Board of Trustees plans listening sessions to hear ideas and comments from the public
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees will host four listening sessions around the state to gather comments on how the state colleges and universities system can better meet the public’s needs in light of fiscal and demographic challenges. A listening session will be held at MSU Moorhead on Jan. 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Between 2000 and 2009, enrollment has gone up 26 percent and the state’s share of the costs of educating students has dropped significantly. During the same time, the system’s average annual tuition has doubled.
“As we continue some long-range planning, we believe it is vitally important to listen to what our constituents have to say about how we can improve the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities,” said David Olson, the board chair. The trustees invite comment to the Ad Hoc Committee on System Planning on the following questions:
1. What are the most significant changes or challenges affecting public higher education in Minnesota?
2. How can the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities add value and better meet your needs now and in the future?
3. Given the fiscal and demographic challenges facing postsecondary education, what should the system’s priorities be for the next five to 10 years?
The four sessions will be:
Jan. 21, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Blvd., Auditorium
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Jan. 27, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Ballroom, Comstock Memorial Union
Moorhead, MN 56563
Jan. 28, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Alexandria Technical College
1601 Jefferson St., Rooms 209/211
Alexandria, MN 56308
Feb. 1, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Centennial Student Union, Rooms 253-255
Mankato, MN 56001
To register in advance to speak at one of the sessions, contact Patty McCann at (651) 296-5327 or patty.mccann@so.mnscu.edu. Speakers also may register at the sessions. Speaking time will be limited to three minutes. Written testimony may be submitted to Todd Harmening, todd.harmening@so.mnscu.edu.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 260,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 164,000 students in non-credit courses.