Waseca Technical College records

The records of the Waseca Technical College include correspondence, audio-visual materials, class schedules, memorandums, clippings, minutes, reports, course descriptions, letters, membership lists, budget materials, photographs, policies, and publications that document the University of Minnesota Waseca Technical College (UMW). Since the collection covers UMW from its beginning until the date it was closed, the collection is strong in historical information of UMW, administrative information, student activities and academic programs.

Campus policies and history of the Waseca Campus are reflected in the folders filed under the heading of Waseca Historical Documents. Of note are the operating letters compromising 10 folders. The Operating Letters represent guidelines and policies for recurring responsibilities ranging from appointments to building permits - they occur throughout the collection. This set was originally kept in ring binders. It is not complete but a list of titles prepared in 1982 is in the first folder. The Operating Letters were created as a result of a management scheme called Full Circle Management. The components and an article about the scheme are also included in the first folder. One other point of interest for information regarding the campus is the self study reports (1975, 1977/1978, 1983, 1988/1989) completed for accreditation from North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

The transitional period from the Southern School of Agriculture to the Waseca Technical College is documented (Box 1). Of note are the 41 folders regarding Norman Feet's work with UMW from 1969 to 1978. Feet was hired in November 1969, by Edward C. Frederick as a consultant for the Technical College to develop the curriculum, programmatic areas, faculty planning and general philosophy of the Technical College. For 36 years, he was on the staff of the State University of New York Agricultural and Technical College, Farmingdale, N.Y. The folders contain reports by Feet to Frederick giving his impressions, ideas and recommendations regarding the development and progress of the Technical College.

The Provost/Chancellor was the chief administrative officer of UMW. Edward C. Frederick, who had been Superintendent of SSA and became Provost in 1971. The title was later changed to Chancellor in accord with administrative changes within the University. In 1990, Frederick resigned because of differences between himself and the faculty and staff. Keith McFarland, former Dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics, was appointed Deputy Chancellor in March 1990. He had served previously as acting dean of General College. McFarland in turn was replaced by Thomas Lindahl who had been UMW's Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Lindahl left in April 1991, a few months after the decision to close UMW was announced. Nancy Ryan Wilhelmson, Director of Human Resources Center, became the Acting Chancellor in August 1991. She had the responsibility for leadership during the period when the campus was closing. Each Provost/Chancellor's personal/professional correspondence and activities are represented in the collection (Box 5).

The Administrative Committee/Provost's Group/Council/Chancellor's Council section serves as a chronological overview of the history of the campus. The chronological breakdowns are as follows: Administrative Committee, October 1970-1983; Provost Group/Council, September 1983-March 1984; Chancellor's Council, March 1984-1991. The files contain minutes and related material (Boxes 11-15).

The Student Development Transcripts were the official record of student participation in the involvement curriculum at UMW. The involvement curriculum included activities such as intercollegiate athletics, clubs, committees, student leadership, judging teams, honors, awards, services and training programs. The Transcripts were administered by the Office of Student Development. They documented student involvement in transcript form and served to supplement resumes which were generally limited to academic endeavors and work experience. They intended to provide a more complete summary of the student's total educational development, training and achievements (Boxes 25-26).

The Waseca academic programs section was assembled from boxes or individual files found throughout the collection. Some academic programs are not represented and there are gaps in all programs. The arrangement is based on information derived from tables of organization and bulletins. The programs in place in 1992 were: Pre-Occupational Preparation (POP) Programs; Centers; Arts and Sciences; Agricultural Business; Agricultural Industries and Services; Agricultural Production; Food Industry and Technology; Home and Family Services; Horticultural Technology; Veterinary Technology.

Throughout the twenty years of the Technical College's existence, there has been a number of changes in names and content of the programs. The bulletins are the best source for tracing changes. Course descriptions are filed elsewhere and curriculum proposals may be found in the records of the Curriculum/Educational Policy Committee. Files found in this section on specific areas of study general reflect administrative rather than course content. The Programs were further organized into three divisions: Agricultural Production, Agricultural Industries and Services; Agricultural Business, Food Industry and Technology, Home and Family Services; and Related Education, Animal health Technology, Horticultural Technology. These divisions remain relatively unchanged until 1989, when Related Education becomes Arts and Sciences and the Animal Health Technology Program became Veterinary Technology. (Boxes 45-49).