This Week's Hotline! includes the following articles:
Thank You (by Ellen-Earle Chaffee, VCSU President)
Crookston Daily Times Editorial: VCSU Picked a Winner
Growth Plan Progress Report: VCSU On Track, Ahead of Schedule
Enterprise University Status Report and Web Site
Technology Education Program Meeting National Needs
Spring 2008 Initiates For Alpha Lambda Delta
National Technology Education Conference at VCSU
"Between Fences" Traveling Exhibit in Valley City
May Birthdays
Thank You
By Ellen-Earle Chaffee, VCSU President
On or about June 30, I will be moving back to our home near Bismarck. We are considering a number of opportunities after that, but we are waiting until then to make decisions about the future. Much as we are looking forward to whatever adventures that may entail, we will greatly miss our friends and colleagues here. Please let us know if you find yourself with some spare time in Bismarck!
Before I go, though, I need to try to express my gratitude for so very many blessings over the last 15 years. Doing so adequately is impossible, but I will continue to try to pay it forward in future years.
A university, like any organization, consists of individuals who have agreed to invest their time and talents in a mutual effort to accomplish some goal. One stark fact emerges from this definition: if individuals do not agree to invest their time and talents toward an organization's goals, it can accomplish precisely nothing. The people who work, study, volunteer, or participate in any other way at VCSU (you, for instance) are re-creating the university every day. VCSU has no value and leadership has no meaning without them.
On behalf of the university, thank you for the many successes you have helped create. Very special thanks to the Valley City Times-Record for donating this space for all these years.
I also want to thank you personally. Over the years, I enjoyed your friendship, appreciated your kind words, and learned from you. I have received far more from this experience (it feels more like a life style than a job) than I can express.
You have made countless good things happen. I am deeply grateful to have been part of it. Thank you.
Editorial, April 29: VCSU picks a winner in Steve Shirley
The following editorial ran in the Crookston Daily Times
By Mike Christopherson
Published: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:52 PM CDT
It's inevitable, that when someone is hired for a prominent job - prominent enough to warrant media coverage - his or her past jobs held on the way up the ladder are listed quickly and briefly, in bullet-point fashion.
That was the case in recent weeks as Valley City State University was looking for a new president. Steven W. Shirley, Ph.D, applied and was named one of a handful of finalists. Then it was down to two, and Shirley was one of them. Through it all, as the area media provided updates, it was mentioned that Shirley had spent time working for the University of Minnesota.
Then, early last week, he got the job, and in the many stories announcing his hiring, the public learned that yes, indeed, Shirley had spent time at the University of Minnesota, the Crookston campus specifically.
He didn't just spend time at UMC, however, Shirley rocked. He taught in the business management program and directed the Study Abroad program for a time. He was big into service learning, which seeks to benefit the community while enhancing student learning. He also was intrigued by using technology in higher education, including the endless potential of online learning.
All that stuff is great, but it was Shirley's dynamic personality that most of his colleagues at UMC remember most. His enthusiasm could make even the most mundane meeting significantly less mundane. His ideas, even if they from time to time registered a little low on the practical meter, were at least fun to discuss.
Shirley left UMC shortly after Dr. Doug Knowlton left his vice chancellor of academic affairs position at the Crookston campus to run Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. Knowlton brought Shirley there to be vice president and dean of student affairs. It was apparent then that Shirley would someday lead a campus of his own.
Well, that someday is now. At the ripe old age of 35, Shirley, who earned all of his degrees at the University of North Dakota, is the new president of VCSU.
Higher education officials in North Dakota have said all kinds of nice things about Shirley since his hiring, using words like "tremendous" and "energy."
But, reading some of the remarks of people who matter slightly more - the VCSU students - it's clear that Shirley simply blew them away, knocked their socks off and hit it out of the park during his many interviews on campus.
He will do very well. Congratulations, Steve.
Growth Plan Progress Report: VCSU On Track/Ahead of Schedule
In fall 2007, faculty and staff identified the most promising strategies for enrollment growth at VCSU for the next two years. The result is the VCSU Growth Plan, issued in January 2008. Today, the administration issued an official progress report on Growth Plan results to date.
The objectives for academic growth are supported by several strategic actions by faculty in every division. Among the key successes are: enterprise software in 10+ BIT courses, partnership with the Boston Museum of Science, proposal for federal funding, proposed ELL graduate concentration, elementary education to Wyoming, online enterprise applications certificate, HR concentration in business, refocused human services major, professional skills certificate program, partnership to deliver nursing education in Valley City, and plans to support expansion of health sciences.
Marketing and recruiting staff are working closely with the academic initiatives. In addition, a VCSU awareness campaign is about to kick off with billboards and associated materials. A completely revamped Web site will launch in August. Enrollment Services conducted new outreach activities in Washington and Winnipeg.
The goal to grow enrollment by growing athletics is supported by making a fieldhouse addition the university's number one capital project request to the State Board of Higher Education for partial funding of $5 million. Architectural concept plans are completed to the satisfaction of a large group of university and community representatives. Pumroy, Collins, Pommerer, and Anderson are leading active committees to carry the project forward toward a goal of adding 10 new men's and women's sports by 2012. The university funded two new positions for next year to provide a foundation for adding men's and women's golf teams in fall 2009.
The VCSU Foundation has approved a scholarship funding plan that will implement the Growth plans goal in this area. Three students have been selected as the first McCready Scholars, each to receive four-year scholarships for tuition, fees, and books valued at over $28,000 each starting in fall 2008.
ITC staff members are developing classrooms of the future to integrate Wimba capability to expand the boundaries of the traditional classroom and enhance learning. Faculty are working with the director of instructional technology to reconfigure and develop courses accordingly.
"Faculty and staff have made huge strides forward together this year. This list of accomplishments in one short and otherwise very busy year is phenomenal. They are perfectly positioned to join with president-elect Shirley to carry the university to the next level of success," said outgoing president Ellen Chaffee.
Enterprise University (EU) at VCSU is our Center of Excellence (formerly known as the Institute for Customized Business Solutions, or ICBS), founded with a $1 million grant from the Centers of Excellence Commission at the state Department of Commerce.
EU has two focal points - providing customized non-credit training for businesses and working closely with the Business and Information Technology faculty to help support strong real-world content in VCSU classes. VCSU personnel who have been involved in the training function to date include Susan Pfeifer, Rick Ross, Rhonda Rode, Curt Hill, and Dan Clark. Interest from other faculty and staff members is welcome.
The goal of BIT working with EU is to graduate students who are ready for productive careers in all businesses, including businesses that rely on enterprise software technologies. Nearly all BIT faculty members and a number of classes are involved in this process to date. In addition, CASS faculty members have developed a related certificate in professional communication. BIT is in the process of hiring a Business Development staff member funded by EU.
Technology Education Program Meeting National Needs
Professor Don Mugan recently received the following message from a Technology Education student in New Jersey. This is just one more affirmation that VCSU is serving a national audience at a high level of success.
"I just wanted to inform you that I received the Technology Teacher Excellence Award for Middle School from the New Jersey Technology Education Association (NJTEA). They will then send it to the ITEA. I believe that one of the reason that I won was from having the graduate courses from Valley City State. The four classes that I had with you, helped me become a much better Technology Education Teacher. The curriculum design class enabled me to include the STL(Standards for Technological Literacy)in my lesson plans and gave me ways to improve my teaching methods. I will mention you at the banquet on Friday. Thank you for all of the help that you have given me."
Mariano "Mike" Buttitta
Spring 2008 Initiates For Alpha Lambda Delta
Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society for first year students who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher during their first semester in college. The VCSU chapter of ALD was installed in November 2006; this is our third group of initiates. Chapter advisors are Margaret Dahlberg and Jan Drake.
Spring 08 Initiates:
Jordan Backstrom
Miranda Mae Beier
Elissa L. Berg-Historian 08-09
Adam James Bommersbach-President 08-09
Allysa Breiner
Amanda R. Brown
Alfredo Carballo
Zachary A. Cerklefskie
Eden Elizabeth Drevecky
Ellen Louise Drevecky
Kayla Geske
Sabrina Renee Heywood
Ashley Kay Holmstrom
Alison Jenson
Scott Jesser
Shannon M. Leppert
Terra Lindenberg
Christine M. Litt
Jacklyn Mitchell
Angela Morford-Secretary/Treasurer 08-09
Jane M. Pettit
Alyssa RoseMary Pitura-Editor 08-09
Sonja Plautz
Tyler Schmit
Fakira Soumaila-Vice President 08-09
Arren D. St. Vincent
Elizabeth Terfehr
Jenna Vrchota
Brandi M. Weed
Margaret Wilson
Honorary Members for Spring 08 Initiation (these are selected by the new student members): Donald Hoff, Joseph Stickler, Joseph Bessie
Additional Chapter Officers:
Elizabeth Nelson --Senior Advisor
Lisa Paille-Junior Advisor
National Technology Education Conference at VCSU
Boston Museum of Science and Valley City State University will host "Closing the Technology & Engineering Teaching Gap," a two day workshop July 14 and 15 with an opening keynote address on Sunday July 13. The workshop will take place on the VCSU Campus.
This workshop is intended to introduce teachers K-12 to the STEM based curriculum developed by the Boston Museum of Science and the National Center for Technological Literacy. Separate sessions will be dedicated for teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Content in the workshops would be ideal for implementation in Technology, Math and Science curriculum.
Keynote speaker for the workshop is Dr. Yvonne Spicer, Vice President of Advocacy & Educational Partnerships at the National Center for Technological Literacy at the Museum of Science, Boston. Workshop presenters include Sharlene Yang, B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Cornell University and M.S. in Biopsychology from the University of Michigan; Peter Wong, Director of University Relations at the Museum of Science (Boston, MA) and Research Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Tufts University; and Lee Pulis, Curriculum Developer, teacher educator and online professional development course moderator for Engineering the Future at the National Center for Technological Literacy, Museum of Science.
"Between Fences" Traveling Exhibit in Valley City
The Barnes County Historical Society in partnership with the North Dakota Humanities Council presents "Between Fences," Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit. This exhibit runs from May 3rd through June 15th 2008, at the Barnes County Museum. 315 Central Ave N, Valley City, ND. 701-845-0966. bchistoricalsociety@hotmail.com
Premiering 2:00 PM, Saturday May 3rd, 2008, at the Barnes County Museum, Dr. Jerry Tweton speaking on "North Dakota's Political Fences: Issues That Divided Us."
The fence has long been a political symbol. In the late nineteenth century politicians who would not take a stand on an issue were called "mugwumps": They had their "mugs" on one side of the fence and their "wumps" on the other. The presentation discusses fences in North Dakota politics, emphasizing those eras when the fences were highest--the Nonpartisan League years before World War I and the William Langer years of the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Historian and author Dr. D. Jerome Tweton is a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Dakota and a senior consultant to the North Dakota Humanities Council. His academic interests focus on North Dakota, the Great Plains, and the United States from 1890 to 1945. In addition to many scholarly articles, Tweton also is the author of seven books. His major publications include a biography of the Marquis de Mores, a history of the labor movement in North Dakota, and three books on the Great Depression in North Dakota and Minnesota.
