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A&S Celebrates Tom Rand's 75 Birthday
Students can sometimes face academic problems that seem, in the moment, insurmountable. The
trick can be knowing whom to ask. And when advisors across Arts & Sciences are stumped by
an advisee's complicated academic dilemma, they often give the same advice: "Go see Tom
Rand."
Since January of 1969, Rand has been a member of the College of Arts & Sciences, and in that
time he's used his extensive institutional knowledge to help thousands of students. "Many of the
academic problems are solvable," says Rand. "Four-fifths are relatively satisfied with the
outcome. That's the nice part of the job is when you can make people happy."
Academic difficulties are familiar to Rand, who had his own run-in with the administration at
Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1960. At the time, Rand, a former class
valedictorian at East Grand Forks High, "abandoned" several of his classes, which caused the
school to flunk him.
All of this might be lost to history but for a two page article that began on the front page of
Minneapolis Morning Tribune, February 19, 1960. The first person Rand knew who read the
story was his future father-in-law. Rand and his future wife Alice Jean (AJ) were engaged at the
time.
"I knew it would be in the paper, but I didn't know it would be on the front page," says Rand.
Most students never experience this kind of public shaming, and indeed, with few exceptions,
flunking a student does not become statewide news. Rand's sense of duty to students, to help
them try to keep perspective during a difficult time in their academic career, was born of his own
challenges. Rand's empathy for students is apparent when he says "there's life after an F."
Things worked out, and Rand and AJ have been happily married for 52 years. They raised their
family in East Grand Forks, with their daughter, Kathryn, going on to serve as Dean of the UND
Law School. "We've been lucky with all three of our kids. The other two decided not to be Deans
[at UND]," he says with a smile.
2. When asked what Rand is most proud of, "My amazing family (thanks mainly to AJ!) and my
job. I love this job. I wake up in the morning and think to myself, is there anything I would rather
do? When I am able to solve a problem for a student that is the best thing all around. I love the
students and the people I work with."
On Monday, February 24th, The College of Arts & Sciences will host an open house on the
occasion of Rand's 75th birthday. Your presence is your gift. We are extremely proud to have
Tom Rand as a member of our team, and wish him a very happy birthday!
Kelsi Smith
Arts & Sciences
Last Modified 2/24/14
![Skip to main content | Skip to contact information
Arts & Sciences
Live Chat Apply Now
Search UND
Everything UND_blank UND_blank xml_no_dtd Search
A - Z | Directories | My UND
A&S Celebrates Tom Rand's 75 Birthday
Students can sometimes face academic problems that seem, in the moment, insurmountable. The
trick can be knowing whom to ask. And when advisors across Arts & Sciences are stumped by
an advisee's complicated academic dilemma, they often give the same advice: "Go see Tom
Rand."
Since January of 1969, Rand has been a member of the College of Arts & Sciences, and in that
time he's used his extensive institutional knowledge to help thousands of students. "Many of the
academic problems are solvable," says Rand. "Four-fifths are relatively satisfied with the
outcome. That's the nice part of the job is when you can make people happy."
Academic difficulties are familiar to Rand, who had his own run-in with the administration at
Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1960. At the time, Rand, a former class
valedictorian at East Grand Forks High, "abandoned" several of his classes, which caused the
school to flunk him.
All of this might be lost to history but for a two page article that began on the front page of
Minneapolis Morning Tribune, February 19, 1960. The first person Rand knew who read the
story was his future father-in-law. Rand and his future wife Alice Jean (AJ) were engaged at the
time.
"I knew it would be in the paper, but I didn't know it would be on the front page," says Rand.
Most students never experience this kind of public shaming, and indeed, with few exceptions,
flunking a student does not become statewide news. Rand's sense of duty to students, to help
them try to keep perspective during a difficult time in their academic career, was born of his own
challenges. Rand's empathy for students is apparent when he says "there's life after an F."
Things worked out, and Rand and AJ have been happily married for 52 years. They raised their
family in East Grand Forks, with their daughter, Kathryn, going on to serve as Dean of the UND
Law School. "We've been lucky with all three of our kids. The other two decided not to be Deans
[at UND]," he says with a smile.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/b1b8b4b5-d282-4822-96b0-9181a7a3b946-160125211810/85/UND-Website-Article-1-320.jpg)
