A $1.1 million grant will allow North Dakota State University to work with a university in Uganda on food security research.
The grant is from the U.S. Agency for International Development and Higher Education for Development for a partnership between NDSU and Makerere University in Uganda.
The two universities will work on research involving global human and animal pandemic diseases that could jeopardize food security.
At least 70 percent of the human and animal pathogens affecting global trade are found in sub-Saharan Africa.
The universities will develop a coordinated surveillance system and establish centers of excellence to develop effective solutions in the area of assessment, communication and response to potential disease outbreaks.
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The project is one of 11 partnerships between U.S. and African higher universities that received funding.
The partnership between NDSU and Makerere began with a one-month summer experience in Uganda.
Margaret Khaitsa, an NDSU associate professor in veterinary and microbiological sciences, initiated the partnership. Khaitsa is a former lecturer and graduate of Makerere University.
The collaboration has expanded and led administrators to pursue joint grants.
In 2008, NDSU received funding through the USDA to develop a joint master's program, which is currently in the process of receiving approval.
Concordia VP leaving
Concordia College's vice president for enrollment has been named to a similar post at Monmouth (Ill.) College.
Omar Correa, who's been at Concordia since 2005, will begin on Oct. 11 as vice president for enrollment management at Monmouth College, a private liberal arts college with an enrollment of about 1,400.
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Under Correa's leadership, student retention at Concordia between the freshman and sophomore years increased from 79 to 84 percent over the past four years.
Norwegian 101
The University of North Dakota's Norwegian 101 class has "lefse" building and is now online.
UND will offer the course on the Web starting in January to reach a wider population.
The course will use technology to provide the same amount of interaction through group work and reading and listening exercises.
"By moving it online, it will attract people that do not live in the area or are unable to attend a daily language class," said Melissa Gjellstad, program coordinator.
For more information, visit www.und.edu/dept/norwegian .
Readers can reach Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590 or adalrymple@forumcomm.com
