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Strategic Planning and Budgeting University Reaccreditation 2007 MSU Moorhead |
March 2001 Campus Update March
12, 2001 To:
The Campus Community From:
President Barden Re:
News and Issues University
Forums on Demographic Changes: You are invited to attend three university forums
on the topic of “Changing Regional Demographics and Higher
Education.” You may have been following the recent press coverage
of the impact of demographic changes on K-12 education. This will be
an opportunity to discuss the future trends and the ways in which
higher education may be affected. Please join me and our featured
guests:
Legislative Update: I, and other members of my administrative
team, continue our trips to St. Paul to meet with key legislators on
behalf of MSU Moorhead. Representatives of our faculty and staff
organizations, as well as our students, are also very active this year
in St. Paul. Later this month, we expect the various House and Senate
finance committees to set their spending caps. On the Senate side,
higher education is highly favored for funding above the Governor’s
recommendation. On the House side, the picture is less clear. We have
some indications that some House members may want to spend even less
than the Governor recommended.
Our legislators need to hear from you. Suggested talking points
and targeted audiences are available on the Office of the President
web site at http://www.mnstate.edu/president.
Click on “Legislative Activity” to access the information. MnSCU Awards Art Department:
Congratulations to the Art Department for recently winning a MnSCU
Excellence in Curriculum Planning Award. MnSCU made only three
curriculum planning awards to programs in the entire system. Dr. Bette
Midgarden, Vice President for Academic Affairs, nominated the Art
Department for this important honor.
Hagen Science Building Renovation Update: We are in the
third year of an eight-year project to renovate Hagen Hall and build a
science laboratory addition. This phase involves conceptualizing what
the building will look like. You may already be aware that the
addition to Hagen will fill the area between Hagen and Weld Hall. We
are on schedule to present a schematic concept of the building to the
Board of Trustees at their May meeting. Once the plans are accepted,
the design of the building will be finalized within three months. We
hope to secure funding in the FY 2002 Capital Bonding Session of the
legislature and break ground in August 2002.
Minnesota Media Symposium Day: The department of mass
communications recently launched the first annual Minnesota Media
Symposium and grand opening of its renovated facilities Feb. 22. It
was a pleasure to see such a large group of the department’s alumni
and members of the media attend the events. In recognition of generous
funding from key supporters, the department named MacLean 260 “The
Curt and Pam Gudmundson Study Lounge” and the press conference area
in MacLean 260 became “The Forum Media Center.” Connecting with our K-12 Partners:
Special thanks to several of our colleagues for hosting events that
brought K-12 students and teachers to our campus. In January, the
Department of Speech and Theatre hosted the two-day MSUM speech and
debate invitational for nearly 300 high school students and their
coaches. In February, after conducting almost 400 live auditions in
the surrounding region, the Music Department hosted its MSU Moorhead
High School Honor Choirs and Band Festival, which brought 250 high
school students to campus. In March, the College of Social and Natural
Sciences hosted Discovery Science for 130 Girl Scouts and their
leaders, and also the World of Change teaching workshop for 60 junior
and high school teachers. In addition, the College hosted the Western
Regional Science Olympiad last month for 120 junior and high school
students and their teachers. These are all excellent examples of ways in which we
continue to foster important connections with our partners in K-12
education. I appreciate the commitment you have made to showcasing our
programs and faculty. Promoting MSU Moorhead:
I appreciate that several faculty, administrators, and staff
participated in the recent student recruiting visits to Bismarck State
College, Fergus Falls Community College, and North Dakota State
College of Science, Wahpeton. Thank you for making time in your busy
schedules to visit with colleagues and prospective students and their
families. Growing numbers of prospective students and their
families choose to visit our campus. Thank you for helping inform
these important guests about MSU Moorhead programs and people. Your
attention to their presence is a critical aspect of successful
recruiting.
Upcoming President’s Retreat: Planning is underway for
the 2001 President’s Retreat on the topic of increasing the racial
and ethnic diversity of our students, faculty, and staff. Save June
25-26, 2001 on your calendars. The event will take place in the
Comstock Memorial Union. More information will be forthcoming. |
