How Do I...

Instructions to: What is a StarID and why do I need one.

Who has a StarID?

All current students, faculty, and staff of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system have StarIDs and can activate theirs now.

What is a StarID?

The StarID is a username with the goal of replacing your many login IDs with one ID, one password, everywhere. Once you activate it, you can use your StarID and password anywhere that accepts StarID. It is unique across the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, so you can use it at more than one school. Change your password in one place - starid.minnstate.edu - and it will change everywhere.

Why Do I Need a StarID?

At Minnesota West, you need a StarID to:

• Login to your e-Services Student Account.

• Login to your student email.

• Login to your D2L  Brightspace course.

How Do I...?

Instructions to: Activate my StarID
You will need a StarID to login to your e-Services Student Account, your student email, and D2L Brightspace.

To activate your StarID:

1. Go to the StarID activation site.

2. Choose "Activate StarID and follow the instructions on the page.

   1. If you have a social security number on file at Minnesota West Community & Technical College, you will need to select TechID (Student ID) and follow instructions.

   2. If you do not have a social security number on file at Minnesota West, you need to select Verification Code and follow instructions.

*Note: Some versions of Internet Explorer are not compatible with the activation site. It may be necessary to switch to compatibility mode or use a browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome.

Aspen Institute Names Minnesota West as Contender

2/29/2014

Minnesota West Community & Technical College has been named as one of top 150 in the country by the Aspen Institute for recognition of excellence. Minnesota West was chosen from over 1,000 Community Colleges which serve nearly half of all undergraduates in the United States.

Highlighting the critical importance of improving student success in America’s community colleges, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program named Minnesota West Community & Technical College as one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million dollars in prize funds.

The Prize, awarded every two years, is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges and recognizes institutions for exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

The Aspen Institute identified the top 150 community colleges through an assessment of institutional performance, improvement, and equity on student retention and completion measures.  Together, the 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the Prize represent the diversity and richness of the entire sector:

• They are located in 37 states across the nation;

• They represent urban, rural, and suburban markets; and

• They encompass big community colleges and small community colleges—from Miami Dade College in Florida serving over 100,000 students to Carver Career Center in West Virginia serving fewer than 500 students.

A full list of the 150 community colleges is available at www.AspenPrize.org. Prize winners will be announced in early 2015.

Nearly half of America’s college students attend community college, with more than seven
million students – youth and adult learners – working towards certificates and degrees in these institutions across the country.

“Community colleges have tremendous power to change lives, and their success will increasingly define our nation’s economic strength and the potential for social mobility for every American” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “This competition is designed to spotlight the excellent work being done in the most effective community colleges, those that best help students obtain meaningful, high-quality education and training for competitive-wage jobs after college. We hope it will raise the bar and provide a roadmap for community colleges nationwide.”

The 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence was awarded to co-winners Santa Barbara City College (California) and Walla Walla Community College (Washington).  Valencia College (Florida) was the inaugural Prize winner in 2011. 

Minnesota West Community & Technical College and 149 other community colleges announced were selected from a national pool of over 1,000 public two-year colleges using publicly available data on student outcomes. The formula used to select the colleges was devised by expert analysts at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems in consultation with an expert advisory committee convened by the Aspen Institute. The data focus on student retention and completion, considered from three perspectives:

• Performance (retention, graduation rates including transfers, and degrees and certificates per 100 “full-time equivalent” students)

• Improvement (awarded for steady improvement in each performance metric over time)

• Equity (evidence of strong completion outcomes for minority and low-income students)

To ensure full representation of the range and diversity of the sector, adjustments were applied with respect to mission, size, and minority representation. 

Minnesota West Community & Technical College has been invited to submit an application containing detailed data on degree/certificate completion (including progress and transfer rates), labor market outcomes (employment and earnings), and student learning outcomes. They must demonstrate that they deliver exceptional student results for all students – including those from racial minority and/or low-income backgrounds – and also use data to inform decisions and continually improve over time.

Ten finalists will be named in fall 2014. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data, including employment and earnings data from states and transfer data from the National Student Clearinghouse. A distinguished Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner and a few finalists with distinction in early 2015.

The Aspen Prize is funded by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Joyce Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Lumina Foundation.

The Aspen College Excellence Program aims to identify and replicate practices and policies that significantly improve college student outcomes.  Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the New College Leadership Project and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works to improve colleges’ and policy-makers’ understanding of what is needed to teach and graduate post-secondary students, especially the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses. For more information, visit http://www.aspeninstitute.org/cep.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

Radiologic Technology - Program Effectiveness Data

In addition to the goals and outcomes listed elsewhere on this site, the performance of the program is reflected through program effectiveness data as defined by the program’s accrediting body, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).  Program effectiveness data includes the program completion rate, ARRT board pass rate and job placement rate.

Minnesota West's Radiologic Technology Program Effectiveness Data is identified below.

Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3182
312-704-5300

Minnesota West Radiologic Technology Program Effectiveness Data

Program Completion Rate
This is an annual measurement of the number of students that began the program divided by the number of students that actually completed the program. The program’s completion rate for the class of 2023 was 93%. 14 of the fifteen students who were expected to complete the program in 2023 went on to complete the program that year. The program's five-year average completion rate is 89% as 66 students started the program and 59 completed it.

ARRT Board Pass Rate
This rate is the number of students that pass the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national credentialing exam on the first attempt. In 2022, 12 students took the exam and 10 students passed the exam on the first attempt, giving the program a 83% board pass rate for 2022. The five-year average for the program’s ARRT board pass rate is 87% as 55 students have taken the exam and 48 students have passed upon first attempt.

Job Placement
This is the number of students who gain employment in the radiologic technology field within 12 months of graduation versus the number of students who graduate and are actively seeking employment. Of those students graduating in 2022, sixteen students graduated and were actively seeking employment. All sixteen of the students were employed within 12 months of graduation, giving the program 100% job placement rate for the year. Overall, the program has an average job placement rate of 100% for those graduating in 2018-2022. In all, 66 graduates have been actively seeking employment and 66 have gained employment within the recommended timeframe according to the JRCERT standards.

Fall Semester 2013 Dean's List

1/2/14

Minnesota West Community & Technical College would like to announce the Fall Semester 2013 Dean's List and to congratulate the following students for their outstanding academic achievement.

Students must be enrolled in at least 12 graded credits and earn a minimum 3.5 grade point average to be eligible for Dean's List Honors. Fall 2013 Dean's List Honors were extended to the following students from Minnesota West Community & Technical College:

Jensen Chosen for Teaching Excellence Award

12/30/13
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities' Board of Trustees will honor a faculty member with the Award for Excellence in Teaching. This honor acknowledges and rewards exceptional individual professional accomplishment and encourages ongoing excellence in teaching.

Minnesota West Community & Technical College has recently undergone an extensive process (using input from faculty and students from each campus) to identify candidates to serve as the Minnesota West nominee for the Award for Excellence in Teaching.  Pam Jensen, Computer Support Instructor on the Minnesota West, Granite Falls campus has been chosen to represent for the Statewide Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Jensen will now compete with approximately 40 other nominees from fellow Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institutions from across the State of Minnesota. Nominations were based on criteria such as: innovative classroom delivery and/or programming, cooperation and partnerships within and outside of the college, campus involvement/leadership, and community involvement/leadership.

Honorable mention to the other Minnesota West Community & Technical College instructors whom were also nominated for the award:
Canby  Campus – Judy Drown
Jackson Campus – Danylle Espenson
Pipestone Campus – Jackie Lage
Worthington Campus – David Mills
Management  - Deb Munsterman

Jackson Campus Scholarships

12/20/13
Jackson Campus

Scott Wersal of North Mankato, MN, is awarded the Lake Country Power Scholarship

Campus Dean/ Dennis Hampel of  the Jackson Campus announced that Scott Wersal of North Mankato,MN, was awarded Lake Country Power Scholarship. Scott is enrolled in the Powerline program. To be eligible for this $1000 scholarship, the individual must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits, meet academic along with other application requirements.

Shown in the photograph are (L-R) Scott Wersal and Powerline instructor, Doug Schuett.

Campus Dean/ Dennis Hampel announced that Stearns Electric, Melrose, Minnesota, awarded a scholarship to a Jackson Campus student on behalf of Stearns Electric Association. The recipient was selected from the students of the second-year Powerline Technology program. The recipient of the $750 scholarship is Phillip McKee of Huron, SD.  

Shown in the photograph from left:  Phillip McKee and Powerline instructor, Doug Schuett.

President Shrubb to Retire

12/18/13

Dr. Richard Shrubb has announced his intention to retire as president of Minnesota West Community and Technical College upon the completion of his contract on July 1, 2014.  Shrubb is currently serving in his sixth year as president.

“The faculty, staff, students, and communities served by Minnesota West have made my time here an outstanding experience,” said Shrubb.  “With the college on sound footing and prepared to meet the needs of our region and the state, the timing is good for me to pursue new professional challenges. It has been a pleasure serving this great institution.”

“Minnesota West has accomplished a great deal under Ric Shrubb’s leadership, including achieving one of the highest graduation rates in the state and being named one of the top 50 community colleges in the nation,” said Steven Rosenstone, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor. “Ric has had a tremendous impact of the college, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Before being named president of Minnesota West in 2008, Shrubb held positions as vice president of academic and student affairs at Terra Community College, dean of general education and campus dean at Southern State Community College, associate professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering, and instructor of English at Pearl River Community College. Shrubb recently received a Fulbright Scholar grant from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to exchange students and agriculture faculty with Russia to advance subsistence farming techniques.

Rosenstone said that he intends to begin the process of naming Shrubb’s successor by visiting the Minnesota West campuses in January to consult with faculty, staff and students about the qualities necessary in the next president.  The MnSCU Board of Trustees is expected to act in March 2014 on Chancellor Steven Rosenstone’s recommendation on an interim president. The interim president is expected to begin July 1, 2014.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system includes 24 two-year community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving more than 430,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system of its kind in the United States.

Manufacturing & Trades: Pilot Car Certification

Minnesota West Customized Training Services provides the training needed to become certified with Minnesota State Patrol in order to be escort /pilot car operators.

2022 Pilot Car Certification Brochure

Pilot Car Registration

Questions?  Or suggestions for future classes?
Roxanne Hayenga, Community Development Coordinator
Worthington Campus
507-372-3468

MEF College Fair

10/16/13
Worthington Campus

Minnesota West Community & Technical College will host a MEF College Fair on Tuesday, October 22, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. in the Center for Health and Wellness gymnasium on the Worthington Campus.

The public is invited to attend and registration is not required.

If students would like to pre-register their interests, intended major, activities or other information, they can do so at www.gotocollegefairs.com.

The following colleges are registered to have representatives available to answer questions at the fair. For more information please contact Marie Johnson by email at marie.johnson@mnwest.edu or by phone at 507-372-3472.

Alexandria Technical and Community College
Argosy University
Augsburg College
Augustana College
Aveda Institute
Bemidji State University
Bethany Lutheran College
Bethel University
Buena Vista University
Central Lakes College
Columbia College Chicago
Concordia College
Concordia University, St. Paul
Crossroads College
Dakota State University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Drake University
FIDM-The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
Globe University
Gustavus Adolphus College
Hamline University
Iowa Lakes Community College
Iowa State University
Jamestown College
La James College
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota West Community & Technical College
Mitchell Technical Institute
Model College of Hair Design
Mount Marty College
North Dakota State College of Science
North Dakota State University
Northeast Iowa Community College
Northern State University
Northland Community & Technical College
Northwest Iowa Community College
Northwestern College
Oak Hills Christian College
Presentation College
Professional Salon Academy
Rasmussen College
Ridgewater college
Riverland Community College
Rochester Community and Technical College
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
South Central College
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
South Dakota State University
Southeast Technical Institute
Southwest Minnesota State University
St. Catherine University
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
University of Mary
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
University of Minnesota Duluth
University of Minnesota Rochester
University of Minnesota-Crookston
University of Minnesota, Morris
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of North Dakota
University of Northwestern -- St. Paul
University of Sioux Falls
University of South Dakota
University of St. Thomas
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wyoming
Upper Iowa University
UW-River Falls
Valley City State University
Vermilion Community College
Waldorf College
Wayne State College
Winona State University

PSEO:  Registration Information

General Information
New PSEO Students
Returning PSEO Students

General Information

Registration Dates

• Fall semester registration opens on March 1 for PSEO students.
• Spring semester registration opens on November 1 for PSEO students.

Adding or Dropping a Classes

• You can add classes within the first 5 days of the semester.
• You can drop classes within the first 14 calendar days (10 business days) of each semester.
  
  • Days 1-7, drop via your eServices account.
  • Days 8-14, contact your Minnesota West advisor to drop the course. This prevents a W from showing on your transcript.
  • REACH (taking courses in the high school) and CTE (Career and Technical Education) students should work with their local instructor/advisor.

Withdrawing From a Class
Before withdrawing from a course, you should meet with your high school counselor, and a Minnesota West Student Services Advisor to discuss any high school graduation ramifications, as well as college Satisfactory Academic Progress implications.

Students may withdraw prior to 4:00 p.m. on the date on which eighty percent (80%) of the days in the academic semester have elapsed. For courses not on a standard academic semester schedule, the final date for official course withdrawal shall be the date on which eighty percent (80%) of the instructional days for the course have elapsed.

• REACH (taking courses in the high school) and CTE (Career and Technical Education) students should work with their local instructor/advisor.
• All other PSEO students should withdraw via their eServices account.

You can reference the Student Calendar for withdrawal dates for full semester-long classes, or view your class schedule in eServices and hover over the last day to the withdraw field.

Class Schedule
Provide your high school with a copy of your Minnesota West PSEO Class Schedule (make sure to give them a new one if you make schedule changes). For instructions, see Display and Print your Class Schedule.

New PSEO Students

If you have not yet been accepted to Minnesota West, follow the Application Process on the Eligibility and Admissions page.  For questions, please reach out to one of our Academic Advisors.

1. Log in to e-Services Student Account.
2. Select: Courses and Registration (left menu).
3. Select: Quick Add/Register (left menu). If the message states that your window is open, you may register. If your window is closed, you must wait until the time indicated.  (Students can also use the Search for a Course option to register for courses, which involves searching for courses using various parameters such as location, subject, course number, etc.)
4. Choose the appropriate year and term from the drop-down menu
5. Enter the 6-digit course id numbers of the courses you wish to take. These numbers may have been provided to you by your advisor. They are also found in the class schedule.
6. Press the Register button at the bottom of the screen when all courses have been entered.
7. Enter your password and press the Register button
8. Wait until you see a message, Your request was processed successfully along with a schedule of your selected classes.
9. Print a copy of your schedule by selecting the Print icon near the bottom of the page. Verify that the correct courses are on the printout.
10. Provide your high school with a copy of your class schedule.  
11. Log out.

Textbooks and Supplies - Online Ordering

• Textbooks and supplies are ordered online through an account and are available approximately two weeks prior to the start of each semester and remain available through the first week of each semester. 
• After your class is finished, return any textbooks and supplies that you did not personally purchase. These items need to be returned in the condition in which they were received. If items are not returned within 10 business days, you will be charged for them!

Returning PSEO Students

For a summarized checklist on what to do and how to do it, click here.

Process for Advising, Registration, and Textbooks & Supplies

Step 1
Make an appointment with your high school counselor to discuss your career plan and review your high school graduation requirements. You should notify your high school by May 30th of your intent to enroll in PSEO for the upcoming school year.

Step 2
Schedule an appointment with your Academic Advisor to discuss your PSEO class schedule. Your Academic Advisor will discuss class options, how to register for classes, and how to get your books.

You will receive a Registration Access Code (Advisor Access Code) following an advising appointment (via email, phone, or in-person). This Registration Access Code is required in order to register for classes.

Step 3
Register for classes via your e-Services Student Account.
  - Fall semester registration opens on March 1 for PSEO students.
  - Spring semester registration opens on November 1 for PSEO students.

Step 4
Provide your high school with a copy of your PSEO Class Schedule (make sure to give them a new one if you make schedule changes).

Step 5
Textbooks and supplies are shipped to you or can be picked up at the Worthington Campus. They are available to order online approximately two weeks prior to the start of each semester and remain available through the first week of each semester.

Step 6
Start your classes as scheduled. 

Step 7
After your class is finished, return any textbooks and supplies that you did not personally purchase. These items should be returned in the condition in which they were received. If items are not returned within 10 business days, you will be charged for them!

Child Development Students Dream

10/5/13
Granite Falls Campus
Child Development Students dream of bettering the lives of young children.

From kindergarten teacher to children’s ministry, the Child Development students at Minnesota West's Granite Falls Campus have diverse and wide ranging goals and plans for what they are going to do with their Child Development degree when the graduate. 

The Child Development program prepares students for many different careers which all make a difference in the lives of young children. This year’s students have many different backgrounds, which bring a diverse range of experiences to the program, and enable sharing and learning to take place in the classroom because of it.

Students recently talked about their goals and the plans they have for making an impact on children. 

(Students listed are pictured from left)

Ashley Hawk: “As graduation approaches this year, I have thought about a variety of careers offered and am eager to work in a setting with school age children, in particular K – 2nd graders.”
Heather Fier: “I plan to work as a teacher in pre-school or Kindergarten. I love that age group and how they enjoy learning new things.”

Elsie Coyle: “My goal is to open a center for children with disabilities.”

Alyssa Engler: “I plan on opening up my own family child care center back in my hometown.”

Jamie Stucky: “I plan to be an early childhood special education teacher.”

Cheynne Schwint: “I want to work with children who are hard of hearing.  I want to help them sign to other people better.”

Jose Ibanez: “I plan to work in a Head Start setting.”

Amy Hempel: “I plan to be a pre-school teacher, and I have an interest in Child Psychology.”

Emily Ahrens: “I plan to become and elementary teacher back in my hometown.”

Brandy Haak: “I plan to open my own family daycare in my home in Cottonwood”

Erin Senger: “My goal is to work with a school to provide income based daycare for low income families and teen parents.”

Alexis Johnson: “I plan to work as a paraprofessional in an elementary special education setting.”

Anna Sturgeon: “I want to be a Head Start teacher when I complete my degree.”

Becca Fedde: “I plan to become the best preschool teacher that I can be.”

Kia Yang: “I plan to work at a childcare center.”

Channell Hawk: “I plan to work in a daycare setting with infant & toddler children, or open my own childcare center.”

Daniella Trauba: “I’ll be graduating in May of 2014 and plan to work in a childcare center as a toddler age teacher.”

Mikenna Soderstrom: “I plan to finish my Child Development degree and transfer to Crown College to earn my degree in Children’s Ministry.”

Kimberly Ramos: “My goal is to be a kindergarten teacher.”

Students in the Child Development program are able to earn a certificate, diploma, or an associate degree within the program. In addition to these degree options, the Child Development Associate of Science degree is articulated with Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN towards their Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Military Friendly School

9/11/13
Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named Minnesota West Community & Technical College to the coveted Military Friendly Schools ® list. The 2014 Military Friendly Schools ® list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.

“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools® shows Minnesota West Community & Technical College commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Vice President at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran.   “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”  Complete survey methodology is available at militaryfriendlyschools.com/Article/methodology-press-kit.

The Military Friendly Schools® media and website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com, feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences.  The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience.  These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.

Now in its fifth year, the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools ® was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA tuition funding. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.  A full list of board members can be found at http://militaryfriendlyschools.com/board.

A full story and detailed list of 2014 Military Friendly Schools® will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools ®, distributed in print and digital format to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October.

Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that has been serving the military community since 2001. Our data-driven Military Friendly® lists are published in G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur media channels, republished in periodicals like USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Bloomberg BW and are frequently cited on national TV by NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, CNBC, Fox News and others.

For more information about military benefit opportunities at Minnesota West, please contact Barb Staples at barb.staples@mnwest.edu or 507-372-3470.

New Nursing Instructor

9/10/13
Pipestone Campus

The Pipestone Campus of Minnesota West Community & Technical College welcomes a new nursing instructor, Tracy Hansen, who just started this fall semester as the lead instructor for the Pipestone practical nursing program. 

Hansen is a graduate of the Pipestone Campus practical nursing program and states "serving the students of Minnesota West will be an honor.  I love having the opportunity to give back to the college."  Hansen completed her Associate Degree of Nursing at the Worthington Campus then continued on to South Dakota State University for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which she completed in 2012.  She has a passion for learning and is furthering her education in SDSU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program with a family nurse practitioner focus.

Her work experience includes the Sanford Tracy Medical Center in Tracy, MN and Prairie View Health Care Center, Tracy, MN.  She hopes that her fairly recent education and her work experience will help her be relatable to her students.

Pipestone Campus Dean, Jackie Otkin said, “Tracy’s excitement for learning and dedication to education is a wonderful asset to the nursing program.  We are very happy that she is joining our campus and believe she will fit well with the needs of the program.”

Hansen, a farm girl from Garretson, SD started her education journey by earning a degree in agronomy, but found that she wanted to grow in a different direction, which led her to the nursing field.  She stated, “My husband, Matt is a farmer and really there should only be one farmer in the family at a time.”  She and her husband live on a farm outside of Currie, MN and they have a 9 month-old son Christian.

Minnesota West’s nursing program has kept pace with the needs of our students and the ever-changing healthcare industry. The nursing programs at Minnesota West Community & Technical College are part of a pathway system, starting with the basic patient care of the nursing assistant class, continuing on to the practical nursing, followed by the associate in science degree to become a registered nurse.  The nursing programs at Minnesota West do have a competitive entrance and are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Minnesota Board of Nursing.

Minnesota West’s nursing program offers a quality education at an affordable price, with the flexibility that appeal to today’s learners. The program includes classroom theory, laboratory experience and supervised clinical experience in area hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and community health care agencies.

For the Love of Art

9/9/2013

Jackson Campus
Local Instructor Awarded Prairie Disciple Award

When someone’s interest for something begins as early as kindergarten, it’s bound to last a lifetime. Such is the case with local artist Jerry Deuschle, the recipient of the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council 2013 Prairie Disciple Award.

When he was young, Deuschle said he was frustrated by the fact art was not a required class in school. Art classes were set up during release time, so only the children who were left at school at the end of the day were able to participate. As he got older, he found that art became more of a priority to him; he remembers giving up a study hall so he was able to take art.

It was always something he loved, but it was not always something he was able to follow. He began working in art education, but the school he was at cut its art budget in half, so he was unable to stay with the position. He decided instead to follow in the footsteps of his father and become an electrician. It was while doing this job that he ran into his kindergarten teacher, who told him she remembered him, even years later, because he was such a talented artist.

While he was unable to work in the art field full-time, Deuschle did find time on the side to work on various art projects. He was able to purchase a kiln for ceramics from a school in Jasper that was closing, and he stayed involved in many art fairs, where people began to recognize his work. This helped him to build his resume, and eventually he was asked to teach a class at the Worthington campus of Minnesota West Community & Technical College.

That opportunity led to a teaching job in Canby and eventually in Jackson. He was asked to teach art with Jackson County Central Community Education but found himself short on time, so he instead did a couple of shows in the area, which helped to bring some appreciation to ceramics and the special form of it that he teaches on campus, raku.

Deuschle describes raku as being more chemistry than ceramics, and he states that “raku is nonfunctional.” It’s a form of art that requires the artist to track each of the ingredients they use as a glaze on their piece, and when it goes into the kiln to be fired, there is no way to know what it will look like when it comes out.

Deuschle says he once had a student who said he didn’t think he would like raku because he wanted to know what the end product would be, but he took the class regardless. In the end, he told Deuschle he thoroughly enjoyed it, and he has now taken several more ceramics classes.

Deuschle has done quite a bit to bring art to Jackson County, but he plans to retire before too long, so he hopes to pass the knowledge on to another artist who can continue the process. The Jackson campus of Minnesota West was recently able to purchase some new tools for ceramics, and Deuschle said his “intentions are to share the equipment with another potter.” The ceramics classes he teaches are very successful because many of the classes offered through the school are very hands-on. The pottery lab is open more hours than the class, and it is “almost a requirement to come in after hours,” he said. This allows students to really work through their projects and get to know the art for themselves.

As the newest recipient of the Prairie Disciple Award, Deuschle will be honored at a special ceremony Sept. 14 during SMAHC’s annual art celebration at Lake Shetek, which will also feature Jackson musician Jim Wuerffel.

By Laura DeKok, Jackson County Pilot staff writer

Minnesota West is Hoping to Enroll Students from Russia

9/9/13

Ric Shrubb, President of Minnesota West Community & Technical College, went to Russia this past spring hoping to attract new students to the system’s technical programs. Shrubb applied for a Fulbright Scholar grant based on his experience with Russian Ag Exports, a family-owned business in Slayton that sends heavy farm equipment to rural Russia.

“I wanted to see if we could recruit students from Russia, and participate in disassembly and reassembly of this ag equipment,” Shrubb said. “The Russian rural farm market isn’t big enough to sustain a major supplier of industrial machinery. John Deere’s not going to go and set up a dealership. But a family-owned business can send pieces of equipment like this.”

In Russia, the university system focuses on arts and the sciences, and technical education stops at the high school level, Shrubb said. There is nothing like the two-year programs available through Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, of which Minnesota West is a part.

During his two-week trip in Moscow and the Russian region of Tatarstan, Shrubb met hundreds of students and said the overall feeling toward studying abroad was positive.

“They’re not allowed to show much affection for another country because they still have a dictatorship in Russia, so they had to be careful about talking about their enthusiasm. They’re very interested in studying in the United States,” he said.

Other MnSCU campuses have enrolled Russian students, but so far Minnesota West has not. Shrubb thinks there could be a great demand for the ag-based programs in Worthington, as well as Jackson’s powerline program.  

Though Shrubb’s trip has not yet yielded any Russian enrollments, he said it was an important step.

“I met quite a lot of people I’m staying in touch with to serve as contacts for bringing students to America to study at Minnesota West,” Shrubb said. “The thing that’s holding us back right now is a lack of housing … because people can’t come from another country if there’s no place to live. We’re looking for funding for a dorm in Worthington.”

Courtesy: 
Marie Zimmerman, Staff Writer
Jackson County Pilot

Elks Donate Scholarship

9/3/13
Worthington Campus

The National Elks Foundation has donated $500 towards scholarships for students at Minnesota West Community & Technical College.

Pictured at left is Chris Heinrichs, Worthington Elks' Exalted Ruler, presenting a check from the National Elks Foundation to Dawn Gordon, Worthington Campus Dean.

Minnesota West Ranks #40

9/3/13

The Washington Monthly recently released its 2013 ranking of the nation’s 1,655 community colleges and Minnesota West Community & Technical College is #40!

The rankings are based on the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) and U.S. Department of Education measures of student retention and completion.

The CCSSE survey is comprised of more than 100 questions on a range of topics including teaching practices, student workload, interaction with faculty, and student support.

The rankings can be found at http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2013/community_rank.php

Minnesota West Ranks #40

9/3/13

The Washington Monthly recently released its 2013 ranking of the nation’s 1,655 community colleges and Minnesota West Community & Technical College (#40)!

The rankings are based on the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) and U.S. Department of Education measures of student retention and completion. 

The CCSSE survey is comprised of more than 100 questions on a range of topics including teaching practices, student workload, interaction with faculty, and student support.

The rankings can be found http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2013/community_rank.php
 

Computer Science (CSCI) Department

Faculty
Justin Heckenlaible

Instructor Computer Science

B.S. Dakota State University
M.S. University of South Dakota
 

Questions?
Justin Heckenlaible
justin.heckenlaible@mnwest.edu
507-372-3487

New Jackson Faculty

8/14/13
Jackson Campus

Minnesota West Community & Technical College is pleased to announce that two instructors have accepted positions at the Jackson Campus.

Jason Bohl (photo, on right) has accepted the position for Power Sports Technology instructor at the Jackson Campus. Bohl has 15 years of technical experience in the power sports field which includes snowmobiles, ATV’s, motorcycles, small engines, boats, watercraft and diesel ag equipment. He was employed at Tri-County Implement, Mau Marine, and Spencer Boats and Power Sports.

Doug Schuett (photo, on left) has accepted the position for Powerline Technology instructor at the Jackson Campus. Schuett has 21 years of technical experience in the lineman field. His experience includes construction and maintenance of overhead and underground power lines with the City of Jackson/MRES.  

Dennis Hampel/ Dean of Technical Programs at Minnesota West states, "We're delighted to have Jason and Doug  join our team of Minnesota West educators, not only because of their technical expertise, but also because of their commitment to the community. Their leadership and involvement within our city is not only an asset for our students but also for Minnesota West.”

Canby New Hires

8/12/2013
Canby Campus

The Canby Campus of Minnesota West Community & Technical College is pleased to welcome two new employees to their team. Ryan Olson has been hired as a General Maintenance Worker and Deb Full as the Campus Resource Specialist.

Ryan Olson
Ryan and his wife Tawny reside in Canby along with their three children: Trevor, Lauren, and Carlie. Ryan brings to this position a vast amount of experience in many different areas from his past 15 years of employment with SMI and Anhalt Plumbing and Heating.

Ryan attended the Pipestone Campus and earned his diploma in Plumbing and HVAC.

Deb Full
As a native of Canby, MN, Deb grew up working at Canby Corral Drive-Inn which was family owned.  She is married to Doug Full and has four daughters, three sons-in-law and six grandchildren.

Deb graduated from Canby High School, attended Pipestone Vocational School, then Southwest State University and National American University working towards Business Management degree. Deb worked at the Canby High School for over 20 years in various positions including: high school head cook, special needs tutor, office assistant, counseling department assistant, and student council advisor. Deb worked in human resources in the Wind industry for 5 years, then as an Employment Staffing Specialist/Recruiter and most recently as an Office/Human Resources Manager for a Non-profit agency. 

She owns and operates Deb Full and Crew Catering and is a Member and Trustee of Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary and member of Society for Human Resource management.

Canby Campus Scholarships

8/7/2013
Canby Campus
The following scholarships have been awarded to Canby Campus students for 2013-2014.

Dean’s Award
Jacquelyn Kollar

Erwin Neuharth
Jacquelyn Kollar
Roger Paguin     
John Helget

Duke Energy Scholarship
Dalton Magers
Matty DuHoux

Canby Campus Award
Tara DeKam

Dental Assisting Scholarships
Chelsie Salonek
Tara DeKam 

Diesel Technology
Adam Johnson
James Lee

Marble Lutheran Church Scholarship
Kayla VanDerostyne

Schwan Food Company Scholarship
Adam Johnson

Wind Energy Technology
Matty DuHoux

Hostikka Hired as Head Baseball Coach

8/6/2013
Worthington Campus
Minnesota West Community & Technical College is pleased to announce TD Hostikka has accepted the position of Head Baseball Coach. 

Hostikka has served as the Head Coach of the Worthington VFW team for the past four seasons. He has also served as Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Nicolett High School and as an assistant basketball coach at the high school level.

A native of Washington State, Hostikka said, “I am looking forward to the challenge of building a complete program that competes year after year.”

Justin Heckenlaible, Men’s Athletic Director stated, “I believe Coach Hostikka’s connections with local baseball teams and his tremendous work ethic will help him build a successful program at Minnesota West. 

Hostikka replaces Jeff Linder as the Bluejays' head coach.

Jackson Campus Scholarships

7/31/13
Jackson Campus

Crow Wing Power Company Scholarship Awarded
Andy Reichwein Memorial /Crow Wing Power Scholarship awarded a $1000 scholarship to Aaron Pavelko of Worthington, MN.  Aaron is enrolled in the Powerline program. To be eligible for this $1000 scholarship, the individual must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits, meet academic along with other application requirements. 

Photo (shown from left):  Instructor/Brian Binnebose, Aaron, Instructor/Doug Schuett.

Federated Rural Electric Trust Scholarship Awarded
Otter Tail Power Company of Fergus Falls, MN awarded a $600 scholarship to Brad DeVries of Austin, MN.  The trust is dedicated to students in the power lineman program.

Photo (shown from left): Instructor Brian Binnebose, Brad, Instructor Doug Schuett.

Otter Tail Power Company Scholarships Awarded
Otter Tail Power Company of Fergus Falls, MN awarded $500 scholarships to the following students in the enrolled in the Powerline Program at the Jackson Campus: Tyler Lenning of Montevideo, MN, Aaron Pavelko of Worthington, MN, and Brody Gimberlin of Benson, MN.

Photo (shown from left):  Instructor Brian Binnebose, Tyler Lenning, Aaron Pavelko, Brody Gimberlin, Instructor Doug Schuett.

Where a Year of Technical Training Will Take You

7/16/13

Joe Eickhoff attended Canby Vocational Technical Institute back in 1982 and 1983 and studied the Welding and Sheet Metal Course.

He worked for a short time in southern Minnesota then joined the Navy. While in the Navy he was a welder on the USS Long Beach for 4 years. The Navy took him many places in the world, including Hobart, Tasmania, and Australia where he met his future wife.  

After the Navy, he continued to work as a welder and then traveled to Australia to get married. He lived and worked in Montana and Minnesota before immigrating back to Australia, where he now has lived for 20 years and has his own welding business.  

In Joe’s 30 year welding career, he has worked 20 years on ships and the boat building industry. One of the highlights of his career was working for a summer at the Australian Antarctica Base Casey Station, where he was the commissioning engineer installing new firefighting systems.  

Look where a year of training at a Technical College can take you! 

Thorson Hired as Librarian

7/16/13

Minnesota West is pleased to announce that Kip Thorson has accepted the Librarian position.

Thorson has his master’s degree from The University of Tennessee in Information Science.  He has most recently been a Librarian/Materials Manager, Instructional Materials at the University of Tennessee.  

Dr. Jeff Williamson, Provost at Minnesota West notes, “We are very excited to bring Kip back to the region as our distance learning librarian. He has over 10 years of experience working in higher education and academic settings. His familiarity with the region and mission of the college will help the college continue its dedication to serving the varied educational needs of our diverse populations in affordable, accessible and supportive settings.”

How Do I....?

Instructions to:  Search for a Work Study Position 

Go to: Your e-Services Student Account.  
You will need your StarID and password.

1. Login.

2. The Dashboard is your student account home page. Be sure to review any Action Items that you have listed.

3. If you are eligible for work study, you will see this award on your Financial Aid Award Letter.

   1. Select: Financial Aid (left Menu) to display blue drop down choices in this section.

   2. Change semester, if needed.

   3. Under Available Options, select: Awards.

4. Logout after viewing.

5. If you have been awarded work study, you will need to search for a work study position online and then contact the supervisor directly to inquire about employment.

6. Go to the Financial Aid page. On the left under Types of Financial Aid, choose Student Employment - Work Study.

7. Scroll down to the section, How do I find a work study position, and follow instructions.

Consumer Information Disclosures

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) requires that postsecondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs make certain disclosures to enrolled and prospective students, parents, employees, and the public.

Minnesota West discloses the following information in compliance with federal law. For additional information, including requesting a paper copy of any materials, please contact our Communication Center at 800-658-2330.

General Institutional Information

• Accreditations 
• Complaint and Grievance
• Computer Use and Information Technology Resources 
• Copyright, File Sharing and Copyright/Intellectual Property
• Cost of Attendance
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - Privacy of Student Records
• Net Price Calculator - Estimate your Cost
• Refund Policy for Dropped Courses and Withdrawals
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Textbook Information
• Transfer of Credit and Articulation Agreements 

Health and Safety

• Alcohol and Other Drugs Prevention
• Campus Security Annual Report
• Weather & Emergency

Student Financial Assistance

• Assistance available from Federal, State, Local and Institutional Programs
• Student Loan Counseling

Student Outcomes

• Student Right to Know: Graduation and Transfer Rates
• Retention Rate

Voter Registration

• Voter Registration Information

Westra Hired as Dean of Technology & Distance Learning

6/21/13
Dr. Richard Shrubb, president at Minnesota West Community & Technical College, is pleased to announce Kayla Westra as Dean of Technology and Distance Learning.

Westra is originally from southern Minnesota and graduated from Delavan High School.  She has a B. S. in English Education from Minnesota State University - Mankato and a Master's Degree in English: Technical Writing from Utah State University.  She has taught high school and middle school English near Chicago, managed a technical communications group for a global engineering, procurement, and construction company in Kansas City, and has taught at Minnesota West Community & Technical College and Southwest Minnesota State University. She has twenty years of experience teaching English and related areas and has been the college's instructional designer, center for teaching and learning coordinator, assessment coordinator, and Desire2Learn administrator as part of her responsibilities while at Minnesota West.  She has been the interim Dean of Technology and Distance Learning at Minnesota West since August 2010.

President Richard Shrubb notes, “One of the things I’ve been proud of during my administration is that people within the college have an ability to advance and shape their careers.  We were proud of Kayla when she was a teacher, we’ve been proud of her as an interim dean, and we’re pleased to have her fill our permanent full-time needs.”

How Do I....?

Instructions to:  Put Myself on a Waitlist

Go to: Your e-Services Student Account.  
You will need your StarID and password.

1. Login.

2. The Dashboard is your student account home page. Be sure to review any Action Items that you have listed.
   
   

3. Choose "Search for a Course" (left menu).
   (If you choose Quick Add (Register) from the left menu and attempt to register, you will be notified if a course is full, but will not have the option to add yourself to a waitlist. You must use "Search for a Course" to be able to add yourself to a waitlist.)

4. If the course is full, a waitlist icon will display. The icon looks like a pencil on a sheet of paper. 

5. Choose the waitlist icon. A page will display the number of students currently on the waitlist. The very top line also indicates what email address will be used to notify you if there is an opening. 

6. If you want to be added to the waitlist, press the submit button.

7. Logout.
   
   

8. Once you have added yourself to a waitlist, you will receive email notifications as you move up the list.  If you receive a notification of an opening, you will have 24 hours to respond and register.  If you miss that 24 hour deadline, you will be removed from the waitlist and the opening will be offered to the next person on the list.

9. On the Friday before the semester begins, waitlists are turned off.  At that point, you should monitor the schedule and register immediately if you see an opening as the waitlists are no longer in place and openings are available to anyone.

Campaign Passes $100, 000 Mark

6/6/13
Worthington Campus
Jim Smalley, executive director for the Minnesota West Foundation, announced that the capital campaign for the Center for Health and Wellness on the Worthington Campus of Minnesota West Community & Technical College has passed the $100,000 mark towards the goal of $400,000 for the renovation and new building of the facility. 

As of today, the following individuals and businesses have committed to support the project (pledged or donated dollars in parentheses):  Dorothy Nasers ($45,000); Worthington Federal Savings Bank ($37,500); Todd & Lorna Kruger Family ($10,000); First State Bank Southwest ($10,000) Pepsi of Pipestone ($10,000); Jim Nickel ($1,000); Nickel & Associates ($1,000); Adrian State Bank ($1,000) and the State Bank of Lismore ($1,000).

“The support from our community friends and neighbors has been outstanding in this beginning phase of our campaign to support the students and programs of Minnesota West Community & Technical College Worthington Campus,” said Smalley.  “Our volunteers and the staff at the college who have been working on this fundraising project have worked hard to get the campaign off to a great start.”  The campaign will continue with naming opportunities for those businesses and people who want to give larger dollar amounts.  All donations are greatly appreciated towards the project and will be recognized inside the new Center for Health and Wellness. If people have questions or want to give towards the project please contact the Minnesota West Foundation at 507-372-3475.

The Minnesota West Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization which believes in affordable and accessible educational opportunities for students.  Because of this belief and commitment to education, the Minnesota West Foundation provides funding for scholarships and development opportunities for the students and staff at Minnesota West Community & Technical College. Included in these donations are donations of equipment or supplies which support programs or bequests which can make sizable impact on the students at Minnesota West Community & Technical College.

FPEF Awards Scholarships

6/1/13
Granite Falls Campus

The Fluid Power Educational Foundation (FPEF) Board of Trustees awarded $2,000 scholarships to the following students from Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Granite Falls Campus.

• Ty Bowen of Montevideo, Minnesota

• Nick Freeman of Montevideo, Minnesota

• Lucas Stefanick of Garvin, Minnesota

“A minimum GPA, an essay, and three letters of recommendation were required from from each applicant. The Board of Trustees is pleased to award these scholarships to students of such high caliber,” said Jimmy Simpson, CFPAI, FPEF Chair. “Our goal is to help young people enrolled in high schools, technical colleges and engineering schools pursue their interests in fluid power.”

The FPEF awarded eighteen (18) scholarships totaling $36,000 for the 2013 school year to students pursuing fluid power technology fields of study.

The Fluid Power Educational Foundation is a non-profit foundation committed to stimulate, advance, and support the science of hydraulic and pneumatic technology through educational initiatives at all levels. The FPEF is wholly supported by fluid power industry firms, associations, and individuals which enables FPEF to bring fluid power to students of all grade levels.

For more information visit http://www.fpef.org or call 856-424-8998.

Spring Semester 2013 Dean's List

5/29/13
Minnesota West Community & Technical College would like to announce the Spring Semester 2013 Dean's List and to congratulate the following students for their outstanding academic achievement.

Students must be enrolled in at least 12 graded credits and earn a minimum 3.5 grade point average to be eligible for Dean's List Honors. Fall 2012 Dean's List Honors were extended to the following students from Minnesota West Community & Technical College: