XVIII. Be ready to speak about Astrakhan State Technical University.

XIX. Read and translate the following text:

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

The University of Minnesota was founded as a preparatory school in 1851, seven years before the territory of Minnesota became a state. Financial problems forced the school to close during the Civil War, but with the help of Minneapolis entrepreneur John Sargent Pillsbury, it reopened in 1867. Known as the father of the University, Pillsbury, who was a University regent, state senator, and governor, used his influence to establish the school as the official recipient of public support from the Morrill Land-Grant Act, designating it as Minnesota's land-grant university.

William Watts Folwell was inaugurated as the first president of the University on December 22, 1869. In 1873, two students received the first Bachelor of Arts degrees. In 1888, the first Doctor of Philosophy degree was awarded.

The University of Minnesota is one of the state’s greatest assets and one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States. Through its strategic positioning plan, the University is making strides to become one of the top three public research universities in the world within a decade. At all its locations—Twin Cities, Duluth, Morris, Crookston, and Rochester – the University is moving in a new direction to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The University offers myriad educational opportunities for its 60,000 students in more than 370 fields of study. The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC) has the most comprehensive academic programs of any institution in the state and the widest range of graduate and professional programs. The University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) consistently ranks among the top midwestern regional universities in U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue. In the 2006 edition, the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) ranked as one of the top five public liberal arts colleges in the nation. UMM campus leaders have advanced sustainable, environmentally friendly initiatives that touch nearly all aspects of campus life and have received national attention. The University of Minnesota, Rochester (UMR) offers Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctoral programs and serves the special needs of people in southeastern Minnesota. The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) offers a technology rich environment and is internationally known as the original laptop University.

The University also has six agricultural experiment stations, two biological stations, one forestry station, and regional extension services throughout the state. A wide variety of public service programs – from dental, medical, and veterinary medicine clinics to K-12 outreach – help more than one million people annually.

The University is the state’s only major research university and brings in more than $500 million in sponsored research awards annually.

The University provides essential educational programs across the state, and its discoveries become new ideas, products, and services that improve Minnesota’s quality of life. In the Institute of Technology alone, graduates have created 2600 active companies in Minnesota, which generate annual revenue of $46 billion and employ about 175,000 people.

As a magnet for talent, the University has helped to make Minnesota a destination state in the Upper Midwest. From the talent it attracts, the University creates professionals in critical areas such as advanced health care. Two thirds of the state’s physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and veterinarians have been educated at the University, as have many of its entrepreneurs and civic and artistic leaders.

 

Vocabulary:

 

Entrepreneur [ֽantraprə'nə:] – предприниматель

Land-grant University – университет, созданный на средства, полученные от продажи земли, предоставленной государством

Myriad ['mırıəd] – бесчисленный, несметный

Baccalaureate [ֽbækə'lo:rıt] – степень бакалавра

Laptop - переносной

Outreach ['autrı:t∫] – социально-ориентированная программа