Campus Update for October 2000

MSU Moorhead
Office of the President
203 Owens Hall
1104 Seventh Ave. S.
Moorhead, MN 56563
(218) 477-2243

October 2000 Campus Update

October 6, 2000

TO: The university community

FROM: President Barden

RE: News and Issues

Enrollment Update: Our enrollment for FY 2001 is officially up 5.24%! Each one of us makes a difference when it comes to enrollment and I sincerely appreciate all that you do to enhance the experience of our students. Several areas and activities should be highlighted:

Beginning this week, prospective students will be able to complete the application process online. The MSU Moorhead application is on the web via the Office of Admissions website at http://www.mnstate.edu/admissions.
Our students have received their financial aid earlier than ever before, thanks to the improved efficiency and new computer module in the Financial Aid Office.
123 international students are pursuing educational experiences at MSU Moorhead, up from 105 at this time last year. The increase is due in part to the stepped up recruiting efforts of the International Office.
MSUM hosted the Minnesota Regional Recruiting Fair September 19-20, bringing area institutions and prospective students to campus.

Open University Forums: In September, we hosted a university forum on the topic of the MnSCU Allocation Model. Nearly 50 members of the campus community joined me, Vice President for Academic Affairs Bette Midgarden, and Vice President for Administrative Affairs David Crockett, to discuss the model, the planning process, and the budgetary challenges and opportunities that face our university.

The next university forum will be Monday November 20 at 3 p.m. in the Thrust Theatre. The forum will address the new campus residence hall. Please join us to learn about the initial plans for the future residence hall and to share your views. The residence hall will mean an increase in enrollment. Had we been able to open a new residence hall this fall, we believe we would have welcomed another 100 new entering students to our campus.

Allocation Model Update: The process of fine-tuning the MnSCU Allocation Model for FY 2002 has slowed a bit as the MnSCU Board of Trustees studies the proposal. The Board is hosting two public hearings to gather additional perspectives regarding the model. Those hearings are October 3 in St. Paul, and October 11 in Brainerd. I, along with other members of the administrative team and members of the Student Senate, will participate in the discussion in Brainerd.

Homecoming Week: MSU Moorhead Homecoming week is October 10-14. The homecoming committee has planned a series of exciting activities designed to rejuvenate our school pride. I hope to see everyone in the campus community involved in some way. For event details, peruse the homecoming posters and postcards, or contact the Alumni Foundation.

Construction Update: This fall, construction on campus has been moving ahead – and we are seeing many of the projects to completion. The final touches are being wrapped up in Lommen Hall, the track and swimming pool in Nemzek are finished, and mass communication’s renovation in Flora Frick will be finished this month. The campus post office construction in Flora Frick will begin in November, and the new science building is in the pre-design stage. I encourage you to take a moment to walk through the remodeled facilities to see the marked improvements.

It is impossible to overlook the developments in the five-block area. Nearly all of the new parking lots have received the first layer of asphalt, and the sidewalks surrounding the new lots are almost completed. The new lights will be installed later this month. In the spring, the lots will get another layer of asphalt and the area will be landscaped.

You should know that the when funding for the five-block area was secured during the legislative process, Senator Keith Langseth did some important work on our behalf. He made sure that the $3.6 million came from general fund dollars, which means a huge savings for the university. Had the money come from bonding dollars, we would have been responsible for covering 1/6^th of the cost of financing borrowed money. Because Senator Langseth was looking out for MSU Moorhead, we do not have to pay back any of that appropriation.

2000-2001 Dille Fund for Excellence Awards: The call for applications for the 2000-2001 Dille Fund for Excellence Awards was distributed to the campus community this week. Consider submitting projects that would enhance the learning experience of our students. The deadline for applications is Nov. 17.

Student Academic Conference: Planning for the third annual Student Academic Conference is well underway. The event is April 11, but now is the time to encourage your students to participate. I hope to see the outstanding research and creative activity of your students showcased at the conference.

President’s Summer Retreat Results: The discussion group results of the 2000 President’s Summer Retreat on the topic of internal communication are now available on the Office of the President website at http://www.mnstate.edu/president. We are in the process of sorting through the results for further consideration and action.