Lake Superior College News Releases

(Duluth, Minn.) — Lake Superior College will sign an articulation agreement on June 1, 2007 with the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLA), from Puebla, Mexico. The agreement will allow students to transfer from Lake Superior College to the UDLA.

LSC is the first two-year college in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to negotiate an international articulation agreement. The agreement builds on the relationship between the two schools that was begun in spring 2007 when five LSC students and a faculty member spent the term studying at the UDLA. “We look forward to expanding our academic relationship with UDLA,” said Jim Berg, dean of LSC’s liberal arts and sciences. “This opportunity for our students serves our international learning mission very well.”

Representatives from the UDLA, Patricia McCoy, Director of International Affairs and Jacobo Prieto, Director of International Education and Cooperation, will be in Duluth to sign the agreement on June 1, 2007. A signing ceremony will take place in the Atrium on the LSC campus at 1 p.m.

With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college and a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry.

Funds will go toward “Lean Health” training at SMDC Health System

Duluth, Minn – A major state grant promises to increase efficiency, enhance quality and improve employee satisfaction at the region’s largest health care system. The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) has awarded nearly $400,000 to Lake Superior College to develop “Lean Health” training for SMDC Health System. Itasca Community College will also take part in the project as an instructional partner.

A grant signing ceremony celebrated this accomplishment on Tuesday, May 29, 2007. Lake Superior College President Kathleen Nelson and SMDC Chief Administrative Officer John Smylie discussed the benefits for their organizations and the community.

John Smylie, Kathleen Nelson and Paul Moe, representing the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership, formalized the grant funding by signing a contract.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our employees and our patients,” Smylie says. “With the excellent training from Lake Superior College, we will be better positioned to meet the workforce challenges of the future.”

The Minnesota Job Skills Partnership acts as a catalyst between business and education in developing cooperative training projects that provide new-job training or retraining of existing employees. MJSP grants are given to educational institutions with businesses as partners.

Over the course of the three-year grant, more than 200 SMDC employees will learn the Lean Health principles and share them across the health system. By eliminating unnecessary steps and having the right resources at the right time, employees will be more satisfied with their work. Patients will ultimately benefit from a more effective and efficient health care provider.

“SMDC is implementing Lean Health as an answer to the increasing pressure being put on the industry to serve their clients faster, while improving quality and reducing costs,” Nelson says.

Health care experts around the country are embracing the Lean Health concept, which was originally based on the Toyota production system for improving manufacturing processes. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System is working with several healthcare institutions around the state to implement these techniques, including Park Nicollet Health Services, the Mayo Clinic and Grand Itasca Hospital.

SMDC has already applied these concepts in a few areas around the health system. One initiative has improved the efficiency of preparing patients for surgery once they get into the operating room at St. Mary’s Medical Center. These efforts have helped surgery scheduling to be smoother and on time.

Health system leaders are excited that this collaboration with LSC will allow them to incorporate these techniques across all areas of patient care. And by developing this comprehensive curriculum, Lake Superior College will be able to offer the “Lean” training to other local companies in the future, creating community benefits for years to come.

Diagnostic Medical Sonography, a new program through Lake Superior College, will be offered Fall Semester 2007.

“We’re pleased to now offer a comprehensive program in this vital field,” said Pam Elstad, Dean of LSC’s Allied Health and Nursing Division. “The work of ultrasound professionals in the medical field is critical for proper diagnosis and treatment of patients.”

The job market for ultrasound technicians is experiencing strong demand. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), five-year employment for ultrasound technicians in the state is projected to grow at approximately 25 percent.

Sonography, commonly called ultrasound, is a diagnostic medical procedure which uses high-frequency sound waves to produce dynamic visual images of the human body. The technology can be used to examine many parts of the body such as the abdomen, breasts, female reproductive system, prostrate, and heart and blood vessels.

LSC’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program will provide the student with educational experiences in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical facilities. Program graduates will be able to record, analyze, and integrate diagnostic data and other pertinent observations made during the medical ultrasound or other non-invasive diagnostic procedures for presentation to an interpreting physician. The ultrasound technician will also provide patient education related to medical ultrasound and other non-invasive diagnostic services.

Upon completion of the program and twelve months of full-time clinical ultrasound work experience, graduates will be eligible to take national registry exams in Ultrasound Physics, Abdominal Ultrasound, and Obstetrical and Gynecological Ultrasound following the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) prerequisite guidelines. Lake Superior College plans to seek accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs for this program. Students completing the program will receive an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. The program, including all required courses and clinical experience is 72 credits in length.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,500 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

(Duluth, Minn.) — Barry Dahl, vice president of technology and the Virtual Campus at Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minnesota, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Instructional Technology Council. Affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges, the Council works to advance distance education in higher education at member institutions in the UnitedStates and Canada.

Dahl will represent the North Central Region, encompassing the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. His term will run from June 2007
through June 2009. Dahl is the current chair of Minnesota Online, the online instructional service of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

More information about the Instructional Technology Council is available at www.itcnetwork.org.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,500 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

(Duluth, Minn.) — President Gary Trigell, Construction Specifications Institute, Twin Ports Chapter, recently presented LSC President Kathy Nelson with a check for $2,500 for the Lake Superior College Foundation’s Construction Specifications Institute Scholarship Fund, an endowed fund that provides scholarships for students enrolled in Architectural Drafting, Building Construction, Commercial and Residential Wiring, and Computer Aided Design Engineering.

The Construction Specifications Institute, with 17,000 members nationwide, is a professional organization made up of design professionals, contractors, and suppliers in the non-residential building design and construction industry. Its primary goal is improved communication regarding design and construction documents.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,500 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.

College students from around the world are invited to participate in the College Cup competition held in conjunction with Grandma’s Marathon. Sponsored by Lake Superior College’s Virtual Campus, the College Cup event encourages college teams to compete against each other, while participating in the Grandma Marathon events in Duluth, Minnesota on June 16.  College students and staff are invited to form teams comprised of at least three race participants, with both genders represented. An unlimited number of participants on a college team are allowed. The top three times for each team, including at least one time from both the women’s race and the men’s race will be used to determine the winning times. College employees are also invited to participate, but only one of the race times per team may be from an employee. Separate team awards will be given for each race, the full marathon and half marathon. The deadline to sign up is Friday, June 15 at LSC’s Expo Booth at Grandma’s Marathon.

“We hope to generate a competitive and fun event, similar to a corporate challenge race, that will attract college students and employees,” said Barry Dahl, LSC’s vice president of technology and the Virtual Campus. “The College Cup provides an opportunity for students to display their college spirit while competing in a wonderful event.”

For the last two years, LSC’s Virtual Campus has offered for-credit, online courses to prepare students to run Grandma’s Marathon, ski the American Birkebeiner and skate the NorthShore Inline Marathon. With more than 130 courses offered via the Internet, Lake Superior College’s Virtual Campus is a leader in providing online college classes in Minnesota.

To qualify for the College Cup, teams and all participants must register for the event at: www.collegecup.info There is no additional cost, beyond the standard race registration fee to compete in the College Cup. Visit the LSC website, www.lsc.edu/online/collegecup/, for full details, including registration information and rules. Information is also available via e-mail at virtual@lsc.edu.

With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college and a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry.

Lake Superior College will recognize this year’s graduating class at commencement exercises at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) on Monday, May 21, at 3 p.m. A reception for students, friends, and families will be held at 5 p.m. in the Harbor Side Ballroom.

More than 900 degrees, diplomas, and certificates will be awarded to members of the class of 2007. Approximately 300 students are scheduled to participate in the LSC commencement exercises.

“Commencement is a wonderful day for our students,” said LSC President Dr. Kathleen Nelson (right). “It recognizes the completion of an educational goal and signals the beginning of life’s next adventure. Whether the next step is the start of a career or the pursuit of more education, we know that the time and effort students spent at Lake Superior College will be remembered and valued. We wish the class of 2007 well.”

Dr. Patty Petite will be the featured speaker at commencement. Petite has more than 20 years of experience in program management and development with a focus on advocacy work to improve education resources and services for children and families. She is committed to serving community and to life-long learning.

Petite has recently accepted a new position as the president of the Fond du Lac Tribal College in Cloquet, Minnesota. She will be working on separating the accreditation for the tribal college now held jointly in partnership with the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. She is an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Reservation where she lives with her family.

Petite was the former director of Fond du Lac Head Start Program for more than 12 years. Under her leadership, the Fond du Lac Head Start program added services for children pre-natal to kindergarten age and their families, including Early Head Start, Even Start, and Early Childhood/Family Education (ECFE). Petite also developed childcare services in partnership with the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College.

Petite completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Minnesota Duluth and her Ed.D. in policy and administration in higher education from the University of Minnesota. In 2004-2005 Petite was awarded a Bush Foundation Fellowship where she worked collaboratively with other institutions of higher education in the areas of teaching and administration. She is the past chair of the Northland Foundation and is currently a member of the Cloquet Education Foundation.

With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is Northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college and a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry.

They have names like Hammer Time, Junk Yard Dog and Cow Catcher. They’re Battle Bots, robots designed for combat, and they’ll be doing battle at Lake Superior College (LSC) on May 16. Lake Superior College will host the First Annual Northeast Robotics Competition on Wednesday, May 16. The event will feature 15-pound combat robots competing in a 12-foot by 12-foot Plexiglas arena.

Colleges and high schools from across the state have been invited to compete. Teams from the University of Minnesota, Lake Superior College, Pine City High School, and Proctor High School are registered to participate.The event will take place in the Commons at Lake Superior College’s Trinity Road campus. Competition starts at 10 a.m. and continues until a champion is crowned. The event is free and open to the public.

According to LSC instructor Mike Koppy, robot competitions have proven to be an excellent way to interest students in manufacturing and engineering programs. Earlier this year, students enrolled in LSC’s Integrated Manufacturing Program built robots designed to pick up, transport, and unload eggs, without breaking them. “Students took the challenge very seriously, and they learned a lot,” Koppy reports. The competition is sponsored by the Midwest Robotics League and LSC Integrated Manufacturing Program.

Photo caption: Lake Superior College students (L to R) John Hendrickson, Mark Tero Florentz and Matt Hjelden discuss modifications to “Stinger,” their battle bot.

LSC is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. With more than 4,800 students enrolled this spring semester, LSC is northeastern Minnesota’s largest two-year college. LSC provides a wide range of programs and services, including liberal arts and science courses for transfer, technical programs intended to provide occupational skills, continuing education, and customized training for business and industry. LSC is also the leader in Internet-delivered courses and programs in Minnesota.