Phil Baird
UMC’s Phil Baird Earns Prestigious University of Minnesota Award
Phil Baird, associate professor of natural resources at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC), has been selected to receive the Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions in Undergraduate Education. Presented each year since 1965, the award represents the highest recognition by the University of Minnesota community of its most distinguished scholar-teachers. The award is named for the late Horace T. Morse, first dean of the General College (1934-60) and a national leader in the field of undergraduate education.
In addition to teaching from three to five hands-on, field-oriented courses each semester at UMC, Baird serves as an academic advisor for over 35 students. He has been a faculty leader working with educational applications of technology and was one of the first to implement distance delivery of courses using the Internet.
Baird also serves as the primary advisor to the UMC Natural Resources Club. Over the past 23 years he has planned a student field trip each spring to the Deer River District of the Chippewa National Forest for a long weekend of planting trees, service learning, team building, and natural resource appreciation. These efforts have resulted in the planting of more than 150,000 trees for the U.S. Forest Service. He has also been active with the Society of American Foresters, serving as the communication chair for the Headwaters Chapter and web page development for the Minnesota Chapter.
Baird is among a select few University of Minnesota faculty who have been awarded both the President's Outstanding Service Award (in 1999) and the Morse-Alumni Award.
Recipients of the Horace T. Morse Award become members of the University of Minnesota Academy of Distinguished Teachers, have the title "Distinguished University Teaching Professor” conferred upon them, and receive a $3,000 continuous augmentation to their annual salary throughout their career at the University of Minnesota. In addition, each recipient's department (UMC’s Natural Resources Department in Baird’s case) receives $1,500 annually for five years. That money is meant to be used by the recipient for professional development or research. These programs are funded by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association and by central administration, and they reflect the University’s strong and enduring commitment to quality undergraduate and graduate education
"UMC has some of the best teachers in the world, and Phil Baird is one of them," said Dan Svedarsky, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UMC. “In 35 years, I have observed many fine faculty members in their teaching, research, and outreach efforts. I have worked closely with Professor Baird throughout his 23-year career, both as a faculty colleague and as program leader for the Natural Resources Department. He is one of the most dedicated and effective faculty members on our campus, always operating above and beyond the call of duty. I can think of no other more eminently qualified for this prestigious honor.”
Baird joined the UMC faculty in 1979 as an instructor and was promoted to assistant professor in 1986 and to associate professor in 1996. His bachelor of science degree in outdoor recreation resources management and his master of science degree in forestry administration and management are both from Iowa State University in Ames. He lives with his wife and family in Fisher, Minnesota.
Baird and the recipients from the other campuses of the University of Minnesota will be formally recognized at a special ceremony on April 26 on the Minneapolis campus.
Posted 03/02/2004