CROOKSTON, Minn. – Summer might be drawing to a close, but the University of Minnesota, Crookston is enthusiastically preparing for the beginning of a new academic year. Classes for the new semester begin on August 23, 2011, and returning faculty, staff, and students have a lot to look forward to when they return. Along with several new faculty members in both the Business Department and the Math, Science, and Technology Department, facilities updates have been taking place across the campus.
A laboratory installed last spring in Dowell Hall uses immersive visualization and has a new additional classroom making the combined Immersive Visualization and Informatics Lab an environment where students and faculty can interactively explore complex data. Five screens and three tablet monitors allow for running multiple applications and an opportunity to stretch applications across multiple screens.
Over the summer, the science laboratories in Hill Hall have been completely renovated providing much needed lab space and increased opportunities for research. A major heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) update has been completed in Dowell Hall.
Environmental sciences, the newest degree program on the Crookston campus, will enter its second year. The program offers students a broad range of study in areas like environmental protection, water quality, ecotoxicology, and environmental health and safety to name just a few.
For students interested in learning online, there are three new degrees in information technology management, health management, and communication. Together with online degrees in accounting, applied health, applied studies, business management, marketing, manufacturing management, and quality management there are a total of ten online degree options.
The installation of card-access security doors is nearing completion, and while on-campus living remains a challenge due to increased enrollment, the campus is finalizing an agreement to provide housing for students in the nearby Americas Best Value Inn, formerly the Northland Inn.
Welcome back week for faculty and staff kicks off on Monday, August 15 and includes new faculty orientation, workshops, and other special events. Student-athletes already on campus have begun practice for the fall sports season and new student orientation is slated to begin on Friday, August 19. Students will be volunteering in the community for the annual “Meet Crookston through Service” on Saturday morning, August 20. For more information about events and activities on the Crookston campus, visit www.umcrookston.edu/today.
