Nursing accreditation

The Central Lakes College Practical Nursing (PN) and Associate Degree (AD) nursing programs have always had Minnesota Board of Nursing (MBON) approval and Central Lakes College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2010, MBON mandated that all state nursing programs be nationally accredited within specific guidelines that include Candidacy status by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC). Schools have until Jan. 1, 2016 to either have accreditation or be candidates for it. CLC is on track, with Candidacy status attained and a visit from the NLNAC review team scheduled for August of 2013. "We have every expectation of being accredited well before the deadline," said Connie Frisch, director of nursing at CLC. The nursing programs at CLC -- PN and AD -- continue to graduate professionals who earned nursing licensure at a high, first-pass rate of about 90 percent. That is above the state average. Including instructors in the Nursing Assistant program, CLC offers a qualified faculty of 24 plus an equally qualified lab coordinator with nursing credentials.

Bergman article published

Greg Bergman, director of the North Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, is the author of an article published in the 2012 Spring/Summer issue of Community College Entrepreneurship magazine. The feature relates development of a successful Pierz-based business which drew upon the expertise of SBDC counselors and others to assist with a sunflower oil processing operation. "Future Looks Sunny for Minnesota Entrepreneur Team" tells of the work by entrepreneurs Tom and Jenni Smude, who recently received a $298,500 grant from the USDA to be used for planning and marketing. Smude's Natural Sunflower Oil is produced from high oleic sunflower seeds and provides healthy cooking oil with zero trans-fat, high in "good" monounsaturated fat, and low in polyunsaturated fat. "The oil is really catching on with consumers," writes Greg (center with Tom Smude and SBDC consultant Julie Anderholm).

Instructor named

Mandi Yliniemi of Merrifield has accepted the full-time Communication Art and Design instructor position at Central Lakes College. She had been an interim instructor the past two years. Mandi is a graduate of the program and Photographic Imaging (2000) who has professional experience with Consolidated Telephone Co., Range Printing, Lake Country Journal magazine, The Johnson Group Marketing, and Russell & Herder Advertising. She is a multiple Gold and Silver ADDY Award winner as well as an honoree in the National Credit Union Marketing competition and Minnesota Book Awards for best interior book design.

College Drive closure

Anderson Brothers Construction Company of Brainerd has informed the City of Brainerd that construction on College Drive is progressing according to schedule. The project includes the shifting of traffic from College Drive to Mississippi Parkway in the area of the Central Lakes College between the intersections of Mississippi Parkway and SW Fourth Street. College Drive will be closed between these intersections but local access will be maintained to Southwest Eighth Street. Also note that parking on Mississippi Parkway be not be allowed until traffic is restored to College Drive. The Closure will begin at 7AM on Monday, June 4th and will go into July. 

McCalla honored

Central Lakes College Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kelly B. McCalla, has been selected as the 2011-2012 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Outstanding Academic and Student Affairs Administrator.  The award recognizes an administrator at one of the system’s 31 colleges and universities spread across 54 campuses statewide.   The recipient is selected by peer campus and system administrators based on a series of criteria including innovation, leadership and effectiveness.

Transition camp

Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, recently hosted about 50 high school seniors for the Mille Lacs Area Senior High School Transition Camp. The students attended mini-sessions that included interactive dialogue on the following topics with the following experts:

1.      Diversity – discrimination policies, Mary Sam.

2.      Transition -- Lane Beauvais.

3.      Advising -- navigating through the college system, Jane Vogt.

4.      Financial Aid – what do you need to know, Mike Barnaby.

5.      Student Life  -- clubs, activities, sports, fine arts, Erich Heppner.

6.      College/University Communication Systems/Online D2L, e-services, e-mail; why you should stay connected, Julie Jo Larson.

7.      Disability -- reasonable accommodations, supportive services, Aaron Mertes.

8.      Admissions -- career exploration, registration processes, online learning, Rose Tretter.

CLC student to AF Academy

Jeremiah Hoffman’s smile speaks volumes, his braces glistening and eyes bright as he describes the thrill of soaring with eagles. The glider’s 60-foot wingspan and warm summer thermals lift the young pilot above a rare panorama of southern Minnesota landscape. “It’s a fantastic experience, to ride from 3,000 feet to 6,000 and sometimes see eagles up there with me,” said the Brainerd teen of his 40 glider flights provided as part of a summer academy offered at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, through the Civil Air Patrol. At 18, the Central Lakes College student is flying high academically, having been a National Merit Finalist and studied his way to perfect grades. This while serving as commander of the Brainerd Civil Air Patrol squadron.