University of Minnesota Morris

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University of Minnesota Morris
200px
Seal of the Regents of the University of Minnesota
Motto A renewable, sustainable education[1]
Type Public Liberal Arts College[2]
Established 1960[3]
Endowment $10,086,825[4]
Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson[5]
Dean Bart Finzel (interim)[6]
Students 1,896[7]
Location
Morris, Minnesota
Campus Rural
Colors Maroon & Gold         
Affiliations UMAC,[8] Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (CoPLAC),[2] University of Minnesota System[9]
Mascot Pounce the Cougar[10]
Website morris.umn.edu

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University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) is a public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges located in Morris, Minnesota. As part of the University of Minnesota system, it was founded in 1960 as a public, co-educational, residential liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts degrees.

History

Although UMM officially opened its doors in 1960, the history of what became the current institution reaches to 1887. That year, the first building of the Morris Industrial School for Indians, an American Indian boarding school, was constructed on the site and run by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy under contract to the US government. Beginning in 1898, the Office of Indian Affairs (today's Bureau of Indian Affairs) took over operations to introduce a more progressive curriculum.[11][12] The school closed in 1909, under a Congressionally authorized program to reduce the number of boarding schools in preference for locating schools on reservations, so that Indian families and communities would not be broken up. The campus was transferred to the State of Minnesota under the agreement that American Indians would always be admitted free of tuition; the current UMM still follows this policy. In 1910, the University of Minnesota (at the time based only in the Twin Cities campus), established a boarding school on the campus called the West Central School of Agriculture. In the 1950s, the University of Minnesota began phasing out its regional agricultural school. The residents of the Morris region convinced the university to develop the campus as a liberal arts college. The current UMM opened in September 1960.[3]

West Central School of Agriculture and Experiment Station Historic District
West Central School of Agriculture and Experiment Station Historic District.jpg
Location 600 E. Fourth St., Morris, Minnesota
Area 42 acres (17 ha)
Built 1910
Architectural style Bungalow/craftsman
NRHP Reference # 02001707[13]
Added to NRHP January 15, 2003
Morris Industrial School for Indians Dormitory
Dormitory at the Morris Industrial School for Indians.jpg
Location Off 4th St., Morris, Minnesota
Area less than one acre
Built 1899
NRHP Reference # 84001696[13]
Added to NRHP May 10, 1984

Several historic buildings of the West Central School of Agriculture and Experiment Station are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[14][15] The Multi-Ethnic Resource Center, the oldest building on campus, dates back to 1899.[16] It was previously the Music Hall of the West Central School of Agriculture, and the boys' dormitory of the Morris Industrial School for Indians. Camden Hall, Spooner Hall, the Horse Barn, Welcome Center, Behmler Hall, Blakely Hall, Imholte Hall, Education Building, Pine Hall, and the Recycling Center all contribute to the Register. Most of these buildings were designed by Clarence H. Johnston Sr. in the Craftsman and Prairie School style.[citation needed]

Academics

Morris offers 35 majors and minors, 15 secondary education licensure areas, as well as eight pre-professional programs in education, the humanities, science and mathematics, and the social sciences. [17]

According to U.S. News & World Report, the five most popular majors on campus are biology, psychology, business administration and management, English language and literature, and history.[18]

Morris strives to offer high-caliber academics at an affordable cost. In 2014, U.S. News & World Report ranked UMM 139th in the "National Liberal Arts Colleges" list [19] and #7 in "Top Public Schools" for Liberal Arts Colleges.[20] Washington Monthly ranked UMM the #36 "Best Bang for Your Buck" school in 2014. [21]In May 2011, Consumers Digest ranked UMM in the Top 5 Values in Public Colleges and Universities.[22][23][third-party source needed] During the fall of 2010, both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes ranked UMM among their “Best College” lists.[24] Morris was ranked seventieth in the Top Public Schools in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category and made the Top 100 list of "Best Colleges: Most Students Studying Abroad" in U.S. News.[25][26] A significant number of Morris graduates enroll in advanced degree programs following graduation.

Music Discipline

The music discipline provides performing opportunities such as choir, symphonic winds, jazz ensembles, orchestra, and recitals.[27]

The annual jazz festival was founded by Jim "Doc" Carlson in 1979.[28] World-renowned jazz artists are invited to host clinics and master classes for high school, community, and college jazz ensembles . Each night of the festival concludes with performances by student jazz combos, ensembles, and the guest artists backed by Morris Jazz I.[29]

Green campus

In August 2009, Mother Jones Magazine chose the University of Minnesota Morris as one of its top 10 "cool schools" in the United States, stating that the school is great for alternative energy enthusiasts.[30]

Morris is one of the first public colleges to generate on-site renewable power from local resources, such as corn stover. At the south edge of campus, a biomass gasification plant—fueled by crop residues from nearby farms—generates steam. The biomass gasifier is part of an integrated system for heating and cooling campus buildings. The combined heat and power system includes a steam turbine, which generates renewable electricity from gasifier steam, and a steam—powered absorption chiller.[31]

At the campus’s Regional Fitness Center, locally manufactured solar thermal panels collect the sun’s energy to heat swimming pool water. A solar photovoltaic system on the south side of the science building converts sunlight into electricity. On the glacial ridge overlooking the campus, two 1.65 megawatt wind turbines generate renewable electricity for the campus and the region. Shifting to renewable power is just one piece of the campus’s comprehensive sustainability strategy. Other measures include historic building reuse, green building design and construction, conservation, local foods programs, hybrid vehicles, innovative curriculum, and community outreach. The Morris campus is a nationally recognized sustainability leader and serves as a model community.[32]

In August 2013 the University of Minnesota Morris opened the Green Prairie Living and Learning Community.[33] Construction on the building began in December 2012. The building is designed to house 72 students including 4 community advisors and a hall director. The building will house students during summer for special events and camps. There are kitchen facilities, a central lounge and patio, and study space. The Green Prairie Living and Learning Community was designed to meet Minnesota B3 sustainability guidelines and LEED Gold certification. It is constructed with high thermal mass insulated concrete forms (ICF) to prevent winter heat loss and summer heat gain. This is the first Residence Hall on the Morris campus to have suites.

Athletics

UMM's athletic teams have experienced varied success during the school's history.[34] The 1970s were marked by success in basketball and football. Olympic wrestler, Dennis Koslowski, wrestled for the Cougars in the early 1980s. After a move in the early 1990s as a non-scholarship Division II and a brief experiment with athletic scholarships, Cougar athletics found a more appropriate home in NCAA Division III's Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. They are the first member of the UMAC to be a public, state-supported institution - all other members over the years were private institutions, usually with a religious affiliation.

UMM was, in 1993, the first college in the United States to sponsor women's wrestling as an official varsity sport. The program was cut in 2003 due to budget constraints. In 2006, a new men's soccer team was announced.

In 2006, UM Morris opened a new football stadium named Big Cat Stadium, just south of the school's Regional Fitness Center. BCS is also used by the Morris Area High School Tigers. The new stadium replaced Cougar Field which had been used from 1970 to 2005. The school's first football field, named Miller Field, was used from 1961 to 1969.

In 2006, the Minnesota Morris Cougars football team captured their first UMAC championship in the Hubert H. Humphry Metrodome signaling the end of coach Ken Crandall's coaching career at UMM. The last conference title for the Cougar football program was the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) title in 1987, the second of two straight NIC titles. Over the next three years, the Cougars suffered losing records under coach Todd Hickman. In 2010 the team overcame their preseason rating (tied for last) to end the season with a winning record (5-4) and ending in a three way tie for 3rd in the conference.

Media

The university operates the radio station " the U-90 alternative, the prairie's only alternative" 89.7 FM (KUMM), and produces at least three television programs that air on PBS stations in the state. Pioneer Public Television carries Prairie Yard and Garden,[35][36] Academic Challenge and Minnesota Rivers and Fields.[37] UMM also has a student-run publication: The University Register, a newspaper which is published weekly.

Since 2005, the university has held an annual film festival, referred to as the UMMys, in the spring. Past winners include: "The Amazing Adventures of Beeman", "Rumspringa: The Musical" (a story about the forbidden love between a young Amish girl and a robot), and "The Chancellor's Daughter".[38][39]

Residence halls

The residence halls on campus are:[40]

  • Clayton A. Gay Hall (Gay Hall) - Underclassmen Residence Hall. Also home to Student Health Services and the Office of Residential Life (ORL).
  • David C. Johnson Independence Hall (Indy Hall) - Underclassmen Residence Hall
  • Pine Hall - Underclassmen Residence Hall
  • Blakely Hall – Upperclassmen Residence Hall (inactive during the 2013-2014 year)
  • Spooner Hall - Upperclassmen Residence Hall
  • On-Campus Apartments - Upperclassmen Apartment Housing
  • Green Prairie Living and Learning Community - Underclassmen and Upperclassmen Residence Hall and Suites[33]

Notable people

Alumni

Faculty

Staff

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.coplac.org/members/#morris
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ http://reports.morris.umn.edu/2011-12_UMM_DataBook.pdf pg.16
  5. ↑ http://www.morris.umn.edu/chancellor/meet/
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://ummcougars.org/news/2012/10/9/FB_1009124650.aspx
  9. ↑ http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/campuses/index.html
  10. ↑ http://ummcougars.org/news/2012/10/3/GEN_1003121724.aspx?path=general
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ [1][dead link]
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ http://2010.morris.umn.edu/docs/Hist_Bldgs_of_WCSA.pdf
  17. ↑ http://www.morris.umn.edu/academics/
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ http://renewables.morris.umn.edu/biomass/facility/
  32. ↑ http://www.morris.umn.edu/sustainability/
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ http://pyg.morris.umn.edu/
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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