May 26, 2004
After graduating a record number of students at Spring Commencement, MSU is preparing for a busy and exciting summer. I want to thank you for the hard work and creative contributions that you have made to the University and to our students during the 2003-2004 academic year.
The dedicated service and infectious enthusiasm that you bring to your work is what makes MSU an outstanding place for teaching and learning. I extend a special thank-you to the 16 retiring faculty and staff members who were honored recently (more, below). Their 475 years of service exemplifies the dedication that makes MSU a special place.
I believe you will all be favorably impressed when you review the sections below which detail the numerous awards, grants and achievements for faculty and staff at MSU, Mankato this past year.
May the summer refresh, renew and fulfill you.
Sincerely,
Richard Davenport
President
Sixteen retiring Minnesota State University, Mankato staff and faculty members with a total of 475 years of service to the university were honored at a campus reception on April 29. MSU retirees honored are: Frank Birmingham, William Roy DeMaree, Carl Egan, Michael Fatis, Nancy Fenrick, Ralph Jacobs, Winifred Mitchell, Bernadette Schmidt, Dorothy Scholtz, Michael Scullin, Carolyn Shrewsbury, Bruce W. Smith, Gerald Alonzo Smith, H. Roger Smith, Richard Strachan, and Phyllis Wisen.
On average each of the 16 faculty-staff retirees have devoted 29.7 years of service to the university. The retirees are:
Frank Birmingham, professor, Educational Studies, 34 years of service; William Roy DeMaree, professor, Sociology, 37 years of service; Carl Egan, associate professor, Construction Management, 25 years of service; Michael Fatis, professor, Psychology, 26 years of service; Nancy Fenrick, professor, Psychology, 25 years of service; Ralph Jacobs, professor, Art, 28 years of service; Winifred Mitchell, professor, Anthropology, 22 years of service;
Bernadette Schmidt, administrative assistant, Institutional Research, 24 years of service; Dorothy Scholtz, associate professor, Education, 13 years of service; Michael Scullin, professor, Anthropology, 35 years of service; Carolyn Shrewsbury, professor, Political Science, 36 years of service; Bruce W. Smith, associate professor, Accounting, 34 years of service; Gerald Alonzo Smith, professor, Economics, 25 years of service; H. Roger Smith, professor, Urban and Regional Studies Institute, 38 years of service; Richard Strachan, professor, Anthropology, 33 years of service; and Phyllis Wisen, interim director, Human Resources, 40 years of service.
President Davenport has hosted numerous luncheons this year to allow MSU faculty and staff to visit with him on an informal basis. These casual conversations (no agenda) are scheduled by the Office of the President, which sends invitations to various groups across campus. In addition, the President has been hosting numerous luncheons with community and regional leaders to learn how we can better serve our public.
The President held his first luncheon with a number of faculty department chairs in January and has hosted a number of others since then. More are planned for the 2004-2005 academic year. Watch for your invitation to meet and eat with President Davenport at his Luncheon Series.
The Legislature has adjourned without passing a bonding bill that includes $2.56 million in planning money for a Trafton Science Center addition. Early this month the House passed the bill, but the Senate narrowly defeated it, and Senators failed to reconsider before the May 17 adjournment deadline.
The Legislature could approve a bonding bill later this year in a special session. Even if that happens, President Daveport cautions that the governor could veto the Trafton planning money. The President has indicated that he'll look for other funding sources if the Legislature or the governor don't approve.
"This is a critical construction project for Minnesota," President Davenport said. "Trafton Science Center is 32 years old. The technology used for teaching science and engineering has changed dramatically since Trafton was built, and MSU has outgrown the space, partly because of the recent addition of exceptional programs such as civil engineering. Trafton's labs and other learning spaces are outdated.
"MSU's undergraduate program in engineering consistently ranks among the top programs in the country. Our science and engineering programs provide crucial talent for Minnesota business and industry, from healthcare to wireless technology to water quality to renewable energy."
Trafton construction and remodeling will cost more than $50 million, and would be one of the biggest projects in the history of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Remodeling of Centennial Student Union will create better access and usability for students, but it requires moving some offices within the Wigley Administration Building. It also provides the opportunity to more efficiently and effectively configure the space in Wigley, and to insure that key services are located where they can be easily accessed.
The following reconfiguration of administrative offices will occur over the coming months. These moves are designed to allow better service and accessibility to students, adequate work space for affected employees, and minimized moving and remodeling costs:
We hope these moves happen as quickly as possible, with minimal disruption in services. We firmly believe that we will better serve the needs of our students and more effectively use the limited space available for administrative offices. While these moves are taking place, we will also be working on much-needed improvements to the ventilation systems in these work areas and others in Wigley not affected by these moves.
The moves are scheduled to start in June and end in approximately January 2005.
Dr. Fernando Delgado Named Dean of Graduate StudiesDr. Fernando Delgado has been named dean of graduate studies and research at Minnesota State University, Mankato effective July 1. Currently Dr. Delgado is associate vice provost for academic programs and graduate studies at Arizona State University West. He was selected after an extensive national search, and replaces Dr. Terrance Flaherty, who has served as interim dean for two years. Dr. Flaherty will return to his faculty position in the MSU English Department.
"Dr. Delgado exceeded our expectations in every way, and is a perfect fit for the position," said Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott R. Olson. "He has tremendous vision for the future of graduate education at MSU, and his outstanding record as a scholar gives him experiences that will help us move our research mission forward. We are thrilled to have him join our council of deans."
MSU has the most comprehensive offering of master's degree programs in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, and most of its graduate faculty members hold the highest degree in their disciplines. The dean of graduate studies and research oversees more than 80 graduate programs.
Dr. Delgado earned a bachelor's degree in political science from San Jose (Calif.) State University, and a master's and Ph.D. in communication studies from the University of Iowa.
He has been associate vice provost at Arizona State University West since 2000. Before that he was an associate professor and assistant professor at ASU and taught at the University of Iowa, Kirkwood Community College (Iowa City) and Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Chandler, Ariz.).
He has written dozens of journal articles, reviews and book chapters about sport and politics, Latino identity and other topics. He also has given numerous community workshops on diversity and Latino culture.
He has chaired a number of committees and programs for the National Communication Association, and has been a manuscript reviewer and newsletter editor for the association's La Raza Caucus.
Dr. Patricia W. Lipetzky Named Dean of Extended LearningDr. Patricia W. Lipetzky has been named dean of the new extended learning initiative at Minnesota State University, Mankato effective July 12.
As dean of extended learning, Dr. Lipetzky will oversee existing MSU distance learning instruction and will create a number of high-quality new initiatives, including e-learning, technology and mediated distance courses. Extended learning is one of the University's five strategic priorities.
Dr. Lipetzky was selected after an extensive national search. Currently she is dean of continuing education at Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich.
Dr. Lipetzky earned an associate of science degree in nursing from Miami-Dade (Fla.) Community College; a B.S. in health from the College of St. Francis, Joliet, Ill.; and an M.S. in nursing administration and a Ph.D. in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota.
She has been dean of continuing education at Grand Valley State since 2000. Before that she was dean of extended learning at Southeast Missouri State, Cape Girardeau, MO (1998-2000), associate dean of the Center for Continuing Studies at St. Cloud State (1994-1998), interim director of student services (1993-94) at Metropolitan State, St. Paul, and director of continuing education and community services at North Hennepin Community College, Brooklyn Park (1987-1990).
She has been a nursing faculty member at Metropolitan State and the College of St. Benedict, and an adjunct professor of educational policy and administration at the University of Minnesota.
MSU's College of Business MBA Program has been approved, and classes begin Aug. 30. The program is one of only four in Minnesota accredited by AACSB International.
The primary target market is full-time working professionals who want to pursue the MBA part-time. All classes will be at night, in eight-week modules. As part of the program, all College of Business teaching faculty (including adjuncts) are provided laptops. Classrooms are equipped with SmartBoards and electrical plug-ins, and are wireless.
Effective this fall, all College of Business students will receive the Wall Street Journal – an example of the COB I.T. Program Fee at work. The College has expanded its list of online resources to the ABI/Inform, Business Source Premier and Mergent Online databases. These include scholarly journals, trade publications, magazines, maps, annual reports and newspapers, offering the best of what is online.
So that College of Business students can connect with business professionals, the E-Mentoring Program pairs students with members of the College of Business Advisory Council and other top professionals in the community. Such relationships give students links to insights, ideas and experiences in the professional world.
Three MSU programs have won 2004 Academic and Student Affairs Achievement Awards from the Office of Academic and Student Affairs, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The awards were announced by Senior Vice Chancellor Linda Baer and were recognized at the May Board of Trustees meeting.
The following MSU initiatives received 2004 Academic and Student Affairs Achievement Awards:
MSU's Wireless Campus Project, the Wireless and Mobile Technology Conference and the Global Learning Lab have earned information technology awards from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. The winning projects are part of President Davenport's goals to reinvent the learning environment with innovative teaching, applied research and technology.
MSU received nearly one-third of the information technology awards from The System's Leadership Council Technology Committee. MSU was honored for:
The Wireless Campus and other high-tech MSU projects are intended to create more personalized learning environments and student support systems.
MSU received the "Excellence in Facilities Management" award for the third straight year from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System's 2003 awards, recognizing leadership and team effort for excellence in sound fiscal management and internal controls. The awards were announced at the Chief Finance and Facilities Officers Conference in Minneapolis. The "Excellence in Facilities Management" program, started in 1997, recognizes significant contributions and outstanding efforts of colleges, universities and employees at state colleges and universities.
MSU faculty member Donald Friend has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholarship to Germany for 2004-2005. Dr. Friend's Fulbright is for research and lecturing in residence at the Institut für Geographie, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Earlier this year two other MSU faculty members – Andrzej Markowski and Richard Terrill – returned from service as Fulbright Scholars at Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, and Maria Curie Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland, respectively.
Social Work Chair Bill Anderson received the Social Work Faculty of the Year Award at the Minnesota Student Social Work Conference in March. Dr. Anderson was nominated by the MSU Social Work Club.
Professor William Brown of the College of Business Management Department received the Dr. Duane Orr Teacher of the Year Award in April.
Johanna Simpson is the newest human resources employee, serving as the office's primary receptionist. She also will assist with benefits questions.
Michael Cooper is serving as interim media relations director while Karen Wright is on leave.
Mavericks forensics team member Heather Jean Kaiser is one of 14 students nationwide selected to the 2004 American Forensic Association-National Individual Events Tournament All-American Team. It is the third time in four years that an MSU forensics student has been chosen for All-American honors.
Kaiser, an MSU senior who grew up in Mankato and now lives in Apple Valley, graduates with a double major in political science and speech communication. She has been a member of the Mavericks forensics team for four years.
She is president of Golden Key International Honour Society, a 2003-'04 Truman and Reta Wood Community Leadership Scholar, a volunteer speech coach at Mankato West High School, a YMCA Brother/Sister mentor, and a volunteer for Theresa House, the Echo Food Drive and Walk for Diabetes. For three years she participated in the Undergraduate Research Conference. After graduation she plans to attend law school.
Other 2004 All-Americans are from California State University, Oregon State, West Texas A & M, Wartburg College, Northwestern, Morehouse College, Seton Hall, Southern Utah, Miami University-Ohio, Northern Illinois, the University of Alabama, Tennessee State and George Mason University.
The AFA-NIET competition was held in April at California State University, Long Beach. Selection is based on a student's academic standing, community service and competitive success in forensics. Mavericks team competitors finished in the top 30 among 100 teams at the tournament.
MSU speech communication professor emeritus Larry Schnoor co-founded the individual events tournaments in 1978, and has been director of the tournament since 1994.
Maverick forensic competitors finished in the top 30 among 100 teams at the tournament.
MSU's entry in the 2004 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge took seventh place overall in the competition this spring in Houghton, Mich. MSU competed against 15 teams from universities across North America's snow belt in the Society of Automotive Engineers' newest collegiate design competition.
Competing teams took stock snowmobiles and re-engineered them to reduce emissions and noise while maintaining or improving performance. MSU's team captured two fourth-place awards in the fuel economy and noise level categories, and fifth place in the emissions and braking components.
The University of Wisconsin at Madison was the overall victor in the competition, held at Michigan Tech University.
For more information go to: http://www.sae.org/students/snow.htm
Afton Enger of the Urban and Regional Studies Institute has been named one of 19 McNair Scholars for 2004-05. Her mentor for the program is Dr. Tony Filipovitch.
Three earth science students (Donald Friend, advisor) have been awarded National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduate grants. Daniel Dorff will perform research using geochronology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Erin King will perform research on climate reconstruction at Cannon Laboratory, University of Delaware. Melanie Schimek (earth science/ geography) will perform glacier climate reconstruction work on Svalbard Island.
Tom Stutsman (psychology major, sociology minor) is the first-place winner for the Midwest Sociological Society Undergraduate Paper Competition for his paper, "Attitudes Towards Violence Perpetrated by Intimates, Strangers and the State: A Cross-Cultural Comparison between American and Chinese College Students." He wrote the paper as an independent study project for Barbara Keating while studying abroad at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China.
MSU's student team in the American Express Planning Invitational was one of eight finalists in the National Financial Planning Student Case Competition. MSU's team of Nathaniel Hahm, Nick Meester and Justin Prescott was selected as one of the eight teams (among 31) to compete for the top award in April. All three students are financial planning track majors in the Finance Program at MSU.
Two College of Business students, Nkongolo "Jimmy" Nyembwe and Grant Menefee, represented MSU in Federated Insurance Company's National Sales Competition in March at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Students from 34 U.S. and Mexico universities participated.
MSU has a dynamic new Website that lists all activities and involvement opportunities available to students in one convenient location. http://boredboard.org, a new website developed by Student Leadership Development & Service-Learning, shows every event and meeting available to students and the MSU community. If you are interested in posting information on the board, send copy and photos to boredboard@mnsu.edu. For more information contact the Student Leadership Development & Service-Learning office at 507-389-6076.
College of Business students had several international study experiences this academic year.
In March Professor Basil Janavaras took 34 students to Greece for a 10-day international experience to learn about Greek history, culture and business, the European Union, and more.
This year's student exchange program between the college and the Institut de Formation Internationale has two French students studying at MSU. The College sent four students to France this semester.
In partnership with University City College of Boras, Sweden, two Swedish students spent fall semester at MSU. One MSU student studied in Sweden last fall.
A Letter of Understanding is being formulated between the College of Business and Monterrey TEC (Irapuato) in Mexico to begin a formal dialogue for exchange of students and faculty. During spring break Professor Brenda Flannery delivered several lectures to high school and college students at the Monterrey TEC (Irapuato) campus.
The last College of Allied Health and Nursing associate of science degree in dental hygiene was awarded May 8, marking the official closing of the AS degree program in dental hygiene. The first cohort of dental hygiene students in the bachelors of science degree program started general education courses will graduate in spring 2005.
The Dental Hygiene Department, in conjunction with Appletree Dental Services in the Twin Cities, is implementing teledentistry through a dental hygiene clinic in rural Madelia, serving primarily the Latino population.
The College received a U.S. Department of Education grant of $99,410 for expansion of community-based, culturally diverse experiences for students in rural, underserved communities, and for recruitment of diverse populations into allied health education.
Dental facilities at the Open Door Health Center have been expanded and the dental hygiene program has expanded hours. Students in the program gain valuable experience providing care to a culturally diverse, underserved population.
In other College news, remodeling of the speech, hearing, and rehabilitation services clinical instruction space has been completed and features a group treatment room, speech and language analysis lab, observation facilities, and two more individual treatment rooms.
The Sports Management Program has entered a cooperative relationship with the European Union and U.S. Sport Management Academic Development Program in conjunction with several universities to promote international curriculum development in sport.
Plans are underway for a state-of-art food science lab. A lead challenge gift has been received and further funding is being actively sought.
Lisa Dahman began serving in February as the full-time College of Allied Health and Nursing development director.
The Health Education Industry Partnership received the prestigious Health Care Career Promotion-Partner Award from the Minnesota Hospital Association for its work with the K-12 initiative.
The College's Health Science Department received SABPAC–Baccalaureate Health Education Program approval from the Society for Public Health Education and the American Association of Health Education.
The Second Annual Nursing Education Institute, sponsored through a grant from MnSCU Center of Teaching and Learning, titled " Nursing Education 2004: Technology in Teaching for the 21st Century" will be held May 17-18 with nursing educators from across the Midwest.
MSU has been awarded a $50,000 grant "Language Learning for Academic Success" from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System to help promote diversity and improve the retention rate of underrepresented students. Under the grant, a cohort learning community will be created that includes English language learning, mentoring and tutoring through the Center for Academic Success at MSU.
The purpose of the Language Learning grant is to develop a program which will assist non-native English speaking students with their education and transition at MSU, and to create an academic and cultural environment that develops mutual respect for and celebration of different ways of learning and different ways of living.
Gael Mericle, Director of the Center for Academic Success, says the non-native English speaking population continues to grow at MSU and in the region. "MSU has long recognized the need to better serve non-native English speaking individuals, many of whom are first generation college students, have limited academic literacy and often have limited financial resources," Mericle said. "This grant will allow us to provide additional services to assist these individuals and supports one of MSU's top strategic priorities which is to promote diversity."
The core of the program will be a year-long learning community in which students will have extensive advising services, will take classes together, and have the support of a community coordinator to integrate their classroom learning in Speech, Ethnic Studies and First Year Experience with a language course in English. The program will consist of two learning community groups of 15 students each from a variety of diverse backgrounds including Somali, Sudanese, Hmong, Hispanic and other non-native English speaking students.
Susan Coultrap-McQuin, Dean for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, was instrumental in writing the grant proposal and will be facilitating the steering committee overseeing the grant.
The grant will support a full-time program director who will work with staff from the Center for Academic Success, First Year Experience, Multicultural Affairs, Student Support Services and faculty who will be instructing the courses in each cohort group. MSU expects to hire a full-time coordinator for this program sometime this semester. Classes are expected to begin fall 2004.
For more information on the Language Learning for Academic Success program contact the Center for Academic Success at 389-1791.
The Office of Institutional Diversity has maintained its partnering with the Mankato Area Task Force to establish a permanent Mankato Diversity Council. The council's mission is to build a community where attitudes and actions foster mutual respect so that all people can fully participate.
The Office of Institutional Diversity has given three of the four planned Diversity Training Trainers workshops. The introductory workshop is a part of the three levels of cultural diversity training offered by the Office of Institutional Diversity. Sixty-four individuals, representing a broad section of the Mankato community, have participated in the workshops, which have been well received by the attendees.
The Training Trainers workshop, a project funded by Bremer Foundation, is a partnership between South Central Technical College and Minnesota State University; Mankato in collaboration with Region Nine Development Commission, School District 77, the City of Mankato, Mankato Public Safety, MSU's bargaining units and the local business community.
Record numbers of high school students and community representatives attended the Chicano-Latino Student Leadership Conference at MSU in March. Delegates at the two day conference included community representatives, high school and college students, and MSU faculty, staff and administrators.
Two speakers visited Mankato in March to discuss diversity and white privilege. Eddie Moore, Jr., a nationally known speaker, spoke at Mankato East and West High Schools on issues of youth and diversity. A general session on diversity that was open to the public was also held on campus, as well as a special session for administrators. The talks were sponsored by the Student Chapter of the NAACP, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Diversity, College Deans and the President's Office.
Tim Wise provided a general session on white privilege that was well-attended by students, faculty and administrators. A special workshop on white privilege was also held for the President's Expanded Cabinet. The two-hour staff development program, organized by the Office of Institutional Diversity, Human Resources and the Student Chapter of the NAACP, allowed administrators to discuss the dynamics of white privilege in America.
Other diversity events this year included: the Mankato Area International Festival 2004, "Festivity of Friendship"; readings by actor LeVar Burton; the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in the CSU Ballroom; the Mixed Blood Theatre performance of Paul Robeson; Black History Month; Vietnamese New Year Celebration (TET); Pan African Student Leadership Conference with Robert McGinnis, St. Paul Police Chief William Finney, and Minnesota Reps. Keith Ellison and Neva Walker.
Graduate Planning and Management certificates have been approved for URSI by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. In order to better serve urban planning and management practitioners, URSI developed two new certificate programs which allow practitioners to receive certification credentials by taking key courses in the graduate planning and management degree programs.
The Academic Affairs Office has signed and implemented policies for dealing with allegations of misconduct in research and sponsored programs; dealing with conflicts of significant financial interest in research and sponsored programs; policy consultation; and approval process.
Trio Programs now are located under the Division of Academic Affairs, with reporting lines to Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Studies Warren Sandmann. The student services provided by Trio are directly related to the academic success of students at the University and therefore are a natural fit under Academic Affairs.
MSU participates in four of the eight federal Trio programs: Upward Bound (since 1978), Educational Talent Search, Student Support Services, and most recently the Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement program.
Charles Cantale has left the position of Director of Trio Programs to accept a new position as Director for Development of Educational Opportunities. The four TRIO staff members who have been serving as associate and assistant directors have been named directors of their respective programs. George Corey will be Director of Upward Bound; Margaret Hesser will serve as Director of Student Support Services; Nancy Sprengeler will serve as Director of Educational Talent Search; and Joann Quinones-Perdomo will serve as Director of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.
Students will continue to receive the high level of Trio program service that was provided under the division of Student Affairs.
The Environmental Health and Safety Department would like to report that MSU's OSHA reportable injuries have decreased from 42 injuries in 2000 to 18 injuries in 2003. According to Robb McGinn, Director of EHS and Risk Management, employees are doing an excellent job in reducing injuries, but there is still room for improvement. Currently, the most common injuries on campus are falls, slips, and ergonomic related injuries.
Falls have resulted from staff using chairs and carts as a substitute for a ladder or step stool. Slips have been caused from water on floors, uneven concrete and weather conditions. The University has been proactive in fixing concrete problems throughout the campus during the summer. Ground's crews have been out plowing, brushing, and salting sidewalks after ice and snow storms.
Employees are advised to wear appropriate shoes when it snows and take it slow when slippery conditions exist. This is one of the most difficult problems to deal with on campus. Last are ergonomic injuries from repetitive motion and improper work station set-up. The EHS office has perform ergonomic evaluations and provided ergonomic chairs for individuals that need them to prevent ergonomic injuries. An ergonomic evaluation or ergonomic chair can be requested by filling out an ergonomic request form located on the web.
For additional information, contact the office of Environmental Health And Safety Department at 389-5568.
Employees with disabilities in need of accommodation should make a request through Human Resources. Previously, such requests were made through the Affirmative Action Office. Human Resources will process and respond to requests using the same process that the Affirmative Action Office has done in the past.
It is our hope that this shift in responsibilities will better serve our employees. The Affirmative Action Office will now be able to provide a neutral and objective service if an employee has an objection or concern about an accommodation that has been put in place or denied by the Human Resources Office.
If you have any questions about this shift in responsibilities or the process of reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities, please call Lori Lamb at 389-2015.