In the News

CareerOneStop recently released its Regional Economic Development Web site (www.careeronestop.org/RED) that offers labor market, economic and workforce data and information in one convenient location.

Economic developers, workforce developers, and business and education leaders can find information unique to their region and compare it with other areas. The site showcases the Federal Department of Labor's Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development planning framework.

*source: 2008 March Issue of MnSCU Chronicle 

Winona State University is currently working for a safer campus by offering CPR
and AED [automated external defibrillator] training for faculty, staff and students.
The university recently purchased 31 AEDs -- enough to have one in each WSU building.
Previously, it only had three. The AEDs cost about $56,000 total.

So far, about 200 people have been trained to use the AEDs.

WSU director of security Don Walski said he's surprised us to see that many students sign up, and is delighted at the great response.
According to the Winona Daily News, Waliski stated that "If it saves just one life, it's well worth it," Walski said.

The university's Website currently has a map of where each defibrillator is located within each
building and Winona State University plans to continue offer training.

To learn more, visit: www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2008/03/14/news/01lead.txt 

*source: www.burrelles.com/NewsAlert/PDF/20080316/1200DF_NA82075.pdf

 CRI Seeks Instructors for Non-credit Workshops and Courses

The Center for Research and Innovation is expanding online and classroom business and industry training offerings.  Instructors may deliver classes days, evenings, weekends, or via the web.  This is an opportunity for individuals with technical or professional certification AND applicable work experience or a formal degree.  Subject areas include, but are not limited to, manufacturing, healthcare, business, trades, management, office support or management, records management, and information technology. 

If you have a technical or professional certification or degree and are interested in this opportunity, send resume via email to mwellcome@bemidjistate.edu with
"CRI Instructor Opportunity" in the subject line.

*Source: CRI April News, Volume 6, Issue 4 (April 2008)

A presentation and Q&A about the new online degree at Rochester
Community and Technical College will be at 5:30 p.m. April 10 in Room
CF 206-208. Called the Online Accelerated Option, it will offer RCTC's 16-week
liberal arts classes in intense four-week courses. It will be the only
such program in the [Minnesota] State Colleges and Universities system.

The option is designed to meet the needs of students for whom the
traditional college calendar just doesn't work, said Mike Bequette,
RCTC's vice president of teaching and learning.

"We've got about 1,500 students right now who come in for a semester
and then go out, and then come back in for a semester," he said,
adding that these students might start and stop due to time-and-money
constraints.

Using the promotional phrase "Step In...Step Out!" the new accelerated
option embraces nontraditional students, such as full-time workers
returning to school, said Scott Sahs, RCTC's director of distance
learning.

The program likely will attract current and past RCTC students and
perhaps reach a new market, he said. It could include farmers,
seasonal workers, people with rotating work schedules, home-based
workers and remotely located students.

Eventually, the college might market the option to a statewide
audience, said Dave Weber, RCTC's chief strategic operations officer.

The courses are designed to be taken just one at a time, and each will
require 40 hours a week of online and study time. Courses will begin
every four weeks throughout the year.

The associate of arts degree earned through the Online Accelerated
Option can be used toward a four-year degree, and the credits will
transfer to all Mn State Colleges & Universities, as well as the
University of [Minnesota], Bequette said. Tuition for the classes will
be $200 per credit, which includes all fees. That's slightly more
expensive than tuition and fees for RCTC's regular, on-campus courses.

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 National Governor's Association Update:

ouncil on Competiveness Releases Practitioner's Guide for Effective Alignment of Regional Development and Higher Education 

http://www.compete.org/images/uploads/File/PDF%20Files/Cooperate%20Final.pdf