January | February 2019

Minnesota State hosts eight Centers of Excellence — each serving a major industry that faces serious workforce shortages. Explore the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence at www.minnstate.edu/coe

Featured Industry: Agriculture

Careers in Agriculture

Low-Tech Strictly Rural

VS.

27% of ag jobs require STEM skills 60% of MN ag jobs are in the Metro

Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence (North and South)

Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence Agriculture is the foundation of Minnesota’s economy. Ranked #4 in the nation for agricultural production, agricultural, food and natural resource industries support more than 431,127 jobs in the state. Given agriculture's importance and geographic diversity, Minnesota State supports two Agricultural Centers of Excellence, North and South. Here's a brief overview of how both centers are engaging industry, enhancing education and inspiring students today.

Using virtual reality to showcase the new reality of Ag careers The Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence (North and South) teamed to provide more than 3,000 e-farm experiences at the Minnesota’s 2018 State Fair. Text Link

Growing Interest in Ag Ed: A CASE study Brad Schloesser, director of the Agriculture Center of Excellence (South) was instrumental in the introduction of a national Curriculum for Agriculture Science Education (CASE) that’s helping high schools across Minnesota and the nation to launch and re-energize Agri-Science programs. Text Link

How Technology Is Changing the Way Minnesota Farms Today’s agriculture routinely uses precision farming, robotics and sophisticated technologies including temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology to increase crop yields, increase profitability and protect the environment. Text Link

Keith Olander, Director 218-894-5163 kolander@clcmn.edu www.agcentric.org

Brad Schloesser, Dean 507-389-7263 brad.schloesser@southcentral.edu www.centerofagriculture.org

News from the other Centers of Excellence:

IT Center of Excellence | Cyber Defense Competition , KXRA’s Voice of Alexandria, 2/5/19 https://www.voiceofalexandria.com/everything_else/education/minnesota-state-it-center-of-excellence-presents-minnesota-state-collegiate/article_fd09d44c-295f-11e9-ae60-a33080bbf5f4.html Visit the Energy Center of Excellence website to learn more

Energy Center of Excellence | MN West Sees Bright Future for Renewable Energy , Marshall Independent, 1/23/19 http://www.marshallindependent.com/news/local-news/2019/01/mn-west-sees-bright-future-for-renewable-energy/ Visit the HealthForce Center of Excellence website to learn more

Transportation Center of Excellence | Your Local Advisory Committee ,  Minntran.org , 1/18/19  https://www.minntran.org/your-local-advisory-committee-part-ii/ Visit the HealthForce Center of Excellence website to learn more

Engineering Center of Excellence | New mentoring program introduces students to building careers, Mankato Free Press, 2/6/19  http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/new-mentoring-program-introduces-students-to-building-careers/article_6a044378-29ad-11e9-877d-5f7d2bb54c41.html Visit the HealthForce Center of Excellence website to learn more

Other Workforce Development News Reimagining Minnesota State , Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 2/10/19  https://www.twincities.com/2019/02/10/vekich-malhotra-reimagining-minnesota-state-our-world-of-work-is-changing-fast-and-we-have-to-adapt/ Setting a New Course for Minnesota State , Star Tribune, 2/3/19  http://www.startribune.com/setting-a-new-course-for-the-minnesota-state/505222262/ Working Together to Meet Pressing Workforce Needs , Austin Herald, 1/15/19   https://www.austindailyherald.com/2019/01/working-together-to-meet-pressing-workforce-needs/

The Minnesota State Centers of Excellence

Agriculture Center of Excellence, North Keith Olander, Director 218-894-5163 kolander@clcmn.edu www.agcentric.org Agriculture Center of Excellence, South Brad Schloesser, Dean 507-389-7263 brad.schloesser@southcentral.edu www.centerofagriculture.org Energy Center of Excellence Bruce Peterson, Executive Director 320-564-5035 bruce.peterson@mnwest.edu www.energycareersminnesota.com Engineering Center of Excellence Jason Bruns, Director 507-389-1309 jason.bruns@mnsu.edu engineering.mnsu.edu/

HealthForce Center of Excellence Valerie Defor, Executive Director 507-429-6652 vdefor@winona.edu www.healthforceminnesota.org IT Center of Excellence Wilson Garland, Executive Director 612-659-7228 wilson.garland@metrostate.edu mnstateitcoe.org Manufacturing Center of Excellence Jeremy Leffelman, Director 218-755-4222 jleffelman@bemidjistate.edu www.360mn.org Transportation Center of Excellence Chris Hadfield, Director 651-423-8311 chris.hadfield@dctc.edu www.minntran.org