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Dedication to Partnerships: Interview with Dean Copper-Glenz

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From left, Normandale Finance & Operations VP Ed Wines, Office of Higher Ed Director Larry Pogemiller, Normandale Academic Affairs VP Julie Guelich, Student Senate President Nick Schneider doing the cutting, MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone, Normandale President Joe Opatz.

From left, Normandale Finance & Operations VP Ed Wines, Office of Higher Ed Director Larry Pogemiller, Normandale Academic Affairs VP Julie Guelich, Student Senate President Nick Schneider doing the cutting, MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone, Normandale President Joe Opatz.


 

Minnesota State University, Mankato in Edina has always been dedicated to partnering with metro community colleges, as evidenced by the longstanding collaboration with Normandale Community College.

Now, that dedication is recognized with the new Normandale Partnership Center in Bloomington. Becky Copper-Glenz, dean of the College of Extended Learning, recently answered a few questions about the partnerships between Minnesota State Mankato and the metro community colleges.

Which community colleges are current partners?
Becky: “We’re dedicated to working with all MNSCU (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) community colleges, but we have a special relationship with Normandale. Our dedicated partnership with Normandale began with our longstanding elementary education program, and the popular ‘2 Plus 2’ plan, which is where a student would spend their first two years at Normandale, and their last two with us, to complete a four year degree. Our offerings at Normandale have now expanded to several degree completion programs, including Communication Studies and the unique Twin Cities Engineering program. It’s a great way for a student to turn their two-year degree into a four-year degree.

Aside from Normandale, we are working very closely with Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, where we offer Integrated Engineering, and South Central College, where we offer Healthcare. Our options continue to multiply, however, and our upcoming partnerships include Century College in White Bear Lake and St. Paul College on Marshall Avenue in Saint Paul.

For more information, visit http://www.mnsu.edu/ext/.

What is it about the Twin Cities Engineering program that makes it unique?

Becky: “It really is a new model of education. The program is based on experiential learning—learning through participation. Students work directly with companies on projects and problem solving. Hopefully, these will be the same companies where students will find work when they graduate, so it’s wonderful experience.”
[To read more on Twin Cities Engineering, click here for an interview with program chair Becky Bates]

Why are these partnerships important for community colleges and important for the business community as a whole?
Becky: “Community colleges are preparing students for either direct application to the workforce, or to go on to four-year colleges. This is a way for community colleges to offer not only a two-year option, but also a four-year option, which is a flexibility that is very attractive to students.

Businesses, meanwhile, need an educated workforce—it’s a win-win situation. Our focus on partnership really provides more opportunities for the community as a whole. By providing those options, students are able to select the path to employment that best suits their educational needs while business gains a workforce that is well prepared and ready to contribute.”

How are the options beneficial to non-traditional students in the metro area?

Becky: “We’re seeing a lot of students in the two-year programs who want to get a four-year degree but can’t, for a number of different reasons. Maybe they’re place-bound because of family, or maybe private four-year universities are too costly. These partnerships give those students another option—to get a four-year degree, and a quality education, without the huge cost or commute.

There are also a handful of options for our non-traditional or place-bound students, if they can’t get to our community colleges. We have a wide range of online courses [link], from K-12 education, to communication studies;  business to health care. We have over 30 online degrees and certificates, such as our Masters of Science in Technical Communication, our Nonprofit Leadership Certificate or our bachelor completion program in Applied Organizational Studies.”

Beckyedited

Becky Copper-Glenz
Dean, College of Extended Learning
Phone: 507-389-5739
Email: becky.copper-glenz@mnsu.edu

The post Dedication to Partnerships: Interview with Dean Copper-Glenz appeared first on CHNL 7700 Experience.


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