1. Higher Education in Minnesota
Jessica Medearis
Associate Director, MSCSA

2.  What does MnSCU stand for?
 How many colleges are part of MnSCU?
 Who is the leader of the MnSCU system?
Test Your Knowledge!

3. M to the N to S-C-U!!

4.  Minnesota has two public higher
education systems.
Higher Education in Minnesota

5.  Minnesota also has a variety of private
higher education institutions
 Coordination by the Office of Higher
Education
Higher Education in Minnesota

6.  MnSCU system was created in 1995
 Merged all public schools, except the
University of Minnesota
 Efficiency, centralized services,
oversight
Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities

7.  State and tuition funded
 System currently gets more than half of
its funding from tuition
 System has over 400,000 students
 Subject to legislative oversight and
direction
Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities

8.  Critical Thinking
 Broad Liberal Arts Education
 Technical/Career Training
 Customized Training
Institutional Missions:

9.  Five campuses and 65,000 students
 Split focus between education and
research
 Less legislative oversight
University of Minnesota

10. A “Land Grant” School

11.  Over 25 private four-year colleges and
8 private, for-profit institutions
 No direct state aid
 Students are eligible for financial aid
 Institutions almost free from state
oversight
Private Colleges

12.  Over 95,000 full-time two-year
students
 Online-intensive: 10,000 courses
online
 Educates 63% of the state’s
undergraduates
 2013-2014 Tuition Average: $5,370
The MnSCU System:

13. Shared Governance
Who’s in Charge?

14.  Why is shared governance important?
 How do you see shared governance in
action on your campus?

15.  Who?
◦ Legislature
◦ Board of Trustees
◦ Chancellor
◦ Vice Chancellors
◦ Presidents/Leadership Council
◦ Provosts
◦ Students, Faculty, Staff
Shared Governance

16.  15-member Board
 6 year terms: 8 representing
regions, 3 at-large, one labor
 2 year terms: 3 students
Board of Trustees

17.  Vice Chancellors
 Associate Vice Chancellors
 Other Staff
 Students
 MSCF, IFO, MAPE, MSUAASF, AFSCME,
MMA
 Lawmakers
 Media
Other Decision-Makers

18.  Four sectors of higher education
 Mission, oversight, history, facts
 MnSCU schools and governance
Summary