Morris class sizes are small (anywhere between 7-20 students), which gives students an excellent opportunity to get to know the material on a deep level. Somewhere around 97% of Morris professors have received a master's degree in the field that they teach at Morris, so you know they really understand what they are teaching.
Morris academics are tougher than many schools, but because of the availability of the professors and the one-on-one time between faculty and staff, it's easy to learn loads - and many of the professors make classes super fun, so you don't even realize you're learning until it's over and you think, Woah, I just learned a ton!
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
The atmosphere in Morris is very friendly, accepting, inviting and fun. The campus is quirky, and the surrounding neighborhood is small and welcoming. Though there isn't much night life in town, you quickly branch out of the realm of normal entertainment and find creative ways to have fun. Because there aren't night clubs or many other places you'd want to visit when you think of going out on a Friday night, students often seek entertainment on campus.
We've got plenty of student organizations here on campus. These are groups that are run entirely by students and overseen by a faculty member of sorts. I'll name just a few off the top of my head: saddle club, fencing, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Ground Quidditch (adapted for Muggles from the Harry Potter books), dance ensemble, anime club, bad movie club, boffers, fight club, math club, swing club, paintball at UMM, organic gardening club. These are only a fraction of the organizations on campus - I haven't even touched all of the political ones!
The Office of Student Affairs does a great job of making sure there are things to do on campus every week and on most week nights. There are concerts, open mic night, dances, sports events, drama, and even themed activities (like Zombie Prom, or the Yule Ball). Most of these events are priced between 0 and three dollars, so it won't break the bank to attend.
Outside of school-sponsored events, there is always something to do. Many students like to walk up to the wind turbines at night and lay underneath them and watch the stars. Others enjoy playing Ground Quidditch, attending or participating in Pokemon battles in the middle of campus (yes, we do dress up like Pokemon. It's epic), or building giant snow forts each winter with the mass amounts of snow we accumulate up here in the frozen tundra of Morris, Minnesota.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
I'm paying about a third of what my friends at private schools are paying, and by comparison I'm receiving better food, better on campus housing, and a cleaner and nicer place to live and hang out. I've also found that I'm getting a more personalized education with more time spent with my professors and a very well put together Residential Life Staff (RAs or CAs). Talking with friends who attend private schools around the midwest, our Res Life program sounds much more comprehensive and active in the lives of students, our campus buildings and residence halls are about 3 times cleaner and better kept, and our highly involved student population allows for proactive affairs and encourages students to get passionate about something. I am absolutely getting the best bang for my buck at Morris.
That being said, it should also be noted that the University of Minnesota Morris works very hard to be affordable for its students. In talking to some of my friends, it sounds like Morris employs more students than many other schools. Walking around the Morris campus, you're likely to spot at least two student workers in each office, working at each meal, or tending to the landscaping and mowing lawns outside. Morris employs students all across the board - the post office, plant services, custodial staff, food service, financial aid, teacher's assistants - pretty much anything you can think of, we've probably got a student helping out.
Aside from employing many students around campus, the Chancellor at Morris herself often brings students to the cities in order to protest the rising cost of tuition. The faculty and staff here are on our side, as students - they hate the rising cost as much as we do, and they're very interested in fighting for an affordable education for us.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Apply for scholarships! Make connections with students on your floor, and off of it. Get to know your RA; especially at Morris (we call them CAs), they really do genuinely care. Get outside after classes and meet people, and don't go home on weekends (not at first, anyway). Also, sign up for as many activities as you want! Get involved! The more involved you get, the more likely you are to work one on one with professors. When you work with professors, you establish a personal connection, and at Morris, professors are known for having excellent connections outside of Morris and even outside of Minnesota. The more connected and involved you are, the better your prospects are for getting an internship or a job in the future!
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Students who...
-are academically driven
-liberal or leaning liberal (it's great for conservatives too! We just tend to have a more liberal population)
-are even vaguely interested in the environment, sustainability, green energy, etc.
-thrive on personal connections with both faculty and peers
-enjoy a quiet and beautiful county-like location
-don't mind driving a few miles to get to the nearest large city
-want to be challenged by a new culture
-are interested in living on a small campus with a big personality.
If you come to Morris, you're certain to get an excellent education, a taste of a unique culture, and a deeper understanding of yourself and others.
Morris class sizes are small (anywhere between 7-20 students), which gives students an excellent opportunity to get to know the material on a deep level. Somewhere around 97% of Morris professors have received a master's degree in the field that they teach at Morris, so you know they really understand what they are teaching. Morris academics are tougher than many schools, but because of the availability of the professors and the one-on-one time between faculty and staff, it's easy to learn loads - and many of the professors make classes super fun, so you don't even realize you're learning until it's over and you think, Woah, I just learned a ton!
The atmosphere in Morris is very friendly, accepting, inviting and fun. The campus is quirky, and the surrounding neighborhood is small and welcoming. Though there isn't much night life in town, you quickly branch out of the realm of normal entertainment and find creative ways to have fun. Because there aren't night clubs or many other places you'd want to visit when you think of going out on a Friday night, students often seek entertainment on campus. We've got plenty of student organizations here on campus. These are groups that are run entirely by students and overseen by a faculty member of sorts. I'll name just a few off the top of my head: saddle club, fencing, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Ground Quidditch (adapted for Muggles from the Harry Potter books), dance ensemble, anime club, bad movie club, boffers, fight club, math club, swing club, paintball at UMM, organic gardening club. These are only a fraction of the organizations on campus - I haven't even touched all of the political ones! The Office of Student Affairs does a great job of making sure there are things to do on campus every week and on most week nights. There are concerts, open mic night, dances, sports events, drama, and even themed activities (like Zombie Prom, or the Yule Ball). Most of these events are priced between 0 and three dollars, so it won't break the bank to attend. Outside of school-sponsored events, there is always something to do. Many students like to walk up to the wind turbines at night and lay underneath them and watch the stars. Others enjoy playing Ground Quidditch, attending or participating in Pokemon battles in the middle of campus (yes, we do dress up like Pokemon. It's epic), or building giant snow forts each winter with the mass amounts of snow we accumulate up here in the frozen tundra of Morris, Minnesota.
I'm paying about a third of what my friends at private schools are paying, and by comparison I'm receiving better food, better on campus housing, and a cleaner and nicer place to live and hang out. I've also found that I'm getting a more personalized education with more time spent with my professors and a very well put together Residential Life Staff (RAs or CAs). Talking with friends who attend private schools around the midwest, our Res Life program sounds much more comprehensive and active in the lives of students, our campus buildings and residence halls are about 3 times cleaner and better kept, and our highly involved student population allows for proactive affairs and encourages students to get passionate about something. I am absolutely getting the best bang for my buck at Morris. That being said, it should also be noted that the University of Minnesota Morris works very hard to be affordable for its students. In talking to some of my friends, it sounds like Morris employs more students than many other schools. Walking around the Morris campus, you're likely to spot at least two student workers in each office, working at each meal, or tending to the landscaping and mowing lawns outside. Morris employs students all across the board - the post office, plant services, custodial staff, food service, financial aid, teacher's assistants - pretty much anything you can think of, we've probably got a student helping out. Aside from employing many students around campus, the Chancellor at Morris herself often brings students to the cities in order to protest the rising cost of tuition. The faculty and staff here are on our side, as students - they hate the rising cost as much as we do, and they're very interested in fighting for an affordable education for us.
Apply for scholarships! Make connections with students on your floor, and off of it. Get to know your RA; especially at Morris (we call them CAs), they really do genuinely care. Get outside after classes and meet people, and don't go home on weekends (not at first, anyway). Also, sign up for as many activities as you want! Get involved! The more involved you get, the more likely you are to work one on one with professors. When you work with professors, you establish a personal connection, and at Morris, professors are known for having excellent connections outside of Morris and even outside of Minnesota. The more connected and involved you are, the better your prospects are for getting an internship or a job in the future!
Students who... -are academically driven -liberal or leaning liberal (it's great for conservatives too! We just tend to have a more liberal population) -are even vaguely interested in the environment, sustainability, green energy, etc. -thrive on personal connections with both faculty and peers -enjoy a quiet and beautiful county-like location -don't mind driving a few miles to get to the nearest large city -want to be challenged by a new culture -are interested in living on a small campus with a big personality. If you come to Morris, you're certain to get an excellent education, a taste of a unique culture, and a deeper understanding of yourself and others.