NEWS | December 2006

Each month NEWS delivers stories about our colleges and higher education research, trends and policies Read full articles on one page
	Education agenda triggers positive responses Attention is growing for the 2007 Education Agenda for the Common Good, released by the Minnesota Private College Council Nov. 16. The legislative agenda proposes changes in state policy that will increase the number of high school students who are ready and able to move into college — and help keep college affordable. Read full article

	Leaders in study abroad The 17 colleges and universities of the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) are leading the way in undergraduate study abroad, accounting for 58 percent of Minnesota participants. Nationally, five MPCC member schools rank among the top 20 baccalaureate institutions. Read full article

	Two for the price of one: combining learning with community service Service learning combines classroom projects and activities with service to the community — benefiting students, institutions and community members. Find out what students at Bethel University and Macalester College are doing. Read full article

	Holiday events galore Our 17 campuses celebrate the holiday season with a variety of events that showcase the talent of students and reach out to the broader community. Ranging from traditional and not-so-traditional music concerts to tree lightings, lectures, dance performances and art sales, there is something for everyone. We estimate that more than 180,000 attend these events each holiday season. Although most events occur in early December, several of the concerts are re-broadcast later on Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) or Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). Check the MPR and TPT holiday schedules for details.

	Reason three (10 reasons Minnesota needs private colleges) Educating Andrea, Antonio and Amun Minnesota’s private colleges enrolled more than 57,000 students in fall 2006. One in five college students in Minnesota attends one of our institutions. One in ten private college students is a student of color.

	BRIEFS Delores Stoffel, a University of St. Thomas graduate now enrolled at the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota, received the first Martin Olav Sabo Fellowship that supports students who have overcome disadvantages to achieve success … Carleton College was awarded $5 million by the Starr Foundation to support “Asia in Comparative Perspective,” a program that prepares students to work in a global society; 31 Starr scholars will study at Carleton in 2006-07 … the University of St. Thomas was designated as one of the 76 colleges qualifying for the new "community engagement" classification from the Carnegie Foundation … Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow presented “Paying Attention: Democracy and the Ethics of Philanthropy” (see Presentations) to the Association of Fundraising Professionals on December 5.