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SMSU named a 2025-2026 College of Distinction

In a higher education landscape often dominated by rankings and test scores, Southwest Minnesota State University has been recognized for what truly matters: a transformative undergraduate experience. For the 2025-2026 academic year, SMSU has been named a College of Distinction, a prestigious designation awarded to schools whose commitment to engaged, experiential education sets them apart. This recognition is based on Colleges of Distinction’s unique evaluation criteria known as the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. ...

SMSU earns 2025-2026 Military Friendly School GOLD designation

Southwest Minnesota State University announced that it has earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly School GOLD and 2025-2026 Military Spouse Friendly School designations in the Small Public university category. Institutions earning the Military Friendly School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2025-2026 survey, with 830 earning special awards for going service above the standard. Southwest Minnesota State University has consistently received the Military Friendly School ...

Campus Notes for July 10

Alexandria Tech announces dean’s list Sara Fier, vice president of Academic and Student Affairs at Alexandria Technical & Community College, recognized individual students for academic excellence. The following students were named to the dean’s list for achieving a GPA of 3.5 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credits spring semester 2025: Currie: Samantha Schreier Dawson: Jackson Buer Ghent: Lucy DeVaan Granite Falls: Bryce Sneller Lake Benton: Jenae Christensen Marshall: Hunter Krueger Wood Lake: Addy Louwagie

Campus Notes for July 5

Hart named to dean’s list, president’s roll of honor at UND Morgan Hart of Marshall was named to the dean’s list and the president’s roll of honor at the University of North Dakota. The UND dean’s list comprises students whose grade- point average are in the top 15% of the enrollment in each of the University’s degree granting Colleges and Schools. A student must have completed no fewer than 12 semester hours of academic work for the semester, of which eight or more hours must be graded work rather than “satisfactory/unsatisfactory.” To qualify for the UND ...

Campus Notes for July 3

University of North Dakota announces spring 2025 graduates More than 1,700 students graduated from the University of North Dakota (UND) this spring, in ceremonies whose speakers included the governor of North Dakota and a former Minnesota Vikings tight end — both of whom are UND alumni. Ceremonies were held across successive weekends, culminating with the Spring General Commencement on May 17 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. Cullen Murphy of Minneota received a bachelor of arts in English, cum laude.

SMSU Briefs for June 28

SMSU dean’s list announced for spring semester Southwest Minnesota State University announced the dean’s list of students recognized for academic achievement during spring semester 2025. An undergraduate student who completes 12 or more A-F graded credits and achieves a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher will be considered for the Honors dean’s list. If a 4.0 grade- point average is achieved, the student will be on the High Honors dean’s list. Local students on the list are: High Honors Canby: Tracie Hansen, Ethan Thovson, Laura Zeurmens Dawson: Jada ...