Winter 2013 a Publication for Alumni and Friends of the College Of
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Winter 2013 A publication for alumni and friends of the College of Continuing Education Opening Doors From the Dean Photo by Tim Rummelhoff Photo by Tim It’s a good thing we have lots of practice. teachers carefully crafting courses In this year of anniversaries we celebrate where students in the “academic 150 years since President Lincoln signed middle” now also can experience the Morrill Act creating a path for the rigors and rewards of college universities across the country to serve curriculum. the public and 100 years since Minnesotans’ • 19 years of advisory boards of faculty land-grant University formed this College. and employers in a handful of industries Those two actions alone enabled myriad partnering to develop applied individuals to create a better quality bachelor’s then professional master’s of work, and of life, for themselves and programs so adults can expand their their communities. In this centennial perspectives in engaging classroom Greetings, issue we celebrate: discussions often online or at night. As I write, the election fades, but the • 75 years of professionals taking part As we celebrate the past, we also look passion for making the right choices in intensive conferences – a front-row to the future. We are laying the ground- – to put Minnesotans back to work, to seat to what a University historian work for excellent education for the next drive business innovation and medical described as “the advances, discoveries, century of lifelong learners. advancements, to make health care and new techniques which have Sincerely, affordable, and so much more – remains. become an indispensable part of [the] professional equipment in their What underlies so many of today’s issues respective fields since they left is quality education. It opens doors to college.” new ways of thinking about society’s • 25 years of bold high school students needs and provides a higher quality of Dr. Mary L. Nichols venturing into college classrooms – life for all of us. But quality education Dean, College of Continuing Education both on campus and right in their requires us to collectively roll up our University of Minnesota sleeves and let loose our imaginations. home high schools; and, more recently, dedicated U faculty and high school Contents In the News CCE Current Editorial Board Mary Nichols, Dean 1 1993+ | Applied bachelor’s degrees This May, Bob Alberti graced the cover Kathleen Davoli, Director of Development match degrees to employers’ needs of the Star Tribune when he finished his and employees’ schedules CCE bachelor’s degree after 32 years of CCE Current Team 4 1985+ | High school students get a slow progress through cycles of education and “life intervening.” Editor: Liz Turchin head start on a sure footing Know of a CCE grad making news? Writer: Megan Rocker 6 1912+ | R-A-D Radio Contact the CCE Current editor at Graphic Designer: Adam Turman 8 1936+ | Professional development [email protected] or 612-625-1274. Production Coordinator: Kendra Weichbrodt conferences and courses share big Mail List Coordinators: Sheryl Weber-Paxton and ideas in a small amount of time Peggy Lehti Photographers: Daniel Corrigan, Tim Rummelhoff, 10 2010+ | Professional master’s and V. Paul Virtucio degrees groom leaders without losing them from the workforce 13 2012+ | Joan T. Smith starts the Centennial Fund 15 Thank you | Donations open doors to For More Information Volume 9, Number 1 CCE Current, a publication for alumni, donors, and friends of the College of Continuing Education at the University of Minnesota, is published twice a year from offices at the next century of lifelong learning www.cce.umn.edu Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108-6080. Readers are encouraged to submit comments and story ideas to the editor at this address or via e-mail to 17 From the Development Director [email protected]. 612-624-4000 The information in this publication is available in alternative formats. Disability accommodations for programs in this publication are available upon request. Call 612-625-1711. The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. © 2012 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. DO-0471-01/11.12 DRIVING FORCE Innovative applied degrees help meet market need for educated professionals in high-demand fields Photo by Tim Rummelhoff Photo by Tim Nyoka Giles, 2012 Manufacturing Operations Management graduate he College of Continuing It is no surprise, then, that it is also students, as well as the market. Students Education has long been the the home of the University’s suite of gain professional experience firsthand. home of interdisciplinary, Bachelor of Applied Science degree The first of these degrees, Bachelor Tcross-collegiate education at the programs (BAS). These practical, of Information Networking (which later University of Minnesota. So, too, has real-world programs draw course work became the current Information it been a home to adult learners of all from around the University and are Technology Infrastructure) rolled out in backgrounds, featuring courses designed designed in conjunction with the input 1993. It was followed by more bachelor’s to meet the needs of busy adults, many of advisory boards of industry leaders in degrees, including current programs of whom are balancing the demands of a response to the changing needs of which focus on management in the family, a career, or other pressures. construction and manufacturing >>>>>>>>>>>Winter 2013> 1 fields.“They fit well into CCE’s suite of both quality and value in delivery of demand for management and leadership programs,” says Michelle Koker, the products to customers,” he says. training from one of the fastest growing College’s director of undergraduate “Successful companies optimize career fields today. “Building technology degree programs, “because they allocation of resources between insource is changing rapidly,” says Peter Hilger, provide adults a flexible way to get the of core competencies and outsourcing Construction Management faculty communications, business, and to add value and flexibility to supply member and FM project spearhead. technical skills they need to move chains. This course will better prepare “Pair that with the statistic that an into higher positions in their industry, our students for making sound sourcing estimated 50 percent of the existing or move to a new field altogether.” decisions that increase value for customers, facility managers will be retiring in the >>>>>>>>>>>> Paul Virtucio Photo by V. Peter Hilger, Construction Management faculty member Because the BAS programs are designed while reducing manufacturing costs and “Building technology is to provide timely, cutting-edge training managing supply chain performance.” for their respective industries, new The Construction Management (CM) changing rapidly. Pair that courses are being added frequently. program also saw a big change this with the statistic that an Manufacturing Operations Management year—the addition of a new degree track (MM) added three new core courses this in Facility Management (FM). Because estimated 50 percent of the year that “will refine the operations the skill set needed for that industry is focus to serve high-tech manufacturing— so diverse, the FM course work covers existing facility managers an area that includes Minnesota’s a wide area of interests and draws will be retiring in the next booming medical device manufacturing individuals from disparate backgrounds, sector,” says Koker. That type of response from interior design and engineering to two decades or so…you to market demands is critical, says Jack sustainability and project management. Sandahl, fellow at Boston Scientific’s The applied, interdisciplinary curriculum have a huge job market Supplier and Materials Management is hands-on, covering a variety of that is waiting for educated division. An advisory board member disciplines, including engineering, for the MM program, he is also the business and management, design, HR, people who can fill in that instructor for one of the new courses, sustainability, and more. Manufacturing Outsourcing Decisions. knowledge gap.” The FM program is the only one of its “The global economy has increased kind in the Upper Midwest, and fills a – Peter Hilger, pressure on organizations to optimize Construction Management 2 CCE Current faculty member >>>>>>>>>>>> next two decades or so…you have a huge satisfaction of being able to help people, in addressing my goals as a student and job market that is waiting for educated just from a slightly different aspect. young professional. people who can fill in that knowledge gap.” The course on FDA regulatory compliance One of the program requirements is an Company executives know their second and the business classes appealed to me internship for credit and I can honestly largest expense (behind personnel costs) especially, because I knew I wanted to say it opened numerous doors for me is real estate and building costs, explains work in a more managerial role in med and my career. Networking with local Kristine Fisher, certified facility manager, tech—maybe process engineering or companies provides students an director of corporate real estate for RBC regulations, as opposed to a technical/ opportunity to build relationships within Wealth Management, and instructor for product development role. the industry and learn hands on. The Facility Operations and Maintenance. tools I gained through the CM program To understand and control costs, “My degree gave me an prepared me for my internship and then, “organizations are looking for hard- ultimately, my education and field working, competent facility coordinators, understanding of the concepts experience prepared me for my career. managers, and leaders.” behind process control and I graduated with a major in construction “The degree will encompass the complete management and am currently working building lifecycle,” says Hilger.