UMC Summer News - July 2001

U of M Employee Health Benefits
On Friday, June 8, the Board of Regents approved the new set of health plans for non-bargaining unit employees for 2002. These plans were designed based on the report of the Health Plan Task Force. The Interim Health Benefits committee, consisting of academic and professional staff, civil service, and faculty, recommended their adoption.

These plans are the best options available. Health care costs continue to rise, but we have managed to reduce the rate of increase for next year. Most doctors and clinics currently covered will be available under the new plans.

Information about the plans can be found at www.healthbenefits.umn.edu. Open enrollment will be in the fall.
--Fred L. Morrison, Chair, Interim Health Benefits Committee

UMC to Host Camp RYLA
RYLA Photo

Over 100 student leaders from northern Minnesota, North Dakota, northwest Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada, will arrive on the UMC campus July 8 to take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). RYLA is an international program that was created by the Rotary International as a way to encourage strong leadership in youth. The program consists of a week-long seminar called Camp RYLA that provides these outstanding student leaders and potential leaders an opportunity to expand and hone their leadership skills. Rotary District 5580 adopted the RYLA Program in 1992, and it has been held at UMC since then. It is sponsored by a joint effort of the Crookston Rotary Club, Rotary District 5580, and UMC. For a more information visit www.campryla.org.

Some Postage Rates To Rise July 1
The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service recently announced that they voted unanimously in closed session to modify the April 10 decision of the Postal Rate Commission (PRC). The original decision of the independent Postal Rate Commission (November 13, 2000) was allowed to take effect under protest January 7, 2001, pending further review.

The rate schedule which had been implemented on a provisional basis in January will be replaced by the modified schedule on July 1. Under the new schedule, rates for a one ounce First-Class letter remain the same at 34-cents, but the charge for an additional ounce will now rise to 23-cents. Postcards will increase by one cent to 21-cents, the first increase in the postcard rate since 1995.

The Postal Service is facing a loss this year that could exceed $2 billion due to a variety of factors, including a weakening economy and soaring fuel and personnel expenses.

The Postal Service has taken a number of steps including cutting capital commitments by one billion dollars this year and freezing hiring for administrative positions and cutting programs and activity budgets. In addition, cost reductions totaling $2.5 billion through fiscal year 2003 have been targeted.

Guidelines for Outdoor Events and “Tailgating”
The UMC campus guidelines for outdoor events and tailgating have been posted to the web at www.umcrookston.edu/campusinfo/policies/policies.htm.

NWSA Top Aggies Named for 2001
The following NWSA alumni were honored with the “Top Aggie Awards” for 2001 at the annual NWSA Reuion, held June 30: (left to right in photo below) Ray K. Johnson ’46 of Cincinnati, OH; Evangeline Anderson Myhre ’46 of Warren, MN; Roger J. Kasprick ’51 of Collegeville, MN; and JoAnne Straus Carlson ’61 of Brainerd, MN. In other awards NWSA Alum Harris Peterson received the NWSA Alumni Associations Distinguished Service Award.
Top Aggies 2001

The Top Aggie Awards were established in 1970 to honor Northwest School of Agriculture alumni, faculty, and staff who, in the eyes of the NWSA Alumni Association, have had a significant impact on the lives of their fellow man through professional and service contributions in their occupations, community, church, education, and other service and non-profit organizations.

Centennial Park Concept Sketches
Concept sketches for the proposed centennial park project are available for viewing in the Alumni Room in Robertson Hall. Target date for completion of the park is the summer of 2005, the centennial anniversary of educational service on the site that is now UMC. The centennial park will be developed around the Peterson Gazebo on the UMC Mall and will most likely involve a renovation of the sunken gardens just south of the Sahlstrom Conference Center. It will involve alumni from UMC and the NWSA.

Golden Eagle Postcards Available

New UMC postcards are now available at the University Relations Office for faculty and staff use. The new cards feature the new UMC Golden Eagle logo and can be used for following up student visits. A new campus aerial shot postcard will also be available soon. Contact Andrew Svec or Rose Ulseth in University Relations in Robertson Hall to obtain these postcards.

Lim Presents at WebCT Conference
Dan Lim

Dan Lim, director of UMC’s Instructional Technology Center, presented at the Third WebCT Users Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 26. He presented his paper entitled, "A constructivist approach to mirror learning on-the-job using WebCT and interactive web technologies."

Loegering to Attend Wildlife Ecosystem Institute
John Loegering

John Loegering, assistant professor of natural resources, has been selected to participate in the Ecosystem Institute. Loegering is one of twelve professionals from across the nation selected to attend the event, scheduled for July 22-28.

The Ecosystem Institute, held at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, a world-class forest research site located on the west side of the Oregon Cascades Mountains, introduces participants to concepts and field applications of ecosystem management. Ecosystem management is central to the program, which emphasizes goals designed to maintain existing biodiversity, evolutionary, and ecological processes within ecosystems and to accommodate human uses within these constraints. The ultimate goal of the event is to provide mechanisms for instructors to incorporate information learned at the Institute into natural resource- and environmental science-based education programs.

The Ecosystem Institute is sponsored by the Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources (NCSR), a collaborative partnership including high schools, community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, private industries, government agencies, and American-Indian tribes from Oregon, Washington, northern California, Maryland, and Minnesota.

Alcorn Hired in Admissions
Johanna Alcorn

Johanna Alcorn has been hired as an admissions and financial aid representative for UMC’s Office of Admissions. Alcorn graduated from UMC this spring with a degree in business management, completing both the management and marketing emphases. She is originally from Red Lake Falls, MN.

Steiner Hired in RSVP
Jodi Steiner

Jodi Steiner has been hired as a community program specialist for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), based at UMC. Funding for Jodi’s position comes from a grant recently awarded for the “Lifetime of Learning” project. Steiner will work with RSVP Director Deanna Patenaude to further develop the Lifetime of Learning program.

Singapore Group Sends Thanks
This is a last minute work without any task analysis and sub tasks structure plan—no learning frame nor storyboarding—just a simple slide show to express our appreciations for your kindness and warmness that all of you has given us during our five weeks stay here [for the Instructional Technology Certification Program]. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. We hope we get the chance to come back here again. View the PowerPoint Show "Thank You."
--Meng On Seetoh, Ruhazat Adnan, Irene Lee, Shing Haur Cheng, Chee Wai Tang, and Chin Hock Ho.

Thank You from Paul Holm

This is to express to all of the University of Minnesota, Crookston my thanks for the "Distinguished Teaching Award" presented to me this spring. The award was a very special surprise to me since there were undoubtedly several other worthy nominations. A very special thank you to all who lent their support to my nomination. I appreciate the time, effort, and, most of all, the supportive role that each of you has played in my career as a teacher at the U of M, Crookston.

When, 25 years ago, I drove up Highway 9 to come to Crookston for an interview, I never expected that event to be a career event that would extend to 25 years and more. As I drove from Barnesville, I experienced the FLAT Red River Valley for the first time and had difficulty believing there could be so much flat and fertile land anywhere. That the position was offered to me resulted in an exciting, interesting, frustrating (at times), challenging, and rewarding career. It has been my good fortune to have been associated with the very best colleagues one could hope to have. They have challenged me to do my best. They have encouraged me to try new methods. They have been supportive of my efforts with my students. Without each of my colleagues, not only in the science and mathematics area but also across campus and across disciplines, I would not have remained at the U of M, Crookston for this length of time.

In my view the deserving recipients of this award are those who have been my colleagues during my tenure at this college. To begin to list all of the individuals would certainly omit those who should not be omitted. Thanks to all of you who, as members of the "Distinguished Teacher Selection Committee," reviewed the material submitted in my behalf. Thanks to the Students, the Faculty, the Staff and the Administration for all of the challenges and support provided to me that led up to this award. THANK YOU ALL OF YOU!
--Paul Holm, Associate Professor of Chemistry

Bulletin Schedule for Summer
One more issue of UMC Summer News will be published in August. Here is the remaining scheduled release date with submission deadline dates in parentheses.

The UMC Weekly Bulletin will resume its regular weekly publication on August 22, 2001. Deadline for submission for that edition is noon on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001.

Publication Information:

UMC Summer News is published by University Relations once a month in June, July, and August. Please send items for Summer News electronically to Andrew Svec, Director of Communications, at <asvec@mail.crk.umn.edu>

Disability accommodations will be provided upon request for all events. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Guidelines for Outdoor Events and “Tailgating” The UMC campus guidelines for outdoor events and tailgating have been posted to the web at www.umcrookston.edu/campusinfo/policies/policies.htm.

Guidelines for Outdoor Events and “Tailgating”
The UMC campus guidelines for outdoor events and tailgating have been posted to the web at www.umcrookston.edu/campusinfo/policies/policies.htm.