The Wave

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty held a news conference on Nov. 20 at Lake Superior College to discuss his online learning initiative for public higher education in the state.  David Olson, chair of the MnSCU Board of Trustees, and Susan Heegaard, director, Minnesota Higher Education Office, also participated in the news conference.

” We live in an IPod world but much of our education system is dominated by whiteboards and lecture halls,” said Pawlenty.  ” We have students with different learning styles, different backgrounds and different capabilities, and exploding interest in online opportunities and services.  We need to modernize the way college courses are delivered and put Minnesota on the cutting edge of online education.”

Lake Superior College was chosen as the site for the news conference because of its leading role in online education.  Pawlenty repeatedly acknowledged LSC’s “pioneering efforts” and success in online education and recognized President Kathleen Nelson, Vice President of Technology and the E-Campus Barry Dahl, online faculty and staff for their efforts.  Pawlenty has called for 25 percent of credits to be earned online by 2015 throughout the MnSCU system. He noted that LSC is close to reaching that goal now with nearly 25 percent of credits earned by LSC students taken online. 

(Pictured left to right:  faculty member Victoria Hutson, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Hanna Erpestad, faculty member Tina Johnson, faculty member Susan Brashaw and President Kathleen Nelson)  These faculty members, including Joyce Pihlaja, have been recognized for their outstanding online teaching.

According to an annual survey conducted by the Center for Digital Education and Converge magazine, Duluth’s Lake Superior College is one of the nation’s top examples of technology delivery in higher education.  LSC was ranked tenth among the medium-sized Community Colleges (3,000 – 7,500 students) in the fourth annual Digital Community Colleges Survey.  The survey identifies and spotlights colleges that provide a high level of service to their students and faculty through information technology.

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts to provide service and technology to our college community,” explained Barry Dahl, LSC’s vice president of Technology and the e-Campus.  “The ranking is a testament to the dedication and skills of many members of our staff.”

Schools were placed in three categories based on size of enrollment, with college officials providing information from the 2007-08 school year.  At the survey’s conclusion, the top 10 in each of the three categories were named.  The survey examined areas of technology ranging from online admissions, student access to transcripts and grades, information security and infrastructure to weather and campus security alerts and online library capabilities.

View the full list of winners at www.centerdigitaled.com.

Marina Leight, vice president of the Center for Digital Education, said, “Our revised 2008 digital community college survey showcases the best utilization of digital technology. Community colleges continue to be the place to look for innovation.”

The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute providing education and industry leaders with decision support, research and educational services to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.  In addition to the Digital Community College Survey, the Center conducts Digital School Districts, Cities, Counties and States Surveys – all national studies that serve as benchmarks for excellence in IT applications and initiatives.

For more information on the Center visit www.centerdigitaled.com.  For more information on the Digital Community Colleges Survey, please contact Janet Grenslitt at (916) 932-1363.

Barry Dahl, Lake Superior College’s vice president of technology and the eCampus, is among 19 nominees for this year’s Desire2EXCEL Awards. Dahl is nominated for the student mentor program he developed to serve LSC’s online students.

The awards are sponsored by Desire2Learn Incorporated, a leading provider of eLearning solutions. They are open to individuals and institutions that use Desire2Learn’s eLearning software. The awards recognize individuals for leading edge contributions to their respective organizations and the eLearning community.

Dahl is nominated for the Desire2EXCEL Program Award, which recognizes Desire2Learn users who have created an online learning program that demonstrates innovation and enhances teaching and learning.

Dahl and Lake Superior College previously won a 2007 Desire2EXCEL Award for Community Service in recognition of partnerships with Grandma’s Marathon and the American Birkebeiner. That project also won the People’s Choice Award in 2007, which was determined by a vote of all conference participants.

Winners of this year’s awards will be announced at the fifth annual Desire2Learn Users Conference, FUSION 2008, which will be held July 20 — 23 in Memphis, Tennessee.