Academic Affairs

The Academic Affairs unit supports the Minnesota State mission by developing initiatives that promote quality and accountability of academic programming as we strive to prepare all students for the workforce and professional careers in a globally, culturally and linguistically diverse world.

We are focused on effective and innovative teaching with an assurance of collaboratively planned and high-quality academic programs throughout the state. Most importantly, we provide knowledgeable support and shared resources for those on our campuses who directly serve students in the fulfillment of their aspirations and learning achievements.

We work with Minnesota State faculty, staff, and students to make sure all students can plan sensible and straightforward educational paths to their certificate and degree completion.

The Academic Programs team provides system leadership and support for academic programs, policies, and procedures, and manages the official inventory of Minnesota State academic programs.

The Academic Programs team works with Minnesota State colleges and universities to:

  1. Ensure quality and excellence that is competitive on a national and international level in meeting the needs of students for occupational, general, undergraduate, and graduate education;
  2. Facilitate ease of transfer among schools and programs, integrate course credit, and coordinate degree programs;
  3. Give the highest priority to meeting the needs of Minnesota employers for a highly skilled and adaptable workforce;
  4. Enhance Minnesota's quality of life by developing an understanding and appreciation of a free and diverse society; and
  5. Eliminate unnecessary duplication of programs and achieve high quality programs to meet the diverse needs of the Minnesota workforce.

New Program Notices of Intent

Notice of Intents provide statewide opportunity for review and comment regarding newly proposed programs.

Students enroll in Minnesota State colleges and universities with varying levels of academic readiness in core course subject areas like mathematics, reading, and writing.  In order to ensure students have the highest likelihood for success in their courses, a variety of assessments may be used to best align a student’s level of academic readiness with the coursework they enroll in.

Assessments of Academic Readiness

Students can demonstrate their academic readiness based on their performance on a variety of assessments. Students may submit any of the following assessment scores to determine their course placement and enrollment into college-level courses.

  • Subject area test scores from a nationally-normed college entrance exam, including the ACT and the SAT. Students who meet college-level benchmarks on the ACT or SAT are not required to take a developmental-level course in that subject area.
  • Starting in the 2017-2018 academic year, students who attended a Minnesota high school can submit subject area test scores from the high school Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) in reading and mathematics. Students whose grade 10 MCA Reading and/or grade 11 MCA Mathematics scores that meet the designated benchmark in the subject area, within the validation window, are not required to take a developmental-level course in that subject area. 
  • Subject area test scores from a course placement assessment, Accuplacer, may also be considered to demonstrate academic readiness to enroll in college-level courses.  Each of the Minnesota State colleges and universities offer the Accuplacer assessments.

Course Placement and Developmental Education

When students meet the qualifying benchmarks in a subject area on any of the eligible assessments, they can enroll in college-level courses that have that indicating course prerequisite. If a student does not meet qualifying benchmarks on any of the eligible assessments, they may need to enroll in additional coursework to increase their foundational academic skills to improve their likelihood of success in college level courses. In these instances, a student may be recommended or required to enroll in a developmental-level course and must successfully complete the course prior to enrolling in college-level courses. Developmental education courses are designed to build academic readiness in reading, writing, or mathematics. Courses are also available at many institutions specifically designed to meet the needs of English Language Learners. Developmental education courses are credit-bearing but do not count toward the requirements of degrees, diplomas or certificates. This coursework is critical in addressing the readiness gaps that students arrive with when they enter postsecondary institutions. Colleges and universities offer developmental education to ensure access to higher education for all students that need support to be academically prepared for college-level coursework in their programs and majors.

The Minnesota State Board Policy 3.3 and System Procedure 3.3.1 outline the system-wide requirements for assessing academic readiness to enroll in courses that require college-level reading, writing, and/or mathematics skills.

The College Faculty Credentialing team develops policies and procedures to assure qualified individuals perform faculty work in our two-year colleges through system-established faculty minimum qualifications under Board Policy 3.32 College Faculty Credentialing and Procedure 3.32.1 College Faculty Credentialing. This applies to faculty positions governed by the Minnesota State College Faculty bargaining agreement.

Search Credential Fields with their associated minimum qualifications. A credential field, assigned field, or license field means a defined area of knowledge and skill that is specifically related to a program, service, or academic discipline, and for which system-established minimum qualifications have been created.  Assigned fields are associated with faculty positions formerly governed by the Minnesota Community College Faculty Association bargaining agreement and license fields are associated with faculty positions formerly governed by the United Technical College Educators' bargaining agreement.

The seven Minnesota State universities offer the graduate programs and courses you need to meet HLC concurrent enrollment guidelines, delivered online to fit your schedule. Learn more about Pathway to 18.

Minnesota State Student Planner is where you access custom degree audits, plans, and schedules to assist you with planning to reach your academic goals.

  • Degree Audits - in the Audits tab
  • Graduation Planner - in the Plans & Roadmaps tab
  • Schedule Builder - in the Schedules tab

More information and how-to guides for the Minnesota State Student Planner.

Minnesota State institutions work together to make transferring as easy as possible. Whether its the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC), Transfer Pathways, or the transfer agreement with the Minnesota Tribal Colleges, Minnesota State has the answers you need. Learn more about Transfer Options.

Jesse Mason
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
651-201-1496
Jesse.Mason@MinnState.edu

Daniel de Moraes
Director of Program Support and Quality Assurance
Daniel.deMoraes@MinnState.edu

Latrice Eggleston Williams, PhD
Interim Director of Accreditation and Assessment
Latrice.EgglestonWilliams@MinnState.edu

Jessica Espinosa 
Director, College Transitions 
651-201-1651 
Jessica.Espinosa@MinnState.edu

Krystle Igbo-Ogbonna
Director of Student Access and Academic Partnerships
Krystle.Igbo-Ogbonna@MinnState.edu

Jessica Migler 
Assistant Director for Transfer 
651- 201-1815 
Jessica.Migler@MinnState.edu

Anthony Miller
System Director of P-20 and Student Success
Anthony.Miller@MinnState.edu

Sandi Quiñones 
Assistant to Associate Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs 
Teams: 651-724-9012
Sandi.Quinones@MinnState.edu

Minnesota State faculty and staff can access ASA Connect for more information using your StarID@MinnState.edu and password.