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STUDY IN ENGLAND AT 20 YEARS
UMD'S NEW CLASS RING
REGISTERING RECORD ENROLLMENT
KUMD BROADCASTS AROUND THE WORLD
"CHEERS" STAR JOINS SEA GRANT CLEAN BOATING TEAM
PETROZADOVSK RELIEF AID

STUDY IN ENGLAND AT 20 YEARS

The UMD Study in England Program started in the 1980-81 academic year with 50 students. They studied at the University of Birmingham in the first study abroad program of its kind within the University of Minnesota system. Chancellor Robert Heller formulated the concept, and the program's format was organized by a task force headed by Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Professor Jonathan Conant. The model has remained relatively the same over the years, with a UMD faculty member serving as the program director in England for the entire year and two UMD faculty members joining the class each term. Courses cover a wide variety of topics and typically relate to England and Europe. Over the years, the curriculum has broadened and six additional UMD-credit courses are now taught by British professors. Commencing with the 1999-2000 academic year, students are given the option of taking a course at the host university, the University of Birmingham, Westhill.

The program has always offered field trips as a component of the experience, and participants   have enjoyed visiting such places as Edinburgh, Bath, York, Stonehenge, and Wales. Ample time is available to explore Great Britain, the Continent and beyond during breaks.  

Every year about 50 undergraduate students continue to participate in the successful program. The program is housed at UMD in the International Education Office under the direction of Professor Gordon L. Levine. Over 100 UMD faculty members have participated in the program, some of them two or three times. Over 900 students have participated in the program to date. In 1980, Professor Conant said, "My only hope is that this program will be a success and can continue throughout the years." That it has!

UMD'S NEW CLASS RING

Last February, UMD announced its new one-ring design by Josten's. It was designed by a group of nine individuals from different areas on campus, with the help of a Josten's artist. After a 10-month process of brainstorming and revisions, the final ring was unveiled to the campus community.

The committee issued this thoughtful statement about the design, "The University of Minnesota Duluth ring reflects our unity and sense of community. . . The Lake Superior emblem in the background reflects the community in which UMD lives. The simple beauty of the lake and northern Minnesota is what calls us to this area, and lives strong in our memories. The gold of the ring reflects the rich educational experience we have received. . ." UMD class rings are available through the UMD Stores and Josten's.

REGISTERING RECORD ENROLLMENT

Enrollment has reached record numbers at UMD this fall, topping off at 8,100 graduate and undergraduate students. The strategy was to "grow" the number of students to 8,000 and, "It looks like we are there," said Bruce Gildseth UMD Vice Chancellor for Academic Support and Student Life. Almost 2,000 first-year students joined the ranks at UMD in September.  

KUMD BROADCASTS AROUND THE WORLD

This year, UMD's radio station, KUMD, became one of the few stations that broadcast its signal live over the Internet.   The UMD airwaves have only a 75-mile radius while the new service allows alumni to keep in touch with UMD no matter where they travel around the globe. John Ziegler, KUMD's program director, said the station has heard from listeners from as far away as Arizona and Texas. KUMD airs a unique mix of University and community programs to entertain a wide audience.   Its website is http://www.kumd.org.

Another Duluth radio station, KDAL, airs UMD hockey games over the Internet.   The KDAL website is http://www.am610kdal.com.

"CHEERS" STAR JOINS SEA GRANT
CLEAN BOATING TEAM

John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff Clavin on "Cheers" stars in a clean-boating video produced for the Minnesota Sea Grant Program. The 10-minute video is designed for the owners of motorboats, sailboats and personal watercraft. The message is simple -- check your boat for problem species, like zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil. Keep the boat clean and don't move water, weeds or fish into other lakes or rivers.

Ratzenberger said he still spends a lot of time on the water. "I had my first boat at eight years old as a matter of fact, before I got my first bicycle," he said. "And I have been fishing ever since. It's going on 40-some-odd years now."

The Minnesota Sea Grant Program on the UMD campus took the lead in making the video and was joined by several federal, state and business partners. The filming took place in September near Brainerd, Minnesota. For information or a copy of the video, call (218) 726-7677.

PETROZAVODSK RELIEF AID

In July of 1999, Dr. Edwin Haller from UMD's Physiology Department, along with several UMD medical students, raised money to purchase medical supplies for Russian hospitals in Petrozavodsk. Beth Keller, Deb Erickson, Margaret Redfall, Jason Beckersmann and Ann Ryan collected donations of supplies from the Minnesota Medical Foundation, St. Mary's Foundation, local pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and pharmaceutical representatives.

The group brought $30,000 worth of medical supplies in 13 suitcases, including items specific to respiratory illnesses for two hospitals in Petrozavodsk. The group spent 10 days touring the Petrozavodsk hospitals and meeting people in the Russian medical community.

The hospitals are in dire need of even more supplies. UMD medical   students are planning a return trip for July 2000 in order to continue to aid Duluth's sister city.