Dear Colleagues, As another academic year comes to a close, we have much to reflect on and much to be proud of. I'm proud to share with you that we again exceeded the performances of all other state colleges and universities in every category of the Minnesota State Dashboard, which assesses our outcomes in student retention, graduation rates, licensure exam pass rates, and so on. Our…

Dear Colleagues, As many of you are now aware, our Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Patricia Rogers, has been appointed by the Minnesota State Board of Trustees as the next President of Lake Superior College in Duluth. Dr. Rogers’ many achievements here at WSU have set the stage for this next chapter in her life. LSC is a healthy institution in a vibrant place, and she…

In March 2019, news broke of a major college admissions scandal, in which wealthy parents bribed a path for their sons and daughters into elite institutions. Like most Americans, we are appalled. But as local leaders in higher education, we are also indignant, thinking of all the students who were not treated fairly in their pursuit of a degree. At Minnesota State College Southeast and…

As someone who is neither Polish nor Kashubian, I have spent what some might call an inordinate amount of time studying the history, culture and country of Poland. My earliest visits were with the U.S. Department of State, as America assisted Poland in rebuilding its economy and social systems after so many years of Soviet control. Back then, I had the honor of helping to rebuild a free system…

The U.S. Bill of Rights gives all Americans unprecedented freedoms. Here at Winona State University, we support the freedom of speech, press, and assembly of all of our students, and we hope to create an environment where the First Amendment thrives. But our shared commitment to free speech means that we will all encounter ideas with which we do not agree, and even ideas we find offensive,…

In light of the national tragedy unfolding in Florida, we want to remind the campus community that there will be Response Training to an Active Shooter in Minne 103 this weekend. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training provides preparation and a plan for individuals and organizations on how to more proactively handle the threat of an aggressive intruder or active shooter…

I recently had the opportunity to welcome Dr. Larry Lundblad, the new interim president at MSC Southeast, to the Winona community. Jim Johnson, MSC Southeast President Emeritus, and I penned this column to help introduce President Lundblad to our friends and neighbors in Winona.  — Scott R. Olson, President, Winona State University As longstanding partners in higher education,…

I was challenged to take the "Black and White Photo Challenge" The rules are: Seven days, seven black and white photos of your life. No explanation. Challenge…

Dear Colleagues, As we settle into the spring semester, and as we reflect on the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. toward building a more inclusive American society, let's make one thing clear: All are welcome at Winona State University. Haitians and Haitian-Americans are welcome. Africans and African-Americans are welcome. Norwegian and Norwegian-Americans are welcome,…

Another year is ending, and another fall semester has come to a close, marked by Winona State Commencement exercises Dec. 8, where we honored the success stories of almost 500 new alumni and alumnae as they embarked upon their hopes and dreams. At its core, Winona State is an educational institution. Every day we learn new things and impart new wisdom, and I have objective evidence when I…

Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year! The annual student-designed holiday card is a special tradition at Winona State University. Each year, our students demonstrate originality and talent as they share their perspectives on the WSU experience. Your 2017 WSU Holiday Card This year’s holiday card was created by WSU students Adelle Vietor ’18 and Dani Loomis ’18. The…

Once again President Scott Olson serves as guest DJ for the Winona State University campus radio station KQAL this fall. President Olson joins the team at KQAL each semester to host his official program, “Working on a Dream.” His playlist, below, features songs organized in a manner that allows them to speak to another song in an attempt to show with music and lyrics where Bruce…

The phrase, “there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” is cliché and overused, but I hope you’ll allow me to employ it here, where it feels particularly relevant. After 20 years in the making, WSU’s pedestrian tunnels project is nearing completion, and I for one am excited about what this means for pedestrian safety in the City of Winona. Along the way, some concerns have been voiced…

Summertime in Winona has too many outdoor adventure opportunities to list. That didn't stop Wazoo! From hiking the bluffs to "sailing" the Mississippi to a very special picnic, we made the most of summertime in Winona. Just wait until winter break rolls around this…

Today the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released new interim guidelines on how to investigate and adjudicate allegations of campus sexual misconduct under federal law. As of now, it remains unclear what direct implications this announcement may have for our campus procedures and standards, but we are in consultation with General Counsel at the Minnesota State system…

Today the White House announced that it will terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This program, put in place during the Obama Administration, enables undocumented young people—sometimes called “Dreamers,” in reference to the American Dream—to stay in the United States and pursue higher education. Winona State University is committed to being an inclusive…

As I begin my sixth year at Winona State University, I find myself reflecting on what has been done, and what remains to be done. I often feel like a conductor holding a baton in front of the most talented orchestra in the world: I have the honor to encourage some level of focus and pace, but the beautiful music is really the work of others. Our students, our faculty, our staff, our community…

Please see the message below from Chancellor Malhotra concerning the events in Charlottesville, Va. We share his concern, and extend it to the community in Bloomington, Minn., trying to take stock of the attack on the Mosque there. There is no place in an educational institution for such hatred, bigotry, or violence. At the very core of what we believe as a university is that education brings us…

10. Accidentally stumbled on Al Capone’s Vault. 9. Should have given the crew something better to dig with than Chartwell’s discarded spoons. 8. Vice President Scott Ellinghuysen insists on digging every inch himself. 7. Should have taken a left turn at Albuquerque. 6. Forgot to delete the Winona subway idea from the blueprints. 5. It takes a lot longer than you’d…

After a long and challenging legislative session and a complex special session, our local legislators have ensured that public higher education in Winona remains well-supported. Senator Jeremy Miller and Representative Gene Pelowski both played critical roles in the bipartisan agreement that was ultimately signed by Governor Mark Dayton. As Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, Sen. Miller…