Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system

Last updated

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Minnesota State System seal.svg
Type Public university system
Established1995
Chancellor Scott Olson [1]
Students300,000 [2]
Location
St. Paul
,
Minnesota
,
U.S.
Campus54 campuses
Colors Blue and white [3]
   
Website minnstate.edu
Minnesota State System logo.svg
Wells Fargo Place, the headquarters of the system Wells Fargo Center St. Paul 5.jpg
Wells Fargo Place, the headquarters of the system

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system or Minnesota State, previously branded as MnSCU, [4] comprises 26 state colleges and 7 state universities with 54 campuses throughout Minnesota. The system is the largest higher education system in Minnesota (separate from the University of Minnesota system) and the third largest in the United States, educating more than 300,000 students annually. [5] It is governed by a 15-member board of trustees appointed by the governor, which has broad authority to run the system. The Minnesota State system office is located in the Wells Fargo Place building in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Contents

In 2016, the Board of Trustees approved a rebranding of the system to the shortened Minnesota State. This change was met with criticism as this is also the nickname commonly attributed to Minnesota State University, Mankato. [6] [7] The change affected branding but did not alter the legal name of the organization that is identified in state statute. [8] Commonly the system is now being referenced in media as the Minnesota State System, while the institution in Mankato is being referenced as Minnesota State. [9] [10] [11] [12]

History

In 1991, the Minnesota Legislature issued legislation which founded the creation of the Minnesota State system. Through this process the then-existing Minnesota state university system, community college system and technical college system were combined into a single higher education system. This initially was to be accomplished by 1995 but due to statewide opposition it wasn't until 1997 that a Central Office was formed and individual institutions began to operate under centralized direction.

The members of the University of Minnesota could not be compelled by the legislature to be part of the new system because it had sued for independence in the form of constitutional autonomy from legislative oversight. This autonomy was affirmed by the Minnesota Supreme Court after the State of Minnesota was formed and was a response to lobbying demands from a newly formed Alumni Association of the University of Minnesota in the early 19th century. [13]

This difference in independence and power has led to significant differences in the way in which the State system operates and educates students. Through this legislation the State system was given the ad-hoc role of educating all students outside of the doctoral research role that the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus provides. In addition, individual university and college members have, by comparison, significantly smaller endowments, and receive less funding from the state government of Minnesota than comparable members of the University of Minnesota system. [14] [15] An appropriation by the state of Minnesota was supposed to cover 66% of the cost to educate students, and as of 2014 the state provides about 50%. [16] [17]

Operations

Minnesota State offers a wide range of collegiate programs from associates degrees to applied doctorates. [18] All of the system's two-year community and technical colleges have an open admissions policy, which means that anyone with either a high school diploma or equivalent degree may enroll. [19] The system also runs an online collaborative called Minnesota Online, which is a gateway to the online course offerings of Minnesota State. More than 150 academic programs are available completely or predominantly online. About 93,300 students took online courses during the 2009–2010 academic year. [20]

The economic impact of the Minnesota State system is estimated to be $8 billion per year, with a return of twelve dollars for every dollar invested. [21]

Tuition at Minnesota State is lower than tuition at the University of Minnesota, private universities, or private trade schools. [22] [23] More than 80 percent of graduates stay in Minnesota to work or continue their education. [17] [24] The job-placement rate based on the last available data at two-year colleges is 88.0 percent in 2006, meaning that 88.0 percent of graduates find jobs in their chosen fields. [25]

The Minnesota State has not designated an official flagship institution;[ citation needed ] however, Minnesota State University, Mankato and Saint Cloud State University have been referred to as the system flagship at various points. [26] [27] [28] [29] [30]

Member universities and colleges

Four-year state universities

Two-year community and technical colleges: [31] [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hennepin County, Minnesota</span> County in Minnesota, United States

Hennepin County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its county seat is Minneapolis, the state's most populous city. The county is named for the 17th-century explorer Louis Hennepin. It extends from Minneapolis to the suburbs and outlying cities in the western part of the county. Its natural areas are covered by extensive woods, hills, and lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anoka, Minnesota</span> City in Minnesota, United States

Anoka is a city in and the county seat of Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 17,142 at the 2010 census. Anoka is the "Halloween Capital of the World" because it hosted one of the first Halloween parades in 1920. It continues to celebrate the holiday each year with several parades. Anoka is a northern suburb of the Twin Cities. U.S. Highways 10 / 169 and State Highway 47 are three of Anoka's main routes, and it has a station on the Northstar Commuter Rail line to Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hutchinson, Minnesota</span> City in Minnesota, United States

Hutchinson is the largest city in McLeod County, Minnesota, United States. It lies along the South Fork of the Crow River. The population was 14,599 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Cloud, Minnesota</span> City in Minnesota, United States

St. Cloud or Saint Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 68,881 at the 2020 census, making it Minnesota's 12th-largest city. St. Cloud is the county seat of Stearns County and was named after the city of Saint-Cloud, France, which was named after the 6th-century French monk Clodoald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mankato, Minnesota</span> City in Minnesota, United States

Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is the county seat of Blue Earth County, Minnesota. The population was 44,488 according to the 2020 census, making it the 21st-largest city in Minnesota, and the 5th-largest outside of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. It is along a large bend of the Minnesota River at its confluence with the Blue Earth River. Mankato is across the Minnesota River from North Mankato. Mankato and North Mankato have a combined population of 58,763 according to the 2020 census. It completely encompasses the town of Skyline. North of Mankato Regional Airport, a tiny non-contiguous part of the city lies within Le Sueur County. Most of the city is in Blue Earth County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Cloud State University</span> Public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota, US

St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is a public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Founded in 1869, the university is one of the largest institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Its enrollment in 2021 was approximately 10,000 students and it has over 120,000 alumni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota State University, Mankato</span> Public university in Mankato, Minnesota, US

Minnesota State University, Mankato is a public university in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. It is Minnesota's second-largest university and has over 145,000 living alumni worldwide. Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and is commonly referred to as the flagship institution. It was established as the Second State Normal School in 1858 and officially opened as Mankato Normal School a decade later. Minnesota State University, Mankato is a significant contributor to the local and state economies, adding $827 million annually.

South Central College (SCC) is a public community college in Faribault and North Mankato, Minnesota, United States. Formerly South Central Technical College, the college revised its mission from a technical college to that of a broader, comprehensive community college in 2005, receiving approval from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees on March 16, 2005. Over 50 programs are offered as certificates, diplomas, Associate of Applied Science (AAS), or Associate of Science (AS) degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverland Community College</span> Community college in Minnesota, U.S.

Riverland Community College is a public community college with three campuses in southeastern Minnesota: Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna. Founded in 1940, Riverland offers educational programs and courses to over 4,900 students annually through traditional, hybrid, and online delivery systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Normandale Community College</span> Public college in Bloomington, Minnesota, US

Normandale Community College is a public community college in Bloomington, Minnesota. The college serves primarily the communities of the southwestern portion of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. Established in 1968 as Normandale State Junior College with an initial enrollment of 1,358 students; today Normandale annually enrolls more than 14,000 students. Normandale is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Rasmussen University is a for-profit university with multiple locations throughout the United States. It offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees as well as certificates and diplomas in career-focused areas at 20 campuses in Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Florida, Wisconsin, and Kansas with many programs offered online.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol</span>

Minnesota Wing, Civil Air Patrol (MNWG) is one of 52 Wings of Civil Air Patrol and helps fulfill Civil Air Patrol's core missions in Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services.

Anoka Technical College is a public two-year technical college in Anoka, Minnesota, founded in 1967. The school is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Leo T. Foley was an American politician who was a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 49 from 1997 to 2003, and District 47 from 2003 to 2011, which includes portions of Anoka and Hennepin counties in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. A Democrat, he was first elected to the Senate in 1996, and was re-elected in 2000, 2002 and 2006. Prior to the 2002 legislative redistricting, the area was known as District 49. He was unseated by Republican Benjamin Kruse in the 2010 general election.

Metnet was a distance learning network for the MnSCU college and universities system. Metnet was one of the six major educational telecommunications networks of the Learning Network of Minnesota.

The North Star College Cup was a men's ice hockey tournament among the five NCAA Division I programs in Minnesota. The North Star College Cup was meant to resemble the Beanpot tournament, and maintain the long-standing rivalries amongst the Minnesota schools from when they competed together in the Classic WCHA up until the 2013–2014 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Chalgren</span> American activist

James "Jim" Eric Chalgren was an American gay activist best known for establishing the first LGBT resource center on a college campus in Minnesota.

The Minnesota State University campus currently contains 30 buildings spread over 303 acres (123 ha) in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. The campus includes on campus housing in the form of dorms for 2,700 residents, academic buildings, a main library, a music library, two astronomy observatories, experimental research stations for alternative and renewable energy, a recreation center, an athletics complex, a student center, an administration center and over 50 acres of athletics fields including the football team Blakeslee Stadium. The Minnesota State Mavericks men's and women's hockey teams also utilize and have administrative space at the Verizon Wireless Center and the All Seasons Arena located off campus.

References

  1. ↑ "About Minnesota State Chancellor : Scott Olson". Minnesota State. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. ↑ "About Minnesota State System". Minnesota State. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  3. ↑ Minnesota State Identity Standards (PDF). Minnesota State System Office. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Goodbye, MnSCU; hello, Minnesota State". Saint Paul Pioneer Press. February 19, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  5. ↑ "About Minnesota State System". Minnesota State. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  6. ↑ Editorial Board (April 23, 2016). "Our View: MnSCU name New branding proposal is confusing". Mankato Free Press. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  7. ↑ Editorial Board (April 27, 2016). "MNSCU Hops on the Rebranding bandwagon". Minneapolist StarTribune. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  8. ↑ Burger, Kevyn (July 26, 2016). "Rebranding the state's largest university system". Minnesota Business. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  9. ↑ Goessling, Ben (August 15, 2016). "Small college, special teams helped Adam Thielen bring 'toughness factor' to Vikings". ESPN. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Minnesota State Mavericks". ESPN. January 15, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Minnesota State looking to join NCHC; WCHA commish Robertson 'deeply disappointed'". USCHO News. July 13, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ Paisly, Joe (July 13, 2016). "NCHC may be expanding after Minnesota State applies for membership". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  13. ↑ "University of Minnesota A Century of Memories" (PDF). University of Minnesota Alumni Association. January 1, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  14. ↑ "2016-17 Governor's Budget, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities" (PDF) (Press release). State of Minnesota. January 27, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ "2016-17 Governor's Budget - University of Minnesota" (PDF) (Press release). State of Minnesota. January 27, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Performance Measures and Financial Information" (PDF). MNSCU. January 20, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  17. 1 2 "FY2013 Operating Budget (Second Reading)" (PDF). MNSCU. January 20, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Academic Program Search". State of Minnesota. January 1, 2016. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Admission Requirements". State of Minnesota. November 1, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  20. ↑ "'iCollege' at $199 a class? Idea may appeal, but Pawlenty knows e-learning is neither cheap nor easy". MinnPost Paper. June 16, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Minnesota State Driving Economic and Social Vitality across Minnesota - FY2017 Economic Contribution Analysi" (PDF). Minnesota State System Economic Impact. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  22. ↑ "College Cost Comparison". State of Minnesota. November 1, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Go MN: Your 2013-2014 Guide to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities" (PDF). State of Minnesota. January 1, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Amazing Facts" (PDF). MNSCU. January 1, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Evaluation Report MnSCU Occupational Programs" (PDF). The Office of the Legislative Auditor of Minnesota. January 1, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  26. ↑ "President Davenport responds to Free Press questions". Mankato Free Press. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Making a monetary mark: economic impact". Archived from the original on September 19, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  28. ↑ Debra Leigh (February 29, 2012). "MSR Readers: Make your own judgment on the state of St. Cloud State" (Newspaper). Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  29. ↑ Jeff Johnson (December 4, 2014). "MnSCU enrollment projections". LetFreedomRingBlog. Let Freedom Ring Blog and Periodical. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  30. ↑ Bies, Jessica (August 17, 2015). "Davenport: MSU excelling as flagship university". The Mankato Free Press Website. The Mankato Free Press. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  31. ↑ Archived December 12, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ↑ "MnSCU College Search: Begin your search". MnSCU.edu. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.