UMC Named Among Top Schools in Minnesota for Safety by Website StateUniversity.com

CROOKSTON, Minn. –  The University of Minnesota Crookston was recently informed that the website StateUniversity.com has ranked University of Minnesota-Crookston number 4 in Minnesota for campus safety. The scores of the top four schools ranked in the category were identical in a listing that includes 50 colleges and universities in the state.

Colleges and universities ranked for campus safety on a scale that accounts for severity of a crime as well as frequency of crime. Data is compiled from reports submitted by college and university law enforcement between January 1 and December 31, 2012.

The website StateUnivesity.com provides information about state universities and colleges across the United States including financial aid, academics, athletics and more gathered from a variety of sources.

To view the rankings for the top ranked universities in Minnesota on safety, visit www.stateuniversity.com/rank_by_state/safety_score_rank/MN.html.

Bernard Franklin to speak at UMC Thursday, Sept 5th

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston will host Bernard Franklin, Ph.D., assistant to the vice president at Kansas State University, on Thursday, September 5, 2013. Franklin, who is also the current president of Junior Achievement in Middle America, will be speaking during the campus Thursday Commons at noon in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center, on “Reengineering the Future.” He will also give his presentation “Imagineering the Future” at 7 p.m. in the Kiehle Auditorium that same evening. Both events are free and the public is invited to attend either or both sessions.

Franklin is known for his passion and vision along with his ability to motivate and inspire young people to succeed in today’s world. He takes on such relevant topics as leadership, innovation, empowering the leader inside, as well as encouraging students to consider the important question: “do your skills, talents, and abilities meet the expectation of employers?” Of interest to educators will be Franklin’s expertise on strategic planning, changing demographics, and the future of higher education.  And, community leaders and members will benefit from his knowledge of leadership, innovation, and education.

For more information, contact Lorna Hollowell, director of diversity and multicultural programs at 218-281-8580 (lhollowe@umn.edu). Sponsors for the event include the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Programs, Crookston Student Association, Center for Adult Learning, and the Career and Counseling Center.

Fall Semester 2013 Brings Changes to UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – A new residence hall, new programs, and the latest in technology greets students at the University of Minnesota Crookston this fall. Classes begin on Tuesday, August 27, 2013, following a weekend of orientation activities and the annual “Meet Crookston Through Service,” a service event that introduces new students to the community.

The most recent residential facility, Heritage Hall, will be open for only the second semester since it was first occupied last January. Of the three residence halls built on campus since 2006, each one has included a classroom: Centennial Hall (2006), Evergreen Hall (2009), and Heritage Hall (2013). The Harris A. Peterson Classroom, located in Heritage Hall, holds up to 118 and can be reconfigured from a classroom to a large space for hosting campus events. The inclusion of classrooms in the residence halls is designed to encourage a living and learning environment.

The Undergraduate Collaborative Learning and Experiential Applied Research Lab (UCLEAR) allows students across disciplines to explore information in a whole new way. For example, students in the health sciences can “slice” into an MRI, which displays data in 3-D using BodyViz. Tissues can be isolated and examined. The data can be shared with the five Microsoft PixelSense tables in the room where the students can investigate. The PixelSense tables and immersive visualization provide a technologically advanced interface for students to experience course or research material. A team could work on up to 9 different components of the same project or 9 projects can be investigated simultaneously.

New programs in elementary education and finance, which is also offered online, provide students more academic options. An update to Brown Dining Room makes the space even more inviting and gives it a contemporary look.

The campus also welcomes Barbara Keinath, the new vice chancellor of academic affairs, and Carola Thorson, the new director of admissions and enrollment management. Chancellor Fred Wood welcomed faculty and staff during a Welcome Week luncheon on Monday, August 19, and this fall, the campus is preparing to celebrate its 20^th year as a four-year institution and its anniversary as the first-ever laptop university in the country.  Special recognition for the 20-year anniversary will kick off at homecoming on October 4, 5, and 6.

3rd Annual Mary Tyrrell Health Walk for Scholarships to be held at UMC

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Mary Tyrrell, a devoted and wife, mother, and nurse, gave tirelessly in support of student-athletes at the University of Minnesota Crookston. The campus invites everyone to remember Mary, support scholarships, and help raise awareness of heart disease during the third annual Mary Tyrrell Health Walk for Scholarships. The walk will be held Wednesday, August 28, 2013, and begins with registration at 5 p.m. in Parking Lot E near Ed Widseth Field on the campus. Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for students 18 and under. All registrants will receive a t-shirt designed especially for the walk. To register or for more information about the walk, contact Tricia Sanders at 218-281-8326.

A free "healthy tailgate" will be served for walk participants. Door prizes will be awarded, and all participants are encouraged to stay for the Student-Athlete Meet and Greet at 6 p.m. and the Golden Eagle Maroon and Gold football game at 6:30 pm.