INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE - SMSU | Southwest · Web viewINSTITUTIONAL PROFILE Introduction...

Introduction

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities invites applications and nominations for president of Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU). The new president will succeed Dr. Ron Wood, who is serving in his second year as Interim President. Dr. Wood succeeded Dr. David Danahar, who was president at SMSU for 10 years, the longest tenure of any of the eight permanent presidents in the University’s history.

Southwest Minnesota State seeks an energetic and visionary president with the experience and passion to lead a dynamic institution to realize its mission.

Southwest Minnesota State University offers a diverse undergraduate curriculum in the arts and sciences and selected professional programs, as well as master’s degree programs in Business and Education.

The presence of the University fills a higher educational need in Southwest Minnesota.

Southwest Minnesota State University has enjoyed consistent growth over the past decade. In 2011, SMSU’s headcount was 6,588. A comprehensive recruiting plan has resulted in a 2012 freshman class that is 14% higher than the previous year. SMSU’s faculty and staff are committed to helping make the University a place “Where You Belong.”

Southwest Minnesota State University was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1963. SMSU began its mission in 1967, and its charter class graduated in 1971. It is the youngest of the seven, four-year institutions within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Southwest Minnesota State University is proud of its tradition of excellence, which includes fostering intellectual growth and career preparation within a liberal arts tradition. That tradition emphasizes individual attention and embodies respect for diverse cultures and multiple voices. The University is strongly committed to supporting the educational and career goals of its students and to developing programs responsive to the needs of the region.

SMSU alumni are leaders within the region and beyond, are engaged in civic affairs and able to adapt to a changing global environment. SMSU students are encouraged to engage and interact within the community and region, which helps them become committed, productive citizens in their respective communities.

Southwest Minnesota State Universitywww.SMSU.edu

INSTITUTIONMission Statement

Vision

Southwest Minnesota State University prepares students to meet the complex challenges of this century as engaged citizens in their local and global communities. Our comprehensive degree programs, taught in the liberal arts tradition, are dedicated to connecting students’ academic and practical professional development experiences in

Southwest Minnesota State University is a university of choice.

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Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Background and Overview

Southwest Minnesota State University is a proud member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. The MnSCU system includes seven state universities and 24 two-year technical colleges. It is the fifth largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.

Governance. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees. Trustees are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Minnesota Senate. Twelve trustees serve six-year terms, eight representing each of Minnesota’s congressional districts and four serving at-large. Three student trustees – one from a state university, one from a community college and one from a technical college – serve two-year terms. The board appoints the chancellor who acts as the chief executive officer for the system. The current chancellor, Steven Rosenstone, was appointed on August 1, 2011. The chancellor recommends to the board the appointment of college and university presidents who then report to the chancellor.

In January 2012, the MnSCU Board adopted a strategic framework for the future of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. The framework emphasizes MnSCU’s essential role in growing Minnesota’s economy by opening doors of educational opportunity to all Minnesotans. To that end, the strategic framework commits MnSCU to:

1. Ensuring access to an extraordinary education to all Minnesotans Our faculty and staff will provide the best education

available in Minnesota, preparing graduates to lead in every sector of Minnesota’s economy.

We will continue to be the place of opportunity, making education accessible to all Minnesotans who seek a college, technical, or university education; those who want to update their skills; and those who need to prepare for new careers.

2. Being the partner of choice to meet Minnesota’s workforce and community needs Our colleges and universities will be the partner of

choice for businesses and communities across Minnesota to help them solve real-world problems and keep Minnesotans at the leading edge of their professions.

Our faculty and staff will enable Minnesota to meet its need for a substantially better educated workforce by increasing the number of Minnesotans who complete certificates, diplomas and degrees.

3. Delivering to students, employers, communities and taxpayers the highest value/most affordable option Our colleges and universities will deliver the highest


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value to students, employers, communities and taxpayers.

We will be the highest value/most affordable higher education option.

Southwest Minnesota State University Programs

Southwest Minnesota State University is a public university located in Marshall, Minnesota (population of 14,000). Its academic, social, and cultural programs are flourishing and the campus continues to grow. Southwest Minnesota State University students may choose to pursue studies in two colleges: the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences or the College of Business, Education and Professional Studies.

SMSU offers a portfolio of broad and diverse educational opportunities, ranging from programs guided by our liberal arts tradition, complimented with a purposeful selection of professional and graduate programs that align with the needs, resources and expertise of the region.

The University offers:• 50 undergraduate degree programs,• 16 pre-professional programs,• 4 Master’s degree programs, and• Numerous licensure and specialist degree programs.

Southwest Minnesota State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; the National Association of Schools of Music; the Minnesota Board of Teaching; the American Chemical Society; the Council on Social Work Education; and National Association of Concurrent Enrollment Programs.

Institutional Distinctions

Over 200 outstanding instructional faculty support and provide instruction to the Southwest Minnesota State University student body. The faculty is comprised of 41 professors, 37 associates, 35 assistants and 91 instructor/adjunct professors. Eighty-four percent of the faculty members hold the highest degree in their field. Although the faculty are committed primarily to undergraduate teaching, they also engage in research and scholarship. Their research often leads to additional opportunities for undergraduate students — opportunities that would be available only to graduate students at many other universities.

In addition, approximately 60 administrative and service faculty provide support services to students and are distinguished by their dedication to the University’s mission and students. They are critical to the overall institution’s success and to the


Signature ProgramsAgronomyBusiness

Creative WritingCulinologyEducation

Environmental ScienceExercise Science

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success of individual students. Several administrative faculty have been recognized for outstanding contributions within the MnSCU system. They recruit, advise, register, employ, lead and engage students outside the classroom.

SMSU was built with accessibility in mind. Its academic buildings are connected via tunnels. The campus community is committed to the success of our students with disabilities.

Faculty Achievements, Distinctive Accomplishments, Academic Excellence

The SMSU instructional faculty are well-qualified and committed to teaching, scholarship and the mission of the University. Below are just a few examples of our faculty achievements, distinctive accomplishments and academic excellence:

SMSU was the first university in the state to offer concurrent enrollment courses to high school students and continues to be a leader in that area. SMSU faculty mentor high school teachers, who in turn instruct concurrent enrollment students in over 100 high school districts within the state.

SMSU was one of 27 institutions from across the country to receive a Difficult Dialogues grant from the Ford Foundation, allowing for students and faculty to engage in constructive dialogue about controversial political, religious, racial and cultural issues.

SMSU faculty, in collaboration with SMSU students, assist Marshall High School and Middle School students in testing and monitoring the water quality of the Redwood River several times a year.

SMSU, through its Office of Distance Learning, offers an innovative 2+2 Associate to Bachelor’s degree completion program through numerous articulation agreements with community/technical colleges in the state.

Through the Office of Civic Engagement, SMSU is committed to integrating service learning into its curriculum.

Faculty advisors play instrumental roles in student clubs and organizations. The Students in Free Enterprise group routinely finishes in the top 20 nationally, and last year launched an international outreach program to renovate a depressed area in Jamaica called Faith’s Pen.

SMSU hosts the Southwest Marketing Advisory Center (SMAC), a stand-alone marketing business staffed by student employees that has completed over 350 consulting projects for both small and large organizations. SMAC gives student employees real-world marketing experience.


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SMSU writers and alumni have won numerous Minnesota Book Awards.

SMSU faculty and community members are instructors for the innovative Senior College, which offers non-credit courses to seniors and other adults in southwest Minnesota.

The renovated SMSU Planetarium offers a variety of shows during the year to the SMSU and greater southwest Minnesota communities. The shows are especially popular with grade-school students in the region.

A new RN to BSN (nursing) program has been approved and classes are expected to begin in summer or fall 2013.

Southwest Minnesota State University graduates get jobs: Of our 2010-11 graduates, 95 percent are working, and 90 percent have found jobs in their field of study. An active Career Services office helps guide students through the job-search process, and also assists alumni in finding jobs.

SMSU is home to the nation’s first Research Chefs Association-approved Culinology program, an independent, stand-alone, fully integrated culinary arts and food science program. The combination of the Culinology program, the Hospitality Management program, and the University’s many private industry relationships uniquely positions SMSU to graduate students for success in a myriad of food industry and hospitality positions.

Agriculture is critically important to the economy of southwest Minnesota. The University’s Agronomy and Agribusiness Management programs serve the needs of ag-related employers within the region, and beyond.

SMSU is a leader in undergraduate research. A campus-wide Undergraduate Research Conference has been held the past six years and highlights research efforts of students across most academic areas of the University.

SMSU is home to the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) program, which helps develop the skills of Minnesota’s ag and rural leaders. The program is a collaborative effort with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

SMSU offers Living & Learning Communities, which enhance the overall resident experience by grouping students with similar academic or special interests in the same residence. These include: Culinology House; Access, Opportunity and Success House; Fine Arts Community; and Mustang Traditions House.

Five faculty have been named Salzburg Fellows to attend the prestigious Salzburg Seminar in Austria.

A Biology professor has been named one of the 2012 40 Vision and Change Leadership Fellows from across


Top Five Employers

The Schwan Food Company

Southwest Minnesota State University

HyVee

Avera Marshall Medical Center

Top Five Employers of SMSU Education Grads

Luverne School District

Albert Lea School District

BOLD School District

Marshall Public Schools

Willmar School District

(Minnesota school districts)

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the country who will help reform how life sciences are taught in post-secondary institutions.

A new Investment Research and Trading Center was opened in the spring of 2012, giving students in financial classes an opportunity to gain practical experience with investing and financial research.

Southwest Minnesota State University faculty are distinguished by their collegiality and willingness to share their time and talent with students, other faculty members and the larger community. The institution’s interdisciplinary focus supports and encourages building relationships among faculty from diverse disciplines. Professional development opportunities cross disciplinary borders.

Administration and Staff

Southwest Minnesota State University administrative and classified staff are distinguished by their commitment and loyalty to the University’s mission and students. They provide the needed resources and support that enable the more visible parts of the campus to function effectively. They give students opportunities to practice what they are learning in the classroom, and to energize their classroom conversations with real world examples. Together with the faculty, SMSU’s administrative and classified staff are responsible for delivering the whole Southwest Minnesota State University experience.

Budget and Finance

The operating budget for fiscal year 2011 was approximately $50 million. Of that amount, $14.7 million came from net tuition and fees, $15.6 from state appropriations and $19.3 million from other revenues.

Connecting Knowledge With Practice

Southwest Minnesota State University believes that a student’s education is increased, and enriched, outside the classroom. Whether students are involved in career-related student work or hands-on internships, SMSU strives to make theory applicable in relevant experiences. Members of the faculty encourage students to undertake independent research and creative projects. These student undertakings are highlighted each year at the annual Undergraduate Research Conference, a pioneering effort within the MnSCU system which highlights student achievement and research. SMSU hosts a Student Philosophy Conference annually. Many students also present at professional conferences and regional research symposiums.


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SMSU Students

The majority of students on the SMSU campus are traditional-age students who enter the University directly from high school. Approximately 840 students live in residence halls on campus or in SMSU Foundation-owned Residence Apartments. Housing ranges from traditional residence hall arrangements and multiple-person suites to apartments.

Average ACT score of SMSU students is 22. Eighty-two percent of students are Minnesota residents. Approximately 14 percent of students per academic year are students of color and/or international students. The student body includes students from 27 states and 19 countries. Many students are from families in which they are among the first generation to earn a college degree.

Tuition and fees are the same for in-state students and those from outside of Minnesota: $8,062. The average financial aid package is $10,362, and 87 percent of students receive financial aid. Approximately $8 million in financial assistance was administered during the 2010-11 academic year, including $4.3 million in federal grants, $2.1 million in SMSU scholarships/grants and $1.7 million in state grants.

Student Life and Development

SMSU has opened the Office of Student Success (OSS) that is focused on advancing a shared sense of responsibility for student learning and a commitment to enhancing the student experience and supporting the success of its students.

In its first full year, the OSS acts as the hub of numerous campus-wide initiatives designed to help new students find success and realize a more gratifying college experience.

Working with the Director of Institutional Research and Reporting, the OSS has identified the coursework that presents a high risk for new students. For these classes, historical data shows that up to 20 percent of new students have difficulty. With the help of faculty, these students are identified, and OSS personnel follow up, offering assistance in any number of ways.

The University has also started a retention initiative called Building Connections, a one-credit, four-week course that covers topics of interest to the students and helps them build connections with other students, and faculty.

The Mustang Mentor program pairs new students with upperclass students. Mentors give tours of student support areas, engage in several activities per semester with mentees, and check in periodically with the students to see how they may help enhance the SMSU experience.


SMSU Student Enrollment (Fall 2011)

Male 43%Female 57%

Students of Color9.10

%

International4.20

%

Ethnicity Unknown0.1

%

MN Resident81.6

%Counties Represented 76 Out of State 14%States Represented 26International 4%Countries

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Many SMSU students participate in community service activities. Marshall has been named one of America’s finest small cities and students play an integral part within the city. Marshall residents embrace the University and its students and recognize that they are an important part of the workforce and economic viability of the city. Many SMSU students land internships with businesses/groups within the region.

SMSU offers 85 clubs and organizations for students. Students may also serve on campus committees and task forces, and actively participate in the SMSU Student Association and their governing bodies. There are numerous leadership opportunities available to SMSU students. Faculty and staff take a proactive approach to ensure the academic success and social well-being of the students.

Integrated Planning

During the 2011-12 academic year, the University community collaborated to establish a Five-Year Strategic Plan (academic years 2012-2017). That plan includes five points of emphasis, and subsequent goals for each. The five points, and major goals, include:

Academic — Review programs for viability and sustainability; identify and prioritize new academic and support programs; expand the use of alternative delivery methods.

Enrollment Management — Establish a retention system so that by 2017 the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate is 80 percent; establish a recruitment system that ensures all programs have enrollments that sustain a healthy university environment; establish a plan to increase on- and off-campus student life activities.

Facilities and Equipment — Update the Campus Master Plan; create a facilities modernization plan; create a classroom modernization plan; create an instructional and campus-wide equipment upgrade plan; identify and prioritize major renovation projects.

Community Partnerships — Provide annual presentations by campus family members to at least 40 organizations within a 90-mile radius; develop an annual “Elected Officials Conference on Economic and Social Development of Rural Communities in the 21st Century.”

Diversity — Foster partnerships locally and state-wide that create a climate that supports the understanding of diverse individuals and groups; foster a campus climate that celebrates the interaction of diverse cultures in all academic and student service programs; maintain and expand existing activities and programs that draw internal and external groups to celebrate the richness of our diverse nation.


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The University is preparing for an upcoming Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation process. The University has been granted a delay in the HLC visit until 2014-15 to allow the new president a year to acclimate to the University and include their thoughts in the final self-study report.

Athletics

Southwest Minnesota State University has a proud tradition of success in athletics. SMSU is a Division II member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with men’s and women’s teams competing. The SMSU Mustangs compete in the 16-member Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Men’s teams include baseball, basketball, cross country, football and wrestling. Mustang women’s teams include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Men and women compete on the co-ed wheelchair basketball team. In addition, plans are moving forward for a men’s and women’s track and field team. The University boasts 50 NSIC championships and the athletic facilities are some of the finest in the conference.

Southwest Minnesota State University adheres to the NCAA Division II Philosophy Statement prepared for the administration and supervision of the intercollegiate athletic program for men and women.

Alumni

The Southwest Minnesota State University Alumni Association includes more than 17,600 members. From homecoming and reunions and traditional celebrations, the Alumni Association plans numerous events during the year, both on campus and off. Southwest Minnesota State University alumni have made a significant impact as educators, business leaders, media professionals, actors, artists, musicians, scientists, researchers, food service leaders, public servants and coaches.

Resource Development

The SMSU Foundation was established in 1963 to foster and support the advancement of Southwest Minnesota State University. The Foundation exists to raise general and restricted funds, steward those funds and distribute them in ways that support the mission of the University.

The Southwest Minnesota State Foundation Board is comprised of 28 members representing a variety of occupational and economic backgrounds. The Board provides counsel and financial support to enhance higher education at the University.


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The SMSU Foundation has a successful history of establishing meaningful relationships and securing generous support from alumni and friends. The University’s most recent capital campaign was a success, raising $23 million for scholarships, programs and initiatives at the University.

The Foundation showed assets of $8.6 million as of FY 2011. Contributions received in 2010-11 totaled $3.4 million, with over 5,255 donors. The alumni giving percentage is 13 percent, the highest of any four-year state institution. The Foundation contributed $2.6 million in support of SMSU during 2010-11.

Find a list of SMSU Foundation Board members at: www.smsufoundation.org.

Position and Qualifications

Southwest Minnesota State University’s next president will be a dynamic leader who has a clear vision, is comfortable in a shared governance environment, excels at management and resource development, is a team-player and an outstanding communicator who can articulate the vision and build support for the University. The successful candidate should have the ability to speak on behalf of the campus, the community and the region. Strong candidates will be able to demonstrate that they have successful experience in recruiting and retaining both a diverse student body and pool of employees.

The ideal candidate should possess experience demonstrating progressive responsibility in higher education administration or other extraordinary leadership experience at a large complex organization. This candidate will also have an appropriate combination of education, training, and experience that includes extensive expertise in program and curriculum development, fundraising, government relations and legislative processes, accreditation processes, and budget and fiscal management. A doctorate degree is preferred.

The president is responsible for leading the faculty and staff in developing and implementing the university mission. The president will ensure compliance with state statutes, policies, regulations and processes, as well as MnSCU system policies and procedures. The president serves on the MnSCU system Leadership Council, which consists of the chancellor, the presidents of the colleges and universities, and members of the system cabinet. As a member of the Leadership Council, the president will: contribute to the governance of the system; work to promote, enhance and protect the reputation of MnSCU; and collaborate to achieve system-wide strategies, goals and objectives.

Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. is assisting Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and Southwest Minnesota


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http://www.smsufoundation.org/

State University in the search. Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made. For best consideration, materials should be provided by October 15, 2012. Application materials should include a letter addressing how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements, a resume and contact information for at least five references. Submission of materials as MS Word attachments is strongly encouraged.

NOMINATIONS:

Individuals wishing to nominate a candidate should include the name, position, address, and telephone number of the nominee. A letter of addressing how the candidate’s experiences match the position requirements is recommended.

Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:

Jan Greenwood or Betty Turner AsherGreenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 42 Business Center Drive, Suite 206

Miramar Beach, FL 32550Phone: 850.650.2277Fax: 850.650.2272

E-mail: [email protected]@greenwoodsearch.com

For more information about Southwest Minnesota State University, please visit the Web site at http://www.smsu.edu/

Southwest Minnesota State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Minnesota

State Colleges and Universities is an equal opportunity educator and employer.


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