Star Tribune
Low enrollment drives University of Minnesota Duluth to examine majors, courses
DULUTH — Since 2018, undergraduate enrollment at the University of Minnesota Duluth has dropped by about 300 students annually, a number that has grown because of the pandemic, but part of a long-term trend at the regional campus.
It’s an unsustainable pace, interim Chancellor David McMillan told faculty and staff during one of two Wednesday town hall-style meetings, as he asked them to help administrators address an enduring problem: how to streamline low-demand majors and courses to remain viable.
“It is critical that we get our arms around this now,” because it means “under-utilized faculty,” he said. “Doing nothing in a marketplace that is grossly oversupplied (with college choices) and a high price point is a recipe for big trouble.”
It’s a problem higher education institutions are facing across the state and country as people forgo college and birth rates decline.
The university considers low-enrollment classes as those with fewer than 15 students or, in the case of deliberately small classes, less than half full. Nearly 30% of its courses meet that guideline. Just 10 of its nearly 80 majors serve about half of the university’s undergraduate students. Forty of those majors serve 13% of its students.
“Smaller programs, small (numbers) of students in the classroom; that’s a big contribution to our budget challenges,” said Amy Hietapelto, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs.
UMD overcame a $15 million deficit this year with half the funds coming from one-time money left over from departments across campus and half from the U system on a yearly basis. Next year, it faces a shortfall of at least $7.5 million, not accounting for enrollment loss, spokeswoman Lynne Williams said.
McMillan and Hietapelto said they didn’t know how an examination of courses, programs and major offerings would end, but a more interdisciplinary focus could result, with eliminations of some majors by rolling some courses under other majors. Some departments will be asked to grow enrollment or reposition, rename or shift focus of programs, or simply adjust schedules. It could result in more space for students on waiting lists for high-demand courses.
Undergraduate enrollment sits at 7,500, about 23% less than the 2011-12 peak. Counting graduate programs, which will also see analysis, UMD has 9,500 students and is attempting to grow to 10,000, a number that would offer stability, McMillan said in a later interview.
McMillan said he’ll continue to push for more aid from the U. While the per-student amount has increased over time, UMD leaders have long said it isn’t enough.
The only debate between DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and GOP challenger Royce White started Sunday on the street outside WCCO Radio.
As White approached the building, he loudly called some two dozen flag-waving and cheering Klobuchar supporters a “whole lot of commies.” The 33-year-old provocateur and podcaster also told them to thank Republican former Vice President Dick Cheney — who endorsed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris — because there was “no chance in hell” that Harris would defeat Republican former President Donald Trump on Nov. 5.
Klobuchar, 64, had arrived moments earlier, smiling and wishing “good morning” to her supporters. Once inside, the two took questions for an hour from moderator Blois Olson. Their tone was generally polite with White often interrupting a Klobuchar response with, “rebuttal,” indicated he wanted to respond.
The senator repeatedly raised White’s claims on X, formerly Twitter, that “The bad guys won in World War II” and that there were “no good guys in that war.” She called that stance offensive to veterans.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar arrives at WCCO Radio for a debate with Royce White in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 27. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii)
Klobuchar, who is seeking a fourth six-year term, portrayed herself as a pragmatist. She opened by saying that we live in “incredibly divisive times politically” but that she has listened and worked with Republicans to bring down shipping costs, drug prices for seniors and to help veterans and push for more housing and child care.
“Courage in this next few years is not going to be standing by yourself yelling at people,” she said, her opening allusion to White’s rhetoric, which she said is often vulgar.
White, a former NBA player, is a political novice, but a close ally of Steve Bannon, the jailed former chief strategist for Trump and right wing media executive. Last summer, White won the state GOP endorsement to run against Klobuchar.
“Our country’s coming undone at the seams. I think we can change that,” White said in his opening statement. He said he threatens the status quo, decried the “permanent political class” and referred to the two major parties as the “uniparty.”
Other buildings destroyed at Khojir and Parchin likely included buildings where Iran used industrial mixers to create the solid fuel needed for its extensive ballistic missile arsenal, Eveleth said.
In a statement issued immediately after the attack Saturday, the Israeli military said it targeted ”missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the state of Israel over the last year.”
Destroying such sites could greatly disrupt Iran’s ability to manufacture new ballistic missiles to replenish its arsenal after the two attacks on Israel. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which oversees the country’s ballistic missile program, has been silent since Saturday’s attack.
Iran’s overall ballistic missile arsenal, which includes shorter-range missiles unable to reach Israel, was estimated to be ”over 3,000” by Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, then-commander of the U.S. military’s Central Command, in testimony to the U.S. Senate in 2022. In the time since, Iran has fired hundreds of the missiles in a series of attacks.
There have been no videos or photos posted to social media of missile parts or damage in civilian neighborhoods following the recent attack — suggesting that the Israeli strikes were far more accurate that Iran’s ballistic missile barrages targeting Israel in April and October. Israel relied on aircraft-fired missiles during its attack.
However, one factory appeared to have been hit in Shamsabad Industrial City, just south of Tehran near Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country’s main gateway to the outside world. Online videos of the damaged building corresponded to an address for a firm known as TIECO, which advertises itself as building advanced machinery used in Iran’s oil and gas industry.
Some take him up on it and fret when he’s not around.
“It is nice to be missed and be part of the school’s culture,” Arzola said. But mostly, he added, he wants kids to know that police aren’t around just for when the bad stuff happens. He’ll hand out his stickers and bracelets, even a trading card bearing his image. Then, they’ll talk about dogs and family.
School resource officer Al Arzola talks to students in his office at John Adams Middle School in Rochester on Oct. 11. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Two months ago, Rochester played host to a three-day training session for new SROs from across the state — an event organized by the Minnesota School Safety Center. On the final day, the 26 officers learned about surveillance challenges at the other school where Arzola works: Dakota Middle School.
It is a beautiful building with a scenic view. There is a lot of glass, too. Arzola, handling the role of instructor and tour guide, took the group outside and noted how one could look straight through the entrance to the large groups that gather inside. There were no curbs in front, either.
“There is nothing stopping any vehicle whatsoever from going through my front doors,” Arzola told the officers. “Law enforcement wasn’t talked to before this building was made. It was kind of like, ‘Here it is. You’re the SRO. Do what you do.’”
He showed them his office, too, which is separate from the main office and near those of other school support staff members. That makes sense, said Jenny Larrive, SRO coordinator for the Minnesota School Safety Center, given than SROs spend more time connecting with youth than on actual law enforcement.
Pennsylvania top election official says that 2020 ligation upheld that “elections were accurate”
Pennsylvania top election official says that 2020 ligation upheld that “elections were accurate”
Former Rep. Liz Cheney urges women to “vote your conscience,” even if it’s a “secret vote”
Pennsylvania top election official says that 2020 ligation upheld that “elections were accurate”
Pennsylvania top election official says that 2020 ligation upheld that “elections were accurate”