This will be the last “Weekly Update” of 2011. With students and faculty off campus for a couple of weeks, I will also take a break until January 9.
I remember my Dad saying that, as you grow older, each year is a smaller and smaller fraction of your life — so, the passage of time seems to go faster and faster. Well, I must be getting older, because this year has really flown by. My weekend was filled with all those comfy activities that prepare a family for Christmas – baking, wrapping, sending off cards and packages, and enjoying the unseasonably warm weather as I bustled on my errands.
Last week was a busy one, filled with many important activities for Northland. Today, I’ll talk about:
- Visit to Thief River Falls from Commissioners Phillips (DEED) and Tingersol (Housing)
- Minnesota Budget Projection and What it Means to NCTC
- Holiday Greetings
Visit to Thief River Falls from Commissioners Phillips (DEED) and Tingersol (Housing)
Last Wednesday, Dec. 14, Mark Phillips, Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Mary Tingersol, Commissioner of Housing, arrived in Thief River Falls for a deep discussion of the shortage of affordable housing that has developed in the community because of the rapid growth of Digi-Key Corporation and growth of out-of-area student population at Northland.
Their plan was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 am but, because of fog, the TRF Regional Airport was closed. Their plane diverted to Grand Forks and the group drove to Thief River Falls. About 60 people gathered at Northland for the discussion. Scott Knutson, of Community Partners Research, Inc. presented a study of the Thief River Falls housing situation. Then, a variety of other speakers presented ideas on how the community could work together to encourage the development of housing options. A TRF Housing Task Group has been formed and will work together into the future.
At Northland, our primary concern is for students. Often, to get into an apartment, they must have first-month’s and last-month’s rent and a security deposit – often as much as $1,500 up front. Also, many rentals require a full 12-month lease, while students may only want or need to rent for nine months. More flexible, efficiency apartments would be beneficial to our students who come from outside the area.
At the end of the housing meeting, Commissioner Phillips and others met with NCTC personnel involved with the unmanned aerial systems programs. Scott Fletcher presented a briefing on the importance of the emerging industry for Minnesota and the necessity for Minnesota to develop a proposal to be designated as a UAS integration test site. In late 2012, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill will designate between four and six areas in the United States for this activity. Commissioner Phillips pledged to move ahead with this activity.
Minnesota Budget Projection and What it Means to NCTC
On December 1, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released its economic forecast. Surprisingly, an $876 million surplus was projected for the current biennium (2012-2013); a $1 billion deficit was anticipated. While this is good news for the state, does it have any impact locally on NCTC?
At the recent MnSCU Leadership Council meeting, Vice Chancellor Laura King said “This is not bad news, but it is not necessarily good news.” What she meant by that was that colleges and universities can now anticipate that they will not lose additional funding within the current biennium. But, the long-term outlook may not mean that institutions will have additional funding in the future.
So, Northland may have a breather for a year. The budget we developed for fiscal year 2012 may remain stable through fiscal year 2013. Rather than once again cutting our college budget, we may be able to hold steady and concentrate on building other sources of revenue and growing our enrollment.
For the 2014-2015 biennium, a $1.3 billion deficit is projected statewide. Minnesota’s economy has performed better than the national average with a current 6.4% unemployment rate, compared with 8.6% nationally. Minnesota has recovered 35% of its jobs lost during the recession, compared with 22% recovery nationwide. But, the insecurity of national and international economic and political situations makes long-term prediction very difficult.
If the $1.3 billion deficit eventually is accurate and if reductions due to the deficit are spread proportionally across the Minnesota state budget, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will likely suffer additional $21 million cuts in each year of the next biennium.
As always, I will keep you posted as information becomes available.
Holiday Greetings
I wish you all the best as we pause for the holidays. I hope you all have time to be with family and friends, to reflect on the reason for the season, and to gather your energy and enthusiasm for spring semester.
Upcoming College Events
Dec. 19-20 – Book Buy-Back Rep at TRF & EGF Campuses
Dec. 20 – TRF Campus Employee Potluck and retirement recognition for Mary Dyrud
Dec. 21 – EGF Campus Employee Potluck and retirement recognition for Dee Olson
Dec. 26 – Holiday – college closed
Jan. 2- Holiday – college closed
Jan. 5 – Faculty In-Service Workshop
Jan. 6-7 – Pioneer Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tourney at NCTC
Jan. 9 – Spring semester begins
My schedule this week:
Mon, Dec. 19 – TRF, Digi-Key Graduation
Tues, Dec. 20 – TRF
Wed, Dec. 21 – EGF
Thurs, Dec. 22 – TRF – Cabinet
Fri, Dec. 23 – vacation
Have a wonderful week and a great semester break. See you in 2012!
