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Minnesota State University, Mankato

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
Wiecking Center
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
Phone
(507) 389-1866
Email address
admissions@mnsu.edu
School Information
"From its founding in 1868 as Mankato Normal School, serving 27 students, this has been an institution where big ideas meet real-world thinking. "The school became Mankato State Teachers College in 1921, Mankato State College in 1957 and Mankato State University in 1975. In 1998, it took the name that stands today—Minnesota State University, Mankato. Although our first graduates earned one-or two-year degrees to become teachers, the University has been granting four-year degrees in a growing number of disciplines since 1927. The first master’s degrees were awarded in 1954, and the first doctorate was conferred in 2009." The university enrolls over 14,000 students, employs over 1,600 faculty & staff, and offers 130 undergraduate programs, 85 graduate programs, and other programs. (Source: https://mankato.mnsu.edu/about-the-university/fast-facts/)
General Information
Minnesota State University, Mankato, has provided resources and implemented one requirement for Critical Race Theory. The Masters in Educational Leadership now has a required Critical Race Theory course. No Critical Race Training sessions are yet required of all students. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • The Center for Multicultural Equity and Access at MSU "enhances recruitment and retention efforts and outreach to diverse students in all areas of the University."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • As part of its "Equity 2030 Goals," MSU will provide the "[d]evelopment of culturally competent focused education and training for employees."
  • One of MSU's "Equity 2030 Goals" is to provide "Cultural competency education for students."
  • The Maverick Diversity Institute at MSU "offers challenging and unique workshops and programs that will help you to become knowledgeable on inclusivity, access, and equity in your workplace and classroom environment."
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • As part of the Bachelor’s degree requirement, all students must “complete the Minnesota State Mankato Diverse Cultures requirement” which consists of a minimum of 2 courses or a minimum of 6 credits from a list of courses designated as diverse cultures.
  • The university presented their Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Plan which outlines the strategic directions and goals taken by the university to promote diversity and equity including a number of curriculum reviews and redesigning “courses to achieve intercultural competencies.”
  • One of MSU's "Equity 2030 Goals" is to provide "Culturally responsive curriculum/pedagogy."
Disciplinary Measures
  • MSU has a "Bias Incident Support and Advisory Team" which "proactively work[s] towards educating the campus on the bias, collaborate[s] with various departments to host prevention programs, and work[s] with university officials to investigate and address reports of bias incidents and hate crimes."
Re-Imagining Policing
  • In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, the university has taken multiple steps towards law enforcement education reform with the creation of a new Department of Criminal Justice and “the implementation of a Criminal Justice Community Experiences course that all students will be required to take twice during their academic career.”
Resources
  • The university’s department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion provides a number of diversity programs and initiatives.
  • The university provides separate diversity, equity, and inclusion living-learning communities for diverse students to live together in the residence halls while providing resources on diversity and social justice along with enrollment in uniquely designated courses for fall and spring semesters that fosters student success.
  • The university provides “Be You,” which is a separate “Black Male Living-Learning Community” for black males which provides resources as well as specific courses designated for the student’s fall and spring semester enrollments.
  • On October 28, 2021, the university sponsored an event on the role of Critical Race Theory in education.
  • The Village Mentoring Program provides mentoring for students of color to promote their success and retention.
  • The university provides a list of Anti-Racist Pedagogies Resources in order to support anti-racist teachings on Black Lives Matter, Cultural Humility, White Allyship, and Anti-Racism.
  • MSU provides a list of "Racial Equity" educational resources which includes information on the "1619 Project" and Ibram Kendi's "How to be an Anti-Racist."
Symbolic Actions
  • MSU has archived its "University Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statements" on one webpage which contains messages emailed to the community between 2017-2021. The statements largely focus on issues of race and inequality in America.
Last updated December 13th, 2023
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