Student Support Services Director Hired at UMC

Rand Rasmussen has been appointed Student Support Services Director at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC). The director position is part of a four-year, $720,000 federal TRIO grant which UMC received from the Department of Education this year.

The purpose of the grant is to increase retention of UMC students by providing tutoring, mentoring, academic support, counseling and guidance, planning skills, and workshops to eligible students. The Student Support Services program is open to students who meet one of three criteria: 1) they are a first-generation college student, meaning neither parent has a four-year degree; or 2) they have a physical, learning or emotional disability; or 3) they meet certain financial guidelines.

Rasmussen, the program director, was born and raised in a small suburb of Minneapolis, graduating from Centennial High School in 1976. He received his two-year degree from Golden Valley Lutheran College in 1978; baccalaureate degree from St. Cloud State University in 1981; master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1988; and Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota in 1991.

Since graduation he has worked in various colleges and university settings and also with an adolescent psychiatric facility in Faribault MN. His most recent position was at Mayville State University.

The TRIO grant involves very intensive working time with students on the part of faculty, professional staff, student tutors, as well as with people from outside the University.

"If a student comes in who's having trouble with college algebra, and that student is willing to work five hours a day with a tutor to learn it, we can provide a tutor for five hours a day for that person," said Rasmussen. "The real advantage is the human touch."

"The best way to retain students is to have them do well in their coursework and be a part of the University community," Rasmussen said. "If students are feeling isolated, if they're feeling out of place, if they're constantly stressed because they are having trouble in their classes, they will want to leave the University. One of the things we provide is to help them set up a realistic goal which ultimately would be to finish their degree. Then we help them develop a reasonable plan to meet that goal."

"Virtually, without fail, students who enter Student Support Services do better than students who are eligible but don't, and they enjoy it," Rasmussen said.

Contact: Barbara Weiler, University Relations, 218-281-8435

Posted: 11-19-97

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