Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

Paul Shepherd, AVC

Dr. Paul Shepherd

Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Paul.Shepherd@MinnState.edu

Welcome to Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

The Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (SAEM) team engages in ongoing work and leadership of strategic initiatives that align with Equity 2030 and the Academic and Student Affairs strategic plan. Our team supports student affairs and enrollment management at Minnesota State colleges and universities by providing support to campus leaders, convening teams to share and distribute effective and innovative practices, and guiding the implementation of strategic initiatives to achieve the Minnesota State Equity 2030 goal.

Minnesota State has partnered with United Way 211 to establish a statewide basic needs resource hub. The basic needs resource hub provides Minnesota State students access to basic needs resources and support available on their campus and in their community via phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Minnesota State employees can learn more about basic needs and mental health resources, initiatives, and communities of practice on the Basic Needs and Mental Health page of ASA Connect.

Pathway to 18

Due to clarifications for minimum faculty qualifications from our state’s regional accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission, many concurrent enrollment teachers may need to enroll in graduate-level coursework in their discipline. 

All seven Minnesota State universities offer graduate programs and courses needed to meet HLC concurrent enrollment guidelines. Learn more about Pathway to 18.

What is Concurrent Enrollment?

Concurrent enrollment is a program that provides opportunities for students to earn dual credit by taking college courses on their high school campus taught by qualified and mentored high school teachers. Under concurrent enrollment models, colleges and universities enter into contractual agreements with school districts to offer this opportunity in their high schools.

Minnesota State is committed to supporting high quality, sustainable concurrent enrollment opportunities for all Minnesota students, as it makes a college education more accessible, more affordable, and decreases time to degree completion.

Currently, 30 of our 33 colleges and universities have concurrent enrollment programs in place. The colleges and universities of Minnesota State currently provide over 80% of all concurrent enrollment credits offered across the state of Minnesota.

Not only do concurrent enrollment programs strengthen the partnership between secondary and postsecondary, they also provide significant benefits for students, families, and Minnesota communities. Earning college credits while in high school, students enter college better prepared and familiar with college expectations. In addition, because students and families do not pay tuition and fees for the college courses, concurrent enrollment makes college more affordable.

Research on concurrent enrollment programs have shown their positive impacts on students, both short-term and long-term. Students who participate in dual credit opportunities are more likely to enroll in and attend college, persist in college, and complete their college degree programs. Students who complete concurrent enrollment courses while in high school also shorten their time to degree completion.

Within Minnesota State:

  • Three-fourths of concurrent enrollment students enroll in postsecondary institutions within two years after high school.
  • Concurrent enrollment students who have enrolled at our colleges and universities after high school have substantially higher persistence rates and completion rates than students who did not take concurrent enrollment courses.

National Accreditation

Minnesota State Concurrent Enrollment Providers

  • Alexandria Technical and Community College
  • Anoka-Ramsey Community College
  • Bemidji State University
  • Central Lakes College*
  • Century College
  • Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
  • Inver Hills Community College
  • Lake Superior College
  • Minneapolis College
  • Minnesota North College
  • Minnesota State Community and Technical College*
  • Minnesota State College-Southeast*
  • Minnesota State University- Mankato*
  • Minnesota West Community and Technical College*
  • Normandale Community College
  • North Hennepin Community College
  • Northland Community and Technical College*
  • Northwest Technical College
  • Ridgewater College*
  • Riverland Community College*
  • Rochester Community and Technical College
  • Saint Paul College
  • Southwest Minnesota State University*
  • South Central College
  • St. Cloud State University*
  • St. Cloud Technical and Community College

*Accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is academic credit awarded to students who successfully demonstrate college or university-level learning achieved through informal or formal learning outside of the classroom. Students may have learning evaluated for academic credit, saving them time and money towards earning degrees. CPL also increases enrollment and student retention. 

My Credit for Prior Learning (MyCPL) is a Minnesota State platform that helps students earn credit for demonstrating college/university level knowledge. Students can learn more at MinnState.edu/CPL. 

Faculty and Staff Resources 

The Minnesota State SAEM team plays a crucial role in supporting financial aid processes across campuses. They provide guidance on best practices, policy, and legal compliance, ensuring that financial aid offices operate efficiently and effectively.

Key functions include:

  • Liaison Role: Connecting with campus financial aid offices, campus services units, and outside software vendors to streamline financial aid processing.
  • Intermediary Support: Facilitating communication between campus offices and state and federal agencies to navigate and break down bureaucratic challenges for campus administrators.
  • Legislative Advocacy: Developing and promoting the Minnesota State financial aid agenda ahead of legislative sessions, ensuring that the needs of students and Minnesota State colleges and universities are represented.

Through these efforts, the SAEM team helps ensure timely processing of financial aid applications and awards, making higher education more accessible for all students.

Resources


Contact

Christopher Halling
System Director for Financial Aid
christopher.halling@minnstate.edu

Senior Campus Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (SAEM) leaders play an essential role in fostering equity, inclusion, and student success at all Minnesota State colleges and universities. The Minnesota State SAEM team strives to support senior campus SAEM leaders in their work and often calls upon them to engage in systemwide projects and initiatives.

Senior campus leaders often connect with one another through system managed listservs and small group meetings. Contact Dr. Paul Shepherd, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management to get connected.

Contact:
Dr. Paul Shepherd
Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Paul.Shepherd@MinnState.edu

Minnesota State provides information, services, and support to veteran and service members, including interactive military-to-college tools, and access to military-friendly services and help.

Learn more about Minnesota State resources and policies for veterans and service members.

Access to veteran and service member resources and services is made possible by partnerships between Minnesota State and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Higher Education Veterans Program, the Minnesota National Guard, other branches of the armed services and state and federal agencies.

The Student Affairs and Enrollment Management team supports a wide variety of functional area communities of practice. These communities are designed to connect professionals working in student affairs and enrollment management functional areas with colleagues working at all Minnesota State colleges and universities.

We invite Minnesota State employees to view the Communities of Practice page on ASA Connect to join communities of practice related to your work!

Dr. Paul Shepherd
Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Paul.Shepherd@MinnState.edu

Shawn Anderson
System Director for Student Development and Success
Shawn.Anderson@MinnState.edu

Christopher Halling
System Director for Financial Aid
Christopher.Halling@MinnState.edu

Gary Hunter
System Director for Policy, Procedure, and Intellectual Property
Gary.Hunter@MinnState.edu

Kelly Hussong
Administrative Assistant for the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
Kelly.Husson@MinnState.edu

Kate Noelke 
Director for Student Mental Health and Wellness
Kate.Noelke@MinnState.edu

Ali Pickens-Opoku
System Director for Strategic Enrollment Management
Ali.Pickens-Opoku@MinnState.edu

Gina Sobania
Director of Military, Veteran, and Adult Learner Services
Gina.Sobania@MinnState.edu

Employees can access more information on Student Success Resources in ASA Connect.