginning at 6 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium.
We look forward to seeing you. For more details or to discover what's happening this week, visit UMC Today at www.UMCrookston.edu/umcnews or review our news page at www.UMCrookston.edu/umcnews/stories.
Publication notes: The E-Update is published twice each month August thru April and once each month in the summer, May thru 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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