Metropolitan State University: Empowering Adult Learners in Minnesota's Urban Landscape

1. Metropolitan State University Where Life and Learning Meet

2. An urban university serving primarily older students of diverse backgrounds

3. Minnesota • 12th largest state • 225,181 sq. KM • Population about 5.2 million

4. Twin Cities – Minneapolis & St. Paul

5. Founding • about 600 years younger that PTE • Began in 1971 as upper-division university offering bachelor’s degrees for working adults • No classrooms • No library • No grades – pass or fail based on competency assessment • No dorms • No football team

6. And the University has been moving to a more traditional status ever since • While other universities and colleges are becoming more “untraditional” • Traditional, 18-22 year old students in a residential school, have dropped to about 40% of the higher education population

7. Use of Words • University means institution has more than one college combined with offering graduate programs as well • College is made up of Departments • Faculty are the professors and lecturers • Work under labor union contract in Minnesota state system • Shared governance model

8. Metropolitan State Mission • To provide accessible, high-quality, liberal arts, professional, and graduate education to citizens of the metropolitan area, with continued emphasis on underserved groups, including adults and communities of color

9. Accessible • Classes during day, evening, and Saturday • Online and web-enhanced • In various city locations • Tuition • Undergraduate student, resident: 177.15 • Nursing, Metropolitan State, resident: $247.43 • Online course enrollment: $252.43 • U of Minnesota nursing credit hour: $489.76 • Underserved • Working adults • Populations of color • Producing alumni to work with underserved populations

10. High Quality • Accredited • MSN Entry students had 100% board pass • Accounting professionals rate the business school best • Emphasis on teaching, not research • Small classes – 32 is the largest possible class

11. Student Population • ~ 10,000 students • 5,115 full time equivalent • 91% undergraduate • 59% female • 29% students of color • Average age – 32 years

12. Student Examples • Commencement—Graduation is May 6 • Student speaker is Roman E. Rowan, age 69, who retired from executive management in the computer software industry and now completed a new BA in natural sciences and environmental issues • One MBA graduate, David Urbia, is in Iraq with the US Department of State and will be represented at graduation by family members

13. Differences • Students pay tuition plus fees; some get government grants or loans, but no one gets free higher education • Books also a significant expense • Students also expected to come to every class. • Mandatory report after 2nd class • Some faculty grade also on classroom participation

14. Library • Share a building with a branch of Saint Paul Public Library

15. How many use library

17. Colleges • College of Arts and Sciences • College of Management • Partnership with China University of Technology • College of Professional Studies • College of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice • First College • Peace Corp partnership • Prior Learning or Student/Faculty Designed Independent Learning • College of Nursing and Health Sciences

18. Top 10 Majors • Individualized Study • Business Administration • Accounting • Criminal Justice • Nursing • Psychology • Law Enforcement • Finance • Social Work • Human Services

19. College of Nursing and Health Sciences • Undergraduate Nursing • RN-BSN • Associate degree completion program; 5 cohorts • LPN-BSN • Graduate Nursing • MSN • Leadership and Management • Nursing Education • Nurse Practitioner • Family Nurse Practitioner • Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner

20. MSN Entry Level Practice • For students with at least a bachelor’s degree in another field • Doctoral Program • Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) • Applied Doctorate • Requirement for Nurse Practitioner for 2015 board exams • Developing BSN-DNP curriculum

21. Dental Hygiene • Dental Hygiene Completion Program • Oral Health Practitioner

22. Anticipated Programs • Bachelor’s completion and graduate program for orthotics and prosthetics health professionals • Generic, basic BSN program • Both of these will be held in conjunction with a community college

23. Community Based Learning • Center provides leadership and coordination • Academic Internships • Study Abroad • Project Shine (students Helping in Naturalization of Elders) • College for Kids • United We Serve Day • Often recruit students to work with elementary students to help them learn to read

24. DUET Clinic • Located in public housing area with large Hmong population • Will provide a clinical site for nurse practitioner students • Staffing: • Dual certified Family and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, also Certified Diabetes Educator • VISTA Volunteer, serving as Business Manager

26. Grand Opening – November 2009

27. DUET Clinic Services Child physicals Basic adult physicals Treatment of ear, tooth, and sinus pain Colds/upper respiratory infections Hemoglobin check Diabetes screening Blood pressure screening

28. Homeless Clinic • Wednesday Evening program sponsored by nearby Lutheran Church • Community health nursing students experience • Provides an opportunity for nurse practitioner experience as well

31. Thank you for your attention.