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Thursday, April 4, 2013
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Minnesota State University, Mankato
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THURSDAY
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FRIDAY
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SATURDAY
The Master Plan Morris to ditch The Cunningham Group’s Darryl Pratte discusses MSU’s latest plans for campus-wide improvements.
interim tag
Dr. Henry Morris officially named Dean of Institutional Diversity. WESS MCCONVILLE
staff writer
shannon rathmanner • msu reporter CHRIS HOUCK
staff writer
Minnesota State University, Mankato is an institution that goes through many changes in any given period of time. Whether they are changes in staff, curriculum, or the face of the campus itself, there’s always something to establish or introduce to the college community, with the campus master plan at the forefront of many of the changes that may happen. MSU had its Campus Master Plan Open House on Wednesday, showcasing many of the changes that the Cuningham Group has recommended to the university. Darryl Pratte, a Project Designer and Planner with the Cuningham Group of Minneapolis, was at the open house, explaining many of the facets that come with working with an institution like MSU. “We’ve looked at open
space issues related to vehicles, traffic, bicycles, pedestrians, landscaping, sustainability, and the buildings as well,” said Pratte on the process of finding ways to improve on an entity like MSU. The Minnesota State Colleges and University system requires that its institutions have an update to their master plan every five years, and MSU showcased its own, updated vision during the open house. MSU Assistant Vice President Ron Fields was also at the open house, explaining what it is like for the university to work with the Cuningham Group. Fields noted that the school’s position on the recommendations are decided through interaction with the Cuningham Group’s steering committee, as well as over 50 meetings with groups, services and IT. The event, which was held in the Centennial Student Union invited students,
staff, and faculty to come to the open house and ask the facilities consultants any questions or address concerns regarding the future of MSU’s campus. “We’ve had input from student groups,” said Pratte on the plans that the Cuningham Group unveiled. “We’ve had input from faculty, we’ve had input from a task force that was a group set up to review all of the issues we’ve done, individual interviews with the deans, [and] with the facilities folks. So it’s kind of a culmination of a lot of information.” The open house displayed several different utilities that are being considered, highlighting many of the changes the university may experience in the coming years. In the 0-9 year draft displayed at the open house, details of a proposed College of Business building
Master Plan / page 2
Dr. Henry Morris, who has served as interim dean of Institutional Diversity at Minnesota State University, Mankato since 2010, will continue this role in an official capacity effective July 1. Morris will continue his work helping segments of the MSU community acclimate into college life and Mankato. “I look forward to working with the rest of the community to make this a welcoming and inviting place for those who may be a little different than the majority,” Morris said. He also looks forward to the flexibility the permanent label gives him. “It’s always a little different from interim to permanent,” Morris said. “When the interim (label) drops off, it allows you to do a little more long-term planning, but the job descriptions the same, and the responsibilities are the same.” Institutional Diversity at MSU helps recruit and retain demographically underrepresented students, faculty and staff. This includes the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs and the LGBT Center. It also represents women and sponsors the College Access Program in the summer. This program gives atrisk youth, and others who may not have otherwise made it to college in their current situation, an opportunity to get a taste of college life and attend a summer session before taking a full load of classes in the fall. MSU established Institutional Diversity nearly 30 years ago, when students of various ethnic and racial backgrounds found trouble fitting into their new surroundings. “Thirty-two years ago, the numbers of students of color were not nearly as high as they
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are now.” Morris said. “You had students who came to an environment they may not have been accustomed to and, in some ways, felt unwelcomed into the university or the community. Institutional Diversity has always tried to serve as a place that helps [students, faculty and staff] make the transition from wherever they were coming from into Mankato.” Institutional Diversity helps to retain underrepresented and first-generation, students, faculty and staff by providing advising. Although Institutional Diversity has grown exponentially since its inception in the early ‘80s, Morris knows there is always room for improvement. “I think we need to always work on how we recruit and retain students,” he said. “We have always looked to improve what we are doing, and the same still holds.” Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Linda Baer announced Morris’ new title. She said in a statement, “His experience and leadership will allow us to continue to build upon the successful area within the Division of Institutional Diversity at [MSU].” Before serving as interim dean, Morris was the executive director for Off-Campus Centers and Enrollment Management from 2007-10, and a Minnesota State, Mankato Presidential Fellow from 2005-07. He is also the former director of the Centennial Student Union and has held different positions in student affairs. Morris has a bachelor’s degree in history and government from Hamilton College and a master’s degree in education from the University of Rhode Island. He received his doctorate in education from St. Mary’s College in Minnesota.
A&E
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INDEX: SPORTS
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CLASSIFIEDS
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