Calendar

Through October 31
·   Spooktacular Halloween Sale at UMC Bookstore
October 24
·   WOW! Event:  Basketball Extravaganza and Dance
October 25
·   Clothesline Project
·   Domestic Assault Remembrance
·   UMC Hosts High School Volleyball Tournaments
October 26
·   UMC Hosts High School Volleyball Tournaments
October 27
·   Soccer - UMC vs. Wayne State College
October 28
·   Soccer - UMC vs. Southwest State University
·   Daylight Savings Time Ends
October 30
·   Program Improvement Audit Committee (PIAC) Day
·   Torch and Shield Recognition
·   Moonlight Madness Spooktacular Halloween Sale at
    UMC Bookstore
·   Volleyball - UMC vs. Bemidji State University
October 31
·   Halloween
·   WOW! Event:  Haunted House
November 1
·   UMC Hosts High School Volleyball Subsection Semi
    Finals 8A
November 2
·   Campus Preview
·   UMC Teambackers Coaches' Luncheon
·   Campus Assembly
·   Volleyball - UMC vs. Wayne State University
November 3
·   20th Annual Red River Valley Arts & Crafts Show
·   Football - UMC vs. Concordia-St. Paul
·   Volleyball - UMC vs. Southwest State University,
    Marshall
·   UMC Hosts High School Volleyball Section 8A/8AA
    Finals
November 5
·   Campus Preview
November 6
·   Election Day
·   Blood Drive
·   Volleyball - UMC vs. Minnesota State University,
    Moorhead
·   UMC Dance Featuring Blind Man's Bluff
November 7
·   WOW! Event:  Chad Taylor
November 9
·   Campus Preview
November 11
·   Veterans Day
November 12
·   Campus Preview
November 13
·   WOW! Event:  Outcast Game
November 14
·   WOW! Event:  College Bowl
November 15
·   Performers Reuben and Ash Fasthorse
November 17
·   Basketball - UMC vs. Valley City State University
    (Men)
November 18
·   Hockey - UMC vs. University of Wisconsin,
   Stevens Point

News Items

NCA Higher Learning Commission
Today we received a letter from the Higher Learning Commission indicating that UMC's Assessment of Student Learning Progress Report was accepted.  The staff action indicates that UMC must continue to address these issues:

• Establish the connection between assessment results and institutional decision-making

• Demonstrate levels of faculty involvement

• Demonstrate that assessment of student learning is occurring across academic programs or disciplines (beyond the level of the individual course)

• Direct measures of student learning are employed

In addition, the Evaluation Team identified the following areas for documentation:

• Document the results of assessment activities

• Document the changes that have occurred in procedures, processes, and student learning

• Document the integration of assessment results inn the University's planning, budgeting, and decision-making processes.

Staff Action
Accept the report focused on the plan to assess student learning.  A report of student learning is due 5/31/03.  The institution's next comprehensive evaluation is scheduled for 2004-05.

My thanks to everyone, particularly the faculty, who has worked to strengthen student assessment of learning at UMC.  A progress report does not always provide a true indication of the progress of an institution but they are important tools.  Assessment progress reports have become commonplace in accreditation today, and they will continue to do so.  But the bottom line is that we just need to continue to improve our assessment activities and be ready to report such.  We are on target.  Thanks again.
--Don Sargeant, Chancellor

PIAC Day October 30

UMC’s Program Improvement Audit Committees (PIACs) will meet on campus on Tuesday, October 30. 

Scheduled check-in rooms are:

• Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hill 109

• Center for Business and Technology, Dowell Annex 130

• Center for Health and Human Services, SCC 109

• Center for Learning Foundations, SCC 109

• All-College Advisory Committee, Selvig 105

• Counseling & Career Center Advisory Committee, Owen 270

• Service Learning Advisory Committee, Bede 120

At noon a luncheon for all PIAC members will be held in Bede Ballroom.  The remainder of the schedule is as follows:

1:00 p.m., General Program, Youngquist Auditorium
2:00 p.m., Individual PIAC Meetings, designated rooms*
5:30 p.m., Torch & Shield Check-in, Bede Lounge
6:00 p.m., Torch & Shield Program, Bede Ballroom
7:00 p.m., Buffet Dinner, Brown Dining Roon

Single Semester Leaves
We have received the information regarding faculty single semester leaves for academic year 2002-2003.  UMC has been given a quota of two leaves.  Applications for the leaves and policies are found at http://process.umn.edu/groups/hr/documents/form/semester.doc.

The deadline for completing the application and having it in the Academic Affairs Office is January 9, 2002.  Please let me know if you have any questions.
--Doug Knowlton, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Health Insurance Network Issues
For those of you who attended the open meeting last Friday at noon on the health insurance choices available to UMC faculty and staff, we were informed of four options:

1. PreferredOne Regional

2. PreferredOne National

3. Definity Health Option 1

4. Definity Health Option 2

Provider network books were circulated at the meeting for both the plans and we were very disappointed to see that Riverview Hospital was not included in the network for either provider.  Riverview had been unable to negotiate an acceptable contract with either provider, as the discounts were too significant.  Since that meeting, the contracts have been improved, and Riverview has indicated their intent to sign with both plans, which means that they will now be included in the provider network for both PreferredOne and Definity Health. 

If you would like to review the provider network books, they are available in the Human Resource Office.  Also, there is a significant amount of information listed on the web site:  http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/eb/ .

If you have specific questions about the plans, you may contact the employee benefit counselors at the U of M, or contact Les Johnson, and he will forward specific issues to the specialists. 
--Dean McCleary, Vice Chancellor for Finance

President Yudof's State of the University
U of M President Yudof gave his annual address Thursday, October 18, to an audience of approximately 200, primarily faculty members, in Mondale Hall on the Twin Cities campus. The address was broadcast live to each of the other university campuses. The full text of the speech can be found on the Web at www.unews.umn.edu.  Or directly (as a PDF file) at www1.umn.edu/urelate/newsservice/stateofu01.pdf.

If you have questions regarding the 529 college funding program for children and grandchildren, tax law changes, or retirement distribution, plan to meet with Bob Peterson on October 30.
Bob Peterson, J.D., Director of Planned Giving for the University of Minnesota Foundation will be on campus on Tuesday, October 30 to work with University employees regarding personal financial planning.  Bob has a background as a tax and estate lawyer and financial planner.  Bob will meet with employees, their families or small groups who have questions regarding: 

1. 529 College Funding Program

2. Tax law changes

3. New IRA distribution rules

4. Retirement plans and planning

5. Planned Giving, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Lead Trusts, Gift Annuities, etc.

You may meet with Bob in the Library Conference Room from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 3 p.m.  You may make appointments to meet with Bob by calling Ardis Thompson at extension #8437.
--Wendell Johnson

United Way Campaign
Just a little reminder that your United Way pledges are due at the end of this month.  If you have already filled it out and sent it to the Business Office, THANK YOU!  If you need a little more time to make any decisions, please do so.  Remember, this can be done with a one-time pledge (enclose your check), direct billing from United Way, or payroll deduction with as little as a $1.00 per pay period. 

Please "choose to care" and give what you can, it will all work together to help many, many others. Thanks.
--Cindy Tyler, Dennis Magsam, and Anne Burke

Business Office Door
In response to University Audit requirements, the Business Office door must remain locked at all times.  Because there are functions in the Business Office (Human Resources, Travel Reimbursements, Payroll) that require employee access, this may be inconvenient.

An electronic lock system has been installed on the Business Office door.  If you need to access the Business Office, let one of the Business Office staff know, and they can activate an electronic switch to unlock the door. 
--Dean McCleary, Vice Chancellor for Finance

Service Learning Volunteer Clearinghouse
As Assistant Director of Service Learning, with the help of an Otto Bremer Foundation grant, one of my first tasks is to lead an effort to establish a volunteer clearinghouse in Crookston.  To make a long story relatively short, the clearinghouse will connect people and agencies that need volunteers with people and agencies who are willing to volunteer, and vice versa.  The clearinghouse will feature a database online and in hard copy form for those who don't have access to a computer or aren't familiar with how to use one.

Two meetings have been scheduled in the next two weeks to gather input that will help shape the clearinghouse.  The first was last Friday, Oct. 19, at 7 a.m. at RBJ's Restaurant.  The second meeting will be this coming Friday, Oct. 26, at noon in Conference Center A in Brown Dining Room at UMC.  If you're interested in hearing about what we're trying to do or have some input, you're welcome to attend this meeting.

Whether you're a member of a campus club, a club advisor, or are simply interested in offering your services now and then, this clearinghouse will work for you.  Clubs needing to fulfill community service requirements will be able to access the database to find projects that suit and/or interest them.
--Mike Christopherson, Assistant Director of Service Learning

ITC Fall Workshops
ITC will be offering the following workshops during the month of November (Thursdays and Fridays):

Thursdays A.M.:

Nov. 01 (09:00-10:20 am) FrontPage XP - Introduction & Get started
Nov. 08 (10:30-11:50 am) FrontPage XP - Designing a website
Nov. 15 (09:00-10:20 am) FrontPage XP - Adding media (pictures, sounds, & videos)
Nov. 29 (09:00-10:20 am) FrontPage XP - Tables, Frames and other advanced features

Nov. 01 (10:30-11:50 am) Flash 5 - Get started (Introduction to Flash animation)
Nov. 08 (09:00-10:20 am) Flash 5 - Creating your first Flash movie for your website
Nov. 15 (10:30-11:50 am) Flash 5 - Creating multimedia Flash animations
Nov. 29 (10:30-11:50 am) Flash 5 - Creating a simple Flash game

Thursdays P.M.:

Nov. 01 (01:00-02:20 pm) WebCT - Refresher (also good as startup session)
Nov. 08 (01:00-02:20 pm) WebCT - Quizzing
Nov. 15 (01:00-02:20 pm) WebCT - Online grade book and student tracking
Nov. 29 (01:00-02:20 pm) WebCT - Discussion, assignment tool, & class survey

Nov. 01 (02:30-03:50 pm) Office XP - Mail Merge & Other Word Features
Nov. 08 (02:30-03:50 pm) Office XP - Excel Grade Book
Nov. 15 (02:30-03:50 pm) Office XP - Outlook Scheduling & Other Outlook Features
Nov. 29 (02:30-03:50 pm) Office XP - PowerPoint Animations & Other PowerPoint Features

Fridays A.M.:

Nov. 02 (09:00-10:20 am) Office XP - Mail Merge & Other Word Features
Nov. 09 (09:00-10:20 am) Office XP - Excel Grade Book
Nov. 16 (09:00-10:20 am) Office XP - Outlook Scheduling & Other Outlook Features
Nov. 30 (09:00-10:20 am) Office XP - PowerPoint Animations & Other PowerPoint Features

Nov. 02 (10:00-11:50 am) Graphics 1 - PaintShop Pro 7
Nov. 09 (10:00-11:50 am) Graphics 1 - PhotoShop 6: Basic editing
Nov. 16 (10:00-11:50 am) Graphics 1 - PhotoShop 6: Advanced editing
Nov. 30 (10:00-11:50 am) Graphics 1 - PhotoShop 6: Special Effects  

Fridays P.M.:

Nov. 02 (01:00-02:20 pm) Access 1 - Introduction to database
Nov. 09 (01:00-02:20 pm) Access 2 - Tables & Forms
Nov. 16 (01:00-02:20 pm) Toolbook Interactives - Creating Matching Interactives
Nov. 30 (01:00-02:20 pm) Toolbook Interactives - Creating Millionaire Games

Please e-mail me to sign up for any of the above sessions.   Thank you for finding time to refresh or upgrade your efforts in technology integration.

If you are or plan to be involved in UMC's Instructional Technology Certification Program, your attendance and completion of assigned projects in the above sessions will contribute toward some requirements in the certification program.
--Dan Lim, Director, Instructional Technology Center

This Week’s Special Dates

Birthdays:
October 25 – Tom Feiro
October 25 – Andrew Svec
October 26 – Deb Zak
October 29 – Herschel Lysaker, 91 years young!

Reminder:  Faculty and staff are encouraged to share well wishes for birthdays, anniversaries, births, etc. with the rest of the campus.  Please send items for this week’s special dates via e-mail to Andrew Svec at asvec@mail.crk.umn.edu and/or Sue Dwyer at sdwyer@mail.crk.umn.edu. Thanks.

UMC Insight
UMC Insight, the weekly radio show about UMC, will air Saturday, October 27 at 8:45 a.m. on KROX Radio 1260 AM.  Tune in to hear UMC students Marnie Wirth and James Guerrier talk about UMC’s SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) chapter and its upcoming annual craft show.  This edition of UMC Insight is hosted by UMC student Dana Prudhomme.

UMC Insight files are also available via the Web at:
<http://www.umcrookston.edu/newsevents/insight/01-02/index.htm>

UMC Bulletin
The UMC Bulletin is posted at:
<http://www.umcrookston.edu/campusinfo/wkbulletin/bulletin.htm>

Attachments

• Weekly Schedule for October 29-November 4, 2001

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