May 2008
Vol. 4, No. 3
The Review is distributed to college and university presidents and key communicators, who are encouraged to forward it to all employees or include the newsletter items in their own campus newsletters or publications.
Articles
American Indian Student Leadership Assembly develops leaders
One of the goals of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is to increase the access and success of American Indian students at the 32 colleges and universities. Toward this goal, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Office of the Chancellor conducted an American Indian Student Leadership Assembly in April.
Developing American Indian student leaders is an important step for the access, success and retention of American Indian students. The American Indian Student Leadership Assembly included leadership development, community building and information sharing.
Twenty-five students from four Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institutions participated in the leadership assembly. The institutions represented were Central Lakes College, Itasca Community College, Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Bemidji State University. More assemblies are planned.
ISEEK releases updated “Find a Job” section
“Find a Job” is iSEEK’s Web entry point for job seekers in Minnesota. This section lets users easily connect to the Minnesota Works job bank, find salary information and learn how to apply for jobs. “Find a Job” has been updated significantly with new content for the needs of today’s job seeker. For example, individuals new to the job search now can find sections to guide them such as “Get Started” and “Job Search Step by Step.” Job seekers who want to know how the current economy is affecting the job market can visit the “Explore Job Market” section, which includes topics including Minnesota job vacancies, employment data and employee benefits.
Job seekers also can read about the latest “Careers in Demand,” which highlights high-demand careers, growing careers, growing industries and high-paying careers.
View ISEEK’s new “Find a Job” section
Winners announced for Carl D. Perkins New Program Development Grants
This year, several changes significantly improved the quality and competitiveness of proposals that colleges may submit for new program development grants funded by federal Carl D. Perkins state leadership funds. In the past, grants were limited to either $8,000 or $15,000, depending upon their purpose. This year, total funds were increased from $250,000 to $293,000, and each grant applicant could apply for up to $60,000. In addition, semifinalists were given $2,000 to support the development of their grant application. Additionally, colleges now will have two years (instead of one year) to spend their funds.
The new application process had three phases: Phase I, a brainstorming phase that generated more than 100 innovative ideas; Phase II, in which 16 colleges were selected to respond with a description and rationale for about 30 areas of interest; and Phase III, with top-scoring colleges.
Another significant change was submission of program applications using the Web. Colleges submitted project and contact information, abstract, budget and budget narrative, and upload related narrative by using a Web application developed by the Center for Teaching and Learning. The last significant change was the use of weighted scoring. The top scoring colleges from Phase III are listed below:
| College | Program | Funded |
|---|---|---|
| Normandale Community College | Healthcare Informatics | $55,000 |
| Northland Community and Technical College, East Grand Forks | Advanced Manufacturing Technology | $34,000 |
| Northwest Technical College – Bemidji | Advanced Manufacturing Technology | $52,845 |
| Riverland Community College, Albert Lea | Wind Energy Turbine Technician-Renewable Energy | $48,450 |
| Saint Paul College | Computer Gaming and Simulation: Metaverse Technologies | $52,000 |
| South Central College, North Mankato | Mechatronics Technology | $50,000 |
| TOTAL | $292,295 |
Next steps for this project are to prepare contracts and distribute funds to campuses. Perkins staff also will assess the success of this new approach through feedback from colleges.
Six institutions attend Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability Conference
Six institutions from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities were represented at the Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability Conference in April in Decorah, Iowa. More than 250 participants from the five-state area attended the event, titled "Creating Sustainable Connections." Minnesota institutions were Bemidji State University; Hibbing Community College; Lake Superior College; Minneapolis Community and Technical College; Minnesota State University, Mankato; and Winona State University. Sally Grans-Korsh and Ken Oas from the Office of the Chancellor also attended.
Faculty from Winona State University and Bemidji State University and Grans-Korsh spoke on “Repurposing Space,” examining how important it is to reuse existing campus space. Renovation was highlighted as an important part of sustainability, as indicated by the 25 percent in growth of renovated space in the system but only 10 percent growth in new square footage.
in this issue
- American Indian Student Leadership Assembly develops leaders
- ISEEK releases updated “Find a Job” section
- Winners announced for Carl D. Perkins New Program Development Grants
- Six institutions attend Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability Conference
- New courses help community and technical college faculty meet credentialing requirements
- Science, health care education featured in system magazine
- Recent news releases
Recent news releases
April 18, 2008 - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system honors faculty and staff for outstanding achievement
April 17, 2008 - Four Excellence in Teaching Award winners named by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees
April 16, 2008 - Sue K. Hammersmith appointed president of Metropolitan State University
April 16, 2008 - Edna Mora Szymanski appointed president of Minnesota State University Moorhead
New courses help community and technical college faculty meet credentialing requirements
In cooperation with the Office of the Chancellor’s Center for Teaching and Learning, Southwest Minnesota State University has developed a series of new adult education courses in 2007 to help new community and technical college faculty meet the College Faculty Credentialing Board Policy requirement. More than 50 faculty members already have completed these courses at the undergraduate or graduate level. Faculty also may select to take the Teacher Education Series courses from Bemidji State University or the University of Minnesota to fulfill the requirement.
A new “Philosophy of Community and Technical College Education” course was developed by the Center for Teaching and Learning to help faculty meet the credentialing teaching and learning competency requirement. This noncredit introductory course focuses on the evolution, mission, purpose and operating features of community and technical colleges. Offered in an online, self-directed format as a D2L course enhanced with streaming video, the course was presented for the first time in spring 2008 to 178 faculty.
The Philosophy of Community and Technical College Education course will be offered each semester for new faculty. Registration opens May 1 for the 2008 Summer Session (May 27 through Aug. 22).
A guest section for the “Philosophy of Community and Technical College Education” course is available for all faculty, staff and administrators.
Visit the course and view the material for new faculty
The guest login is "ctlguest" and the password is "ctlguest" at mnsite.ims.mnscu.edu.
Science, health care education featured in system magazine
T-shirts serve as a teaching tool for Ellen Brisch, biosciences professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead, featured on the cover of the spring edition of Minnesota State Colleges & Universities magazine and in a story about her innovative approach to teaching. Brisch was named the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Minnesota Professor of the Year for 2007.
The semiannual magazine's fifth edition has a 10-page package of stories about new trends in health care education, including a focus on simulation labs and centers, polysomnography, herbalism, community health work and lean-flow techniques. Also featured are Larry Shellito, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard and former president of Alexandria Technical College; Steve Frank, faculty founder of the acclaimed St. Cloud State University Statewide Survey; Donghui Zhang, visiting Chinese instructor at Bemidji State University; and Ray Basques, a Vietnam veteran and Century College horticulture graduate who established a scholarship for students interesting in pursuing careers in horticulture.
The magazine is mailed to Minnesota business, community and education leaders, and state college and university presidents receive multiple copies to share. Look for the magazine on the system Web site and in your mailbox. Additional copies are available in Public Affairs or by e-mailing christine.mcging@so.mnscu.edu.
Download PDF of spring 2008 issue (PDF) (2.8 MB)
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