Three SMSU programs to be offered at Lake Superior College

A trio of Southwest Minnesota State University academic programs will be offered on the campus of Lake Superior College (LSC) in Duluth starting in the fall semester, 2020.

The programs are community psychology and health promotion, agriculture solutions, and marketing.

Southwest Minnesota State University President Kumara Jayasuriya and Lake Superior College President Patricia Rogers finalized the agreement at a Feb. 4 signing ceremony on the LSC campus.

It marks the first time that bachelor’s degrees have been offered on the campus of Lake Superior College.

Once a student has earned a two-year degree from LSC, he/she will be granted admission to one of the programs based on SMSU admission guidelines.

Course delivery will include on-site, online, or a hybrid combination of the two.

It is the first collaborative agreement between the two institutions and brings additional educational options to students at Lake Superior College.

“We are excited about this collaboration,” said President Jayasuriya. “Having three SMSU programs delivered on the Lake Superior College campus will give the students an opportunity to earn an affordable, quality SMSU bachelor’s degree in a very convenient way.”

“LSC and SMSU are both committed to providing students with increased opportunity and access to a quality, affordable education,” said President Rogers. “This new partnership will give current and future students in these programs the opportunity to remain here on our campus and in our community. Both of our schools look forward to working together to support our students and helping them earn their AA degree and their bachelor’s degree, all while making it a seamless transition and putting students on the path to success.”

Both President Jayasuriya and Lake Superior College President Rogers indicated that future collaborations could follow.

Author Jim Heynen to read Feb. 26 at SMSU

Author Jim Heynen will read from his work at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, in Charter Hall 201 at Southwest Minnesota State University.

His appearance, sponsored by the Creative Writing Program, is part of the Visiting Writers Series at SMSU.

Heynen is best known for his short stories. Many of these stories have been broadcast on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and Minnesota astronaut George Pinky Nelson took a recording of Heynen’s stories for bedtime listening on his last space mission.

Heynen has also published three novels: “The Fall of Alice K.,” “Cosmos Coyote and William the Nice,” and “Being Youngest,” along with several collections of poetry. His major nonfiction book, “One Hundred over 100,” features 100 American centenarians.

For many years, he was Writer-in-Residence at St. Olaf College in Northfield. He has been awarded National Endowment for the Arts fellowships in both poetry and fiction.

SMSU ranked 7th in affordability for international students seeking college education

Southwest Minnesota State University is ranked 7th for the lowest total cost for international students in the North and Midwest regions by U.S. News and World Report.

The ranking is based on 823 schools that had at least 10 international students and reported international student tuition, fees, and room and board in an annual survey.

Southwest Minnesota State University has 200 international students representing 27 countries.

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