Contact: Katryn Conlin, Communications Director
651-385-6364, [email protected]

Community invited to Open Forums to discuss proposed Associate of Arts degree, change of mission, and possibility of new name at Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical       

Community Open Forums

WINONA:
Monday, February 22, 2016
6-8 pm
Main Lobby, Winona Campus
1250 Homer Road, Winona, MN

RED WING: 
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
6-8 pm
Main Lobby, Red Wing Campus
308 Pioneer Road, Red Wing, MN

Winona, MN (February 5, 2016) -- Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical has submitted an application to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to offer the Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. This would expand the college's mission beyond technical education and allow students to complete a transferable 2-year degree.

With an expanded mission comes a dual purpose, as Southeast Technical would become a fully comprehensive 2-year college. For this reason the college is considering options to change its name to communicate the expanded mission. 

The college is opening its doors for Community Open Forums in Winona (Feb. 22, 6-8 pm) and Red Wing (Feb 23, 6-8 pm) to gather public feedback and ideas. Also, to seek ideas for a possible new name, the college has an online form available at www.southeastmn.one/name. 

"We are very excited about the opportunity to better serve the region's students. We want to include the entire community in the discussion about changing our mission and our name," says President Dr. Dorothy Duran. "We value public insight into the entire process." 

A decision on the college's application to offer the Associate of Arts degree is expected to be made this spring; if approved, the degree option would become available to students as soon as fall 2016.

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About Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical

Southeast Technical is a two-year institution that provides its students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they will need for a lifetime of learning. With more than 30 programs of study and 90 degree, diploma, and certificate options, many students are prepared to launch a career in a technical or trade field as soon as they graduate. Others begin the pathway to a four-year bachelor’s degree by earning transferable college credits in liberal arts and sciences. The Winona campus opened in 1949, merging with the Red Wing campus in 1992 and becoming Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical in 1999. Southeast Technical is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.one.