News

RED, MSUM’s digital repository, has just added an item so unique that even the Minnesota Historical Society doesn’t have a copy: Minutes of meetings of the Presidents of the Minnesota State Teachers Colleges, 1927-1942.

These were the years of the Great Depression, leading up to the Second World War. State Teachers Colleges in Minnesota were exploring the professionalization of their degrees. The relationship of the several Teachers Colleges to the state board of education was discussed, revised, and discussed again.

These minutes will be of interest to those exploring the history of the education of teachers in rural areas and to students of higher education policy. Find them at http://red.mnstate.edu/pres_meeting_minutes/.

Take a look at the news stories featuring MSUM in recent weeks. Stories are presented in chronological order.

Minnesota State recently released its updated brand identity manual to reflect changes made during the rebrand from MnSCU to Minnesota State late last year.

Minnesota State University Moorhead is updating its print materials to reflect the change. The new branding will be implemented when supplies are reordered, after the current supply of business cards, stationary, brochures and other print materials are exhausted.

For more information, view the initial news release, or contact David Wahlberg at david.wahlberg@mnstate.edu.

A serious email phishing campaign occurred earlier yesterday, attempting to steal Google credentials and hijack Google accounts. If you may have received a phishing message is from someone you may or may not know who would like to share a Google Doc with you.  The email appears to be sent to hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh@mailinator.com.

Current Status

Google has taken the malicious sites offline and they have also taken steps to block further spread of the attack. Microsoft is working very hard to eradicate any messages that may be in their system as well. There are a growing number of reports in the press.

Cleanup

If you clicked on the link and entered your Google credentials, you need to change your Google password as soon as possible. Finally, if you accidentally clicked on “Allow,” go to https://myaccount.google.com/u/0/permissions?pli=1 to revoke permissions.

If you have further concerns, please contact the IT Help Desk.

Five MSU employees have been selected for the 2017 Luoma Leadership Academy. They are:

Lee Vigilant, Sociology and Criminal Justice; Jeff Bodwin, Dean, College of Science, Health and the Environment; Jeff Goebel, Physical Plant Manager; Ronny Bradtke, Admissions; and Jason Sobolik, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Service.  Read the rest of this entry →

Greg Toutges, Disability Resource Center Director, received the 2017 Professional Excellence in Service Award presented by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees yesterday, April 19, 2017.

During the luncheon, seven award nominees from Minnesota State universities, along with 31 Outstanding Educators from colleges throughout the state, were recognized by the Board of Trustees.

The Professional Excellence in Service Award acknowledges outstanding service to our universities and to the Minnesota State system. It recognizes the key role service faculty fulfill at our system’s universities in advising and counseling students; in the recruitment, retention, and placement of students; in residential life programming; in facilitation of student groups and student leadership; and other involvement in university and community activities.  Read the rest of this entry →

Tuesday, April 18 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | CMU 205

Join Students United at their Diversity Luncheon! Free lunch will be served on Tuesday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in CMU 205 while Diversity Specialist and Black Student Union President, Lexi Byler and Chief Diversity Officer. Dr. Donna Brown address the audience.

To learn more about Students United go to: www.studentsunited.org

Students United is searching for its next Campus Organizing Intern. If you’re looking for a great way to build your resume, get paid, and advocate for students, this is the perfect job for you. The application deadline is April 14, 2017.

To apply go to: http://www.studentsunited.org/hiring-intern

An online survey is in place for each of the pathways under development until April 19, 2017. The purpose of each pathway is to streamline the process of transfer for students with an associate degree from a MN State College to complete their bachelor’s degree at a MN State University. They should be able to transfer to any of the MN State universities with a parallel degree with 60 credits that apply to that major. You are encouraged to read the proposed pathway, answer survey questions, and give suggestions for the particular pathway to help in the development process. The surveys are for the pathways currently being developed:  Read the rest of this entry →

Another group of Transfer Pathways are soon ready for input from stakeholders in the two year Minnesota State Colleges and the four year Minnesota State Universities. The Transfer Pathways are designed so students utilizing one would enter any Minnesota State university with a parallel baccalaureate degree as a junior with the first 60 credits complete. Discipline Stakeholders Meetings will be held at Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids for sessions on March 27 – 30 and at Normandale Community College for the sessions on March 31. You are welcome to attend in person or by WebEx. Please register by March 24 no matter how you will attend. See the attachment for specific times and locations and links to register.  Read the rest of this entry →

The current Minnesota state SharePoint sites, know currently as https://mnscu.sharepoint.com, will be changing the username format to access the SharePoint sites.

What is the current username format? Employees currently use StarID@mnscu.edu and students currently use StartID@go.mnscu.edu.

What will the new username format be? Employees format StarID@minnstate.edu and students format StartID@go.minnstate.edu.

When will this username format change take place? The changes will start in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 28. Due to the large number of accounts this may take a couple days to complete. Continue using your current username format until it is no longer accepted and then make the change to the new format.

What if I need assistance? Please contact the MSUM IT Helpdesk and they will assist you with this change.

MSUM IT Helpdesk
Livingston Lord Library Room 122
218.477.2603
support@mnstate.edu

Four undergraduate students from MSUM—Peter Olson, Jenna Kalthoff, Matt Dakken, and Ashley Doll—presented research posters at the Minnesota Undergraduate Scholars event at the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda on Thursday, March 1. The event showcased undergraduate researchers from across Minnesota State. The students also met with State Representatives Ben Lien (an MSUM alumnus) and Paul Marquart, who both represent Moorhead area districts.

Yesterday, President Anne Blackhurst and Vice President for Finance and Administration Jean Hollaar testified to the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee on behalf of the Minnesota State budget request. You can watch their testimony online. Their testimony begins approximately 13 minutes into the video.

Today, President Blackhurst and VP Hollaar will testify to the Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee at 1 p.m.

View the Minnesota Senate agenda and video archives here.

On Tuesday, Gov. Mark Dayton announced the appointment of the Honorable George W. Soule to fill a vacancy on the Minnesota State Board of Trustees. Mr. Soule is replacing Margaret Anderson Kelliher, and his term will expire on June 30, 2018.

“George Soule has had a very distinguished career bringing justice and opportunity to people throughout Minnesota,” said Gov. Dayton. “I believe that Mr. Soule will bring this dedication to ensuring excellent higher education and career training opportunities for all students at Minnesota State.”

George W. Soule is a judge of the White Earth Tribal Court of Appeals and a founding partner of Soule & Stull LLC, where he is a civil trial attorney handling cases involving product liability, commercial, and negligence claims. Previously, he was a founding and managing partner at Bowman and Brooke LLP, and an associate at Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett. Judge Soule earned his B.A. from Moorhead State University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.  Read the rest of this entry →

If you were unable to attend or watch the Minnesota State chancellor finalist open forums on Wednesday, Feb. 8, the recordings are available online.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees will consider three candidates for appointment as the next Minnesota State chancellor.  Those under consideration are as follows:  Read the rest of this entry →

The Board of Trustees will begin the final process of selecting the next Minnesota State chancellor on Tuesday, Feb. 7 with a series of in-person interviews.  On Wednesday, Feb. 8 you invited to attend in person or connect via WebEx to a Board-led finalist forum starting at 9:15 a.m. and concluding at 1:45 p.m.

During three separate sessions, the remaining candidates will give a short presentation followed by a question and answer period. The names of the finalist will be made public on Monday, Feb. 6 and their full curricula vitae will be available at http://mnscu.edu/chancellorsearch.  Read the rest of this entry →

Additional information has become available from Minnesota State regarding the recent Executive Order affecting international students, faculty, and staff from specified countries. Please see the attached document addressing frequently asked questions on the order.

Minnesota State’s Board of Trustees has had a long-standing and “enduring commitment to enhancing Minnesota’s quality of life by developing and fostering understanding and appreciation of a free and diverse society and providing equal opportunity for all its students and employees.” Board policy goes on to say that, “No person shall be discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment, personnel practices, or access to and participation in, programs, services, and activities with regard to race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”

In light of the heightened national immigration debate over recent days and weeks, I want to underscore our steadfast commitment to ensuring that our campuses will remain safe and welcoming places of inclusion, hope, and opportunity for all students and employees.

The state of Minnesota—its businesses, its industries, and indeed, its economic vitality—has long benefited from the scientific, cultural, and economic contributions of international students, scholars, and immigrants from around the globe. It is critical that Minnesota remain steadfast in its commitment to recruit this talent to our state.

The Minnesota State IT department has been hard at work behind the scenes transitioning its web presence to the new Minnesota State brand and testing the new website: www.MinnState.edu. They’ve also been busy preparing to convert Minnesota State system office email addresses, which will be FirstName.LastName@MinnState.edu.  Following are further details:  Read the rest of this entry →