Driven. Campaign: University of Minnesota Crookston Case Statement

Small Campus. Big Degree.

THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON

A Driving Force in Northwestern Minnesota The University of Minnesota Crookston is a force in the vitality of Northwestern Minnesota. Our unique dedication to workforce readiness, leadership development, innovation, and sustainability has meant far-reaching economic, cultural, and environmental growth for our community, our region, and beyond.

The U of M Crookston has developed a dynamic roster of careerfocused majors in business, including entrepreneurship, finance, and small business development, as well as agriculture and natural resources. To meet market demands for STEM-related graduates, we have expanded the curriculum in math, science, and technology, and continue to provide foundation skills for career development in our growing liberal arts and education majors.

Investing in the future The University of Minnesota Crookston requires strategic investment at this time of growth to meet the changing educational, economic, and cultural needs of our students, faculty, campus, and communities.

As we embark on a new fundraising campaign, the support of our philanthropic partners will help us achieve these outcomes: Provide a world-class education to more students of promise

The University of Minnesota Crookston is committed to preparing graduates to find and create jobs through hands-on learning, immersion in technology, and a required internship in all majors.

These changes have played a key role in our record-setting enrollment, and our ability to meet the needs of our 1800 undergraduates: half who prefer a small college experience in a rural setting on campus, and half who prefer the flexibility and convenience of pursuing a degree online.

This growth means greater demand for scholarships, campus improvements, and faculty support. We are committed to creating the kinds of opportunities that will prepare promising students for success in academics and in life.

Investing in people provides faculty the tools critical to providing exceptional classroom instruction and mentoring students in rich research experiences that will shape their future. These investments reach beyond the classroom, making important contributions to Northwestern Minnesota and beyond.

Increase capacity for the highest levels of excellence in teaching and learning Ensure an outstanding experience for students, faculty, and community

We invite you to become a passionate

partner in this exciting endeavor.

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University of Minnesota Crookston

OUR VISION: A campus committed to a promising future for students and dedicated to strengthening the vitality of Northwestern Minnesota, the state, and beyond.

Small Campus. Big Degree.

CAMPAIGN GOAL

The U of M Crookston was established as an institution of higher learning in 1966. Since its transition to offering baccalaureate programs in 1993, this small, close-knit campus offers the prestige of a University of Minnesota degree. All students and faculty are equipped with laptop computers; provided with individual attention and mentorship; and offered top academics with the practical, hands-on approach to teaching and learning that makes the U of M Crookston experience distinctive.

What matters to the region matters to us As the U of M Crookston continues to thrive and grow, so does the region’s vitality. A 2010 economic impact study showed the U of M Crookston contributes at least $50 million each year to the region. Our pledge is to continue to add value by making growth sustainable.

The rising tide of rankings The campus has four academic departments (Agriculture & Natural Resources; Business; Liberal Arts & Education; and Math, Science, & Technology) delivering exceptional academic programs that lead to a prestigious University of Minnesota degree. Washington Monthly ranked the U of M Crookston among the top 100 baccalaureate colleges in the country. The campus continues to be ranked nationally within the top tier by U.S. News & World Report “Best College”—both online and on-campus programs.

Our location sets us apart The University of Minnesota Crookston is the college of choice for students from more than 40 states and 20 countries in a campus environment that encourages global awareness as well as diverse perspectives, and offers numerous opportunities to study abroad.

Investing will...

Increase enrollment and access for more students Modernize the campus to deliver greater value to all Create opportunities for research, teaching, and innovation

We are seeking $13 million in private donor support to empower the U of M Crookston to shape and impact the NW Minnesota region and beyond, in transformative ways.

Small Campus. Big Degree.

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Investing in people SCHOLARSHIPS

$4

million

We will increase enrollment and access for more students by growing our scholarship endowment.

Growing our scholarship endowment will provide a permanent source of financial support and greater access for future generations of students at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

The U of M Crookston has a history of supporting students with financial need. Today, we offer more than 300 scholarship awards provided by generous donors, as well as several University-wide scholarship programs. The average amount of financial need after scholarships and grants is more than $8,300 per year per student.

Our goal is to ease that potential debt burden by: Increasing the number of awards by up to 75%, so that more than 180 additional students may receive a scholarship. This would also improve our recruitment, which is essential for sustainability and growth.

Much of what Katrina learned growing up on a dairy farm has been applied to athletics and academics. “It is about hard work and mindset,” Nordick says. “It is about succeeding and achieving and competing with yourself. I always want to be better....”

Katrina Nordick Applied Studies B.S., 2016

Awarding scholarships to more high-need students whose families earn too much to qualify for federal aid, but too little to afford tuition and other costs of attendance for their son or daughter.

Awarding financial support to more students who run out of their federal aid and loan allocation, helping students complete the degree they’ve started and improving retention at the U of M Crookston.

Private support allows students to engage in leadership and service activities and enrich their college experience through internships and study abroad opportunities to help them develop skills they will need as tomorrow’s decision makers. Scholarship students graduate on time and tend to be better prepared to pursue their plans after graduation.

For many U of M Crookston students, especially those first in their family to attend college and those from diverse backgrounds, scholarships can mean the difference between staying in school to complete their degree or dropping out for financial reasons.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO

SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIP $4 million in endowed funding for more scholarship opportunities and higher award amounts that will support U of M Crookston students now and in the future.

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University of Minnesota Crookston

“I want to be a world changer, a difference maker, a legacy builder. Through my classes, I learned how to use multimedia to engage people and stir them to think and act. If I can create multimedia messages that move people to think and act with kindness, honor, and social justice, and if I can help bring people into encounters of hope and “ah-ha” moments that inspire them to be brave and change their world for the better...well, then I will feel like I have lived this life well.”

Stephanie Carlson Communication B.S., 2017 Small Campus. Big Degree.

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PROGRAMS & RESEARCH

$2

million

Investing in enriching programs and innovative research We will cultivate greater opportunities for exceptional teaching, learning, and research within and beyond the classroom.

To ensure excellence in the classroom, on campus, online, and in the community, expertise in the best and most current academic practices in teaching, research, and outreach are a high priority.

Support will help U of M Crookston compete for talented faculty and student scholars, conduct innovative research, and offer meaningful internships, to benefit all aspects of our mission.

Faculty-led undergraduate research leverages expertise to provide essential, applied experiences that prepare students for graduation, professional school, and the workforce. Investments will increase student participation in the creation of new knowledge and foster curiousity and discovery.

Many of today’s students see themselves and their future in the context of a larger world. To provide them with a better understanding of diversity, multiculturalism, and global issues, investment will provide opportunities to internationalize curriculum and related programs. We will also boost international student support and offer more opportunities to study abroad.

If Catie has had an “ah-ha” moment in her college career, it came in applied chemical principles class.

“I started to think about chemistry differently, and while my lab partner and I talked about it lightheartedly at the time, we realized that ‘chemistry really is life.’”

Catie Brown Animal Science B.S., 2016

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University of Minnesota Crookston

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO

ENHANCE TEACHING AND LEARNING $2 million to invest in enriching programs that foster excellence in teaching, learning, and research.

Gifts to a Chancellor’s Discovery Fund give the campus flexibility and nimbleness to respond to emerging needs.

Gifts designated to a department, program or initiative promote alignment with a donor’s specific interest.

Gifts for opportunities to study abroad and support for international students increase global awareness and cultural competency.

“We are driven to provide students with an exceptional learning experience. All of our efforts are focused on this. I believe the U of M Crookston is unique in the dedication, support, and caring our faculty and staff provide our students (in and outside the classroom). I know of few other places where the relationships students develop with their faculty continue well after graduation. This is who we are.“ Kevin Thompson, Ph.D. Department Head Business

Small Campus. Big Degree.

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Investing in places and spaces PLACES & SPACES

$7

million

We will continue to modernize the campus to deliver even greater value to our stakeholders.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a regional hub for innovation, creativity, and economic growth.

Investments in new technology and contemporary learning spaces and equipment support the best possible teaching and learning environment. Commiting to leading-edge technology and spaces attracts talented students, impacts curriculum, academic programs, and a student’s competitive edge, while supplying the workforce with graduates who are problem solvers and critical thinkers, prepared to solve regional and global challenges.

At U of M Crookston, learning takes place in the fields, barns, wellness center, classrooms, gardens, greenhouses, stables, labs, althletic fields, community - it’s endless. These spaces are essential to a hands-on learning experience, which is the cornerstone of our unique place in education.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO

ENHANCE AND MODERNIZE THE CAMPUS $7 million to invest in leading-edge technology and innovative spaces, that impact teaching, learning and competitive advantage Ideas include but are not limited to:

“We aspire to provide students across disciplines access to advanced tools and technologies fostering collaborative, interactive learning to give them the edge as they enter the workplace of tomorrow or pursue an advanced degree.”

Jeff Sperling Director Technology Support Services

Equip classrooms to enhance learning outcomes, designed to intentionlly meet unique needs within a field of study Increase laboratory spaces for biological and environmental sciences and chemistry, relative to faculty-led research Expand and update aging agriculture and animal science related facilities that allow for demonstration and hands-on application (e.g. lambing reproduction research space, barns and stables, etc.)

Leverage state funding with support for the Wellness Center, which may lead to naming opportunities, new program development and community and business collaborations Enhance spaces that serve athletics teams, student activities, and regionional sporting events; launch phase one of a proposed outdoor sports and recreation complex

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University of Minnesota Crookston

“Offering students places that foster growth academically and athletically encourage learning and development and prepare us for the future. Innovative labs, classrooms, and spaces, like the new Wellness Center, have an impact on who we become.�

Adam Connette Communication Major Golden Eagle Football

Small Campus. Big Degree.

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CONNECTING

people and passion...

A photo by John Zak

“A scholarship for veterans seemed an appropriate memorial to my husband, John, recognizing his proud military service. My heart was touched when I received a beautiful thank you note from the first recipient of the scholarship demonstrating such deep gratitude from him and his entire family. His words say it best: ‘I am looking forward to a career spent mentoring others to become the greatest version of themselves… I can assure you your gift will not be wasted on me and I will remember to pay your blessing forward to others like me when I can. ’” Deb Zak 10

University of Minnesota Crookston

with projects and purpose. “For us, giving the gift in memory of our son, Mitch, and naming the lobby of the wellness center is a reminder to all who enter it about the importance of life. This facility will attract students to the University of Minnesota Crookston and encourage them to stay. Our desire is to enhance the student experience on campus while inspiring the development of lifelong habits focused on wellness.�

Les and June Nielsen Northwest School of Agriculture 1958

Small Campus. Big Degree.

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The road ahead

THE PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITY CAMPAIGN GOAL: $13

MILLION

Investing in people $4 million in endowed funding for more scholarship opportunities and higher award amounts that will support U of M Crookston students now and in the future

Investing in enriching programs and innovative research $2 million to invest enriching programs that foster excellence in teaching, learning, and research

Investing in places and spaces $7 million to invest in leading-edge technology and innovative spaces, that impact teaching, learning, and competitive advantage

For more information contact: Brandy Chaffee Chief Development Officer University of Minnesota Crookston brandy@umn.edu 218-281-8434

UMF 10_2018