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Leaders look to save MSCTC programs
Published Thursday, January 17, 2008
Entities have stepped forward offering assistance to save local college programs in danger of being lost.
A proposal was recently announced to eliminate the medical lab technician (MLT) program; transfer some nursing programs to other (Minnesota State College and Technical School (MSCTC) campuses; and to eliminate the criminal justice program at the Fergus Falls Campus. A resolution attempting to prevent this will be brought before the Fergus Falls City Council Tuesday, Jan. 22. The proposal was presented to the Public Works and Safety Committee this morning by City Council Member Hal Leland.
“Several groups and individuals have pledged to provide financial resources to help,” Leland said. The resolution will state that full advantage should be taken of those resources.
Letters have been sent to Dist. 10A Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) and Dist. 10 Sen. Dan Skogen (DFL-Hewitt) seeking their support at the legislative level. The letters stated, in part:
“The Lake Region Healthcare Foundation and Fergus Falls Area College Foundation, as well as other foundations, businesses and individuals have stepped forward pledging sufficient financial support to reinstate the MLT program and restore the nursing program to a level that will provide students the ability to meet staffing and health care needs of or community … The City of Fergus Falls hopes to garner your support … in order that four main points may be further examined.”
The points include:
• Giving the community an opportunity to discuss, address and resolve the fiscal challenges facing the campus.
• Providing encouragement to the Fergus Falls campus to cooperate and collaborate with the resources within the community to restore the programs.
• Encouraging a campus/community collaboration to develop a mission statement that embraces the community, and a strategic plan designed to be of service to the community.
• Providing a realistic and equitable marketing program for the Fergus Falls programs and campus.
After it is passed Tuesday, the resolution will be sent to the Minnesota State University (MNSCU) chancellor and leaders of the Fergus Falls campus.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by TKay (anonymous) on January 17, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you to those involved for pursuing this and hopefully saving these important programs.
Posted by renegade (anonymous) on January 17, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I had a feeling Fergus would rally to save these programs and the college.
Posted by fergusforever (anonymous) on January 18, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Fergus Falls. We have some great people here. Together we can make this work. Thanks to all of you for stepping forward.
A MSCTC student.
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