The goal of having a robust discovery system is a priority of the libraries the authors serve (both work at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities). Given the current fiscal situation facing public higher education in their state, the current commercial systems were not affordable for most of their libraries. They decided to implement and…

Minnesota is home to some of the finest postsecondary institutions in the country. From campuses large to small, urban to rural, close to home or far away, the state's public and private colleges and universities offer a broad spectrum of surprising educational opportunities and experiences. This guide can help students explore Minnesota College…

This chapter describes the system office for community college institutional research for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. What makes this System Offices for Community College Institutional Research (SOCCIR) somewhat different from the others reviewed in this volume is that the Minnesota system IR office has responsibilities for both…

One of the most consistent messages one hears from veterans on campus is the need for a strong sense of community and belonging. St. Cloud State University (SCSU), part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU), is collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and the SCSU Student Veterans…

The 2007 Legislature enacted the Achieve Scholarship program, which provides a $1,200 scholarship to high school graduates who took rigorous courses in high school and met certain income and other eligibility criteria. In deliberations about this new program, concerns were expressed that certain rigorous courses like Advanced Placement,…

Minnesota's large-scale restructuring of public higher education in July 1995 created a 45-institution system that has recently experienced further consolidation of 18 community and technical colleges into ten. Other changes include decentralization, downsizing, and changes in support services. Proposal of another merger has created concern that…

This report presents Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System's (MnSCU's) academic plan for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Included are the Metro Alliance's vision, mission, and goals for its eleven institutions. Goal one is to establish program and service alignment among the institutions. Goal two is to increase enrollment by 10…

In this essay I reflect on my experience thus far of teaching Islam as a non-Muslim at Metropolitan State University and at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. I begin by narrating a conversation about conversation that I had with one of my Muslim students. Then I introduce the theme of multiplicity as a way of…

Two case studies of states that illustrate innovations in higher education budgeting are presented, based on a project of the Education Commission of the States. The two states, Colorado and Minnesota, took different approaches. In Colorado, the impetus for change came from key legislative members interested in providing greater autonomy to the…

Concern about the quality of public colleges and universities and the effectiveness of mechanisms for governing and financing them have led states to launch reviews of their higher education systems. The experiences of four states (Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, and Minnesota) are described. (MLW)

As part-time volunteer members who have few direct operational duties, board members constantly are bombarded with information on matters ranging from strategic plans to operating budgets to tuition rates to parking permits. In the end, it is they who are accountable for all activities that occur in their institutions and systems. The need for…

The Rochester Regional Center, or consortium, a cooperative arrangement involving several public and private postsecondary institutions in the Southern Minnesota area, is described. The regional center is designed to provide studies leading to bachelor's and master's degrees through joint services and courses offered by institutions from four…

This six-chapter report presents the outcomes of a study conducted to consider future changes in the governance of Minnesota's Area Vocational-Technical Institutes (AVTI). Chapters I and II delineate the objectives of the study and outline nine proposed goals for postsecondary education in Minnesota. Chapter III then summarizes planning…

Information on trends in salaries of full-time faculty in Washington public higher education institutions and recommendations regarding a restructured salary survey and methods for calculating salary increases are presented. An analysis of out-of-state salary and compensation levels upon which recommendations for Washington salary adjustments in…

An evaluation was conducted of 12 higher education service-learning programs at 9 colleges and universities and 1 nonprofit agency in Minnesota. Research was based on interviews with individuals involved in local programs (program directors, faculty, participants, community agency personnel, and service recipients). Analysis of interview responses…