TO:                 Board of Regents

FROM:            Alex Capdeville, Chancellor

DATE:             November 16, 2001

SUBJECT:       Campus Reports for the November 2001 Board of Regents Meeting


  • Faculty Bus Tour - On October 22-25 two-teams of MSU-Northern faculty members visited High Schools in Terry, Miles City, Glendive, Circle, Medicine Lake, Sidney, Fort Peck, and Poplar. During their visits they taught classes designed to help Montana's high school students understand the value of their high school education and some of the many options available to them at MSU-Northern.

Jim Potter and I visited 18 schools, which included Dawson Community College, Miles Community College and Fort Peck Community College. The administration at the various community colleges were very supportive and willing to help us improve our articulation agreements and course transfer documents. It is our goal, as an institution of higher education, to build quality partnerships and articulation agreements with the Montana Community Colleges, Tribal Colleges and Colleges of Technology. These partnerships will make it possible for Montana students to take advantage of the strengths of various schools around the state.

The administrators from the High Schools were excited to see us and shared a number of good ideas on how we can better meet their needs. I felt our visit was a good first step in what I hope will be a long and productive relationship.

  • Pheasant Jamboree a success! - In October our community hosted 25 former N.F.L. football players in the first Legends for Lights Pheasant Jamboree. N.F.L. stars came from all over the U.S. to support Northern and enjoy a week of activities including trap shooting, pheasant hunting, Pheasants Forever Banquet, and the Northern Lights Homecoming Game. The Jamboree promoted MSU-Northern Football, Pheasants Forever, Havre and the Montana Hi-line. Hunting Lease Magazine came to cover the week. The event will be shown twice on the HLM TV series on the Outdoor Channel that has over 11 million viewers. As of today we already have 11 teams requesting spots for next year and many of the large contributors are offering to support us in the same way next year. The town is still talking about the fun had by all.

  • "Friend of Nursing" award - During the 89th annual Montana Nurses' Assn. Convention last month, one of our faculty members, Dr. Reno Parker, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, was awarded the "Friend of Nursing" award. Eight awards are given annually with various titles, only two of which are given to non-nurses. This award displays the relationship between our students and our academic departments that makes Northern what it is.

  • Wrestlers  - Wrestling USA, the premier intercollegiate wrestling magazine in the nation, has ranked the MSU-Northern Lights as the number one team in the NAIA in their pre-season poll released in the November 15th issue. Northern will host the National Tournament at the Bison Fieldhouse in Great Falls on March 1-2, 2002.  Head coach David Ray's traditionally strong squad will look to regain the National Title that eluded them last year after three consecutive NAIA team championships.  Team leaders for the Lights include returning All-Americans Carl Valley at 125, Dustyn Azure at 149, Kyle Fisher at 174, Tyson Thivierge at 184, Emmett Wilson at 197 and heavyweight, Dane Jacobsen.

  • Community Technology Education Center Grant - MSU-Northern has received a major grant from the US Department of Education to fund a Community Technology Education Center in the Vande Bogart Library.  A great team effort went into making this application successful.  The staff at the Vande Bogart Library and at Bear Paw Development Corporation provided valuable input for this successful application.  Many countless hours were devoted by members of our campus community to help put this successful application together.

The Community Technology Education Center project is a major undertaking for this institution.  Its success will be valuable to programs throughout our campus and that success can be magnified by the combined efforts of all.


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