MSUM initiatives receive Minnesota State grants for innovation
Two projects initiated by Minnesota State University Moorhead teams received nearly $30,000 in grant funding from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
The grants support the development of innovative ideas in higher education.
“At MSUM we champion a culture of creativity and problem-solving,” says Vice President of Academic Affairs Arrick Jackson. “It speaks highly of our efforts to have the ideas of our faculty and staff recognized and financially supported.”
Two MSUM projects received funding through the Minnesota State 2020 Shark Tank Innovation competition.
The university’s GRIT program received $10,000 to retain and support students who are admitted conditionally. GRIT connects these students with a success coach and designs experiences and curriculum so they can build confidence in their academic skills.
MSUM’s Center for Geospatial Studies, in partnership with the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, received a $19,560 grant. This team created an interactive digital map that highlights artistic experiences inspired by the wildlife refuge’s natural and cultural landscapes. The project encourages interdisciplinary collaboration between students from the humanities and GIS program.
In addition, an MSUM team is also part of a multi-campus collaboration that received $143,000 to improve technical skills among faculty across the Minnesota State system. Members of Expanding the Reality of Campus will design workshops and instructional sessions on emerging technologies. The goal is to help faculty become more efficient in their efforts to deliver classes remotely.