Program News - Winter 2020

As we enter a new year in the Program of Mortuary Science, many exciting things are happening here at the U!

Looking to 2020, we are planning an ambitious agenda for the goal of continuing to build and strengthen our work in funeral service education. Last year, we offered our first on-line course to our students: Microbiology and Pathology. We were able to make this course available on-line thanks to the University’s recent adoption of Zoom and Canvas software technology. This technology allows us to present coursework online in both synchronous and asynchronous formats, for the convenience of our students. Michael Mathews, who for 43 years has served as an outstanding faculty member, took the lead in making this course available completely online for the first time this past summer. Michael is now finalizing work with his chemistry course, which will go on-line this upcoming spring semester. And in the near future, his Rules and Regulations course will also be offered on-line.

Our Program is working closely with both the University and UPCEA (the University Professional and Continuing Education Association) to create on-line learning opportunities so that our Program can be accessible to a greater number of students, both here in Minnesota, and across the country (and the world!). As we see the number of prospective mortuary science students who seek to pursue on-line learning opportunities grow, we are actively planning to create opportunities here at the U for world-class on-line mortuary science coursework. Additionally, we are investigating options for the creation of an American Board of Funeral Service Education-accredited certificate program that will meet the needs of prospective students who wish to practice funeral service in states that have educational licensure requirements that are different than those we have here in Minnesota. It is truly an exciting time to be in higher education because the opportunities to expand our coursework offerings using distance learning technology mean that more students than ever before will be able to access a funeral service education here at the U. Now that’s something to celebrate in the New Year!

We are also pleased to share news that we are expanding our teaching staff. We welcome Carrie McGhee, who is joining us to teach coursework in funeral service business, marketing, management, and funeral arrangements. Other individuals who are joining us this spring include several licensed morticians actively working in funeral service, who will teach in the areas of embalming, restorative art, and clinical rotation education. These appointments will be finalized soon, and we will announce the names of our new teaching staff once all of our onboarding work is complete. We are especially excited to welcome instructors who continue to work actively within our profession. The experience they will share with our students, rooted in their current clinical practice, will continue to strengthen our educational efforts for the goal of ensuring a relevant, practical learning experience for mortuary science students here at the U.

As always, we encourage you to visit both our website and Facebook page often for news of upcoming events, activities, and other happenings. We look forward to seeing you at state association conventions this spring, and, as always, invite your e-mails, phone calls, and visits at any time.

With all best wishes for a very Happy New Year to you and yours!

Sincerely,
Michael LuBrant
Director