President Earl H. Potter III addresses employees at Convocation Jan. 7 in Ritsche Auditorium. Photo by Nick Lenz ’11
Those bywords formed a narrative thread at Convocation, the Jan. 7 celebration of student success that marks that start of the semester.
Faculty and staff are engaged in workshops and meetings through Friday. Day and evening classes begin Jan. 11.
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“I pause, for a moment, to say thank you,” President Earl H. Potter III told employees gathered in Ritsche Auditorium. “There’s a sense that people often do not feel appreciated. Appreciation is something that we have to share the responsibility for.”
Potter shared his appreciation for the people implementing Our Husky Compact, St. Cloud State’s commitment, with students, to an education that prepares them to be global citizens. He said the compact will be a prominent component of the University’s accreditation process.
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation Team visits campus November 7-8. HLC is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the U.S. HLC accredits degree-granting, post-secondary educational institutions in 19 north-central states.
Potter said employees are documenting compliance with federal guidelines, insuring adherence to assumed practices and documenting how the University meet accreditation criteria.
The accreditation process also requires on-going institutional improvement. Potter thanked professors Stephen Hornstein, Teacher Development, and David Switzer, Economics, for their leadership in the process.
Potter noted major changes fall semester, including an expanded, four-day orientation and a weekday graduation with higher faculty participation.
“We are doing things differently,” said Potter. “We are demonstrating that innovation and change is the way forward.”
The four-day orientation — a cooperative “Huskies First Four” effort across multiple campus units — is building student success with a greater focus on their initial days at St. Cloud State.
“There’s a lot to celebrate at St. Cloud State,” Potter said.
He noted the Dec. 19 “ISELF building is on the right track in many ways” column by St. Cloud Times editor John Bodette. Decried by a few loud detractors as a “bad investment,” the Integrated Science and Engineering Laboratory Facility is, in fact, flourishing, Potter said.
The Times Editorial Board’s December tour of ISELF was summed up by Bodette: “This very new education model is working. It benefits students, faculty and companies. For those who may have believed the investment was wasted, go see for yourself. You will be surprised.”
An animal skull in the Skull Museum created by Visualization Lab staff at ISELF. Photo by Nick Lenz ’11
Said Potter, about ISELF: “The big deal is the transformation in the way we engage and teach our students. And, the degree to which we are using new approaches in education, developing new strategies, engaging businesses and community partners, in creating outstanding learning experiences for our students.”
The “integrated” nature of ISELF was evident at Convocation. In the lobby, ISELF Visualization Lab displays discussed (in vivid, animated ways) riparian species, animal skulls and three-dimensional mapping. On stage, Miller Scholars and professors Matt Julius (biology), Mark Gill (visual engineering) and Bill Gorcica (art) shared their award-winning collaborations with and for students.
“You, we, have an impact on the lives of thousands of students every single day,” said Potter, in conclusion. “Please take a few minutes to say congratulations. Notice and acknowledge the good work that’s going on around you.”
