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Strategic Planning and Budgeting University Reaccreditation 2007 MSU Moorhead |
April 2001 Campus Update April
16, 2001 To:
The Campus Community From:
President Barden Re:
News and Issues The Flood Fight: In light of the Red River crest predictions,
MSU Moorhead put its sandbagging operation into motion on Monday,
April 9. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of our students, faculty, and
staff, we met the backlog of requests from the City of Moorhead for
sandbags. Since late Monday afternoon, April 9th, our
volunteers filled more than 90,000 sandbags, which were delivered by
our personnel to property owners identified by the city for priority
help. During the 1997 flood emergency, our crews filled and delivered
more than 120,000 bags. I appreciate the hard work of all of our
volunteers! Campus Alumni Foundation Campaign:
By now you know that the Alumni Foundation Campus Campaign is
underway. I hope that you have had opportunity to review the campaign
materials. The money generated in this campaign supports MSU Moorhead
students and programs through scholarships and grants. Please complete
your pledge card and return it to the Foundation by April 25. Tuition Reciprocity:
You may know that the state legislature is considering a bill (H.F No.
1649) authored by Rep. Joe Opatz that would impact the tuition
reciprocity arrangement between Minnesota and North Dakota. On March
21, I testified before the House Higher Education Finance Committee
chaired by Rep. Peggy Leppik. I also met individually with several key
legislators to discuss the reciprocity proposal as well as MSU
Moorhead’s needs and the status of higher education in Minnesota. I am opposed to the Opatz bill, though the amended
version is much less onerous than the original House File. The current reciprocity agreement has, and continues
to be, a successful arrangement for the state of Minnesota and MSU
Moorhead for several reasons. The agreement allows reciprocity
university students to pay the in-state university tuition rate of the
state with the higher rate (currently Minnesota). By removing the
price barriers at public institutions outside of the student’s home
state, the arrangement allows students and their families freedom of
choice among a variety of campuses and facilitates financial access to
higher education. Further, the reciprocity agreement allows us to
maintain a friendly competition, which is needed to spark academic
improvement in both Minnesota and North Dakota. Minnesota has good relationships with colleges and
universities in neighboring states with whom the state has negotiated
successful bilateral agreements. However, H.F 1649 is a unilateral act that may well
undermine these good relationships. H.F 1649 offers no guidance to
Minnesota families with students enrolled in reciprocity states.
A unilateral change in reciprocity agreements constitutes poor
public policy planning, in my opinion. It fails to step forward
strategically to address the future well being of the Upper Midwest.
I believe Minnesota must pursue a strategic
development plan that includes elimination of out-of-state tuition.
The bilateral reciprocity agreements should not be changed until
Minnesota has set a new strategic vision in place. MnSCU sought this
new strategic vision last year, and it is in our budget package again
this year. In my testimony, I urged the legislators to quickly
come to a decision on the current bill rather than lay the bill over
without comment. Unfortunately, the committee decided to revisit the
bill later in the session. I encourage you to contact the members of the House
Higher Education Finance Committee as well as our own representatives.
The names and addresses are available on the Office of the President
web site at http://www.mnstate.edu/president. Click on
“Legislative Activity.” I appreciate your continued involvement on
behalf of MSU Moorhead. General Education Credit Transfer:
A bill by Sen. Tony Kinkel and its companion bill by Rep. John Tuma
would mandate that all general education credits from technical
colleges transfer into general education programs at other MnSCU
institutions. For MSU Moorhead, this would potentially influence the
liberal studies credits. Bette Midgarden, Vice President for Academic
Affairs, testified against the bill before the Higher Education
Finance Committee. A legislative mandate for a course transfer process
is not necessary. At MSU Moorhead and other MnSCU institutions, we
have already created an effective process to handle course transfer.
To date, no student has used the MnSCU process to appeal any campus
decision. The Admissions Office is preparing explicit course transfer
guides for the technical colleges, as we already have for community
colleges. Those guidelines will be posted on the web and provide
students a useful planning and advising tool. Vice President Midgarden
testified that campuses and faculty can best address the issue of
course transfer policies. A legislative mandate would undermine those
good efforts. Facilities Update: Planning of the Hagen science laboratory
addition continues on schedule. The schematic design and cost estimate
will be presented to the MnSCU Board of Trustees in May. Provided we
secure funding in the next legislative bonding session, we will break
ground in August 2002. You may have noticed that work resumed in the new
post office space in Flora Frick. We plan to move the post office this
summer and begin the renovation of the old post office space in Owens.
That space will become a reception area for new students and campus
visitors. We are about to break ground for the new security
building that will house MSUM security and Moorhead police. The
building will be located at 17th Street and 9th
Avenue. Site feasibility and cost planning is in progress for
the new residence hall facility. We plan the facility to be ready for
students in Fall 2002. Commencement: Commencement is May 11 in Nemzek. The commencement
address will be presented by Dave Braton, (‘89, Mass
Communications), Sales Director for the Bismarck Tribune. Mr. Braton
is a valuable member of the MSUM Regional Advisory Board. The
reception following the ceremony will be held in the northeast
gymnasium in Nemzek. If the weather permits, we will also hold an
outdoor reception next to Nemzek. I look forward to seeing you at
commencement as we celebrate the success of our students. Student Academic Conference:
Last week, the Third Annual Student Academic Conference showcased the
work of our excellent students. On April 11th, 245 MSUM
students presented their creative and research projects. Thank you to
conference organizers Dr. Andrew Conteh and Ryan Sylvester for their
continued commitment to this excellent event. And, thank you to the
faculty for continuing to mentor and encourage their students to
participate in the conference. I appreciate your hard work. MSUM Unity Conference:
The sixth annual MSUM Unity Conference is April 23-23 in CMU. The
conference “Avance: Reflections of Latino Life,” offers workshops
that explore the region’s Latino community. For the conference
schedule and registration information, go to http://www.mnstate.edu/notas. |
