Click on some images for further information
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MSUM's Human Resources staff, 2005, dealt with increasingly intricate issues of benefits, leave, and contracts. (From left to right:  seated -- Ilene Trittin-Anderson, Ed Choat, Debra Lewis; back row -- Barb Seiler, Teri Olsen, Sara Estee, Ilene Hilgers, Ginger Kallander.
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The implementation of the "Dragon Core" system of liberal arts requirements followed much debate and discussion.  (Click image above to examine the Dragon Core basics.)
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MSUM Cheer Team, 2006.
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No pastime for the timid:"prom dress" rugby on MSUM's
Nemzek Field, fall 2011.
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Discovery of a forgotten time capsule in Weld Hall during repairs yielded a box filled with documents (diploma above), photographs, newspapers and other items from 1915.
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Faculty-Staff service awards brunch, 2009.
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Kathy Hanson and Craig Ellingson rehearse scene from Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical, 2012.
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2013 -- MSUM realigned departments and colleges.
(Click image to see enlarged copy.)
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TIMELINE    (**some linked documents require Adobe software to read)

January, 2006 -- Dragon pole vaulters Tiffany Spriggs, Derik Brugger, and Jennifer Hensel compete in national NCAA Division II Track and Field championships.

February, 2006 -- Gay students at MSUM complain that they are harassed at local cafes and bars, and insulted on campus.  University looks at strengthening tolerance education via TOCAR (read TOCAR Report).

March, 2006 -- 2005 Poet Laureate Ted Kooser reads his poetry at MSUM, urges students to "read, at all costs."

April, 2006 -- MSUM makes "Alcohol and College Life" class mandatory for students.

May, 2006 -- Classes end with University unveiling new graduation requirements -- standard liberal studies system is replaced by "12 competency areas" in new "Dragon Core" to be implemented in fall.

September, 2006 -- A "makeover" for Kise dining area gets underway, to be completed in 2007.

October, 2006 -- Advocate debates the merits of the "writing intensive" course requirements for Dragon Core.  "It's not that we all teach writing, but we get students to use writing in their major studies," comments faculty committee.

November, 2006 -- School begins intensive work on "raising our profile in the region," through a new, expanded web site.  "A good site is our tool to highlight how we develop talent and knowledge."

January, 2007 -- As fundraising for a formal Wellness Center continues, upper class students complain that they are paying fees "for a wellness facility we will never use before graduation."

March, 2007 -- North Central Association for Colleges and Schools visits campus to examine program and re-accredits MSUM for 10 more years.

April, 2007 -- As the 9th annual Student Academic Conference is held, other colleges in MNSCU system make plans to copy its success.

September, 2007 -- Classes begin with announcement that MSUM will be "100% smoke free" come January 1.  No tobacco may be consumed or sold on campus.

October, 2007 -- Dragons celebrate homecoming win over Upper Iowa (31-28) as NSIC proceeds with an expansion that brings larger schools (St. Cloud State, UM Duluth and MSU Mankato) into the division.

November, 2007 -- Roland Barden announces that he will retire as MSUM president after spring semester.  Search for successor begins.

January, 2008 -- Campus mourns death of Harold "Rusty" Casselton, popular film studies professor.

February, 2008 -- MSUM sophomore Anthony Batesole awarded Bronze Star from U.S. Marines for heroism during service in Iraq.

April, 2008 -- Difficulties in upgrading e-mail services have students upset by "large queue of undelivered massages."

May, 2008 -- MSUM announces that after a national search, Edna Mora Szymanski, VP of Student Affairs at U. of Maine, will be the next MSUM president. (Read inaugural address).

September, 2008 -- Szymanski, who wishes to be called "President Edna," is faced with possibility of a $3 million budget deficit.

September, 2008 to March, 2009 -- National economic crisis, triggered by mortgage woes and bank panics, hits colleges; many non-government funders curtail loans for colleges, causing severe retention problems nationwide.  Although layoffs are averted, MSUM is no exception to the 2008-12 money troubles (see financial crisis page).

October, 2008 -- As part of a "brand" development campaign, MSUM administration issues "Points of Pride" literature and engages in a media campaign to expand and promote the college's image for excellence.

April-May, 2009 -- Red River floods, at higher levels than 1997, threaten to inundate Fargo-Moorhead.  Student assistance in sandbagging saves hundreds of homes. 

July, 2009 -- Acting on recommendations from the campus-wide Vision Task Force, MSUM expands recruiting by adding a Twin Cities recruiter, a director of marketing, and a marketing webmaster.  Faced with growing competition from Moorhead Tech, Rasmussen College and Minnesota School of Business (later Globe University) MSUM improves enrollment management.

September-November, 2009 -- University implements "hiring freeze" to prevent budget deficits.  Only the "most essential positions" can be filled.

December, 2009 -- Freshman Josie Green rescues man who fell into the Red River; "I think anybody would have done something to help, because something needed to happen."

January, 2010 -- MSUM School of Business is accredited by the International Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

February, 2010 -- Music Professor Kenyon Williams is honored as a Yamaha Performing Artist.

March, 2010 -- Former presidents John Neumaier, Roland Dille and Roland Barden join President Edna in a Founder's Week retrospective of changes in higher education over the previous 50 years.

April, 2010 -- MSUM students help fight second Red River Flood in two years.  Supporters hold 5th Annual Dragon Fire for sports, a flooded ball field ends softball season.

July, 2010 -- Workers renovating Weld Hall discover a "time capsule" hidden in the building's cornerstone in 1915 (see contents of capsule).

September, 2010 -- Administration announces that in fiscal 2009-10, MSUM raised greater sums for scholarships than ever before, bringing in $1,058,024 in endowed funds and $369,902 for annual scholarships.

October, 2010 -- Mass Comm students win Emmy for their TV Documentary, "Inspired by Nature."

November, 2010 -- University chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America wins 2nd place in national PR competition with campaign promoting "The Vampire Diaries."

December, 2010 -- Russ Colson, Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Earth Science, is honored by the Carnegie Foundation as professor of the year.

February, 2011 -- Men's Basketball celebrates 14-8 season, 2nd place in NSIC conference.

March, 2011 -- After Sodexo Food Service workers vote to unionize, students hold rallies at Kise to support workers who want a raise.

April, 2011 -- Flood number 3; Advocate comments "Spring weather officially sucks."

May, 2011 -- 875 students receive degrees, but underclassmen worry about continued rise in costs.

September, 2011 -- 9-11 memorial gathering combines Tower remembrance with celebration of death of Bin Laden. 

November, 2011 -- Brief flurry of worry as U.S. House nearly cuts Pell Grants programs.  Can college costs be stabilized?

January, 2012 -- The Corrick Center is closed, with  Murray Commons to be used for other puroses.

February, 2012 -- Library and Instructional Technology make preparations for major remodel of Livingston Lord Library.

March, 2012 -- Sanford Health makes $2 million donation to Dragon Athletics.  Much of this will be used for scholarships.

September, 2012 -- Campus Realignment Task Force considers plans to reorganize academic departments into new colleges.

October, 2012 -- Task Force is formed to plan 125th anniversary of the University in 2013.