The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) today approved an operating budget for fiscal 2014 that freezes undergraduate tuition at fiscal 2013 levels. This is the first of a two-year tuition freeze made possible by a $78 million appropriation by the state legislature during the 2013 session.

Summerset Theatre continues its 46^th season on July 9 with the funny and moving play Steel Magnolias. The quintessential story of family and friendship in a unique Southern sisterhood, Steel Magnolias is a skillfully crafted portrayal of eccentricity, loyalty and love set in a small-town beauty parlor in Louisiana. This humorously revealing play will take you on an emotional journey filled with laughter and tears.

Riverland Community College offers campers from our region the opportunity to attend the Dream It Do It VEX Robotics Camp July 15-19 at the Albert Lea Campus. The camp is from 9 .a.m. to 3 p.m. each day and designed for students entering grades 7-12 who are interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Each day will consist of a different challenge with robotics. Participants design and build a robot using basic and intermediate VEX mechanisms, learn autonomous programming and learn how to program robots using sensor inputs and quadrature encoders. The camp concludes Friday with a mini?challenge the participants’ family members are invited to attend.

Prior to starting as president of Riverland Community College July 1, I met with more than 30 current Riverland employees and community members to gather information about Riverland’s history, its current path and future needs. As we prepare for the new academic year starting in August, I must acknowledge the good work of my immediate predecessors, Dr. Terrence Leas and more recently, interim president, Dr. Kent Hanson.

Many have asked for my vision. A shared vision is better than a unilateral vision. Therefore, I prefer that we go through a process that would lead Riverland to a destination most will embrace as best for the College. It is my responsibility and intention to guide this process in a timely manner. Riverland will always remember that we serve students, employers and our communities at large.

Monty Python’s Spamalot will open on August 1 as the final show in Summerset Theatre’s 46^th season. The Tony Award-winning Broadway hit finally makes its Spamtown, USA debut! Monty Python’s Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and features beautiful show girls, flying cows, killer rabbits, French people…and, of course, plenty of everyone’s favorite canned ham.

“Wegner Then and Now," a retrospective of selected works spanning Artist James Wegner’s entire career opens Monday at the James Wegner Art Gallery at Riverland’s EastBuilding on the Austin Campus. The show includes dramatic sculptures created during the early 1960s, two-dimensional work from every decade since and the artist’s most recent efforts. The exhibit illustrates the influence of several historical artistic styles, all adapted to Wegner’s personal interests and inspirations.

In November 2012, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Chancellor Rosenstone asked MnSCU students, faculty, staff, presidents and trustees to participate on three workgroups to advise the long-term strategic directions needed to ensure access to an extraordinary education for all Minnesotans; to meet Minnesota’s workforce and community needs; and to deliver the most cost-effective, highest value education. For several months, each workgroup met regularly to assess the questions posed.

The resulting report, “Charting the Future” presented is preliminary and released with hope for broader consultation and dialogue among all constituencies before the final report is delivered to the chancellor Oct. 23.

Riverland Community College has named Gary Schindler as the new dean of students. Schindler has a master’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Counseling and a bachelor’s degree in social studies. Schindler previously held the position as dean of students at Riverland from 1998 to 2009. Prior to his return to Riverland in August, Schindler worked at Spoon River College in Illinois and for Anoka Technical College as the dean of student affairs at both colleges. In addition to his work as a college administrator he worked as a trained peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission in college accreditation.

In a ceremonial gesture today, Riverland Community College President Adenuga Atewologun accepted the keys from The Hormel Foundation to the newly renovated community Early Childhood Education Center. The facility valued at more than $3 million was recently completed at Riverland’s Austin campus.

Riverland Community College Theatre Director Lindsey Duoos Williams announced the Theatre Department’s 2013-2014 season today. This season brings a fresh set of plays and musicals that haven’t previously been seen at Riverland Theatre.

Starting today, the cast of the recent Summerset production of Monty Python’s Spamalot will be searching for the grail at the Minnesota State Fair through Sunday. Summerset was the only out-state group selected to be part of the Minnesota State Fair’s inaugural “Arts A’Fair” performances. Monty Python’s Spamalot will be in the Education Building and roaming the fairgrounds, performing and providing information about Summerset and Riverland’s theatre and music programs.

When I started at Riverland Community College in July, I was the third president in 13 months. President Terry Leas left in 2012 after nearly 10 years, an admirable tenure longer than the national average. Interim President Dr. Kent Hanson successfully served a single academic year until I was named president. That’s a lot of change. Riverland also faced other transitions in leadership as valued administrators retired, advanced to different colleges or proceeded to enhance their educational credentials. Because of these transitions, I began my new presidency with many new leaders to help shape the future of Riverland. It became one of my exciting first priorities to stabilize Riverland’s leadership team.

I am confident that this dynamic new team is positioned to “respect the past, know the present” and lead Riverland to the excellence our students and communities deserve.

Riverland Community College will host the Dream It Do It Southern Minnesota VEX Robotics Tournament Dec.14, 2013 at Albert Lea High School. Middle and high school teams have the opportunity to participate during the 2013-2014 season using robots they build, program and design with the VEX Robotics Design System. Participants in VEX Robotics develop problem-solving skills and apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) individually and as a team as they work together to build a VEX robot. They also learn how robotics and STEM skills apply to manufacturing careers.

During the last decade, the number of available online courses and programs skyrocketed worldwide. Online programming provides students with the flexibility and convenience to complete coursework according to their schedules at home or anywhere Internet is available. To insure the quality of our online programming, our deans and faculty are rigorous in their review of curriculum, learning goals and student outcomes for all our courses, especially online. Further, many of our instructors have acquired national certification from Quality Matters™ (QM™) for online courses.

Riverland Community College, in conjunction with “College Knowledge Month,” will waive the application fee for all high school seniors that apply to attend Riverland Oct. 25-31. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system is participating in “College Knowledge Month,” a statewide effort to provide every graduating high school senior with the preparation, opportunity, and support needed to apply to college. In conjunction with this effort, Riverland is one of 25 MnSCU colleges and universities waiving application fees for new students for a limited time.

Nearly 1,000 regional high school juniors, high school counselors and teachers are registered to visit Riverland Community College’s Austin Campus Wednesday to participate in the College’s annual Career Day/College Fair. At Career Day, business professionals from the region present informational seminars regarding career options.

Consul Alberto Fierro Garza, Consulate of Mexico in Saint Paul, presented grants from the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME - Institute for Mexicans Abroad) Fellowship Program to colleges and universities in Minnesota including a $14,000 grant for Riverland Community College. The grants benefit Mexican or Mexican-American students. The presentation took place during a ceremony hosted by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities following the October meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Riverland Community College will host an informational session featuring a new program partnership that enables college students to complete their bachelor’s degree in elementary education, all without leaving Austin.