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The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) has awarded ÀÇÓÑÉçÇø an Intervention for College Attendance Program (ICAP) grant to support the Piper Academic Community (PAC) program. ICAP grants provide funding to programs designed to encourage college attendance of historically underserved students, helping bridge the gap between K-12 education and students' first year of postsecondary education.

Beginning in fall 2025, ÀÇÓÑÉçÇø is launching the nation's first graduate certificate in nature-based education for classroom teachers and other school staff. Building on the success of the Teacher Field School, the ten-credit certificate program includes nature immersion, individualized and team-based approaches to curriculum refinement and student support, and a final synthesis project.

ÀÇÓÑÉçÇø's new Music Production Major will provide a creative, tech-savvy learning experience that equips graduates with hands-on expertise in industry-standard tools and techniques, as well as business skills specific to the industry.

ÀÇÓÑÉçÇø has joined the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE)—a nationwide consortium administered by the Council of Independent Colleges and generously supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc. Our participation underscores ÀÇÓÑÉçÇø’s ongoing commitment to supporting students as they explore their many callings in life.

On Sunday, August 17, get your workout in while supporting ÀÇÓÑÉçÇø STEM undergraduates. The third-annual Monarch Fund 5k Run/Walk for Cancer Recovery will donate 100% of registration fees to support one or more students conducting collaborative research in a STEM field, with preference given to those studying cancer treatment and recovery.

Professor of English Kris Deffenbacher presented two papers at the International Association for the Study of Irish Literature Conference at the University of Galway, Ireland, July 21-25. The first paper was on "Reframing Bodily Autonomy and National Care" in contemporary Irish women's fiction, and the second was presented as part of a roundtable on Irish women's genre fiction.

In July, Biology Lab Manager and Instructor Kathryn Malody presented on "Virtual Reality in the Lab" at the 2025 Conference for the National Association of Scientific Materials Managers (NAOSMM), held in Richmond, VA. Her presentation covered the use of this technology as a learning tool in lab settings, as well as the maintenance and support of VR headsets.

Earlier this week, about 50 teachers from Minnesota, Louisiana, and Jamaica participated in the Mississippi River Institute, a professional development program for K-12 educators led by the Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE).

Professor Angela Pelster-Wiebe (Creative Writing) gave a talk entitled "The Art of Failure" at the Chesapeake Writers' Conference this summer, exploring the reality of failure as an element of art making.

Adjunct Professor Alice Paige (creative writing) was awarded a Next Step Fund Grant by the Metro Regional Arts Council.