Minneapolis Star Tribune: Letter to the Editor

RED WING'S COLLEGE HOPES

Already home to a fine two-year college, which could be a partner 

We read with interest the May 31 story about Red Wing recruiting a four-year college to locate a satellite campus in the town ("A plea to colleges: Come to Red Wing"). It bears mentioning that Red Wing already has a world-class college: Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical.

A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Southeast Technical is a two-year public college offering liberal arts and sciences coursework as well as technical education. Our Red Wing campus is world-renowned for its musical instrument repair programs; we draw students from across the U.S. and many foreign countries to study band instrument repair, violin repair, and guitar repair and construction. We also have high concentrations of students in nursing, early-childhood education and criminal justice.

We are constantly seeking ways to improve our service to the region, such as expanding our programs to better suit the needs of students who are preparing for transfer to four-year institutions. Our customized training division works closely with area manufacturers to determine what types of training are most needed and provide professional instruction, either on campus or on-site.

Should the Red Wing Area Higher Education Partnership succeed in attracting a four-year college, we hope to work in harmony with it to provide two-plus-two transfer agreements and other beneficial partnerships. Our college students bring a unique energy and vibrancy to Red Wing, and we are very proud to serve their needs.

--Dorothy Duran, Red Wing, Minn.
The writer is president of Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical.