CLC Hosting Spring "Gallery Walk" for Charting the Future

On Tuesday, March 24 from noon to 3pm near the south door (cafeteria area), Central Lakes College will host a second Charting the Future Gallery Walk to get feedback from the campus community about the work of the Academic Planning & Collaboration, Competency Certification & Credit for Prior Learning, Education Technology and Information Technology Systems Design implementation teams. 

AgCentric Launched

Three Minnesota colleges join forces for new AgCentric Center of Excellence -- Aims to prepare young people for careers in booming agriculture industry through shared resources. 

USDA studies show that now more than ever, agriculture is an industry that depends on science, technology, cutting-edge applications and advanced production practices to meet increasing global demands. To prepare tomorrow’s workforce for the challenges ahead, three technical colleges in northern and central Minnesota have combined resources to launch AgCentric, a Minnesota State Colleges and Universities agriculture center of excellence focused on customized training, education and outreach.

AgCentral News Conference

AgCentric was officially unveiled on Tuesday, February 3 at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in St. Paul, Minnesota.  

Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Jim Boerboom greeted the crowd of about 25 legislators, MNSCU officials, Department of Education officials, Future Farmers of America representatives, and administrators of the three colleges affiliated with AgCentric. 

A presentation was be made by consultants HatlingFlint to share the development of the name, logo, mission and platform for this initiative.

Watch the news conference.

CLC Announces Fall Honors List

Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, has announced its 2014 fall semester honors list. 


The President’s List includes 249 students who earned a grade-point average of 3.75 to 4.0 while enrolled 
for at least 12 credits. 
The Dean’s List includes 263 students who earned a grade-point average of 3.25 to 3.74.

Verse Like Water: Poet Robert Hass

Verse Like Water: the visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, in collaboration with The Crossing Arts Alliance, invites you to this literary event featuring former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass. The Brainerd campus is hosting this great American poet, translator, teacher, and prodigious advocate for world peace. The reading is at noon on October 29, and will be followed by a book signing and craft talk at 1:30 pm. Special thanks to Minneapolis poet, musician, and songwriter Brian Laidlaw who will perform at 11:00 am in the Chalberg Theater. 

Community Invited in "Charting the Future"

Central Lakes College and other Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are engaged in a collaborative process called Charting the Future to develop specific actions to better serve our students and communities, strengthen our colleges and universities, and protect our unique character and autonomy. 

Charting the Future (CTF) implementation teams in the areas of Student Success, Diversity, Comprehensive Workplace Solutions and System Incentives & Rewards have spent the past several months researching and developing initial ideas that will better serve our students and communities across the state and strengthen our colleges and universities. 

Cultural Thursday: Hepokoski Experience in Chile

The speakers for this month are Bob Hepokoski and his wife Giselle, who will be taking the audience to South America and to share their experience of working with the Mapuche natives in present day Chile.  The second Cultural Thursday event of the 2014-15 season will be held on October 2. The hour-long presentation will be held at the Brainerd Campus in room E471 beginning at noon.

CLC Student Interns with Congressman

Brainerd Native Interns with Congressman

It was the dream summer job for pretty much any political junky.

So when Myles Hotzler was picked to be an intern at the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Rick Nolan, D-Minn., he jumped at it.

It all started last year when 21-year-old Hotzler was attending Central Lakes College in Brainerd, his hometown. He saw fliers around campus asking for students to apply to be an intern, so Hotzler submitted an application and resume. "There's only one chance in life for something like this, and I'm a supporter of him," Hotzler said.

Hotzler stayed hopeful as he waited to hear back from the congressman's office. Finally in March, he found out he was one of a handful selected.

Story courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch by Jessie Perrine.

Read More

CLC Business Briefs

New Staff Additions  

Dr. David Hietala - Interim Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs 

Dr. David Hietala, CLC’s new Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, comes to the College for the current school year with more than 20 years’ experience in adult learning and higher education. Hietala has served as a College President in Kansas, Director of a Community Research Institute in Pennsylvania, adjunct faculty member in Education Leadership at St. Cloud State University, and most recently in senior leadership roles at Riverland Community College in southern Minnesota. He holds a Ph.D. in Adult Learning from The Union Institute, Cincinnati, with research interests in community and organizational development, program design and evaluation, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Media Programs Offered at Brainerd Campus

Central Lakes College will now feature media programs at the Brainerd campus beginning Fall semester.

Photography, Videography, and Graphic Design have been relocated from the Staples to the Brainerd campus. These programs represent the latest technologies used in the industry with curriculum that matches employable skills and industry standards. 

CLC Tuition Remains Frozen

Tuition at Central Lakes College will remain frozen in the 2014-15 academic year. “The benefits of freezing undergraduate tuition for the second year in a row continue to make MnSCU colleges and universities the lowest cost, highest value higher education option in the state of Minnesota,” said Steven Rosenstone, MnSCU chancellor. 

CLC Capital Projects Received Bipartisan Support

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our supporters and regional legislators for their bipartisan work during this last legislative session. Some great things were done for this region that includes two Central Lakes College capital projects.

The college had two major capital projects under consideration in the bonding bill by the Legislature that were critical to the college. A $2 million project to replace the library roof on the Brainerd campus was at the top of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities list for asset preservation. A portion of the book collection sustained water damage during a major downpour two years ago. 

75 Outstanding Alumni

As Central Lakes College celebrates its 75th anniversary, officials are recognizing and honoring 75 outstanding alumni throughout the college’s history. This honorary award was established to recognize alumni who are noteworthy for their significant professional  achievements and/or exemplary leadership in community activities. 

The honorees depicted below are an inspiration to the next generation of graduates and to the communities at large.

NFL: Former CLC Raider signs to play in NFL

Former Central Lakes College Raiders football player Frank Mays signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday after the conclusion of the NFL draft.

Mays played at CLC during the 2010-11 seasons. He was an All-American and captain in 2011. He led the Raiders to back-to-back bowl game appearances. He graduated with an AA degree in spring of 2012 and accepted a scholarship offer to Florida A & M University where he started at defensive end the last two years.

Read more.


 Courtesy of the Brainerd Dispatch

2014 CLC Commencement Events

Staples Campus Commencement

The Staples campus commencement event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14 at 7 pm at the Staples-Motley high school gymnasium. 

Brainerd Campus Commencement

The Brainerd campus commencement event is scheduled for Thursday, May 15 at 7 pm at the Brainerd high school gymnasium.

Former U.S. poet laureate holds reading at CLC

Poetry reminds you that you’re alive and that life’s not going to continue forever. That’s what former two-time U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins says. “That’s why a lot of poetry is about human immortality,” he said. Collins conducted a poetry reading, book signing and workshop Tuesday at Central Lakes College (CLC).

It was part of Verse Like Water, the visiting poet program of CLC, in conjunction with The Crossing Arts Alliance.

Read More

Story courtesy of staff writer Jessica Perrine of the Brainerd Dispatch 

CLC Diesel Program Earns National Accreditation

The Central Lakes College Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program has earned accreditation from the AED Foundation: An Affiliate of the Associated Equipment Distributors. “This is a significant achievement for the program and instructors,” remarked Christopher Hadfield, Dean of Career and Technical Education at CLC. 

"Verse Like Water" Poet Program Presents Billy Collins

"Verse Like Water: the visiting poet program of Central Lakes College, in conjunction with The Crossing Arts Alliance, presents Billy Collins on April 29th. Billy is one of the great poets of our generation, and he has twice been named U.S. Poet Laureate by the Library of Congress. 

This poetry reading will be at noon in the CLC Chalberg Theater, and will be followed by a book signing, meet and greet, and workshop for anyone interested in hearing him speak about poetry, creativity, and the imagination (around 1:30 and also in the Chalberg).  

CLC Announces Program Changes for Fall 2014

Central Lakes College will be making program changes for fall semester to better serve students and provide opportunity for growth in programming. The college plans to expand manufacturing and agricultural programs at the Staples campus and move media programs currently based in Staples to the Brainerd campus. 

CLC to Host Free Workshop on Grant Seeking for Nonprofits

Introduction to Finding Funders 

The Hassler Library at Central Lakes College will host a free workshop on grant seeking for nonprofit organizations on Wednesday, April 2nd from 9:30am to 11:00am in room E203. The session will be led by Kief Schladweiler, Coordinator of the Funding Information Network with the Foundation Center (http://foundationcenter.org). Mr. Schladweiler will highlight the electronic and print resources available for your free use at the Hassler Library of Central Lakes College, a partner in the Foundation Center’s Funding Information Network. No registration required.