UMC Golden Eagle News Archive:
June 6, 2006 - July 1, 2009

CROOKSTON, MN (June 6, 2006) A comprehensive review of the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) intercollegiate athletic program is moving ahead this summer with the creation of a 19 member Athletic Review Committee. Chaired by area resident and University of North Dakota (UND) Professor Glenn Olsen, Ph.D., the committee will examine all facets of athletic operations including student experiences, support systems, policies, facilities, finances, constituencies, and competitiveness. The work will help identify the proper balance between academics and athletics on campus so that both not only remain viable but continue to grow.

Ensuring a great experience for student athletes that supports the overall mission of the University of Minnesota, Crookston is our main objective, said Olsen, who served as a faculty member and division chairperson at UMC prior to joining UND. I look forward to being part of the team as we strive to perform a complete and thoughtful analysis and support UMCs efforts in planning for success.

Olsen has also served on the North Dakota Intercollegiate Athletic Committee for six years, including two years as chair. He is currently a member of the Board of Education of Independent School District #593 in Crookston and was re-elected in 2004 for a second term.

The committee, composed of community members and University staff, faculty, and students, will begin meeting in mid June. They will work during the next four months to compile and examine existing data and outline the strengths and weaknesses that exist within the program. A written report is expected to be delivered to UMC Chancellor Charles H. Casey by Nov. 1, 2006. Committee members will not be asked to make specific recommendations regarding division or conference affiliation. UMC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and became an official member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) on July 1, 1999.

UMCs Athletic Review Committee is a byproduct of the draft Strategic Positioning Task Force report and recommendations submitted to the University of Minnesota administration in March 2006. The report, currently under review, outlines a new vision of an innovative, competitive, and culturally transformed University of Minnesota, Crookston.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) is a four-year baccalaureate degree granting institution, dedicated to learning, discovery, and engagement in the northwest Minnesota region and beyond. To learn more, visit www.UMCrookston.edu.