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President's Message
 This is the first BSU Insider of the new year, which brings an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved and what we have yet to do. I am continually impressed with all that our students, faculty and staff accomplish each day. I hope you will take a few moments to scroll through these articles and photos to learn what news and events may involve or affect you. I believe there is much that will make you proud to work here at Bemidji State University.
Looking back on January, I want to thank all who participated in the activities of Spring Start-Up Week. It was great to see so many of you at the presentation of our new five-year strategic plan at the breakfast meeting on January 3. We are beginning to implement the plan’s many goals and will regularly share news of progress along the way. As we implement the plan, it is important for each of us to consider our role as we welcome and support our students. Thank you for all that you do to support student success.
As we launch a plan that puts an emphasis on making gains in all aspects of diversity, it is appropriate that we also celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and Black History Month through an abundance of excellent programs. On Jan. 11, we set the stage for these activities with the dedication of our new Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the lower Hobson Union. We also welcomed a new colleague, Dr. Brian Xiong, who will support students and student organizations as the center’s coordinator.
This past Sunday, we had the pleasure of hearing our Wind Ensemble in a concert where selections recognized both Presidents Day and Black History Month. I was honored to participate as narrator for Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait."
A commitment to multicultural diversity is one of Bemidji State’s Shared Fundamental Values. Thank you for embracing this value in who you are and all you do.
Sincerely;
Faith C. Hensrud, Ed.D.
President
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2018-22 Strategic Plan Launched
President Hensrud unveiled a strategic plan to guide Bemidji State University for the next five years during a Jan. 3 presentation to faculty, staff and administrators.
The five-year plan includes five institutional priorities that will help ensure that BSU’s continued development aligns with and advances system-wide priorities of student success; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and financial sustainability.
Implementation of the plan began on Jan. 1, and will continue through the 2022-23 academic year. The plan includes a specific list of activities which will be tackled during its first year.
President Hensrud shared her thoughts on the Strategic Plan in a Jan. 15 editorial in the Bemidji Pioneer, "Setting the Course for Bemidji State University's Future."
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Blackwell Jr. Receives MLK Commitment to Service Award
Bill Blackwell Jr. executive director of the American Indian Resource Center, received the State of Minnesota’s MLK Commitment to Service Award from James Burroughs, Minnesota's Chief Diversity Officer, Jan. 15 at the 32nd Annual State of Minnesota Governor’s Council Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Celebration.
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Fall/Winter 2017 Edition of Bemidji State University Magazine Available Online
The Adobe PDF edition of the Fall/Winter 2017 issue of Bemidji State University magazine is now available for download.
We have once again focused our magazine cover story on one of Bemidji State's fundamental values — its deep commitment to environmental stewardship through education and action. This publication lets us highlight some of the many ways our faculty and staff, students and graduates exemplify that identity. For example, an 80th-anniversary choir concert during this year’s Homecoming celebration expressed the bond of community within our vocal music program. Likewise, the power of learning is evidenced by our graduates’ career success and their efforts to make the world a better place.
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Campus Campaign Kicks Off Feb. 15
Student success is at the heart of all we do at Bemidji State. As ambassadors of this institution, each of us brings something unique and important to BSU. In the coming weeks, all campus faculty and staff will receive information on the Alumni & Foundation's Campus Campaign. Packets will include a letter about this year's campaign, a cumulative giving history—including current payroll deduction amounts — a pledge form and a return envelope. Currently, around 35 percent of the nearly 600 employees at BSU contribute to the Campus Campaign. Please consider donating to the campaign and helping BSU Alumni and Foundation reach its goal of 50 percent participation for 2018.
Join BSU Alumni & Foundation for a Campus Campaign kickoff social Feb. 15 from 2-4 p.m. at the American Indian Resource Center.
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Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Unveiled
Administrators and students celebrated the debut of BSU's Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at a Jan. 11 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The center is a student-driven initiative. Bemidji State’s Student Senate passed a bill to develop the center in February 2016, and renovation of space in the Hobson Memorial Union to create a home for the center began in November 2017.
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Bemidji State Choirs Touring Baltic States in May
The Bemidji State choirs will tour the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia for a series of performances as part of tours arranged by Music Celebrations International. Many of the choir’s 38 members will depart May 10 for an eight-day tour that will include performances in Riga, Latvia, and Tallinn, Estonia, as part of the American Celebration of Music concert series.
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Encourage Proposals for Student Achievement Conference
Please remind your students that proposals for this year's Student Achievement Conference, set for April 4, can be submitted until Feb. 23. The Student Achievement Conference allows students to showcase their research, writing, creative works or musical performances in a variety of formats before the entire campus community. Proposals can be submitted on the conference's website and must include a 150-200 word abstract describing the work. Presentations require faculty sponsors, who can review and approve proposal submissions online. Contact interim conference chair Travis Ricks (2106, tricks@bemidjistate.edu) for more information.
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MBA Program Featured in Twin Cities Business Magazine
Bemidji State's recently restructured online MBA program received significant media attention in January when it was featured in a Twin Cities Business magazine story on ways Minnesota's colleges and universities are adapting to increasing employer demands for "real-world skills."
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BSU Employees Have New Opportunity to Earn Diversity Certificates
Just in time for the beginning of Black History Month activities, BSU faculty, staff and administrators now have the opportunity to obtain a diversity certificate. A certificate will be awarded to any BSU faculty, staff or administrator who completes 15 hours of diversity-related training or activities.
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Students Offering Free Tax Help Through IRS VITA Program
Business and accounting students are volunteering their time and services as a part of the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Students who have completed BSU’s Tax I course and passed IRS certification tests are offering free tax assistance each week on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 3-6 p.m. in Memorial Hall Room 250. Sessions will be held up to and including April 12, with the exception of March 14 and 15, which fall during the university’s spring break.
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- The Department of Nursing unveiled its new student lounge in Bensen 128, part of its Niganawenimaanaanig program, at a Jan. 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
- The American Indian Resource Center held its traditional Day of Welcome on Jan. 10 to celebrate the start of a new semester.
- President Hensrud narrated Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" at the Department of Music's Presidents Day/Black History Month Wind Ensemble performance on Feb. 11.
- A Feb. 6 multimedia performance by The Langston Hughes Project explored the Harlem Renaissance through music, poetry and imagery as part of BSU's celebration of Black History Month.
- Summer Program Director Angie Gora is leading weekly lunchtime yoga sessions for BSU employees at the Gillett Wellness Center.
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Evan Tompkins Named First-Team Academic All-America
Senior safety Evan Tompkins became the third Beaver Football student-athlete ever to be named First-Team Academic All-America when he was named to the 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® Division II First Team in mid-December. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native helped lead the Beavers to an 8-3 record in 2017. He started all 11 games and finished with 41 tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery. He wrapped up his career as a three-time member of the Fall Academic All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Team as well.
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National Signing Day — Feb. 7
More Athletics News
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