May 6, 2008

Inside this Issue

Awards Recognize Outstanding Faculty/Staff
Campus Goes Smoke/Tobacco Free
Events & Activities
New Budget Account Numbers Rolled Out
Private Data Security Training Required for Employees
Back Issues

From the Chancellor

On Saturday, the 99th Commencement was held recognizing individuals who completed their requirements for graduation. Nearly 150 graduates participated in the ceremony. Congratulations to the graduates, their family and friends and best wishes in the future.

The campus was privileged to have Board of Regents Chair Patricia Simmons deliver the keynote address. Also attending were Regent Vice Chair Clyde Allen and Senior Vice President Robert Jones. In addition, family and friends of some of our international student graduates traveled to Crookston to attend. Some online-only students also graduated and visited campus for the first time.

Many thanks are due to the faculty and staff who worked with students and helped them achieve their goal of earning a degree from the University of Minnesota . Special thanks to the members and coordinators from the commencement committee, especially co-chairs Laurie Wilson and Meloni Rasmussen. They had great support from several units including Facilities, Dining Services, Student Services and Affairs and University Relations.

Smoke/Tobacco Free Campus News

On April 25, the campus announced the decision to become smoke/tobacco free beginning January 1, 2009. Input obtained from campus forums and surveys of students, staff and faculty show that the best interests of the campus community are served by implementing this policy. As an institution of higher learning, we know that promoting a healthy environment where the campus community can work, learn and live is the correct choice.

Fall semester 2008 will be a time of transition. We recognize this will be a lifestyle change for some individuals. We will use the time to provide educational programs, including cessation programs, for students, faculty and staff to prepare for the change.

Activities, Executive Retreat Planning

On May 7, there will be a Women's Social/Alumni event at Eastcliff, the official
residence of the President of the University of Minnesota located in Minneapolis . Guests from here and around the state will celebrate accomplishments of U of M, Crookston women students, faculty and staff.

On Monday, we celebrated the annual faculty and staff day to recognize contributions and achievements of employees from the University of Minnesota , Crookston and Northwest Research and Outreach Center. Congratulations go out to the following individuals:

> John Loegering – Distinguished Faculty Member
> Rand Rasmussen – Distinguished Professional and Academic Member
> Rae French – Distinguished Civil Service/Bargaining Unit Member
> Stacey Grunewald – UMC Outstanding Community Service
> Harouna Maiga – UMC Outstanding Service Learning Faculty

We also recognized Wendell Johnson and Stan Tomaszewski for their service to the campus and wished them the best in their retirement.

Congratulations also go to Teambacker of the Year Brian Schumacher, who was recognized at Fun Nite on April 25.

Planning continues for the Executive Retreat scheduled for June 3 to 5 and an agenda should be finalized shortly. This year's topics will focus on creating an exceptional education and experience.

Many faculty and 9- and 10-month contract employees will be away for the summer, and we hope you get some relaxation time in as well as the opportunity to focus on projects of interest. We look forward to seeing you back later this year.

Chuck

– Charles H. Casey, Chancellor
University of Minnesota, Crookston  

Featured Events & Activities

Bedding Plant Sale, May 8 – The public is invited to visit the U of M, Crookston greenhouses to purchase items from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Faculty Workshop Series: Graduation Planner, May 8 – William Dana and Kasi Williamson from the U of M, Twin Cities Registrar's Office will be on campus to offer training for faculty and staff on the Graduation Planner. Various workshops will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Dowell 100.

Faculty Workshop Series, May 13, 14 and 15 – Faculty workshops focus on such topics as developing learner outcomes for students, the power of the syllabus, integrating critical thinking into the curriculum and integrating online learning into the curriculum. Schedule of events

Memorial Day, May 26 – Campus offices closed. Take time to remember military service men and women who have given their lives for the country.

Executive Retreat, June 3 to 5 – The U of M, Crookston campus leadership team will focus on creating an exceptional education and experience and reviewing progress and accomplishments and setting next steps for strategic planning.

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.

Around Campus

Academic Affairs – The proposal developed for the criminal justice degree has been reviewed by the Provost and sent to the Board of Regents for their May agenda. We expect the degree program to be approved and ready for implementation in the fall.

Venugopal J. Mukku, Ph.D., has accepted the position as assistant professor of chemistry in the Math, Science and Technology Department; and Terrill Bradford has accepted the position of instructor in the Agriculture Department.

A variety of workshops have been set up for faculty during the last two weeks of their contract. Review the schedule of events for more details and plan to attend.

Technology Support Services recently notified the campus community of Private Data Security Training that is required for all employees. Schedules for completion of the online training modules should be rolled out this week. All three courses must be completed within 90 days of the assignment of the third module. For more details, contact Director Jeff Sperling at 218-281-8373 or sperlng@umn.edu .

The new telephone system and equipment are scheduled to be installed later this spring. Associated monthly costs per phone that are above current budgeted long distance charges – assessed to cover maintenance, operations and life-cycle replacement – will be covered by the Crookston campus central budget this fiscal year. This financing model will be analyzed after one year and then readjusted as necessary according to actual long distance charges.

Student Affairs and Enrollment – As of May 1, more than 700 degree-seeking students and 60 non-degree seeking students have registered for Fall 2008 – up 15 percent over this time last year. Student Experience staff will host New Student Registration on May 8, 9, 12, 15, 16; and June 9 and 20.

Finance & University Services – The new Enterprise Financial System budget account numbers are being rolled out to departments and units in the next several weeks in anticipation of the July 1, 2008, change over. The old College and University Financial System (CUF'S) account numbers will be replaced by the new EFS numbers.

Sodexo representatives are scheduled to visit campus in May to prepare for the July 1, 2008, management transition and plan for facility upgrades.

U of M University Services officials will be on campus May 16 to review capital projects and support efforts to update the campus Master Plan.

Twenty tone alert radios were recently installed on campus. Training for key employees will be conducted in May, and the system will be tested in June and then once each month thereafter. In order to send an alert over the radios, designated campus personnel must notify the Crookston Fire Department of the message to be delivered and the Fire Department will then activate the system.

Development & Alumni Relations – The 2nd Annual Bill Tyrrell Walk-A-Thon raised nearly $10,000 and Teambackers Fun Nite generated almost $20,000, so far. Donations are still being accepted. A sincere thank you to UMC Teambackers, all those who pledged, donated, supported and attended these events! Also, congratulations to Teambacker of the Year Brian Schumacher!

A number of socials and fundraising activities are on tap for the summer. The Northwest School of Agriculture Reunion is scheduled for June 27 and 28 and the Mark Olsonawski/Hallock Golf Tournament is slated for June 26 in Hallock , Minn.

Also, please take some time to help us recognize successful alumni who are making contributions all around the world. Nominate individuals today for the 2008 Outstanding Alumni Award and the Torch & Shield Award online at www.UMCrookston.edu/alumni.

Thank you very much to supporters and donors of the University of Minnesota , Crookston for another successful year. For more information on giving, please contact Corby Kemmer , director of Development & Alumni Relations, at: 1-800-862-6466 x8434; 218-281-8434; ckemmer@umn.edu.

University Relations – Candidates for the director of communications position will visit campus in the next two weeks.

Logos and PowerPoint templates incorporating our Small Campus. Big Degree. position statement are now posted to the online Images Library. We encourage you to use them for presentations and materials.

The Pay-Per-Click Google advertising campaign recorded 1,784 new visitors in March 2008 who chose to find out more about the U of M, Crookston by clicking on one of our ads. This is almost double the number of visitors recorded from November 2007 through February 2008.

Research results on 300 prospective students who participated in phone surveys conducted by the campus were recently published. The results on the 10-point scale revealed that in general a majority of respondents rated the communication material we send them useful (7 and above); gave the Web site very positive marks (8 and above); and are positive about the University of Minnesota, Crookston in general (6 and above). A majority of respondents also said they associate the following characteristics with the campus: research opportunities (75 percent); campus clubs (74 percent); real-life projects (71 percent); and technology as part of coursework (56 percent). About 7 percent of respondents to both the 2008 and 2007 survey indicated that the Crookston campus was their first choice in higher education.

Complete a 5-minute survey on the E-Update and help us improve internal communications on campus.

Athletics – Eighty teams and 50 individuals have been selected to participate in the 2008 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships Super Regionals scheduled May 5 to 7. Golden Eagle Steven Busho (Sr, Blooming Prairie, Minn. ) and Jake Sanders (Fr, Crookston , Minn. ) have been selected to participate in the championships individually based on their play during the 2007-08 season.

Athletic Director Stephanie Helgeson, Assistant Athletic Director Natasha Kuhle and volleyball student-athlete Amber Meyer will be attending an alumni and friends reception at Eastcliff in Minneapolis on May 7 to recognize women and friends of the U of M, Crookston.

On May 14, the Crookston campus Athletic Department staff will be participating in diversity education and training sessions hosted by the NCAA on campus.

Assistant Athletic Director Jason Tangquist and Faculty Athletic Representative Cleon Melsa, Ph.D., will be attending the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar May 20 to 25 in Boston , Mass.

Visit www.goldeneaglesports.com for schedules and cheer on the Golden Eagles.

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.