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wording in recent Minnesota higher-ed legislation was so narrowly focused on meeting the needs of the state's employers

 -- and was practically silent about whether education should make students well-rounded citizens.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU)

 trustee Cheryl Dickson apparently wondered, too -- and began a short discussion of what kind of person a MnSCU education should create, and what the system's identity will be.

that would include the legislative language in board policy. Here's the main part:

3 Part 1. Purpose and Applicability. The purpose of the Academic Programs policy is to direct

4 system decision-making regarding the development, approval and management of credit-based

5 academic programs. In order to meet Minnesota’s educational needs, the Minnesota State

6 Colleges and Universities system shall endeavor to:

8 1. Ensure quality and excellence that is competitive on a national and international level in

9 meeting the needs of students for occupational, general, undergraduate, and graduate

12 2. Facilitate ease of transfer among schools and programs, integrate course credit, and

Give highest priority to meeting the needs of Minnesota employers for a highly skilled

18 4. Enhance Minnesota’s quality of life by developing understanding and appreciation of a

21 5. Eliminate unnecessary duplication and achieve efficient and streamlined operations.

(Note: Quotations are from my notes and not verbatim)

She was told that the language is in line with the way MnSCU already runs its programs.

Chancellor Steven Rosenstone, who has vocally supported a strong liberal-arts education, more or less closed the debate by saying one shouldn't define "work force" too narrowly:

Rosenstone said he's comfortable with the creation of a sixth point.

Education News

On Campus Blog

Alex Friedrich

Author

In late July I wondered why wording in recent Minnesota higher-ed legislation was so narrowly focused on meeting the needs of the state’s employers — and was practically silent about whether education should make students well-rounded citizens. Yesterday, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) trustee Cheryl Dickson apparently wondered, too — and began a short…

Trustees ask: What kind of education should MnSCU provide?

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