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Strategic Planning and Budgeting University Reaccreditation 2007 MSU Moorhead |
March 2004 Campus Update March 26, 2004 To: The Campus Community From: President Barden Re: Summer Retreat and Faculty Professional Development Day We are all deeply saddened and troubled by the recent deaths of two Dragons; one a former student as the result of alcohol poisoning, the other a current student as a result of suicide. These tragic deaths are a harsh wake-up call for our university community as well as the Fargo-Moorhead community. I ask that you all approach our students with sensitivity and remember that many are dealing with the difficulty of grieving these deaths. While this may be a “teachable moment,” please resist the urge to single out students in your classes to speak about the situation. Please also resist the urge to assign blame. We all need some time to go through the healing process. Instead, let us use this situation to deliberately reflect on our own individual responsibility as educators and our collective responsibility as an identifiable university culture. What do we do to educate our students about substance abuse and overall wellness? Is our effort sufficient? Could we all be more effective with different strategies? This summer, we will devote the President’s Summer Retreat to the subject of our students’ health and wellness. The entire campus community is invited to participate in the event June 28-29. More information will be forthcoming. In the meantime, I look forward to engaging in a frank and open discussion on this subject. Our conversation will not stop at the conclusion of the retreat; expect to build the potential for university-wide cultural change. In the fall, we will focus the October 15 Faculty Professional Development Day on the subject of our liberal studies curriculum. It is time that we begin to review our curriculum to determine whether we achieve the liberal studies goals we have set for ourselves and decide whether it is time for change. Focusing attention on our liberal studies curriculum will continue throughout the 2004-2005 academic year in the form of campus-wide dialogue. As the Planning Committee’s work progresses, you will receive more specific details. |
