University of Minnesota, Morris

The University of Minnesota, Morris is a public liberal arts college serving more than 1,800 students located on the western plains of Minnesota, in the rural community of Morris (population 5,000). The campus offers a rigorous undergraduate residential liberal arts education in the public sector, with a mission and program that is distinctive within the state of Minnesota and nationally. The student body is talented, diverse, and engaged.

The Morris campus is a founding partner in the one of the longest running local foods efforts in Minnesota higher education, the Pride of the Prairie Local Foods Initiative. Local foods feasts and farmers markets have been held on campus each semester since fall 2001, serving from 500 to 800 enthusiastic campus and community diners at each meal. A celebration of good food, music, and community, the events showcase the benefits of eating fresh, locally produced foods and supporting local farmers. The chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Minnesota’s U.S. Congressman Collin Peterson hosted his first Home Grown Economy Conference on campus in 2007, promoting local foods from the region’s farms as an economic development opportunity for rural communities.

The Office of Student Affairs coordinates the Morris Healthy Eating initiative. Student Affairs programs develop student potential and extend the Morris liberal arts mission beyond the classroom. They work to support students’ health, well being, academic and personal success; build community; and foster a healthy campus environment. The Morris campus is recognized for its rich co-curricular and extra-curricular programs and engaged students.

Student Affairs offices and programs contributing to Morris Healthy Eating include:

• Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs;
• Health Service, wellness programs, and Peer Health Educators;
• Dining Services (reporting jointly to Finance and Facilities);
• Pride of the Prairie Local Foods Initiative and Local Foods Intern;
• Residential Life—including the Healthy Lifestyles and Sustainability theme floors;
• Student organizations including student government, the Circle of Nations Indian Association, and the Student Organic Gardening Club;
• Community engagement, service learning, and community service/volunteerism programs, (reporting jointly to Academic Affairs); and
• Intercollegiate Athletics.

Additional campus partners include:

• Faculty teaching Human Nutrition, Public Health and Epidemiology, Health Psychology, and sociology courses and their students; and
• U Plan Health Coach and faculty/staff wellness programs.

The Morris Healthy Eating initiative office is located in the Wellness Center adjacent to the campus Health Service in Clayton A. Gay Hall.