Contact: Linda Kohl, MnSCU Public Affairs, (651) 296-9595
or Nancy Conner, (651) 296-0541

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will hold listening sessions April 29 and 30 and May 3 on the five campuses of Northwest Technical College to gather community input on the future direction for the college.

Last week, President Ronald Swanson said he would step down as president of the college at the end of his current contract on June 30, 2002. The two-year technical college has campuses in Bemidji, Detroit Lakes, East Grand Forks, Moorhead and Wadena.

"Chancellor James McCormick and I are seeking ideas regarding future leadership and how the campuses might be organized," said Linda Baer, senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

Residents of the region and alumni of the college are invited to participate in any of the five community listening sessions, which will be conducted by staff from the Office of the Chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Separate sessions will be held with faculty and staff, and with students the same days on each campus.

The community listening sessions are scheduled for:

• Bemidji campus: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Monday, April 29
• East Grand Forks campus: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, April 29
• Moorhead campus: 8:45-9:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 30
• Detroit Lakes campus: 3:00-4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 30
• Wadena campus: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, May 3

Northwest Technical College serves about 4,800 students per semester. The college is part of the 34-institution Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

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