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…

This report serves as a comprehensive resource of accurate and timely indicators of higher education performance in Minnesota. This report provides historical and national comparisons to contextualize state data. "Minnesota Measures" also offers Minnesota postsecondary peer institution comparisons. As possible, indicators are…

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,…

This guide is intended to aid high school students in their educational planning. It is a venue wherein colleges and universities state clearly their policies in granting college credit for successful completion of International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations in high school. The guide also represents certification of these policies to the…

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…

Minnesota's experience in involving its private colleges in coordination offers an example of one important criterion of statewide board effectiveness. (Editor/PG)

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…

This report on postsecondary enrollment trends in Minnesota was prepared in response to questions from state legislators concerning significant declines in enrollments at Minnesota state colleges and universities. Text, tables, and graphs provide a quantitative analysis of data derived primarily from the state higher education services office and…

This report provides recommendations on models of governance for Minnesota state colleges and universities under the unified system of public higher education administration initiated in 1991. It also outlines the guiding principles behind the consolidation efforts. The report recommended that: (1) 10 technical and community colleges and campuses…

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…