UMM: Our Stories

We are proud to share our stories about some of the extraordinary people who teach, learn and work at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Award Winning Educators

The University of Minnesota rewards superior contributions to undergraduate education with its prestigious Horace T. Morse Award. 12% of these awards have gone to Morris campus faculty, who comprise only 2% of the University's full-time teaching staff. As a result, UMM graduates report the highest levels of student satisfaction at the University, praising the accessibility of Morris faculty and the excellence of teaching in both introductory and advanced courses. They note a sharp increase in their critical thinking and problem-solving skills after studying and conducting research with faculty on a campus that boasts the highest percentage of students graduating in 4 years or less.

Here's a list of UMM Horace T. Morse recipients, many of whom are actively teaching introductory and advanced courses on the Morris campus.

Liberal arts: Serving humanity

At his 2001 Commencement address, Senator Paul Wellstone praised UMM's outstanding achievements fusing liberal arts education with service to others. Civic engagement and service learning thrive at UMM where College Writing students were lauded by the lieutenant governor for a project stimulating recollections among Alzheimer's patients that led to the publication of "Shake Your Foot: A Celebration of Rural Life." Now other nations are seeking UMM's guidance ; in 2003, student David Nelson traveled to Russia to help Smolny College of St. Petersburg, Russia's first liberal arts college, establish a program for service learning and volunteerism.

Women as Global Leaders

Behold the camel that doesn't run from cougars! Sara Kloek and Johanna Farmer took first place in a recent "UMM on Spring Break" photo contest with this snapshot from an Arabian Desert Extravaganza. The students were attending the First Annual Women as Global Leaders Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. "One of the highlights of the trip," Kloek reported, "was hearing Gro Harlem Bruntland, former prime minister of Norway, speak about the importance of getting women involved in politics. The conference helped me to formulate answers to the 'big questions' we used to discuss in my Women and Politics course."

Cougars take the stage.

UMM students are frequent contributors to regional summer stock and community theatre productions, and not just as members of the chorus! They design sets, choreograph, and even direct. In 2004, the Minnewaska Area Theatre Arts Association of Pope County was able to stage its first light opera thanks in part to contributions from UMM students Kristy Goebel (director), Jeff Iverson (music director), Tiffany Roufs (choreographer), and Margaret Dobie (stage manager). Recently, Ryan Rysavy, Sara Herman, and Lauren Goodrich (left) designed and produced the sets for Prairie Wind Players' production of "The Benevolent Women's Craft Society" in Barrett, Minn. Rysavy also served as technical director for the show.

"What's my motivation?"

Professor of Psychology Eric Klinger recently published the Handbook of Motivational Counseling. Systematic Motivational Counseling, or SMC, was developed to improve the motivation for treatment of alcohol abusers but is gradually being extended into other realms in which motivational factors play important roles. The technique assesses and alters clients' maladaptive patterns of motivation, aiming to guide them to happier and more fulfilling lives.

Faculty, students and staff are national dodgeball champs!

dodge ball champs

UMM has long boasted successful research collaborations between faculty and students as well as high results on student satisfaction surveys measuring accessibility of faculty, but this may be a first. A group of UMM students, staff, faculty and supporters traveled to Las Vegas on a lark and won the co-ed division of the 2nd Annual Dodgeball World Championship. Congratulations to (left to right) Randi Peterson, Amy Van Arkle, Lori Sylvester, Chris Butler, Aaron Thompson, Adam Sullivan, and Nate Oakland, who played 11 round robin games to qualify and won five matches during tournament play.

Honoring our heroes


On March 19, 2002, UMM became the first in Minnesota to name a street for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.	Center Avenue was renamed to honor United Farm Workers Association founder César Chávez in April, 2004, in response to an initiative by the United Latinos student organization.

Classic campus, Big Ten technology

With an infrastructure supported by a world-renowned research university, UMM boasts top-notch internet access and instructional technology (which we pass along to area K-12 educators during our summer Instructional Technology Institute) along with state-of-the-art facilities including the new Science Building, Regional Fitness Center, Student Center, and Humanities Fine Arts Building. But we owe our classic appearance to the heralded architectural firm of Morell and Nichols; UMM is the firm's first and most intact campus.

In 2003, UMM received a $180,000 Getty Grant to develop a preservation plan for the buildings, trees and landscaping at the heart of its historic district.

New methodology from the prairie

From this campus on the prairie, David Robbin conducted three years of extensive undergraduate research on the airline industry. His work exemplifies the power of technology to conduct research from just about anywhere.

An excellent Morris Academic Partners experience (in which students receive stipends to conduct research in partnership with faculty) inspired Robbin to apply for a grant through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. He used the funds to analyze fleet characteristics and different carrier costs per available seat mile. "The data and the empirical methodology David employed break new research ground," notes Professor Bart Finzel, Robbin's UROP advisor. Robbin presented his findings at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research held at the Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia.

Thank you, Mr. President!

Professor of Geology James Cotter was one of only 10 individuals honored by President Clinton with a 2000 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. The award recognizes those who encourage minorities, women and persons with disabilities to pursue careers in scientific, engineering and technical fields.

"We'll always have Paris."

There aren't too many classic single-screen movie houses left, but Morris has one, so that's where the students of UMM's Campus Activities Council decided to hold the Classic Film Festival each fall. Our thanks to our local theatre owner for continuing support of this program.

"Here's looking at you, kid."