Normandale Community College

Normandale Community College
Normandale Community College
Normandale1.JPG
Established 1968
Type Public community college
President Joseph P. Opatz
Students 10,223 (Fall 2010)
Location Bloomington, Minnesota, United States
Campus 90 acres (36 ha)
Mascot Lion
Website http://www.normandale.edu/

Normandale Community College is a two-year college located in Bloomington, Minnesota, serving primarily the communities of the southwestern portion of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. Established in 1968 as Normandale State Junior College with an initial enrollment of 1,358 students, today Normandale annually enrolls more than 10,000 students. Normandale is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.

Usage of an online system, Desire To Learn (D2L), allows the faculty to create and access their individual classes and students within the classes. Content, quizzes, a discussion page, grades, and an online drop box are only a few of the many features of D2L.

Nine Mile Creek transects the college campus near East Marsh Lake Park's wetlands and was the initial site for their host city's "Adopt-A-Wetland" service learning prototype (2003–2004).

Contents

Mission

As an urban community college serving primarily the southwest metropolitan region of the Twin Cities, Normandale prepares students for full participation in our diverse communities, creates pathways to other college programs, and builds community connections.[1]

Facilities

Normandale Community College is located at West 98th Street and France Avenue South in Bloomington, Minnesota, on a 90-acre (36 ha) site 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Interstate 494. The campus, accessible to persons with disabilities, features five contemporary brick buildings around a central courtyard. These buildings include the following: College Services, Library, Activities, Science, and a newly renovated Student Center. The campus also features a Japanese Garden.[2] Plans for an academic partnership center with Minnesota State University Mankato is underway, and is awaiting funding from a bonding bill. Construction on a 727-space four story parking ramp will begin in Spring 2012.

Accreditation

Normandale Community College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission. Individual program accreditations include: American Dental Association, American Dietetic Association, Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, Minnesota State Board of Nursing, and the National League for Nursing. Normandale is one of only four community colleges across the nation that is now accredited in three Fine Arts areas: National Association of Schools of Music, National Association of Schools of Theatre, and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

Honors

The Community Connections award is given each year by the Normandale Foundation on behalf of the college. The award symbolizes exemplary service to the community by deed and example.[3]

Recipients are:
2000 - Charlie Boone and Roger Erickson, local broadcast legends on WCCO-AM radio for nearly 40 years.
2001 - Futurist and pioneer of the modern computer, Earl C. Joseph, Sr., was recognized for his sustained support with helping to expand funding of higher education student scholarships.
2002 - Bob DeFlores, film archivist and historian who has hosted many film festivals nationwide to raise money for education. Normandale partners with DeFlores in the DeFlores Film Project.[4]
2003 - Percy Hughes, a gifted jazz musician, tennis coach, and mentor.
2004 - Lee and Barbara Kopp, philanthropists and generous supporters of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system who were also honored by the Council for Resource Development in Washington, D.C., in 2004 as Benefactor of the Year. The Kopp Student Center is named after them.
2005 - Alice Seagren, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education, and former teacher who also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
2006 - The Normandale Japanese Garden Committee members, who volunteer to maintain the college's Japanese Garden by weeding and cleaning, hosting an annual dinner event, and renting the garden for weddings.
2007 - Larry Jodsaas, Retired Chairman of PolarFab and Normandale benefactor for whom the Jodsaas Science Center is named.
2008 - The students of Normandale's first cohort in the Academy of Math and Science are honored for their educational successes.[5]
2009 - Bloomington, Minnesota's third-term mayor Gene Winstead.

References

  1. ^ Normandale Community College website
  2. ^ Normandale Community College Japanese Garden website
  3. ^ Normandale Community College
  4. ^ DeFlores Film Project website
  5. ^ Academy of Math and Science website

External links