The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) is one of five campuses of the University of Minnesota System. It was founded as a two-year college in 1966, and it started offering four-year degrees in 1993. The campus covers 108 acres, and it has about 900 students. Around an additional 900 students learn online as well. This university’s slogan is “Small Campus. Big Degree.” It provides individual attention and mentorship that puts its students ahead of the competition. Continue reading to learn more about this university’s academic programs, athletics, and amenities and the things to do nearby.
Academics
The University of Minnesota Crookston offers majors in four departments. Agriculture and Natural Resources includes agricultural education, business, communication, and systems management. You can also choose agronomy, animal science, environmental science, equine business management, golf and turf management, or natural resources. Many internships are available in summer, especially in agriculture and natural resources.
The Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education department offers courses in communication, criminal justice, English, early childhood education, elementary education, and English education. In the Math, Science, and Technologies department, you can earn a degree in biology, applied health, health sciences, environmental sciences, exercise science and wellness, IT management, medical laboratory science, or software engineering. The Business department includes classes in accounting, finance, health management, international business, manufacturing management, quality management, marketing, and sport and recreation management.
The University of Minnesota Crookston has been part of US News & World Report’s Best College list since 1998, and people who attend have some of the lowest amounts of student debt in the state. Niche also called UMC one of the top public universities in Minnesota.
Athletics
This university is a member of the NCAA Division II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Its nickname is the Golden Eagles, and the school colors are maroon and gold. Widseth Field is an outdoor venue with seats for 2,000 people, and 3,000 seats are available at the indoor Lysaker Gym. The new Charles H. Casey Equine Arena is available for horseback riding. Student-athletes can participate in 11 varsity sports. Men can compete in trap shooting, cross-country, golf, basketball, baseball, and ACHA hockey. Women can try cross-country, volleyball, soccer, golf, basketball, softball, tennis, equestrian events, and trap shooting.
Athletic trainers collaborate with doctors to create a safe environment for student-athletes, and the main athletic training room has a whirlpool tub and an ultrasound machine. Water, ice, cups, towels, and taping and treatment tables are available at games and practices. Student-athletes often participate in community service and special events for the community.
Amenities
The University of Minnesota Crookston might be small, but it has plenty of convenient amenities. All on-campus students and faculty receive laptops. About 600 students live in on-campus residence halls and student apartments, and others live in nearby off-campus housing. You can choose from five dorms on campus, and the Sargeant Student Center is a perfect place to study or hang out with friends. It has several meeting spaces and study areas along with a big-screen LCD TV, pool tables, a foosball table, an air hockey table, free Wi-Fi, and vending machines.
You can also pick up free copies of the Crookston Daily Times and the Valley Shopper or check out a variety of outdoor and recreational equipment. Microwaves and refrigerators are available for commuter students. There’s also a bookstore with a large collection of textbooks, reference books, and volumes on more general subjects. You can also purchase office supplies, art supplies, computer software and accessories, and a variety of Golden Eagle merchandise. The Sargeant Student Center is open during the academic year on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m., and Sundays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. During summer, it’s open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Campus Mall is a large, green space with trees, paths, and flower gardens. It’s ideal for a short walk between classes, an outdoor concert, and other events. You can also have a picnic at the Harris A. Peterson Gazebo. The two-floor library holds about 40,000 volumes, including books, newspapers, journals, magazines, pamphlets, audio recordings, and videos.
The University Wellness and Recreation facility covers 36,070 square feet, and it has a two-court gym with a suspended jogging and walking track, locker rooms, and a classroom. The high-tech cardio and weight machines can connect to your smartphone to help you track your fitness progress.
The gym has markings and equipment for several activities, including basketball, volleyball, futsal or indoor soccer, tennis, team handball, ping pong, badminton, boxing, MMA training, and indoor archery. There’s also a multipurpose room that has a database of more than 125 prerecorded exercise routines. The room is also ideal for group activities or exercises such as yoga, aerobics, Zumba, and dance.
Things to Do Nearby
When you’re not attending class, there are a variety of fun activities available near Crookston. The Red Lake River surrounds Crookston Central Park, and it has a campsite with showers, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and a nine-hole Frisbee golf course. In winter, you can go sledding, cross-country skiing, or ice skating.
The Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is the biggest prairie-wetland restoration in the United States, and it’s only about 10 miles east of Crookston. You can go hiking and view many different types of wildlife, including waterfowl, sandhill cranes, swans, shorebirds, prairie sparrows, and more. You can also visit the Highland Complex Splash Park and Skate Park or the Grand I & II Movie Theatre. It’s one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the United States. A few great restaurants nearby include Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream, Eagle’s Nest Grill, and Drafts Sports Bar and Grill.
At the University of Minnesota Crookston, you can get an excellent education that will prepare you for your career. Have you visited or attended this university? What were your favorite parts? Contact us at the Rydell Outlet Center and let us know what you think.
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