Volume 23, Number 22, February 18, 2004
Calendar
News Items
Global Fair February 19
UMC’s Study Abroad Program will
sponsor a Global Fair on Thursday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in the Eagles Nest Lounge and Sahlstrom Conference Center.
Information will be available about the various study abroad
opportunities and programs offered by UMC and the University of
Minnesota. UMC students who have completed study abroad experiences
will also present information about those experiences. Presentations
are as follows in Sahlstrom Conference Center 131:
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10 a.m. – Russia
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10:30 a.m. – Australia
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11 a.m. – France
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11:30 a.m. – New Zealand
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12 Noon – Ghana
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12:30 p.m. – Brazil
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1 p.m. – Ireland
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2 p.m. – Global Tourism
For more information, contact Rae French.
Student Success Fair February
23
The annual Student Success Fair
is scheduled for Monday, February 23, in Sahlstrom Conference Center
Lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The purpose of the Success Fair is to
promote a variety of resources—academic, personal, social,
financial—that are available to UMC students and that enhance student
success. Many campus organizations and support services will
participate in the event.
Student Snow Daze Set for
February 23-28
Snow Daze, the annual winter fun
festival for UMC students will take place February 23-28. This year's
theme is “Frost Yourself.” Below is a short schedule of events in
addition to other events listed separately in this edition of the UMC
Weekly Bulletin.
Students will get a chance to play “Survival Bingo” on Monday, February 23, starting at 8 p.m. in Brown Dining Room. Participants will vie for prizes that help them “survive college life.”
On Tuesday, February 24, Student Activities will sponsor an “Open Mic” Night starting at 8 p.m. in the Eagles Nest Lounge in Sahlstrom Conference Center. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to sign up at Dowell Information Desk. Prizes will be awarded to the top three performers
A Cupcake Demonstration is set for Wednesday, February 25, at 1 p.m. in the Eagles Nest Lounge.
The student-elected Snow Daze Royal Court will be officially introduced at Snow Daze Coronation beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 26, in Kiehle Auditorium. Snow Days Royalty will be crowned at the event.
The week will culminate with the annual Snow Daze Dinner and Dance on Saturday, February 28. The Snow Daze Dinner will take place in the Northland Inn of Crookston at 7 p.m. Cost is $10 per student. Students must sign up in advance at the Dowell Information Desk. The dance, featuring music by Club Dance Entertainment, will also take place at the Northland Inn from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is free to UMC students and $4 for others.
UMC Snow Daze events are sponsored by UMC’s SPACE (Student Programming and Activities for Campus Entertainment) Committee. Disability accommodations can be made for any of the events by calling 218-281-8506.
Great Conversations Series
Continues January 25
The Great Conversations Series, produced by the U of
M College of Continuing Education and broadcast to the Crookston Campus
from the Twin Cities, will continue Wednesday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m. in
Dowell Hall 220. The conversation, “The Loss of 9/11: Two
Perspectives,” will feature Pauline Boss & Gail Sheehy. The event is
free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Loss of life, loss of innocence, and a jarring blow to our sense of security… This discussion provides first-hand perspectives on the psychological aftermath of September 11. Pauline Boss, family social science professor at the U of M and author of Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief, has been honored for her work helping the families of 9/11 victims cope with their grief. She is currently at work on a book on the experience. Gail Sheehy is a cultural observer and best-selling journalist. Her landmark work, Passages, was named one of the ten most influential books of our time by the Library of Congress. Her critically-acclaimed new book, Middletown, America, records the harrowing and ultimately inspiring stories of 9/11 survivors.
Learn more about the series at <www.cce.umn.edu/conversations/index.shtml>. The series is sponsored on the UMC campus by the Concerts and Lectures Committee.
Mixed Blood Theatre Presents
“Black Eagle” February 25
In commemoration of Black History
Month, UMC’s Concerts and Lectures Committee will bring
Mixed Blood Theatre’s play “Black Eagle” to UMC Wednesday, Feb. 25. The
performance will begin at 8 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. The performance
is open to the public. Admission is $2 or free with UMC student I.D.
“Black Eagle” is a humor-laced story of African American scientist Ronald McNair, who was one of the astronauts aboard the ill-fated space shuttle Challenger. The play was written by Warren Bowles.
Based in Minneapolis, the Mixed Blood Theatre Company is a professional multi-racial theatre company promoting cultural pluralism, individual equality, and artistic excellence. Learn more at <www.mixedblood.com>.
February 26
Discussion on the
Reauthorization of the Federal Higher Education Act
UMC will host Senator Mark Dayton’s State Director,
Jim Gelbmann, as he leads a roundtable discussion on legislation that
will determine federal funding levels for Student Financial Aid, Aid to
Institutions, and Aid to Improve K-12 Teacher Training. This
legislation will revise all federal higher education policies and
programs. The discussion sessions will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, in
Youngquist Auditorium in the Agricultural Research Center. At 2 p.m.
there will be a session for students and at 3 p.m. a session for faculty
and staff members.
Purpose of the Roundtable Discussion: Many students and faculty from Minnesota colleges and universities have expressed concern about the skyrocketing costs of higher education. Last year, state budget cuts to public colleges and universities resulted in double-digit tuition increases ranging from 12 to 15 percent – continuing a trend that began in 1999. Similar tuition increases are projected for the foreseeable future. State and federal financial aid programs have not kept pace with tuition increases – increases that are preventing many prospective students from pursuing a college education. Many students are incurring sizeable debts to finance their education.
The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act will establish federal higher education spending targets for the next six years. It will give Congress an opportunity to significantly increase funding for student financial aid and provide grants to our universities. The Act will reconsider the amount of money a family is expected to contribute toward a student’s education and review guidelines for determining when a student’s financial need should be considered independent of the parents’ resources.
In preparation for the U.S. Senate debate on the Higher Education Act Reauthorization, Senator Mark Dayton has asked his state director to meet with students, faculty and administrators from college campuses throughout the state. These roundtable discussions will give the senator and his office an opportunity to share information about the many higher education issues that will be decided by Congress. More important, it will give our students, faculty and administrators an opportunity to share their ideas for improving access to higher education through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
UMC Hosts
MATHCOUNTS February
27
Seventh and eighth grade students
from approximately fifteen schools across northwestern Minnesota will
participate in this year’s regional MATHCOUNTS on Friday, February 27,
in the Kiehle Building. Check-in begins at 8 a.m., with the full
competition set to begin at 9 a.m. Awards will be announced at 1:30
p.m. MATHCOUNTS, a nationwide math program, is both a coaching program
and a series of competitions at regional, state, and national levels.
The winners from the day’s competition will advance to state competition
in March. In northwestern Minnesota the program is sponsored by UMC, the
Lake Agassiz Chapter of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers,
several local industries, consulting engineering firms, and private
individuals.
Fourth Annual Equine
Extravaganza at UMC February 28-29
UMC students enrolled in the
Equine Industries Management degree program and members of the UMC Rodeo
Association will sponsor the Fourth Annual Equine Extravaganza on
Saturday, February 28, at 6 p.m. in the University Teaching and Outreach
Center Arena on the north edge of the campus. A repeat performance will
take place on Sunday, February 29, at 2 p.m. The theme will be “Blast
from the Past.” Demonstrations will include Medieval jousting, drill
team, jumping, team penning, and a horse costume contest.
The event is open to the public. Advanced tickets to each performance cost $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and under. To reserve tickets, contact members of the UMC Rodeo Association or contact Anna Thelemann via e-mail at thel0060@umn.edu or via phone at 218-281-1444. Tickets will be available at the door only if space permits for one dollar above the advanced ticket cost.
15-Passenger Van
Training
March 1
Effective November 1, 2002 the
University of Minnesota does not allow employees or students to drive a
15-passenger van unless they have completed a safety certification
course. This new policy applies to vans owned by the University and
rented from an outside source! There will be no exceptions to
this policy! UMC Facilities Management will not allow vans to be
checked out unless reserved by certified drivers.
If you may be asked to drive a 15-passenger van as part of your position’s responsibilities, for a class, field trip, club activity, community service or athletic event, you must complete this training. Advisors and workstudy supervisors, please contact any students that may need this training to assist you.
(If you have previously completed the training, you do not need to attend again.)
Training is provided by Mr. Bill Roberts, Director of UM Fleet Services. He has an excellent training program full of important information for all drivers. Please arrange schedules so that those who need the training can attend on:
Monday, March 1, 3 to 4:45 p.m., Hill 4.
This will be the only time this training is provided during the 2004 Spring Semester!!
Pre-registration is suggested. For questions and registration, please contact Tom Feiro, Environmental Health & Safety at 218-281-8300 or via email at tfeiro.
Undergraduate Research
Opportunities Program (UROP)
Application material for
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program projects during
Intersession (May 24 through June 30, 2004) or from July 1, 2004 through
June 15, 2005 is now available in the Academic Affairs Office. UROP
offers financial awards to full-time undergraduate students for
research, scholarly, or creative projects undertaken in partnership with
a faculty member. UROP affords undergraduates the unique educational
experience of collaborating with a faculty member on the design and
implementation of a project. At the same time, faculty have the
opportunity to work closely with students and receive valuable
assistance with their own research or professional activity. UROP
encourages students to conduct research and pursue academic interests
outside of their regular courses by employing them to work on special
projects. Projects are expected to contribute to the student’s academic
development. UROP applications are judged on the quality of the
proposed project, the strength of the collaboration with the faculty
sponsor, and the educational benefit to the student. Since funding is
limited, awards are granted to the strongest proposals. The maximum
award is $1,700: stipend up to $1,400 (hourly rate is $11.50) as salary
for actual time spent working on a project (funds up to approximately
120 hours of research) and expense allowance up to $300 for supplies and
expenses required by the project. Completed applications should be
returned to the Academic Affairs Office by 4:30 p.m. on March 8, 2004.
Deadline is firm; late applications will not be accepted.
--Academic Affairs
Thank You
On behalf of Students in Free
Enterprise (SIFE), thank you for making the February 9 blood drive such
a huge success. Fifty-two units of RBC’s were collected, with 23 people
donating for the first time. We greatly appreciate you taking time out
of your day for this important event. Our final blood drive of the
academic year will be Tuesday, April 6.
Brian Steenerson Says
Farewell
After six great years at UMC I have put in my
official resignation as the assistant director/transfer specialist in
Admissions. My last day will be Wednesday, February 25. I have
accepted a position at UND as an assistant registrar with a focus on
transfer issues and transfer articulations, a position I just couldn't
pass up.
I would like to thank all those who have made my time here unforgettable. The memories will last a lifetime. As an alum of UMC I will continue to be a big advocate for UMC. We can talk all we want about the computers, academic and athletic programs, and personable campus, but I truly feel UMC is where it is today because of faculty and staff that really care about the students and their fellow co-workers.
Thanks again, and I
will miss you all.
--Brian Steenerson
VolunTEAM Update
The American Cancer Society’s
Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate
survivorship and raise money for research and programs of the American
Cancer Society. During the event, team members will gather at the UMC
Mall and take turns walking or running laps. The American Cancer
Society is looking for volunteers in several capacities. Please
consider forming a team now to fundraise and walk/run in the event June
18 and 19. Set-up and clean-up crews also are needed June 18 and 19.
For more information, please contact Janet Scott at 218-945-6296, or
visit <www.cancer.org>.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Crookston VolunTEAM, please contact Lisa Loegering in the VolunTEAM office (Dowell 112) at 281-8526 or loege005@umn.edu. Or, simply visit <www.volunteam.org>.
Special Dates
Birthdays
February 23 - Sonia Spaeth
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@umn.edu and/or Sue Dwyer at sdwyer@umn.edu. Thanks.
UMC Insight
UMC Insight, the weekly radio
show about UMC, airs on KROX Radio 1260 AM Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. Tune
in Saturday, February 21, to hear an interview about the WPA murals in
Kiehle Building with David Marquis, senior paintings conservator for the
Upper Midwest Conservation Association. UMC Insight is hosted by Andrew
Svec, UMC director of communications.
UMC Bulletin
The UMC Weekly Bulletin is posted
at:
<www.UMCrookston.edu/campusinfo/wkbulletin/bulletin.htm>
Publication Information:
The UMC
Weekly Bulletin is published by University Relations weekly September
through May. Copy deadline is noon on Tuesday of each week. The Weekly
Bulletin is edited by Andrew Svec, director of communications, with
production assistance by Sue Dwyer, word processing specialist. Please
send items for the bulletin electronically to Andrew Svec at
asvec@umn.edu with a copy to Sue Dwyer at
sdwyer@umn.edu.
Disability accommodations will be provided upon request for all events. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.