I. Ensure Access to an Extraordinary Education for all Minnesotans
Project
1. Our faculty and staff will provide the best education
available in Minnesota, preparing graduates to lead in every
sector of Minnesota’s economy.
BSU Initiatives
The University is participating in the Higher Learning Commission’s Academy for
Assessment of Student Learning as a vehicle for ensuring that all of our programs have
high quality assessment in place. This assessment is intended to promote continuous
improvement of student learning. The work for the Academy includes a specific focus on
assessment of liberal education and has resulted, this year, in the approval of a liberal
education assessment plan and a set of rubrics that will be used for assessment in liberal
education.
University programs continue to work with discipline-specific accreditation bodies to help
assure quality education. This year for example, the Professional Education Department
had a site visit from the Board of Teaching, leading to a preliminary recommendation of
continued program approval through 2019. In addition, the Technological Studies
department had a site visit from ATMAE, which recommended reaccreditation for the
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program for six years and accreditation for
the Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Engineering and the Bachelor of Science in
Technology Management programs for four years. Finally, the Business and Accounting
programs are accredited by IACBE with the next site visit scheduled for 2015, and recently
received notice of continuing accreditation, and documentation that all previous concerns
had been addressed. In addition, our Social Work program is fully accredited by the
CSWE, Nursing by CCNE, and Criminal Justice by the Minnesota Peace Officers
Standards and Training Board (POST).
All these external bodies work with our faculty and staff to help ensure that Bemidji State
University provides the best possible education to our students.
Learning opportunities also take place outside the classroom in various co-curricular
activities. These activities are assessed by clearly identifying student learning outcomes,
program outcomes and operational outcomes and are measured using standardized survey
instruments, focus groups, and rubrics that evaluate efficiency and compliance.
2. 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.
Graduation placement data indicates that, between 2000-2010 (the most recent data
available), 83% of graduates available for work related to their major were employed in
those fields. In addition, about 14% of all graduates during that time period were
continuing their education in graduate or professional programs.
http://www.bemidjistate.edu/offices/research_effectiveness/fact_books/BSU_Fact_Book_20
11-12.pdf
The University partners with many 2-year institutions on articulation agreements that
allow students to readily transfer to our four-year programs. To date we have articulation
agreements and other cooperative agreements in place with 50 community colleges and
other institutions of higher education.
In addition, the University offers several blended 4-year degree programs on community
college campuses, including the DLiTE BS in elementary education program and the
FasTrack Post-Baccalaureate program (for people who have degrees and are seeking
teacher licensure in secondary teaching) at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (Coon
Rapids campus), and RN - B.S. in Nursing degrees at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
(Cambridge Campus) and Lake Superior College in Duluth.
BSU also continues to work with the Arrowhead University consortium, and currently
delivers a Bachelor’s degree completion program in Psychology through a combination of
face to face evening courses at Hibbing Community College and online/distance delivered
courses to students in the Arrowhead University service region.
In addition, the University has also developed several fully online Bachelor’s degree
completion programs (Accounting, Business, Criminal Justice, Applied Engineering and
Technology Management) that allow place-bound students to be prepared for careers
critical to advance Minnesota’s economy. Physical education teachers in the field have the
opportunity to add a health teaching licensure by taking Bemidji State University courses
in an online format. Our online and distance degree program serve a demographic older
than the traditional on-campus college student. In 2012, 78% of online students were 23
years or older, and 26% were over 35 years of age.
Future online and distance delivered programs that are being considered at the University
include an online Bachelor’s degree completion program in Mass Communications, a
collaborative program in Indian Studies with Central Lakes College and Itasca
Community College, as well as an extended program in Social Work.
The Bemidji School of Nursing, a joint venture of Northwest Technical College and
Bemidji State University, will launch July 1st, 2012. This collaboration focuses on smooth
transitions and student empowered education in Nursing at the Associate and Bachelors
levels.
Departments regularly review curricula, and undergo external five-year reviews to ensure
that students get the most current, relevant education possible. In addition, several
departments have advisory boards to regularly get feedback from professionals working in
the field to help ensure the curriculum is up-to-date.
BSU works with area high schools to provide University level courses through PSEO
Concurrent Enrollment courses. These courses allow area high school student to earn
University credits while they are completing their high school requirements and can
provide students with transferrable college and university credits right out of high school.
Optivation leads a MnSCU consortium, titled InterCECT, that combines continuing
education/non-credit course offerings from multiple MnSCU institutions so that online
courses can be jointly marketed and students can be pooled from throughout the state into
a single course. This increases access and availability of continuing education to Minnesota
residents, while reducing costs for delivery and reducing duplication of curriculum
development.
360 degree has helped build a "Community of Practice" among faculty from partner
colleges. This community of faculty share ideas, online teaching strategies, and sometimes
equipment and resources. The faculty also develop curriculum jointly. The 360 degree
eTECH programs are available to all 360 degree partner institutions, and are aligned with
national standards.
University admission standards allow us to conditionally admit students who manifest the
motivation to succeed, but do not meet college readiness criteria. These admitted students
receive additional targeted support services designed to provide the opportunity to be
successful in their academic work.
II. Be the Partner of Choice to Meet Minnesota’s Workforce and Community Needs
Project
1. 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.
BSU Initiatives
The George W. Neilson Foundation has given $35,000 to fund internships during the
summer of 2012, within a 30 mile radius of Bemidji. These internships are intended for
Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College students, and a total of fiftyeight students applied for the internships with fourteen companies.
Several staff and administrators have been meeting this year with representatives of the
Bemidji Chamber of Commerce to develop strategies to facilitate connections with
members of the business community who need assistance, and students who need
internship opportunities, or who could benefit from working on a special project related to
their degree.
The Marketing Assistance and Research Solutions (MARS) is a faculty-directed, studentrun center serving northwest Minnesota business community. It provides BSU’s
marketing students with hands-on learning experiences. MARTS research services include
feasibility studies, internet and exploratory research, focus groups, group interviews,
telephone surveys, mail surveys, and strategic management analysis. The group has been in
abeyance for the current year, but it is expected to start up again in the 2012/2013
academic year.
The President’s Student Commission this year did work leading to recommendations about
how the institution can better partner with local and other communities.
As noted above, several departments and programs use advisory board to allow the
Institution to match educational outcomes with professional expectations.
Optivation continues to partner with business and industry to provide training resources
and collaborate on Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership proposals. Optivation leads a
MnSCU effort to implement Salesforce.com customer-relationship management (CRM)
software solution across MnSCU custom training/continuing education
departments. Optivation provides the back-end support to enable institutions to
implement Salesforce.com and to see how other institutions are connecting with the same
business. In the long term, this should reduce the duplication of effort with businesses.
A Water Institute is currently being developed at BSU to provide lake water testing
services, based on the request of our local county board.
The Environmental Studies program has a long history of engaging in research on various
aspects of regional environmental and resource issues and problems.
360 degree has supported over 50 summer camps and career exploration events to promote
manufacturing and technology-based education programs and careers. In addition, 360
degree and partner institutions have started a statewide VEX Robotic competition with 45
teams involved currently.
360 degree developed the Seamless Career Pathway in 2007 and continues to promote
manufacturing pathways and develop and support programs that fit the Seamless Career
Pathway.
Bemidji State University continues to work on partnerships that benefit both our students
and our communities. For example, work is underway on an allied health degree that
meets the needs of employers in the state and region. The initial program is being
developed in partnership with Winona State University, Healthforce Minnesota, and
several community and technical colleges.
2. 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.
Bemidji State University is also working with its regional partner, Sanford Health and with
Northwest technical College to develop community connections and opportunities for
faculty and students. Faculty from several interdisciplinary departments have visited the
Sanford Health Sioux Falls SD research facility and will begin a partnership that will link
faculty and students with Sanford researchers to pursue research projects in health, mental
health, sport injuries, diabetes, and cancer. Some of these projects will focus specifically on
Native American health.
In the five-year period between 2007 and 2011, the University granted an average of 911
degrees per year. Although this number has fluctuated, in 2011 the number of degrees was
939, 3% higher than the average number of degrees awarded during this time period.
These increases were particularly prominent in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
degrees.
Although the University recently eliminated programs as a result of reduced state
allocations, the institution also made strategic investments in several majors that should
show increases in degrees granted over the next several years. New and expanded efforts
in healthcare fields, special education, business, criminal justice, social work, teacher
education, science, and graduate studies are focused on preparing a well-educated and
highly skilled workforce.
Faculty are adjusting curriculum to streamline majors that will make it easier for students
to complete degrees in a timely manner. Several programs are developing plans for threeyear degree options.
In addition, BSU has submitted a new Bachelor of Individualized Studies degree program
to the System Office. The BIS is an interdisciplinary degree program will provide a
pathway to degree completion for students who have credits distributed in several
disciplines, or students who return to the University, but find their previous program of
study is no longer an option.
360 degree worked closely with DEED and workforce centers for the development of the
eTECH certificates.
BSU has recently entered into an agreement with the Distance MN consortium as an
University Partner. As part of this partnership, BSU online Bachelor degree completion
programs will be marketed to prospective students who have previously completed a
diploma, technical or associates degree program (with a Distance MN campus or other
campus) and are interested in moving forward towards a Bachelor’s degree for personal or
career enrichment.
III. Deliver to Students, Employers, Communities, and Taxpayers the Highest Value / Most Affordable Option by Designing the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities System of the Future
Project
1. Our colleges and universities will deliver the highest
value to students, employers, communities and taxpayers.
2. We will be the highest value / most affordable higher
education option.
BSU Initiatives
Alignment of BSU-NTC has resulted in many “back office” functions being combined to
allow cost savings. This includes, for example, sharing human resources staff, customized
training, communication and marketing, and administrative leadership between both
institutions.
The University has worked to minimize tuition increases in recent years. In addition, the
University, this past year, included online courses within the tuition band, reducing the cost
for full-time students who take online courses.
The University has committed to increase the availability of scholarships to enhance the
affordability of higher education at Bemidji State. This includes newly instituted
scholarships for incoming freshmen. In addition, the University has begun a capital
campaign that is largely focused on developing new scholarships for students.