July 2009
Recent news releases
June 18, 2009 - Request for building and remodeling projects approved by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities trustees
June 9, 2009 - Average tuition would increase by $114 at two-year colleges and $169 at state universities, under chancellor recommendation
June 4, 2009 - Ten metro-area Minnesota State Colleges and Universities begin initiative to educate older workers
News and notes
Faculty collective bargaining agreement signed
The 2009-2011 Minnesota State College Faculty collective bargaining agreement was signed June 22 at the Office of the Chancellor in Wells Fargo Place. Pictured are: (seated left to right) Chancellor James McCormick and Greg Mulcahy, president of MSCF; (standing from left to right) Jeff Wade, Office of the Chancellor; Bill Tschida, vice chancellor for human resources; Anne-Marie Ryan-Guest, MSCF; and Mary Leary, Office of the Chancellor.
Redesigned iSeek receives Northern Lights award
The Minnesota Association of Government's Northern Lights "Award of Merit" was presented in May to iSeek.org in the Web site category for its recent redesign. The Web site is overseen by iSeek Solutions partners, including the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the state Department of Employment and Economic Development, Department of Education, Office of Higher Education, University of Minnesota and Office of Enterprise Technology. The new look and expanded content on iSeek.org makes it easier for Minnesotans to find career exploration, education and job search information. Receiving the award on behalf of iSeek were Denise Felder and Patricia Dahlman.
iSeek Solutions launches new Training Resource Center
The Training Resource Center (www.iseek.org/trc/) is a Web-based tool that allows counselors, businesses and the general public to quickly find or request training to help Minnesotans become re-employed. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities training providers can promote work-related, short-term training programs to customers seeking this information, learn about the training needs of people in local areas, or search by training topics and find a pool of students to create new training opportunities.
The Training Resource Center uses technology enhancements to the 2002 Training Fulfillment Center that supported thousands of laid-off workers from the airline industry. It is cosponsored by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities through a Minnesota Job Skills Partnership grant.
For more information, contact Shelia McComb, Training Resource Center coordinator, via email at shelia.mccomb@csu.mnscu.edu or (651) 556-0664.
Perkins New Program Development grants awarded
Four New Program Development grants were awarded to Minnesota state colleges to stimulate development of career and technical education programs during the 2010 fiscal year. Grants came from state leadership funds provided by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Funding was provided for new program curriculum development and equipment to the following:
Associate in Applied Science in dietetic technology
Northland Community and Technical College
$30,700
Sustainable design certificate
Dakota County Technical College
$26,718
Commercial vehicle operation certificate
Northland Community and Technical College
$15,618
Diploma and Associate in Applied Science in wind turbine renewable energy
Northland Community and Technical College
$26,800
The next Career and Technical Education New Program Development request for proposals will be announced in February 2010. For more information, contact Marta Mohr, academic program director, at marta.mohr@so.mnscu.edu.
Minnesota students capture 27 medallions in National SkillsUSA Championships
A delegation of 115 college and high school student competitors represented Minnesota at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference June 22-26 in Kansas City. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities students had their largest medal count ever, with 27 medallion winners - six gold, 14 silver and 7 bronze - in 18 competitive events. An additional 31 college students ranked in the top 10 in the nation in their competitive events.
| College | Medals | Places Four - Ten in Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Technical College (includes 3 high school PSEO students) | 1 Gold, 8 Silver, 3 Bronze | 6 |
| Century College | 1 Silver | 6 |
| Dakota County Technical College | 1Gold, 1 Bronze | 1 |
| Hennepin Technical College - Brooklyn Park | 2 Gold | |
| Hennepin Technical College - Eden Prairie (High School PSEO) | 1 Bronze | 2 |
| Hibbing Community College | 1 Gold | 1 |
| Lake Superior College | 3 Silver | |
| Minnesota State Community & Technical College - Detroit Lakes | 1 Silver | |
| Minnesota State Community & Technical College - Wadena | 3 | |
| St. Cloud Technical College | 3 | |
| Saint Paul College | 2 Bronze | |
| South Central College - Faribault | 1 Gold, 1 Silver | |
| South Central College - North Mankato | 4 | |
| Ridgewater College - Willmar | 2 | |
| Riverland Community College - Austin | 3 |
in this issue
Recent news releases
News and notes
- Faculty collective bargaining agreement signed
- Redesigned iSeek receives Northern Lights award
- iSeek Solutions launches new Training Resource Center
- Perkins New Program Development grants awarded
- Minnesota students capture 27 medallions in National SkillsUSA Championships
- Faculty, student art exhibit on the Web
Faculty, student art exhibit on the Web
Maggie's Terrace, Rome, Digital Photograph by Yvonne Klocek
The current exhibit of faculty and student art works in the Office of the Chancellor is featured now on the system's Web site, where artists' statements and the images on display this year are posted along with exhibits from the previous three years. Fused glass plates were added recently to the display in the third-floor reception areas on both sides of the atrium in Wells Fargo Place.
Achievements
Melissa Fahning, Government Relations, presented a workshop entitled "The Impact of the Obama Administration on Higher Education" at the Summer Leadership Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration on June 18 at St. Cloud State University. Fahning's presentation focused on President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2010 budget, as well as his education goals. The goals are that America will regain its top position of the highest proportion of students graduating from college by 2020 and that all Americans should have one year of higher education or job training to better prepare the workforce for the 21st century economy.
Sally Grans-Korsh, system director of Facilities Planning, recently passed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Accredited Professional certification. While this designation is becoming more common for architects and engineers, Grans- Korsh is the first in the system to receive this designation. This test and designation is from the U.S. Green Building Council that sponsors the LEED program for building designation.
Kevin Marandola, son of Nancy Marandola, Facilities, graduated in May from Minnesota State University, Mankato in marketing and international business. Some staff might remember Kevin as he worked as an intern last summer in the Fire/EMS Center.
Michelle Pichaske, development supervisor, ITS Division, earned her certificate in business analysis in November 2008 through ESI International in conjunction with The George Washington University School of Business. To become a certified business analyst, Pichaske completed five courses through ESI International covering topics from an introduction to business analysis to gathering and documenting business requirements.
New Employees
Lori Lamb is the new vice chancellor for Human Resources, effective July 1. Previously she served as the chief human resources officer at Minnesota State University, Mankato for six years. Prior to that, Lamb worked at Washington State University and the Washington State Office of the Attorney General.
Venkata Votra joined the Office of the Chancellor in June as technical project lead analyst. Votra brings more than seven years of experience in designing and programming solutions software to his new position. Votra grew up in India, where he completed a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
Submit an item to The Chronicle
Contact the internal newsletter reporter in your area:
Academic and Student Affairs: Tim Price
Board of Trustees: Patty McCann
Chancellor’s Office: Janice Kwallek
Diversity and Multiculturalism: Ka Vang,
Renée Hogoboom
Finance and Facilities: Nancy Lamden
Foundation: Maria McLemore
Government Relations: Melissa Fahning,
Candi Walz
Human Resources: Vicki Schoenbeck
Information Technology: Valerie Schmidt
Internal Auditing: Darla Senn
Legal Affairs: Dorothy Zenner
Public Affairs: Nancy Conner
Past editions of The Chronicle are available in the issue archive at the top of this page. If you have a question you would like The Chronicle to answer, or other comments and suggestions for the newsletter, send an e-mail to Paul Berger at paul.berger@so.mnscu.edu.
For more announcements from the Office of the Chancellor, visit the System Gateway home page.
