College History
1949
Winona Area Vocational-Technical School, the second public vocational-technical school in the State of Minnesota, is founded in Winona.
1949-1955
John Fuhlbruegge serves as president of the school.
1955-1970
Thomas Raine serves as president of the school.
1965
The name is changed to Winona Area Technical School.
1966
The building at 1250 Homer Road in Winona is funded. In the fall of 1967, the Homer Road facility opens its doors to students.
1970-1988
William Hemsey serves as president of the school.
1971
The Winona facility is expanded and its capacity doubled.
Winona campus name changes to Winona Area Technical Institute.
Red Wing becomes the 34th and final community in Minnesota to be awarded an Area Vocational Technical Institute.
1972-1985 (and 1987-1992)
Edward Dunn serves as president of Red Wing Area Vocational-Technical Institute.
1973
The Red Wing facility at 308 Pioneer Road opens its doors to students.
1978
The Red Wing Energy Center is established.
1980
Custom Training is launched.
1984
A 25,000 square-foot student center is completed in Winona.
1985-1987
Harold Hoghaug serves as president of Red Wing Area Vocational-Technical Institute.
1987
Red Wing campus name changes to Red Wing Technical College.
Ed Dunn returns as president.
1988-1995
Cliff Korkowski serves as president of Winona Technical College (later Red Wing/Winona Technical College).
1989
The Minnesota Technical Institute System, which includes both the Red Wing and Winona schools, becomes the Minnesota Technical College System.
Winona campus changes its name to Winona Technical College.
1992
Red Wing Technical College and Winona Technical College merge, becoming Red Wing/Winona Technical College. Cliff Korkowski becomes the first president of the combined colleges.
A new 73,000 square-foot Aviation Training Center opens in Winona.
1995
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) is created as the state's Technical College System, the State University System, and the Community College System are combined under a single governing board.
Jim Johnson becomes president of Red Wing/Winona Technical College.
Red Wing/Winona Technical College receives accreditation from the North Central Association.
1999
Red Wing/Winona Technical College changes its name to Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical.
2000
The College is granted a 10-year re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
2003
Southeast Technical becomes the second college in the MnSCU system to be awarded distance accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, allowing the institution to offer certificates, diplomas and degrees online.
2005
The Higher Learning Commission approves an A.A.S (Associate in Applied Science) degree in Industrial Distribution for Fastenal employees.
2006
A $4.3 million, 39,500 square foot renovation of Homer Road campus in Winona begins.
2007
A $5.1 million, 36,400 square foot renovation of Red Wing campus begins.
2008
Southeast Technical and Winona State University collaborate to offer an A.A. degree.
2009
14001 ISO Environmental Certification is approved.
2010
The college is granted a 7-year re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
2011
The Winona Airport campus building is sold to leverage new construction on the Homer road campus.
2012
A 25,000-square-foot addition includes state-of-the-art paint booths and automotive technology shop.
A partnership agreement with Quzhou College of Technology in China is signed.
2013
The Norris P. Abts Transportation Center is dedicated.
Concurrent Enrollment program is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)
2014
James Johnson retires. Dr. Dorothy Duran becomes the 8th president of the college.
Changing Times: Becoming Southeast Technical, an 84-page history of the college, is published (see below).
Radiography program attains Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JCERT) accreditation
2015
Medical Laboratory Technician receives National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services (NAACLS) accreditation through 2020.
MLT Program moves to newly renovated space on Winona main campus.
College named a Hiawatha Valley Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Company.
2016
Practical Nursing program receives accreditation from Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
College changes mission to become a comprehensive technical and community college, offering the Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Name is changed to: Minnesota State College Southeast.
2017
WSU offers BS in Nursing completion program in Red Wing area with classes at the Red Wing Campus.
2018
President Duran resigns; Dr. Larry Lundblad appointed Interim President.
MakerspaceRW opens on Red Wing campus in partnership with Red Wing Ignite.
Construction Technology program partners with Winona-Fillmore Counties Habitat for Humanity.
New Transfer Pathway associate degrees are launched.
2019
Bicycle Design & Fabrication opens on Red Wing campus, drawing national attention.
More than $500,000 raised in community support for Advanced Manufacturing infrastructure in Winona. Dedication ceremony for new Advanced Manufacturing Lab.
Launch of SLAM (Students Learning Advanced Manufacturing) Hubs in Chatfield and Cannon Falls High Schools.
2020
College publishes Highway 61, Revised, first annual literary journal featuring original student work.
On-campus instruction halts after Spring Break due to COVID-19 pandemic. Classes resume in Fall Semester.
Two-year Associate of Science in Nursing degree approved by Minnesota State Board of Nursing.
2021
Dr. Marsha A. Danielson becomes the 9th president of Minnesota State College Southeast.
2022
Associate of Science in Nursing program achieves initial accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
College named top 10 national finalist in Lumina Foundation's Million Dollar Community College Challenge; awarded $100,000 grant for branding initiative.
Southeast and Jones Family Foundation announce the Red Wing College Promise, providing tuition-free education to Red Wing public school graduates
2023
CNC Machine Tool/Welding students win Project MFG Advanced Manufacturing Championship in Greenville, SC, bring home $100,000 prize.
College launches year-long 50/75 Anniversary Celebration: 50 years in Red Wing (1973-2023) and 75 years in Winona (1949-2024).
2024
Nursing and Health Sciences Center opens in Red Wing.
Anniversary Year culminates with burial of Time Capsules in Winona and Red Wing, to be opened in 2049. The time capsules are located near the front entrance flagpoles.