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What a rush — a new year at SMSU

Editor’s note: This is the second of a series of back-to-school stories.

By Jenny Kirk

jkirk@marshallindependent.com

MARSHALL – For the past week, the Southwest Minnesota State university campus has been bustling with activity as students, staff and faculty are gearing up for a new academic year.

Coupled with the Marshall community’s Sounds of Summer celebration and Smokefest competition (hosted at SMSU), the university’s Gold Rush Days got students – especially new ones – introduced and acclimated to college life on campus.

“It’s gone really well,” SMSU President Connie J. Gores said. “There’s a lot of students. It’s real busy. It’s active. There’s an energy here that is just palpable. You can feel it.”

Gold Rush Days orientation for new students began with Move-In Day on Aug. 18. Roughly 500 current students, faculty members, staff and community members pitched in to assist the students – considered the Class of 2020 – with the move-in process. A wide array of sessions and activities were scheduled after that.

“The students really enjoy it,” Gores said. “And they learn a lot and get to meet new friends. They really appreciate the entire experience.”

Early on, new students had the opportunity to meet with , orientation leaders, academic advisers and residence hall advisers.

“They get to choose their classes,” Gores said. “They get a sense of what the academic program is and what their four years will be like – two years if they’re transfers. They can help make those plans now.”

Gores said that the students really appreciate the entire experience.

“It was a mixture of information, fun, helping them prepare for what’s ahead – with time-management sessions and some other things – and activities that would help them get to know each other and get them familiar with campus, so they know where their classes are and so on,” she said.

Comedy mentalist Sean Bott performed prior to the weekend, as did the Johnny Holm band. Along with various speakers, the students could also attend PLAYFAIR, a program for campus unity and school spirit, beanbag and volleyball tournaments, outdoor movies and Gold Rush Waves, where students are able to cool down with water wars and water-based carnival games.

“There was just all sorts of stuff,” Gores said. “It was packed at Johnny Holm. He did a great job. And a lot of the students got to sing solos. It was wonderful.”

The wheelchair demonstration was also a highlight, Gores said.

“A lot of students were there,” she said. “Able-bodied students got to be in some chairs and see what it would be like to try to play. They realize it’s much, much, much more difficult that it looks. There was also a soccer tournament, volleyball, go-carts and different student success sessions.”

A scavenger hunt around downtown Marshall took place Saturday morning, and the always-popular mud volleyball began at noon. Later, there was a viewing of Sex Signals, a high-energy and humorous exploration of culture and sex.

“There was a special program on sexual assault prevention and how we can help students take care of each other as well as make good choices,” Gores said. “It was really good. Overall, I’m very encouraged by the student leaders I see.”

A brand new event called “Happy Hour” took place on Sunday evening.

“For the first time as part of Gold Rush Days, there was an event where all the student clubs got together to talk about how they can work together more closely, collaborate together, do programs together,” Gores said. “There’s a lot of talk about working together in different kinds of ways.”

Not only do the clubs have the benefit of sharing ideas, students also get to meet and interact with more people.

“Whether you’re from Tracy or Seattle, Washington, or Taipei, Taiwan, you can get to know each other,” Gores said. “The students came up with that themselves. They were trying to reinforce student leadership in campus involvement.”

Gores believes that involvement is key to feeling connected and being successful in college.

“If students get involved – if they join a club or organization, if they go to activities, if they are actually engaged in the campus activity – they’ll do better academically,” she said. “And if they work on campus, they’re usually more involved on campus, whereas, if they work off campus, sometimes it’s a little more difficult for them to be as involved. They tend to get to know people and learn how things work.”

SMSU students come from all over the United States and beyond. Recently, the university’s global reach extended to Taiwan.

“Last week, we welcomed 57 students from Taiwan for our MBA (Masters of Business Administration) program,” Gores said. “Those students moved in (Aug. 16). Then on (Aug. 18), they helped the other students move in.”

SMSU communications director Jim Tate said that this year’s group from Taiwan is the largest they’ve had in recent years.

“They come from seven universities in Taiwan that we have agreements with,” Tate said. “They began their MBA courses there and finish here, with an MBA from SMSU. They will be taking three classes fall and spring semester and two classes this coming summer.”

Gores calls the agreement and experience a big deal.

“Rarely do other campuses do what we do in the United States, let alone over in Taiwan,” she said. “It’s an entirely different kind of experience over there. So for them, this is just an exciting, fun-filled time. They work hard, though. All of our students work hard.”

This fall, new students hail from all over the United State and from more than 15 different countries.

“In our entire student body, we have students from almost 30 countries and about 29-30 states as well,” Gores said. “We’re all across the United States and around the world.”

As far as overall enrollment, Gores said SMSU is looking “pretty good.”

“We’re even ahead of last year, so that’s good,” she said. “Students can still add and drop (classes) for the next week or so, but after that, we’ll consider the numbers firm. But so far, so good. We’re in reasonable shape.”

Gores said SMSU works hard to grow its enrollment. The university has a lot to offer, she said.

“We have this wonderful, winning combination of people, place and programs,” Gores said. “I think we have the right people at the right time. We have the right place, the right environment, and we certainly have remarkable programs that students are gravitating toward. That’s a positive combination.”

Ag Education program approved by Minnesota Board of Teaching

The Southwest Minnesota State University Department of Agriculture, Culinology and Hospitality Management has received approval from the Minnesota Board of Teaching to offer an Agricultural Education teacher licensure program, SMSU?said Friday.

The program begins this fall semester 2016 and will help meet the growing demand for agricultural education graduates in the state. According to Department of Education statistics, there are approximately three job openings for each agricultural education graduate.

The multidisciplinary degree focuses on a strong liberal education program that emphasizes critical thinking, effective communication and a well-rounded knowledge base. Through active learning, the Agricultural Education Teacher Licensure Program prepares students to become agricultural teachers and FFA advisors in Minnesota secondary schools. The core of the major is a balanced program of study that includes core courses in science, agriculture, educational methodology and leadership development.

Legislative support came from State Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, and State Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls.

“We want to keep our young people in the area,”Swedzinski said. “I’m excited to see this, it’s going to have a big impact on agriculture and agribusiness in southwest Minnesota.”

“I’d like to congratulate SMSU for having the Board of Teaching accept the proposal for an Agricultural Education program,” said Dahms. “We have a shortage of ag education teachers every year, and we need to expand opportunities for students in that area. This is a final piece to the puzzle.”

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