I'm extremely gratified by the campus community's quick, compassionate response to the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Scores of students, faculty, staff and alumni coordinated fund drives, transported supplies, arranged benefit concerts and volunteered their services and resources in dozens of ways.
All of the instances are too numerous to mention, but here are a few examples:
I'm especially proud of the efforts of faculty and staff who made it possible for 10 displaced students to come to our campus. These students will return to their home colleges and universities when those campuses reopen, but until then they'll continue their studies here. In addition, faculty and staff have helped 10 New Orleans-area students who already were enrolled when the hurricanes struck.
The Taylor Foundation and Glen Taylor played a critical role in this effort, by pledging up to $500,000 to assist as many as 100 displaced students at Minnesota State or South Central College. The Taylor Relief Fund helps eligible students who enroll this semester or next with tuition, fees, equipment and housing.
Our hurricane relief efforts—as individuals and as an institution—truly are helping these students go "beyond possibility."
Sincerely,
Richard Davenport
Our strategic priority to promote diversity requires each of us to keep this focus as we go about our work. The destruction dealt by Hurricane Katrina has placed new emphasis on our diversity efforts and our close relationship with Southern Louisiana University, Dillard University and other institutions in New Orleans.
In addition to welcoming displaced students from New Orleans, we have successfully recruited diverse students from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Over the last two years our freshman students of color have increased by more than 70 percent. Over the last two years we also have added $173,000 to our diversity strategic priority funding.
To ensure that we energetically pursue our commitment to diversify and make our campus and community more welcoming for these students and for faculty and staff of color, I have appointed Dean of Institutional Diversity Dr. Michael Fagin to the President's Cabinet. As a member of the Cabinet, Dr. Fagin will keep my leadership team and me informed about how we can build on our accomplishments and correct our shortcomings as we promote diversity.
Dr. Fagin has a long and accomplished history at Minnesota State Mankato. After attending Dillard University and graduating from Wayne State, he earned a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling here, and in 1970 was named director of the University's new Minorities Groups Studies Center. Since that time he earned a doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota, was promoted to several leadership positions here, and has become the predominant leader and advocate for diversity efforts at both Minnesota State Mankato and the greater Mankato community.
His appointment to the Cabinet will help all of us be stronger diversity advocates, and will encourage us to achieve the diversity goals that the vice presidents have included in their divisional work plans.
Recently, I met with representatives of the Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation, exploring how we can assist with their mission to develop the assets and capacities of South Minneapolis residents and businesses, and to build a livable, sustainable neighborhood. Last month I was the first president of a university to be a guest on the KMOJ-FM talk show "Issues in the African-American Community," hosted by Spike Moss.
An education steeped in diversity gives all of our students better skills to compete and cooperate in today's world. Five percent of our students are minority students. We want to increase that number to 8 percent by 2010. If we're to achieve that goal—and to make the campus and community more welcoming for diverse students, faculty and staff—diversity must be a priority in everything we do, at every level.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees Chair Robert Hoffman (standing, at podium) speaks to the press at a Nov. 9 celebration of the new Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence.I'm excited that Minnesota State Mankato was selected to lead one of four Centers of Excellence proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and approved last spring by the Legislature. The new Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence will bring a minimum of $2 million and possibly as much as $6 million in additional state and private funds to the University and our six college partners over the next two years.
MNCEME will allow us and our educational partners to encourage more young people to pursue engineering as a field of study, thus supplying Minnesota manufacturers with much-needed engineering graduates. It also will allow us to help manufacturers improve their processes and develop new products through applied research.
Minnesota State Mankato was selected as a Center of Excellence because:
We will work closely with our college partners—Alexandria Technical College, Anoka Technical College, Hennepin Technical College, Normandale Community College, Northeast Higher Education District and South Central College—to make this new initiative successful.
I know that the Minnesota Center of Excellence in Manufacturing and Engineering will become a renowned national model for stimulating strong partnerships between higher education and industry to address Minnesota workforce needs and to attract new business. It will be the best Center of Excellence in Minnesota.
I'm pleased to be part of the Governor's State of Minnesota Mission to China Nov. 11-19. It will be the most ambitious trade mission in Minnesota's history, with nearly 200 Minnesotans participating–a premiere opportunity to strengthen economic and educational relationships between Minnesota and China.
I'll be one of one of six Minnesota State Colleges and Universities representatives on the educational delegation, including Board Chair Robert Hoffman, Trustee Ruth Grendahl, and Senior Vice Chancellor Linda Baer.
A few years ago, when I was at Central Michigan University, I visited China several times to promote a student and faculty exchange program between Michigan and Chinese journalists. This time I'd like to focus on renewable energy research and student, faculty and internship exchange programs that can benefit our students and faculty, as well as helping students and faculty in China.
The publicity resulting in China from the visit can also help recruit students and faculty. We have 14 Chinese students at Minnesota State Mankato now, and I hope by next year we have many more.
In my convocation remarks this August, I charged the Professional Development Committee and my Commission on the Status of Women to propose a women's leadership program for Minnesota State Mankato employees. Today I am proud to unveil the first phase of this evolving initiative.
This summer Minnesota State Mankato will send a campus representative to the prestigious Bryn Mawr Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration. This four-week residential program, co-sponsored with Higher Education Resource Services (HERS), is in its 27th year. The goal of the founders was to improve the status of women in the middle and executive levels of higher education administration, an area in which women traditionally have been under-represented.
The program accepts women who are actively seeking increased administrative responsibilities and provides:
It is extremely important that we develop a culture recognizing the accomplishments of women leaders on our campus. I need you to help me identify a member of our campus community for this experience. Please nominate a colleague or directly submit your application for this exciting opportunity. Additional materials and the application form can be found at the Bryn Mawr Summer Institute page.
Members of the Professional Development Committee and my Commission on the Status of Women are also at work developing a comprehensive women's leadership program that will meet the diverse needs of women employees.
Join me in making Minnesota State Mankato a landmark institution in terms of women's leadership.
For more information contact Kelly Meier at 389-6076 or kelly.meier@mnsu.edu, or visit the Bryn Mawr Summer Institute page.
Recently, you received a printed copy of the University's strategic plan. This document is a written, concise summary of the work to date on the strategic initiatives begun during my first year as president. I urge you to review the progress that we have made in identifying campus needs, determining goals to meet those needs and following through with measurable and attainable objectives.
The progress we have made is astounding, as you will observe when you read the document and note the accomplishments. But there is still work for all of us to do in achieving our goals.
The entire campus community has provided tremendous support for the strategic plan, and I thank you for that. I believe that you are seeing a stronger, more vibrant university that is positioned to become an even greater force in the State of Minnesota and the Midwest region. I encourage everyone to discuss this document in your office or department meetings, and provide feedback to the Planning Submeet and Confer, co-chaired by Mark Johnson and James Grabowska.
Thank-you to Vice Presidents Scott Olson and Mark Johnson, who worked with others in compiling the reports of the various strategic priority task forces; to Jeff Iseminger, Ann Rosenquist-Fee and Wendy Johnston for the publication and graphics ideas; to members of the Planning SubMeet and Confer for their guidance and for leading the campus discussion; and to the many members of the faculty and staff who have participated in establishing these strategic priorities, and who have worked to develop implementation plans.
This effort was truly a university-wide response, exemplified by the many employees participating in the process:
Members of the Planning Sub Meet & Confer 2004-2005 were Christine Connolly, Michael Fagin, John Frey, James Grabowska, Jeff Iseminger, Cindy Janney, Mark Johnson, Scott Johnson, Rose Marie Ley, Gregg Marg, Sean McGoldrick, Gael Mericle, Glen Peterson, Maureen Prenn, Paul Schwinghammer, Carol Stallkamp, Lynne Weber, Perry Wood and Rose Blumenshein.
The Strategic Priority Task Forces include:
PR & Marketing: Paul Allan, Michael Cooper, Dale Haefner, Jeff Iseminger, Ted Johnson, Wendy Johnston, Mike Lagerquist, Jane McConnell, Ann Rosenquist-Fee, Lauren Weisblatt and Walt Wolff.
Academic Excellence: Lynn Akey, Rayla Allison, Michael Bentley, Bill Bessler, Ron Browne, Dan Cronn-Mills, Carrie Finn, Don Friend, Gretta Handke, Margaret Hesser, Jasper Hunt, Sandra Jessen, Rajiv Kapadia, Nina LeNoir, Dick Liebendorfer, Craig Matarrese, Gael Mericle, Ron Nickerson, Scott Olson, Tracy Pellett, Marie Pomije, Diane Richards, Stewart Ross, Warren Sandmann, Mahbubur Syed, John Thoemke and Hal Walberg.
Campus Facilities: Kevin Buisman, Larry Kohanek, Sean McGoldrick, Henry Morris, Pat Swatfager-Haney, Dean Trauger and Perry Wood.
Capital Campaign: David Andreas, Albert Annexstad, Richard Davenport, Mark Davis, John Duffy, Neil Eckles, William Finney, Norbert Harrington, Patricia Johnson, Wynn Kearney, Allen Lenzmeier, Dennis Miller, Lynn Nagorske, Tami Paulsen, Roger Peters, Houghton Smith and Glenn Taylor.
Distance Learning: Lisa Baures, Diane Berge, Fernando Delgado, Don Descy, Kathleen Hurley, Elena Ivanova, Mark Johnson, Rosemary Kinne, Yueh-Ting Lee, Patricia Lipetzky, Scott Page, Glen Peterson, Ann Quade, Joan Roca, Warren Sandmann, Kathleen Trauger and Paul Wyss.
Diversity: Fernando Delgado, Jackie Lewis, Gwen Griffin, David Karkoski, Hanh Huy Phan, John Seymour, Michelle Washington Carter, Kelly Meier, David Esping, Desiree Rowe, Deirdre Rosenfeld, Julie Snow, Kenneth White, Tom Gjersvig, Lupe Quintero, Jessica Flatequal, Dermi Jarso and Michael Fagin.
Enrollment Management: Michael Fagin, Dave Gjerde, Tom Gjersvig, Joel Johnson, Rosemary Kinne, Patricia Lipetzky, Jan Marble, Randall McClure, Linda Meidl, Christopher Mickle, Anne O'Meara, Ann Rosenquist-Fee, Warren Sandmann and Walt Wolff.
International: Kimberly Contag, Goga Copic, Michael Fagin, Tom Gjersvig, Jill Hahn-Wittemann, Jeff Iseminger, Basil Janavaras, Joel Jensen, Scott Johnson, Joel Kunkel, David Lueck, Agnes Lumenta, Henry Morris, Gwyn Outka, Sam Roy, Farid Jean Sabongi, Carol Stallkamp and Mary Visser.
One of our strategic priorities is to assertively market Minnesota State University, Mankato in all of our internal and external communications. In the next few weeks you'll receive a handsome new poster new poster that explains how all of us can help promote the University to all of the audiences with whom we communicate. The poster will encourage us to do several things in our communications:
If you were touched by the video "The Minnesota State Mankato Promise" (you can see it at http://www.mnsu.edu/president/), you'll be inspired by this poster, designed and produced by our own Printing Services.
Our research shows that our name is not widely recognized among stakeholders and the public. If we expect to distinguish ourselves from other universities, we need to create a unified market position built on name recognition. The new poster will help us achieve that.
Thank you for continuing to strengthen the reputation and prestige of our great university.
Congratulations to the Maverick women's hockey team, ranked tenth nationally in both the USCHO.com and USA Today Division I women's hockey polls.
The Mavericks, coached by Jeff Vizenor, are in the company of several nationally known universities including Harvard, Dartmouth, Providence, Wisconsin, Princeton, Brown, Connecticut and Minnesota.
Congratulations also to the Maverick wrestling team, ranked second in a preseason NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association poll. The team is coached by Jim Makovsky.
Six Minnesota State Mankato wrestlers are ranked individually, including a No. 1 ranking for junior Travis Krinkie at 174 pounds. Junior Jason Rhoten is second at 149; Nick Smith is fourth at 125, Zach Stephens is seventh at 141, Mathias Bitz is third at 157 and John Koons is fifth at 184.
And four Maverick football players have been named to the 2005 Academic All-North Central Conference team: Sophomore defensive lineman Spencer Dickinson, junior linebacker Dan Ficcadenti, junior offensive lineman Ben Roberson and junior defensive back Nick Wilson. It is the largest Maverick contingent on the Academic All-NCC team since 2001. The team is coached by Jeff Jamrog.
Our newly remodeled, $8.4-million Otto Recreation Center was dedicated during Homecoming Weekend, and its cutting-edge equipment is generating a lot of "buzz" among colleges and universities across the nation.
The Center includes basketball courts, a walking/jogging track, a weight room, racquetball courts, new locker rooms and a refurbished swimming pool—all for use by Minnesota State student-athletes and non-athletes alike. But what's getting everyone's attention is our "tech-rec" fitness equipment—equipment developed by our Academic Computer Center and Campus Recreation Office, and like no other fitness equipment we've seen.
The new stations blend exercise with the world of cyberspace–truly the future of personal fitness. Many recreation and technology specialists at other universities are asking us how we did it, and how they can do the same thing. (About 150 members of a national recreation organization recently visited the facility.)
The heart of "tech-rec" is a custom-programmed, high-resolution computer screen with keyboard and DVD player, connected to the Internet and cable television. A screen and keyboard is stationed next to each of the 40 exercise machines. The computers allow students to click on and use several options while they exercise: They can read e-mail, watch their favorite soap opera or movie, listen to their favorite radio station, follow a web-based exercise regimen, record workout statistics, or take part in an online class.
Students can study and even teach while they exercise. A foreign language student can practice Spanish while watching the Spanish channel. A Business student can check stock quotes for a class project. An Education student can review course work on Desire to Learn. A History student can watch a DVD on the Civil War, and a Human Performance student can produce a streaming video about the proper way to exercise.
A team from the Academic Computer Center, Campus Recreation and Human Performance envisioned, created and built the equipment. Team members include Wayne Sharp, Kent Kalm, Todd Pfingsten, David Esping, Ryan Stevens and Mark Johnson.
The fitness machines were purchased with student recreation fees, and the "tech-rec" computer stations were purchased with student tech fees. The Otto Recreation Center remodeling was made possible by legislative appropriations.
The Center dedication marks the end of Phase 3 of our athletic facility construction. The cabinet approved the new name "Otto Recreation Center" to replace "Otto Arena," but the name still honors Robert "Bob" Otto, former athletic director and football coach.
Pacita Maignes (left) and Mary Jean Metag (right) cut the ribbon to dedicate the new food science laboratories named after them.We also dedicated a new food science complex that allows us to provide advanced training for our students, and high-tech applied research for Minnesota's food processing industries.
The three specialized laboratories have been completely remodeled, thanks to a generous gift from Glen Taylor and the Taylor Foundation. Students and faculty in dietetics, food and nutrition and food science technology now have cutting-edge equipment for teaching and learning about the chemistry and physics of food preparation and processing, and for research in commercial food analysis, preparation, processing and evaluation.
These new laboratories not only mean improved training for students, but also expanded collaboration with regional food processing firms. Because of the work of Pacita, Mary Jean, Family Consumer Science faculty and the Taylor Corporation, students have the latest equipment to create, develop and evaluate new food products, and faculty have the facilities to help business and industry better serve Minnesota citizens.
I was pleased to have participated in the recent InterCity Leadership Visit to Bellingham, Wash., to learn how that city addresses its growth and development issues.
The exchange allowed us to look at Bellingham's higher education institutions, agriculture, industry, retail facilities, health care systems and technology. More important, it gave us new ideas about how to employ these elements to improve housing, technology, entrepreneurism, economic development, partnerships and outreach in Mankato.
Other cities across North America have conducted similar exchanges, but this is the first one in Minnesota for a city the size of Mankato. The Mankato delegation included local leaders in business, industry, government, religion, education and the nonprofit sector.
Our three-day trip, organized by the Greater Mankato Economic Development Corp., was intended to spark new ideas and encourage community leaders to:
What we saw in Bellingham opened our eyes and our minds, and I'm sure those ideas will shape the future of this community. Minnesota State Mankato will continue to partner with Mankato and North Mankato to solve common problems and realize common dreams. We will continue to offer the services of the Urban and Regional Studies Institute and other research centers to build community connections, to improve the arts and entertainment, to embrace diversity, to set priorities, to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit, and to make Mankato and North Mankato better places to live and work.
Seven Minnesota State Mankato employees were honored at our Convocation recently, receiving awards for exceptional performance and outstanding contributions to morale and community leadership.
Tony Filipovitch received the Claire E. Faust Public Service Award. The Faust Award recognizes a Minnesota State Mankato employee for outstanding service to the university, community, state and nation. Faust winners must demonstrate unselfish service to University customers, be committed to education as a means of improving life for present and future generations, provide leadership in community organizations for the betterment of people, work to improve the quality of life in the community, and work for a more caring and humane society.
The award was named after Claire E. Faust, former Vice President of Administrative Affairs at Minnesota State University, Mankato. To date, 11 employees received the award.
Cheri Bowyer received the Campus Drive Award for chairing the 26th annual Campus Drive, part of the Minnesota State Mankato Annual Fund. Faculty and staff can choose from more than 500 funds that help our students.
Five employees received Outstanding Service Awards:
These annual awards provide an opportunity for the University to recognize effort that goes beyond the expected, making this a truly exceptional institution. Thanks to these seven individuals, and to all of you whose work makes Minnesota State Mankato a better place.
A heartfelt thank-you and congratulations to new members of our Purple and Gold Society–donors who have contributed $25,000 or more to the Minnesota State Mankato Foundation. All of these new members were honored at the Foundation Gala during Homecoming.
The Dr. Donald C. and Marjorie Meredith Foundation are Philanthropists of the Year. Earlier this year Dr. and Mrs. Meredith made the largest single scholarship gift in the history of Minnesota State Mankato–more than $700,000 to fully endow the Meredith Scholars program within the College of Science, Engineering & Technology.
Eddice B. Barber is the 2005 Volunteer of the Year, for her generous contributions of time and resources, particularly to the Colleges of Arts & Humanities and Education.
New Purple and Gold Society members are:
To all of these donors, and to the many Purple and Gold Society members who have been honored in previous years, I extend a heartfelt "thank you." With their support we are able to help students realize their dreams through effective teaching, scholarship and research.
