Please join me for the annual Holiday Social, Monday, Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Stompers Dining Area. Take some time to beat the chill and welcome winter break while enjoying a variety of chili recipes: my own secret recipe, Kelly Olson's (wife of VP Scott Olson) famous Turkey chili, and Chef Randy's Vegetarian Chili, plus all the fixin's. In addition, you can sample vegetable, salami, and cheese platters, as well as assorted desserts. To help us with planning, please RSVP by Dec. 8 by calling 507-389-1111. I hope to see you at this festive and delicious event!
Sincerely,
Richard Davenport
As I indicated in my convocation address, it is especially important for a modern university president to be involved in the local community, the region and the state. It is important that I connect with alumni, Foundation Board members and other leaders throughout the state to advocate for MSU and share our story.
During the fall semester, I have greeted potential students and parents at the State Fair, participated with other south/eastern MnSCU institutions in cooperative discussions; met with members of the Senate and House regarding our capital bonding project for Trafton Science Center; attended Greater Mankato Economic Development Board meetings; participated in monthly MnSCU Leadership Council and Board of Trustee meetings; held private meetings with several local legislators; hosted with South Central Technical College for our annual Legislative Day; appeared as a guest on KTOE's "Talk of the Town" spoke to the Minneapolis Rotary; and visited with many community, regional and state business leaders.
The CSU renovation is progressing which means faculty, staff and students may need to look for alternative food venues as Stompers and the Indigo will soon be closing for service.
The following is a list of updates and food options regarding the project as of today:
Regular updates about construction in the CSU can be found online at: http://www.mnsu.edu/csurenovation/.
Construction and renovation of an $8.4 million Student Athletic Facility project will begin in June, 2004. Over 68,000 square feet of the old Otto Arena complex, racquetball courts, swimming pool, a connecting link to Pennington Hall, and other areas will be renovated along with 9,400 square feet of additional space added. This will complete the third phase of a renovation that began in 2000 with the Myers Field House.
In August of 2005 students, faculty, and staff can look forward to a renovated:
A number of changes have been made to the academic policy on suspension/probation at MSU. Internal and external audits of MnSCU institutions have discovered that many institutions are out of compliance with federal regulations regarding the satisfactory academic progress of students. Satisfactory academic progress helps determine a student's access to financial aid. Students not making satisfactory academic progress may be denied financial aid. At MSU, our policy and procedures for determining satisfactory academic progress are also used to place students on academic probation and suspension.
This revised policy is designed to better align the procedures and practices concerning satisfactory academic progress used by Academic Affairs and Financial Aid. Just as importantly, this revision also attempts to align financial aid and academic policies to benefit students. Currently, students may be placed on academic probation, with developed plans for improving their academic performance, but be denied financial aid. This revised policy attempts to stop this "two-tiered" system, and treat students on financial aid the same as students not receiving financial aid. This revised policy also cuts out one of the "hoops" students must jump through in order to appeal financial aid suspension and academic suspension, merging the two appeal processes.
Summary of Changes:
What this means:
In current practice, there are few if any penalties for students withdrawing from courses, or receiving a high number of I and IP grades. This revised policy will impose penalties on students for excessive use of withdrawals and excessive I and IP grades. Students will need to be aware that excessive use of withdrawals, incompletes and in progress grades will affect their financial aid and academic standing. Any course that is dropped AFTER the initial five-day drop-add period is considered a withdrawal and will count as attempted and earned credit. Faculty and advisors will need to make sure that their students are aware of these changes. Faculty need to be wary in assigning incompletes and in progress grades. Please note: Counting W, I and IP grades as attempted and earned grades will be retroactive and cumulative. Students who had not been on probation may now find themselves on probation. This revision will result in significant changes to student academic records. All faculty, staff and administrators are prepared to work with students to insure smooth implementation of this revised policy.
The Task Force on Enhancing Academic Excellence for Undergraduate Studies held its initial meeting and has identified a number of objectives in support of Strategic Priority 5.
Charge to the Committee:
Minnesota State University, Mankato will continue to assess and improve academic programs, and uphold and strengthen standards for academic achievement. In developing an academic master plan to enhance academic excellence in undergraduate studies, the committee will review and assess existing academic assessment reports and processes, will review additional data already collected on academic programs, and may call for departments and programs to provide new data on academic programs. The committee may also review existing and proposed curriculum and policy.
Objective 1: Assess and improve our academic programs.
Objective 2: Uphold and strengthen standards for academic achievement.
Objective 3: Enhance academic offerings for all undergraduate students.
Objective 4: Position MSU as the undergraduate "school of choice" for academically-talented students.
Objective 5: Envision and implement a new undergraduate excellence project that makes MSU distinctive.
The Distance Learning Task Force is pleased to announce that five initiatives will receive funding as a result of proposals being submitted to develop or expand on-line programs. The total funding for these five projects amounts to almost $75,000 and further indicates the University's commitment to providing quality on-line learning opportunities to students within and well beyond southern Minnesota. The funding serves as seed money to start an on-line learning venture, with the expectation that the programs will become self-sustaining in the future. Three of the initiatives involve graduate education, one initiative involves both graduate and undergraduate education, and one initiative provides opportunities to undergraduate students. The funded programs with the faculty team leader are as follows:
Educational Studies: K-12
An E-Learning Teacher Licensure Program and Secondary Programs
Scott Page
Will implement an e-learning based teacher licensure program to graduate students to address the teacher shortages within Minnesota.
Educational Studies: K-12
On-line Library Media Information (LITE) Program and Secondary Programs
Linda Shirley
Will provide opportunities to graduate students to address the school library media specialist shortages within Minnesota and the nation, as well as the mandates of the No Child Left Behind federal licensure mandates.
English
Technical Communication
Roland Nord
Will establish a certificate program that will prepare both graduate and undergraduate students for careers in technical communication emphasizing current industry practice in the researching, writing, editing, and publishing of print or online technical documents.
Nursing
Enhancing Access to Graduate Nursing Education
Sonja Meiers
Will provide a sequence of courses to meet the growing needs for graduate nursing education in greater Minnesota.
Sociology and Corrections
Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program
William Wagner
Will provide undergraduate students with the skills and understanding necessary to the effective leadership and management of organizations in the nonprofit sector. This is a cross-disciplinary studies program, involving faculty from five academic departments.
Minnesota State University, Mankato is among several area community organizations to be awarded the 2003 Business Education Partnership Award.
The Business Education Partnership Award is presented annually by the Greater Mankato Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Mankato Chamber of Commerce to recognize partnerships that foster economic impact and promote interaction between the business community and education.
Partners in the 2003 winning project are: Minnesota State University, Mankato; South Central Technical College; Immanuel St. Joseph's-Mayo Health System; Mankato Lutheran Homes, Inc; St. Peter Community Hospital & Health Care Center; and Thro Companies, Inc. As a means to address Minnesota's critical shortage of health care workers, this partnership was the recipient of a $589,000 Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Grant to assist in their strategic plan to recruit, train, and retain staff in the area. Throughout the grant timeline, approximately 2,000 employees were trained. In addition, the MSU nursing program will be able to increase its nursing student population by 10 percent, helping to address the state's shortage of nurses.
The award was presented at the Greater Mankato Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting on Nov. 20, 2003.
The Healthcare Education Industry Partnership (HEIP) in the College of Allied Health and Nursing at Minnesota State University, Mankato has been awarded two grants totaling $355,349.
A grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation has awarded MSU $199,774 over two years to develop a statewide training program for community health workers.
The second grant is from the Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership $155,575 will be distributed over three years and involve six assisted living facilities partnering with MSU and SCTC in developing a standardized orientation, training curriculum and customized training programs to enhance the skills and career ladder potential of their staff. Assisted living facilities who are partners in this project include; Laurel's Edge Assisted Living, Sunrise Assisted Living both in Mankato, Oak Terrace Assisted Living in North Mankato, Oak Hills Assisted Living in New Ulm, Heritage House Assisted Living in Gaylord, and Ingleside Assisted Living in Fairmont.
MSU is a leading provider of healthcare education, graduating more than 100 nursing students each year. MSU is also the host for the Healthcare Education Industry Partnership providing leadership for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Kirsten Lindbloom, a graduate student in Sociology, won Minnesota State's annual thesis competition for her study "Social Isolation, Socialization and Identity: A Life History and Methodology." Lindbloom's advisor was Dr. Tom Schmid of the Sociology and Corrections Department. Lindbloom's thesis, selected by the MSU Graduate Sub-Meet and Confer, has been forwarded to the annual Distinguished Master's Thesis Award competition sponsored by the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools.
Four other finalists were recognized by the Graduate Sub-Meet and Confer. Jane Mumbi Mugambi, a graduate student in Counseling and Student Personnel, was recognized for "The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Kenyan Rural Women and the Role of Counseling" (advisor, Dr. Jacqueline Lewis); Brian Bock, a graduate student in Human Performance, was recognized for "Moral Divergence of College Athletes in Everyday Life and Sport Settings" (advisor, Dr. Gary Rushing); Lars Johnson, a graduate student in English, was recognized for "Pär Lagerkvist: Cubist Narrative and the Quest for Existential Meaning" (advisor, Dr. Harry Solo); and Brian Uzpen, a graduate student in Physics was recognized for "Photometric Determination of Asteroid Rotational Periods and Positions" (advisor, Dr. Steve Kipp).
Minnesota State has participated in the Distinguished Thesis competition since the early 1990's. Departments nominate excellent theses for consideration by a college committee, and the college committee then forwards one nominee each to the Graduate Sub-Meet for judging. Each of the finalists will receive a certificate of merit and a gift certificate.
Open Enrollment will be in December. Watch for information on faculty/staff announcements. Open enrollment was delayed because of negotiations on the collective bargaining agreements.
New time sheets are out for everyone. Please use the new time sheets on the web. They will help us tremendously in inputting the time and making sure everyone is paid accurately.
Human Resources welcomed a new member to the HR family: Madeline Rose was born on Friday, October 31, 2003 to Deborah and Jaimie Anderson. She weighed in at 5 pounds 7 ounces. She was a wonderful "early" surprise. As such, HR will be having some issues getting reports and data out as usual and will do everything possible to work with departments in a timely manner but your patience is appreciated. Please don't hesitate to call HR if you need something immediately. (#2015)
With nearly 1,400 employees, MSU has many changes in personnel throughout the year. Following is a list of individuals newly employed at MSU and those who have left the University since August 1, 2003:
| Ahlquist | Cynthia | Nursing |
| Ament | Bernard | English |
| Anderson | Elizabeth | Music |
| Arnold | Jacqueline | English |
| Barr | Jill | Health Science |
| Bauer | Teresa | Buildings & Grounds |
| Beltran | Francisco | Buildings & Grounds |
| Benner | Autumn | Health Science |
| Bode | Carla | Theatre and Dance |
| Brauer | Donna | Nursing |
| Brauer | Philip | Athletics |
| Brettingen | Mandy | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Broderick | Cynthia | Business Education |
| Brooks | Mary | Math & Talented Youth Program |
| Brown | Thomas | Physics |
| Champlin | Barbara | Nursing |
| Christopher | Desmond | Athletics |
| Cook | Bradley | Biology |
| Davis | Christopher | Biology |
| Davis | Rebecca | English |
| Dickmeyer | Louise | Urban and Regional Studies Institute |
| Dildine | James | Library |
| Dimian | Atef | Political Science |
| Doering | Edward | Electrical Engineering / Computer Eng |
| Doran | Sheila | Clinical & Field Experiences |
| Drescher | Nancy | English |
| Dykes | Benjamin | Philosophy |
| Eckman | Matthew | Philosophy |
| Eliot | Christopher | Philosophy |
| Elliott | Georgianna | Family Consumer Science |
| Firven | Wendy | Counseling & Student Personnel |
| Fling | Krista | Nursing |
| Fredstrom | Susan | Family Consumer Science |
| Freeman | Susan | Women's Studies |
| Freking | Margaret | English |
| Gabel | Brian | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Gaddie | Timothy | Honors |
| Gengler | Susan | Human Performance |
| Gonzalez | Francisco | Ethnic Studies |
| Green | Jessica | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Griebel | Joanne | Library |
| Gunderson | Jessica | English |
| Hadley | Mary | Chemistry and Geology |
| Hagemeister | Annelies | Social Work |
| Hargate | Carol | Nursing |
| Hellen | Brenda | English |
| Hernandez | Jovita | Clinical & Field Experiences |
| Hlubek | Willliam | Admissions |
| Hoffman | Allen | Educ Studies: K12 & Secondary Programs |
| Hoffmann-Distad | Karen | Nursing |
| Holland | Hans | Political Science |
| Hoiland | Nicole | Art |
| Hudson | Michael | Human Performance |
| Jacobson | Peter | Educ Studies: K12 & Secondary Programs |
| Jasmin | Heidi | Theatre and Dance |
| Jokumsen | Richard | Music |
| Kannan | Priya | Psychology |
| Karwoski | David | Law Enforcement |
| Kirkbride | Christina | Health Services |
| Kloeckl | Heather | Children's House |
| Koster | Teresa | Speech Hearing & Rehabilitation Service |
| Krcil | Merry-Ellen | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Krohn | Timothy | Mass Communications |
| Kwon | Eil | Mechanical & Civil Engineering |
| Laidlaw | Mika | Art |
| Landherr | Casey | Security |
| Lange | Alden | Aviation Management |
| Larson | Phillip | Chemistry and Geology |
| Lavoie | Bethann | Biology |
| Legvold | David | Clinical & Field Experiences |
| Leopold | Sharon | Academic Affairs |
| Leopold | Tharan | Speech Communications |
| Lichterman | Daniel | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Loayza | Humberto | History |
| Luyster | Amanda | Art |
| MacRae | Shawn | Sociology |
| Martell | Vicky | Clinical & Field Experiences |
| Meyer | Curtis | English |
| More | Shannon | Theatre and Dance |
| Norasakkunkit | Vinai | Psychology |
| Nykanen | Deborah | Mechanical & Civil Engineering |
| Oeth | Scott | Finance |
| Ovrebo | Diane | Water Resources Center |
| Pantekoek | Jaymes | Athletics |
| Park | Ken | Economics |
| Peters | Victoria | Library |
| Pirani | Dilshad | Nursing |
| Posas | Luis | Sociology |
| Pueschner | Gordon | English |
| Rodriguez | Tanya | Philosophy |
| Roemhildt | Scott | Mass Communications |
| Rohde | Sharon | Women's Studies |
| Sadaka | Souraya | Human Performance |
| Sandquist | Lee | Biology |
| Schirmer | Ronald | Anthropology |
| Schomberg | Jessica | Library |
| Schwartz | Ann | Nursing |
| Secott | Timothy | Biology |
| Shepherd | William | Psychology |
| Skodje-Mack | Barbara | Counseling and Student Personnel |
| Sluiter | Donna | Nursing |
| Smith | Guy | Aviation |
| Smith | Patricia | Clinical & Field Experiences |
| Smyth | Thomas | Dental Education |
| Speidel | Michelle | Philosophy |
| Stokes | Tracy | Admissions |
| Studer | Jennifer | English |
| Surkan | Kimberly | Women's Studies |
| Swan | Marilyn | Nursing |
| Swart | Daniel | Chemistry and Geology |
| Sweet | Erik | Mathematics and Statistics |
| Traynor | Marsha | Educ Studies: Elementary & Early Childhd |
| Tweeton | Michael | Clinical & Field Experiences |
| Valdez | Blanca | Buildings & Grounds |
| Voth | Dave | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Weihrauch | Benjamin | Admissions |
| Werner | Justin | Children's House |
| White | Leah | Speech Communications |
| Willaert | Andrew | Marketing |
| Willis | Audie | Counseling and Student Personnel |
| Williams | David | University Advancement |
| Wood | Colin | Theatre and Dance |
| Young | Richard | Marketing |
| Zinni | Michael | Intercollegiate Athletics |
| Becker | Kirsten | Academic Affairs |
| Biederstedt | John | ITS |
| Boyd | Becky | Career Development Center |
| Femrite | April | Financial Aid |
| Leonard | Tobias | Upward Bound |
| Mulder | LuAnne | Registrar's Office |
| Quirk | Wayne | Grants & Sponsored Programs |
| Wisen | Phyllis | Human Resources |
| Zernechel | Mary | Biology |
MSU's Human Resources website offers regularly updated listings for job positions for faculty, executive, assistant, managerial, adjunct and graduate assistantship positions.
There are many opportunities for faculty and staff to participate in campus recreation walking/jogging, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, tennis, badminton, swimming, aerobics, and cardiovascular equipment – many at no cost. A MavCard is required for admittance.
MSU alumni, family and friends are invited to join me and Timberwolves owner and MSU alumnus Glen Taylor '62 for MSU Alumni Night with the Timberwolves!
MSU Alumni Night with the Wolves
December 18, 2003
Target Center
600 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN
4:30-6:30 p.m. – Pre-game hospitality reception
5:00 p.m. – Q&A with Timberwolves Owner, Glen Taylor & remarks from President Davenport
6:30 p.m. – Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks
After the game, gather for an MSU group photo on the court!
Upper-level Corner Tickets: $22
Upper-level Sidelines Tickets: $37
Ticket price includes food and beverage at the pre-game reception.
Prior to the game, you will receive a VIP pass to attend the MSU reception.
Please register by December 12th online at http://www.mnsu.edu/alumni/events/.
Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations & Special Events at 507-389-3235 or uaspev@mnsu.edu.
Each year, the MSU Alumni Association honors a few of our university's many outstanding alumni at the spring Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony. The Office of Alumni Relations & Special Events would like your help in gathering nominations for the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
This Distinguished Alumni Award Ceremony will take place Friday, April 23, 2004 at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center in Mankato.
As a part of the MSU community, your input is particularly important to us and we appreciate the time you take to provide the nomination information.
Please go to our website to fill out a nomination form online located at http://www.mnsu.edu/alumni/awards/nomination.html or you may also contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Special Events to request a form and tell us about an MSU alumnus or alumna who has excelled in his/her professional achievements, demonstrated great dedication to Minnesota State University or made an impact in his/her community. Nominations are requested back to the Alumni Office by December, 15, 2003.
Interesting to note:
(from Web Developer Ted Johnson)
Hits on MSU's Homepage http://www.mnsu.edu/:
Year-round weekly average=100,000 visits per week and rising fast!
Data is available at http://www.mnsu.edu/stats/httpd-log/webalizer/