This is that time of year when people fantasize about the excitement of the holidays – reunion with families, special events, music, great food, and giving and getting presents, and – maybe – time to relax. Yet for our students and faculty members, there is an exquisite tension that underlies all of the holiday buzz.
Northland’s fall semester final exams end on Wednesday, December 21. Next week will be filled with studying, finalizing projects, and taking exams. On top of that, many of our students are working and taking care of families. Many students who have come from outside of our communities are making arrangements to travel and must plan ahead for what to take home. Faculty members will be evaluating tests, papers, and projects and rendering final grades. Grades are due in the registrar’s office on Dec. 22.
Then, everyone can breathe a sigh of relief and start to enjoy holiday festivities. WRONG! Our student services staff will be working steadily to insure that grades are entered, grade point averages are computed, students are informed if their academic standing is in jeopardy, registration for spring semester is verified, and financial aid checks are available for the start of the next semester. There is so much that underlies the academic process at Northland. I deeply appreciate the dedication of our employees who put our students first.
In this update, I will discuss:
- Institutional Goals – Strategic Fundraising Plan
- MnSCU System Strategic Framework
Institutional Goals – Strategic Fundraising Plan
Northland has enjoyed great success and notoriety in its awards of two federal Department of Labor grants for development of unmanned aerial systems-related programming. These awards resulted from proposals that demonstrated vision, collaboration, and innovation.
I believe that it is time for Northland to assertively work to identify other areas within the college that could attract the investment of donors or compete successfully for grant funding. To this end, Northland will engage in a process, starting in January, to identify a set of college initiatives and priorities linked to current and projected foundation, corporate and federal funding opportunities. Led by a consultant team with successful experience within MnSCU institutions, Northland will develop a comprehensive strategic fund-raising strategy that will align its resources and priorities to more productively secure increased philanthropic and public funding.
A steering committee is being identified with representatives from the Academic Affairs and Standards Council, the Shared Governance Council, the New Program Development Committee, and the Staff Advisory Council. The kick-off for the process will be on January 5 – the spring semester in-service day for faculty.
MnSCU System Strategic Framework
I reported earlier this fall on the strategic framework Chancellor Steven Rosenstone had articulated. In brief, the framework calls for system institutions to ensure access to an extraordinary education for all Minnesotans, to be the partner of choice to meet Minnesota’s workforce and community needs, and to deliver the highest value/most affordable option for students.
At the latest Leadership Council meeting (MnSCU presidents and the Chancellor’s Cabinet), greater detail for these initiatives was discussed.
All colleges and universities must take aggressive action on campuses to improve retention and completion of students, improve the transferability of credits and credentials, speed up student progress through developmental coursework, and slow the growth of tuition. Northland has aligned itself with these goals through the access and opportunity program, recent revisions to developmental courses, a pilot program linking developmental English and math, and tuition increases at levels less than the maximum allowed by the system and the legislature. We certainly have more to do and will willingly strive to find pathways for improvement.
A comprehensive workforce development plan is being developed through the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development and MnSCU. Employment sectors have been identified; geographical regions of the state are being developed. Data on employment and workforce training needs will be analyzed and deep conversations will occur with industry to determine what the data doesn’t reveal. It is an ambitious goal – but, by summer 2012, there will be a statewide plan for workforce development that will involve academic and technical programs at MnSCU institutions, customized training, and the Minnesota Workforce Centers.
Additionally, Chancellor Rosenstone and Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education, Brenda Cassellius, have been formulating a common vision to assure that high school students are college ready by the time they graduate. Exciting stuff!
Upcoming College Events
Wed, Dec. 14 – Pioneer Women’s Basketball @ Turtle Mountain Community College- 6 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 16 – Sketch Book Send-Off – Sponsored by Art Dept. – TRF Cafeteria – 10 a.m.
Sat, Dec. 17 – Pioneer Men’s Basketball vs. Lake Region State College – 3 p.m.
My schedule for this week:
Mon., Dec. 12 – TRF
Tues., Dec. 13 – TRF – Staff Advisory Meeting, Fed Grant WebEX
Wed., Dec 14 – TRF – Jobs, Inc., Mtg. with DEED Commissioner, Governor’s Housing Task Force mtg.
Thurs., Dec. 15 – EGF – Foundation Executive Committee, Planning Mtg.
Fri., Dec. 16 – EGF
Have a wonderful week.
