Dr. Faith Hensrud, president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College, officially kicked off the 2017-18 academic year with the traditional President’s Welcome Breakfast.
Several hundred members of the university’s faculty, staff and administration gathered to recap the university’s achievements during the past year and to preview significant events on BSU’s horizon.
Hensrud congratulated BSU’s business administration and accountancy programs for reaching reaccreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education, celebrated BSU’s historic dual-enrollment agreements with four Minnesota tribal colleges and shared details about a recently-won Nursing Workforce Diversity Program grant that will help BSU provide significant scholarships and cultural support to American Indian nurses. She also recognized members of the BSU Sustainability Office who visited Washington, D.C., this summer to accept BSU’s Green Ribbon award for campus sustainability from the U.S. Department of Education.
Hensrud also unveiled the logo for the university’s upcoming centennial and announced an 18-month celebration to recognize this historic milestone beginning in April.
She updated the university on the progress of the current strategic planning initiative, which she said is on track for completion by December with implementation to begin in January.
“With an uncompromising focus on the well-being of our students, we will continue moving toward the remarkable future that we are capable of creating together here at Bemidji State University,” she said. “I want to thank you again for being here this morning and for being part of this very special place.”
Michelle Frenzel, executive director of enrollment management, provided a brief update on the preliminary enrollment outlook for the upcoming year. Official enrollment figures will be announced in conjunction with the 30th day of classes, which this year falls on Oct. 3.
Karen Snorek, vice president for finance and administration, recapped the Minnesota State system’s budget picture following the conclusion of the 2017 state legislative session and provided an update on the university’s budget for the upcoming year. She announced that plans to demolish Hagg-Sauer Hall and replace it with a smaller, modern classroom building remain on track, and that the project is the system’s top legislative priority for individual bonding projects for the upcoming 2018 Legislative session.
Dr. Tony Peffer, BSU’s new provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, asked the campus community to prepare for BSU’s upcoming process to reaffirm its accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, shared information about two recently implemented programs meant to support student success on campus, and invited all in attendance to participate in a full week of activities during fall start-up.
Start-up activities continue throughout the week in advance of BSU’s annual residence hall move-in day on Aug. 19. Fall classes begin Aug. 22.