On Campus Blog

Which books MPR listeners and readers think are good preparation for college
Here’s Part I of a list of books recommended by readers, listeners and our on-air guests during our Midmorning segment on books that students should read before college — not for their academic knowledge, but for the way they’ll shape students’ minds. You can read the entire discussion here. And before we get to the suggestions,…
What UMN freshman can do when they stick together
Last night, University of Minnesota freshman formed The Big M during its Pride and Spirit night as part the U’s Welcome Week. Most of the U’s 5,300 freshman were involved. Here’s last year’s class doing the same thing in a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPDqoohzYfs&feature=relmfu
Why MSU-Moorhead's mascot, Scorch, will be on the sidelines on occasion
Minnesota State University – Moorhead Serious studiers First St. Cloud State President Earl Potter rolled out  his school’s new branding campaign. Now Minnesota State University – Moorhead takes its own shot at getting a new look, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reports. When it promotes its academics, the school will no longer use its Dragon mascot,…
Critics of Texas higher ed changes warn of fallout should Florida embrace Perry model Gov. Rick Scott hasn’t been specific about his plans to overhaul the state’s higher education system, but he has made clear his intention to make some changes — and higher education reforms in Texas will be a likely template. (The Florida Independent)…
What the U's central figure in Troubled Waters has to say about it
A reader passed this on to me a few days ago. It looks like Karen Himle, the woman at the center of last fall’s uproar over the “Troubled Waters” environmental-agricultural documentary at the University of Minnesota, has talked about her experience at that time in a speech in Minnetonka. You may remember that Himle, who…
University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler looking studly
So we’ve just seen University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler as a down-home, man-of-the-earth kind of guy at the State Fair. But have you seen this month’s issue of Twin Cities Business? Kaler is looking positively heroic on the cover. (It seems to be channeling a mix of socialist realism and old Superman images, but maybe that’s…
Considering the recent focus on two-year schools and vocational education, I found pretty interesting this piece on jobs that pay a median salary of $45,000 a year and require just a two-year degree — at least for entry: Registered Nurse Dental Hygienist Respiratory Therapist Programmer Telecom Installer Industrial Engineering Technician Police Officer (Federal) HVAC Mechanic…