President's Report
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PRESIDENT’S REPORT July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 PREPARED TO EXPECT WONDERS n my inauguration speech 10 years ago, I referred to Thoreau’s line “faith in a seed” to express my faith in the potential of students, and my sense that we can expect wonders if we believe in them. My experience working with students reveals that they deserve our faith as individuals — all of them unique, with different interests and backgrounds, different ideas about learning, sharing a common sense of wonder and excitement about their future. IThoreau was a teacher, and I imagine that he, too, believed in the potential of his students. Today, discussions about quality learning are drowned out with comments about educational productivity, often expressed as formulas for student success. I understand and support initiatives to improve productivity and to measure student success, but those priorities should not come at the expense of attending to learning, motivating and supporting students. It’s a useful reminder to take stock in quality learning, as we have done for nearly 100 years at Minot State University. Teaching is never easy, but we know that good teaching and student success come from our ability to listen carefully, show that we care, offer help, challenge students to work hard and to experience the joys of discovery and understanding. These are not far-fetched ideas. They are central to who we are. I hear stories from students and graduates who tell me about MSU professors who made a difference in their lives. For 10 years, I have heard those stories and observed them in classrooms. DR. DAVID G. FULLER Real student success depends on people who sincerely care about students and demonstrate their willingness to go beyond the call of duty. That’s what it takes. Admission scores, remedial training, uniform tuition, dual credit standards, and even waiver and scholarship plans should not displace our attention to quality learning and our faith in students. There are many in our profession who sincerely care about individuals’ learning and growth. “Though I do not believe They are the people who make higher education worthwhile. I can point to actual people and practices right under our noses that show the wonderful impact we make one student at a time. that a plant will spring Some who immediately come to mind include: Steve Hayton’s many hours after the workday ends helping students in computer science; Mikhail Bobylev’s countless hours mentoring and up where no seed has helping individuals with their research; Rick Watson’s special efforts to motivate and demonstrate the joys of learning, playing his guitar, reading poetry and befriending many; and Clarine Sandstrom revealing her unquestionable faith in students through kindness and support. Others who go out been, I have great faith of their way to help students are: Laurie Weber in Financial Aid, Mark Timbrook in the Office of Instructional Technology; George Withus from Information Technology Center; Deb Wentz in in a seed. Convince me my office; Ken and DeVera Bowles through their remarkable support of our choral students; Kevin Neuharth in our theater department; Scott Peterson in maintenance; Doreen Wald in Publications that you have a seed and Design Services. There are so many other people — too many to mention here — and programs that prove their commitment to quality learning and individual support. there, and I am prepared They are the heart of higher education. For nearly 100 years, they and others continue to make Minot State University a premier regional university in the “great” Great Plains. It is not to expect wonders.” performance scores, rankings in popular magazines, amount of efficiencies and admission standards that qualify MSU as a premier university. Rather, it is the people and tradition of — Henry D. Thoreau — service to our students that continue to give me faith and anticipation to expect wonders every day. That’s why I have loved higher education for years, and certainly why I believe in Minot State University and the job we do. And that’s why, 151 years after his death, Thoreau’s “faith in a seed” resonates now more than ever before. —David Fuller, president 3 MSU presidents were optimistic visionaries Arthur Crane William Clark Asra Steele Levi Beeler lthough subject to the authority of the State Board of Regents in Bismarck, the State Normal School at Minot was directed in its daily operations by its president. Over the last century, Minot State George McFarland Carl Swain Casper Lura University has been guided by leaders with diverse backgrounds, but who shared a similar vision: to create an institution of excellence that serves its students and community with equal fervor and dedication. Gordon Olson H. Erik Shaar David Fuller A 3 CRANE CLARKE STEELE BEELER MCFARLAND SWAIN LURA OLSON SHAAR FULLER Arthur Crane state. The geranium’s red and soft green symbolized to him the school’s function 1917 The groundbreaking for the State Normal to provide a better life for ordinary people. 1918-22 School at Minot’s initial building, known He said, “I don’t care what colors you later as Old Main, was scheduled for Aug. choose, just so they’re red and green.” In 27, 1912. On the evening before the cer- the early years of Minot’s Normal School, emony, Arthur Crane, a Carleton (North- each window of the main building had a field, Minn.) College graduate, performed box of geraniums. his first unofficial act. In the middle of Crane skillfully guided the school the night, the 35-year-old, newly chosen through social, cultural, economic and president moved survey stakes 50 yards legal difficulties in its first days. When William Clarke back. He disagreed on the building’s loca- construction problems delayed the cam- When Arthur Crane departed in 1917 tion with State Normal Board member pus opening, he promptly sought another to pursue a graduate degree and wartime Martin Jacobson, who helped with the option. He appealed to the community, service, William Clarke, the only faculty school’s physical layout. Crane wanted it which provided the rent-free use of of the member possessing a doctorate among the back from present-day University Avenue newly constructed Minot Armory. The original 12, became the acting president. to accommodate future growth and took first term of the State Normal School Clarke, the former supervisor of practice the necessary steps to ensure that. at Minot began Sept. 30, 1913, in the pedagogy and school management, was armory. Its offices served as recitation Model School director. He coordinated rooms, and the basement housed the au- and directed all war service activities as ditorium and gymnasium. Crane and the well as all normal and training school original faculty established the identity operations. He combined his Model 1913-21 and traditions of the fledgling school. School role with that of the presidency Students, faculty and staff often referred until Asra Steele replaced him in 1917. to him as “Father Crane.” He then replaced Steele in 1918 and later, In 1917, Crane received a 14-month Levi Beeler prior to George McFarland’s leave of absence to pursue graduate taking office in 1922. During presidential education at Columbia University in voids, Clarke ensured that campus New York. He returned to North Dakota operations continued smoothly. Little Crane possessed diverse talents. in September 1918. However, before he credit is given to Clarke, when, in fact, Although he had a poetic streak, he was could resume his presidential duties, the he provided much-needed stability. a practical, resourceful man. An intellec- Surgeon General of the U. S. Army called tual, an author, a gifted organizer, he had him into service for World War I. Crane above all else the ability to inspire others. worked for the Army Sanitary Corps at The MSU campus c. 1913 – 14. He could be forceful as well. Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, When the choice of school colors was D. C., organizing rehabilitation work and made, Crane voiced his preference for red vocational training for disabled soldiers. and green. The art faculty recommended He returned to Minot’s State Normal three colors, but the president would not School for two months in 1921, before be swayed. He saw the young institution resigning to accept the presidency of the as belonging to the common people of the University of Wyoming. 4 5 CRANE CLARKE STEELE BEELER MCFARLAND SWAIN LURA OLSON SHAAR FULLER Asra Steele Levi Beeler 1922 The State Board of Regents appointed In May 1922, Levi Beeler of the University Asra Steele from the University of West of Chicago assumed duties as president of Virginia’s Department of Education as Minot’s Normal School. Professionally, the first interim president in June 1917. he started as a high school principal in Steele had a bachelor’s degree from the Stillwater, Minn. Beeler later completed a University of Missouri and a doctorate doctorate at the University of Minnesota. from Clark University. During Steele’s He was described as a scholar of strong administration, several of Arthur Crane’s personality and a “Gatling-gun talker.” the ninth grade or its equivalent, and not improvements were realized. These In 1908, he was appointed president of more than a sixth of the work leading included additions to the school’s plant Henry Kendall College in Tulsa, Okla., to a diploma could be taken in absentia. and the introduction of correspondence which faced problems with its endow- Each course consisted of 20 lessons, with work under the Extension Department. ment, land management, enrollment a syllabus outlining the course. A final Neither Steele’s impeccable credentials and debt. The problems persisted, if not examination was administered at the nor his faithful effort to continue Crane’s magnified, and trustees grew increasingly Normal School or under the supervision policies, however, could prevent his unhappy with Beeler.