University of Minnesota Crookston

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMN Crookston) is a public college in Crookston, Minnesota. One of five campuses in the University of Minnesota system, UMN Crookston had a fall 2022 enrollment of 1,489 undergraduate students. Students come from 20 countries and 40 states.

Located on the northern edge of Crookston, Minnesota, off U.S. Highway 2, the 108-acre campus, 237 acres including research plots of the Northwest Research and Outreach Center) is situated in the Red River Valley, the center of a large agricultural region. The region is the transition point from the forested areas of the east to the great plains of the Dakotas.

The University of Minnesota Crookston uses the marketing slogan "Real. Hands-On. Ready." Big enough to grow. Small enough to care. With the best of both worlds: Earn a University of Minnesota degree in a close-knit community—both on-campus and online.

History

In 1895, the Minnesota legislature appropriated $30,000 to construct experimental research farms at Morris and Crookston. The Great Northern Railway, under the guidance of James J. Hill, donated 476 acres, and the Northwest Experiment Station was established.

In 1905, the Minnesota legislature appropriated $15,000 to establish the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA), a regional residential agricultural high school. Affiliated with the University of Minnesota, the school provided training in "the technical and practical business of agriculture and in the art of homemaking." The school year began in October and ended in March to accommodate farm students. In 1906, the Northwest School of Agriculture officially opened.

In 1963, the University of Minnesota Bureau of Field Studies began examining the need for a two-year institution of higher education at the NWSA and, in the fall of 1966, the University of Minnesota Technical Institute, a two-year (associate) degree granting institution, opened its doors to the first incoming class of 187 students.

For two years the NWSA and the Technical Institute shared the campus. In the spring of 1968 a torch was passed—figuratively and literally—from the 60th and final graduating class of the NWSA to the first graduating class of the Technical Institute, now an official coordinate campus of the University of Minnesota. In all, 5,433 students completed their high school education at the NWSA. Later in 1968 the name of the campus was changed from the University of Minnesota Technical Institute to the University of Minnesota Technical College.

By 1977, the University of Minnesota Technical College had nearly 1,000 students taking classes in a range of degree options in the areas of agriculture; business; home and family services; and hotel, restaurant and institutional management. In 1988, the name was changed to the University of Minnesota Crookston.

In 1993, the University of Minnesota Crookston became a baccalaureate degree granting institution. That same year, the university launched its "Laptop U" initiative, providing laptop computers to all students and faculty. It is recognized as one of the first programs of its kind in the United States. Over the next few years, more than 100 colleges and universities from across the U.S. and Canada visited the campus to learn more about this innovation. Some of these adopted programs modeled closely after the one at UMN Crookston.

Chief Executive Officers

* 1966-1985 - Stanley D. Sahlstrom, founding provost
* 1985-2003 - Donald G. Sargeant, chancellor
* 2003-2004 - Velmer Burton, Jr., chancellor
* 2004-2005 - Joseph Massey, chief executive officer
* 2005-2012 - Charles H. Casey, chancellor
* 2012–2016 - Fred E. Wood, chancellor
* 2017 (January through June) - Barbara Keinath, interim chancellor
* 2017–present - Mary Holz-Clause, chancellor

Campus

The 108-acre campus is located on the northern edge of the city of Crookston. Including the research plots for the Northwest Research and Outreach Center gives a 237 acre total. The campus itself includes fine specimens of numerous tree species, as well as flower gardens bordering a spacious mall. Less than a mile away lies a natural history area that contains a rare fragment of virgin prairie land with native grasses.

Facilities built or renovated within the last 20 years include a student wellness center (2016), three new residence halls (2006, 2009, 2013), an immersive computer visualization and informatics lab (2010), various biology and chemistry labs (2010 and 2012), the centrally located Sargeant Student Center (2005), renovated Kiehle Building (2002), an indoor animal science facility with an equine arena and stables (1993 with addition in 1998), a recreational and athletic complex, a horticulture complex (1997), an early childhood education center (1999), and a controlled environmental laboratory facility (1998).

In July 2016 construction was completed on a $15 million wellness center adjacent to the current UMN Crookston Sports Center. Intended to offer students opportunities to engage in many activities involved with wellness, this new facility features a two-court gymnasium, a suspended walking and running track, a multipurpose room with fitness-on-demand equipment, a classroom, and areas with both cardio and strength training machines.

In addition to facilities dedicated to its undergraduate educational mission, the Crookston campus is home to a variety of partner organizations and agencies, most of which are affiliated with the University of Minnesota system:

*The Northwest Research and Outreach Center acquires, interprets and disseminates research knowledge for agricultural and other constituencies.
*University of Minnesota Extension, Crookston Regional Center delivers educational programs to residents and communities.
*The EDA Center for Minnesota is one of more than 40 university centers nationwide supported by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. It conducts applied research, provides direct technical assistance, and delivers educational programs to economic development agencies that support the economy of rural communities throughout Minnesota.
*The Center for Rural Entrepreneurial Studies (CRES), established with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in the fall of 2010, engages students, faculty, and research facilities on the Crookston campus to nurture the entrepreneurial culture and strengthen the economic vitality of Northwest Minnesota.
*The Northwest Regional Partnership for Sustainable Development connects regional and University resources to develop a sustainable future for the region.
*The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), a public non-profit corporation, develops new uses and new markets for agricultural products.
*Northwest Educational Technology System (NETS) is a coalition of regional higher education institutions employing communications technology to foster cooperation, communication, efficiency, and access.
*Valley Technology Park, operated by the City of Crookston, is a small business incubation facility just north of campus.
*The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) matches the skills and experiences of volunteer retirees to community needs.
*The 85-acre Red River Valley Natural History Area (containing prairie, marshes, and forests) is located near campus and is used extensively for practice in conservation techniques and nature observation.

Academics

As of September 2022, the University of Minnesota Crookston offered 37 on-campus majors, 19 online majors, 33 minors, seven certificates, and four program options: Agriculture and Natural Resources; Business; Liberal Arts and Education; and Math, Science and Technology. Since 2004 the college has gained approval from the University of Minnesota Board of Regents to offer additional majors in additional subjects. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

As of spring semester 2019, sixteen degree programs are offered entirely online (as well as on-campus). In January 2011, the New Century Learning Consortium (NCLC), founded at the University of Illinois at Springfield, added the University of Minnesota Crookston as its 10th member. The NCLC is designed to assist universities in implementing high quality, large-scale online and blended learning programs.

Athletics

Minnesota–Crookston athletic teams are the Golden Eagles. The university is a member of the Division II ranks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) since the 1999–2000 academic year. The mascot is a golden eagle named "Regal".

Minnesota–Crookston in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country and golf; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, equestrian (Hunt Seat and Western), golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Club sports include men's ice hockey and co-ed trap shooting. Football was a sponsored sport until after the 2019 fall season (2019–20 school year), when they decided to drop the program.

Administration

The University of Minnesota Crookston is governed by policies established by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. The president of the University of Minnesota provides oversight to the chancellor at the UMN Crookston. The vice chancellor for academic affairs oversees the four academic departments with leadership in each area provided by a department head. The associate vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management oversees most student support units. For more detail, review the organizational chart.

Student organizations

There are approximately 40 student clubs and organizations for students to join.

The Crookston Student Association (CSA) is the student governing body and serves as a conduit for student concerns to administration. The Crookston Student Association Executive Board meets weekly with its faculty and staff advisors to act on student concerns, plan campus events and represent the voice of the student across the campus and system wide. The CSA President serves as the Student Body President. The 2022-2023 CSA President is Madison Elijah.

Notable alumni

* Michael Chowdry 1977: Michael A. Chowdry was a Pakistani-American businessman who became the founder of American-based cargo carrier Atlas Air in 1992. He was on the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of $920 million, ranked among the richest American businessmen of Pakistani heritage before his death in a plane crash in 2001.

* Andrew Miller 1982: Andrew Miller had a career with ClubCorp that grew to be a $2.2 billion company. Miller became very successful in his 33 years with the company before it sold in 2017. He now co-owns Heritage Golf Group, a company that has 20 country clubs and 2,300 employees.

* Wemimo Abbey 2013: Wemimo Abbey is the founder of Clean Water for Everyone, a social venture providing access to clean water for over 100,000 people in four countries. He also co-founded Esusu, a financial technology company that helps people save, build credit, and pave a permanent bridge to financial access and inclusion. A NYU Alum, Abbey is a recipient of the Africa Young African Committed to Excellence award, Sue W. Hancock Scholarly Excellence in Equity and Diversity (SEED) award, United States Presidential Achievement award, and the National Excellence in Leadership award. In 2016 Abbey was selected by Queen Elizabeth II as a Queen Young Leader, and joined the Royal Commonwealth Society in 2017.

* Ed Widseth 1932: Ed Widseth was drafted in the first round of the 1937 NFL Draft. He played for the New York Giants from 1937-1940. Widseth was recognized as an all-NFL player three consecutive years. As a rookie in 1937, he was selected as a second-team All-NFL player by Collyers Eye Magazine, the INS, the NFL, the New York Daily News and the United Press. In 1938, Widseth was rated a first-team All-NFL player by Collyer's Eye, the Pro Football Writers, the INS, the NFL, the New York Daily News, and the United Press. He was selected to the 1938 Pro Bowl. In 1939, he was selected as a second-team All-NFL player by the NFL and New York Daily News. Widseth coached St. Thomas College from 1945 to 1946 and his team won the Minnesota College Conference title both years. Widseth was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. Widseth's official biography at the Hall of Fame describes him as follows: "A slashing, driving invader, Widseth used his 6-2 220-pound body to pummel opposing players, relentlessly advancing until the ball-carrier was within his grasp and quickly felled." The football field at the University of Minnesota Crookston is named Ed Widseth Field in honor of Widseth.

*Jim LeClair 1969: Jim LeClair was named MCCC Minnesota College Athletic Conference All-Conference and NJCAA All-Region in football and ranked first in Minnesota and fourth in the nation in wrestling during the 1970-1971 season. He also captained both teams. LeClair led the 1968 football team to a 6- 2 record that was at one time ranked nationally. They won the Northern Conference Title of the Minnesota Junior College League. He was named to the NCJAA All-Region and All Minnesota football teams. LeClair was also an outstanding wrestler during his two years at UMC. LeClair finished his final year at UMC with a record of 25-2 in the 190-pound division. In addition to being captain of the wrestling team, LeClair finished his final season ranked fourth in the nation, first in the state and outstanding wrestler in three tournaments. LeClair was selected in the third round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. LeClair spent the next three years mainly as a starter on special teams and as a backup linebacker. He became a starter on defense in 1975 and remained so for the rest of his career (nine seasons through 1983). LeClair was named to the Pro Bowl in 1976. In 1981, he was a starting linebacker on the Bengals team which won the AFC Championship Game dubbed "The Freezer Bowl", the coldest game in NFL history, won by the Bengals over the San Diego Chargers, 27–7. He then played in Super Bowl XVI. The 1983 season was the last of his 12-year NFL career, which included 10 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. After leaving the NFL, LeClair played for two seasons with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL.

See also

* List of colleges and universities in Minnesota
* Higher education in Minnesota

Notes

References

External links

*

Official athletics website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minnesota Crookston, University of

Educational institutions established in 1905
Education in Polk County, Minnesota
Buildings and structures in Polk County, Minnesota
Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association
Crookston, Minnesota
1905 establishments in Minnesota
University of Minnesota Crookston