For the fifth consecutive year, Minnesota State University, Mankato has received awards for academic and student affairs program excellence from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees.
John Frey, dean of the College of Science, Engineering & Technology, received the Outstanding Academic and Student Affairs Administrator Award. The University's Manufacturing Engineering Technology program – administered by Frey – received the Excellence in Curriculum Programming Award.
The awards were presented at the MnSCU system trustees' meeting in April.
"These awards recognize the outstanding work by many individuals and various institutions to raise the bar on delivering high-quality programs to the people of Minnesota," said Chancellor James H. McCormick. "They are excellent examples of the Board of Trustees’ desire to encourage and reward innovation on our campuses."
Frey was honored as a MnSCU administrator who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and has made a significant contribution to academic and student affairs programming in Minnesota.
He was the first faculty member to teach in Trafton Science Center, which opened in 1972. Since then he has served as biology professor, assistant dean and dean of the college, and has led dozens of initiatives within MnSCU and the Minnesota Legislature for new science, technology and engineering programs.
He was instrumental in convincing legislators and MnSCU trustees to approve the Minnesota Center for Engineering & Manufacturing Excellence (a Minnesota State Mankato partnership with Alexandra, Anoka, Hennepin, Normandale, Northeast and South Central Colleges). He also led the effort to establish the Civil Engineering program at Minnesota State Mankato.
Frey also was an author of federal legislation to obtain an appropriation for wind power energy training and research.
The Manufacturing Engineering Technology program, chaired by Ann Goebel, was recognized for its online Manufacturing Engineering Technology bachelor’s and master’s degree program coursework. The flexible program courses allow students to work at their own pace in advanced courses, benefiting the students and enhancing manufacturing in Minnesota. MnSCU officials also praised the program for advancing the Minnesota Center of Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence goals.
The bachelor’s degree curriculum offers 80 percent of its senior level courses through online multimedia, and the university intends to increase the percentage to 95. The number of degrees offered through the program has doubled since 2001, and faculty members hope the increasing online presence will attract more women and students of color. Within six months after graduation, approximately 98 percent of the program’s students are employed in their field of study.
For more details about the award-winning program, contact the Manufacturing Engineering Technology program at (507) 389-6383.
Minnesota State Mankato is the only Minnesota college or university to receive a program excellence award each year since the competition started in 2003, and the only institution to capture two or more awards for four years in a row. It is one of only four colleges and universities to win awards in 2007.
The awards mark the second time in 2007 that Minnesota State Mankato has been honored by the system for outstanding leadership and programming. Earlier this year the University received Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System awards for financial and facilities management excellence.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 130,000 students in non-credit courses.
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