Metropolitan State University, commonly referred to as Metro State, is a four-year public university in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, United States. It is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.
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History
The institution was founded in 1971 as Minnesota Metropolitan State College with a mission to educate non-traditional students from the Twin Cities metropolitan area whose needs were not served by other existing institutions like the University of Minnesota. David E. Sweet was appointed the university's first president and the school admitted the first class of 50 students in 1972 on a rented building located in Minneapolis. When Metropolitan State began, it was a college for working adults. It was strictly an upper-division college where students could only complete their junior and senior years of academic study. The university initially followed a non-traditional course: students could design their own degree plans, instructors wrote 'narrative evaluations' instead of using traditional letter grades, and much of the teaching was done by 'community faculty' who had advanced degrees as well as extensive practical work experience in their respective fields.
During the 1980s enrollment of students at the university grew from around 1,000 students to over 2,500 students. The university expanded its programs to 30 baccalaureate programs as the state increased funding for the institution.
The university began admitting freshmen and sophomores and calculating grade point averages in 1994. Letter grades have always been offered at Metro State, but have never been required. Prior to the fall of 1998, Metro State operated on the quarter system. After this, the university adopted a trimester format. In 1992, the main campus of the university moved to a larger campus that is located in the Dayton's Bluff section of east Saint Paul. This change eventually led to the distributed campus system that exists today with the main campus located in Saint Paul, and additional campus facilities located in the Midway neighborhood and in Minneapolis. Metropolitan State currently has four campuses.
Although Metro State adopted a more traditional format in the 1990s, it still has the College of Individualized Studies (CIS). On July 1, 2012, Metro State's 'First College' was renamed the CIS. The CIS allows students to design their own individualized and/or interdisciplinary majors (typically called 'focuses') and curriculums. The individualized degrees are a popular alternative for students who are not interested in traditional 'structured' degrees.
During the 2009-10 school year, Metro State enrolled 6,000 full-time equivalent students. From 2008 to June 30, 2014, Dr. Sue K. Hammersmith was Metro State's president. Under Dr. Hammersmith's leadership, the number of degrees conferred increased by 38% during her six-year tenure. Dr. Hammersmith believes that Metro State can serve 20,000 students per year by the year 2020. Dr. Devinder Malhotra became Metro State's president on July 1, 2014. During the 2014-2015 school year, Metro State served 12,000 full and part-time students. Since 2012, Ginny Arthur has been Metro State's provost. Ms. Arthur became Metropolitan State University's president on July 1, 2016.
University presidents
- Dr. David E. Sweet (1972-1977)
- Dr. Reatha King (1977-1988)
- Dr. Charles Graham (1988-1989)
- Dr. Tobin Barrozo (1989-1992)
- Dr. Richard Green (1993-1993)
- Dr. Susan Cole (1993-1998)
- Dr. Dennis Nielsen (1998-2000)
- Dr. Wilson G. Bradshaw (2000-2007)
- Dr. William Lowe (2007-2008)
- Dr. Sue Hammersmith (2008-2014)
- Dr. Devinder Malhotra (2014-2016)
- Ginny Arthur, J.D. (2016-present)
Metro State University Tuition Video
Academic profile
As part of its mission to educate working adults and non-traditional students, Metro State previously had an open admissions policy with rolling applications accepted throughout the year. Metro State has been classified as 'less selective', and has historically had a near 100% acceptance rate.
Metro State offers 62 'structured' undergraduate degrees, a self-designed B.A. degree in liberal arts, a self-designed/individualized B.A. degree and three undergraduate certificates through its four colleges and three schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Management, the College of Health, Community and Professional Studies, the School of Nursing, the School of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, the School of Urban Education and the College of Individualized Studies.
Metropolitan State University offers eighteen 'structured' master's degree programs and an interdisciplinary master of arts degree in liberal studies. The university also offers seven graduate certificate programs. In 2007, Metro State began offering an applied doctor of nursing practice degree. Metro State launched the first applied doctorate in business administration within the MnSCU system during fall semester 2010. Although a number of schools in the region -- such as the University of Minnesota -- offer Ph.D.s in Business Administration, there are only seven regionally-accredited universities in the entire upper-Midwest that offer Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) degrees. With nearly 900 declared accounting majors, Metropolitan State University's Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is the largest in Minnesota. Moreover, graduates of Metro State's accounting program consistently place among the top-10 finishers in Minnesota's exacting CPA examination.
Altogether, Metro State offers a total of 95 undergraduate and graduate academic degrees and certificates. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Council on Social Work Education.
Demographics
Based upon data from the 2016-2017 academic year, 43% of Metropolitan State University's student body are students of color, while 4% are from out-of-state and 2% are international. 43% of students were male, and 57% were female. Metro State students range in age from 15-83.
Student accommodations
Metropolitan State University accommodates the needs of working adults by scheduling many of its classes in the evening and on weekends. The number of daytime course offerings have been increasing in recent years because of the growing demands of students. It is possible for recent graduates of Minneapolis and St. Paul public high schools to attend Metro State tuition free.
Each student attending Metropolitan State University pays a .43 cent per credit fee to fund the Minnesota State University Student Association, a student-led non-profit that advocates on behalf of all Minnesota state university students. In 1995, Metro State won a highly coveted National (Theodore) Hesburgh Award for innovative and outstanding faculty development. Former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony.
Library
In 2002, the Minnesota legislature approved funding for the construction of a library at the St. Paul campus; the building opened during spring semester 2004. The library also houses a branch of the Saint Paul Public Library. This is the only university/public library partnership in the state of Minnesota and one of only a few nationwide.
In order to encourage the spiritual development of students and members of the community, the library built the David Barton Community Labyrinth and Reflective Garden, named in honor of the library's first dean. The labyrinth is open to the public and has been the setting for several events.
Notable alumni
Metro State's first graduating class consisted of 12 people on February 1, 1973. As of May 1, 2017, Metro State has 41,473 alumni. Notable alumni include:
- John Kriesel - former Minnesota State Representative, former Minnesota National Guard Staff Sargent, Purple Heart Recipient, motivational speaker, author, contributor to the Power Trip Morning Show on KFAN, World Record Holder for Largest Pheasant Heart
- Carl Eller - former Minnesota Viking; NFL Hall of Famer
- Leo Foley - former Minnesota State Senator
- Frank J. Grass - United States Army General and Chief of the National Guard Bureau
- Ken Kelash - Minnesota state Senator
- James Lukaszewski - author, consultant, founder and president of the Lukaszewski Group Division of Risdall Public Relations
- Caroline Lowe - former crime reporter on WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities, MN
- Sandy Pappas - President of the Minnesota State Senate
- Samuel Sam-Sumana - honorable chief and former vice president of the Republic of Sierra Leone
- Char Samuelson - former Minnesota State Representative
- Don Shelby - former news anchor on WCCO-TV in the Twin Cities, MN
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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