Photo by Samantha Davis Southwest Minnesota State University students attend a First Generation Day event on Nov. 5, 2024, on campus, celebrating first generation college students. The event was also listed as a university highlight at last week’s university address.

MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota State University saw a plethora of highlights throughout the past school year, which interim president Dr. David Jones went over at the annual university address last Friday.

SMSU, which has seen its largest total-headcount enrollment in institutional history to begin this school year, had a positive visit from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) last year, and was reaccredited for another 10 years.

“For every university across our country, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you have to be an accredited institution,” Jones said. “We had our visit last year, and it went super well. When they’re coming to campus, those teams are trying to assess a couple different things. The main thing is, are you doing what you say you’re doing and delivering it, using your resources wisely and including everybody in the work you’re doing? And we did.”

SMSU is now accredited through the 2034-35 school year, and will go through a mid-cycle review in 2028-29.

“Some of the things they found during their visit are really things that I think we all are proud of, and naturally want to be aligned to,” Jones said. “We’re inclusive and student-centered. We are meeting the public good, where you have a strong community impact and engagement. We are collaborative. We have effective teamwork across the campus. We have an assessment culture committed to improving student learning … We’re also making sure that we’re working closely with the resources that are provided by the state, as well as our own Minnesota State system.”

Academic highlights

For academic highlights, SMSU last year hosted its inaugural STEM Symposium featuring Dr. Trachette Jackson, who gave a presentation on “Mobilizing Mathematics for the Fight Against Cancer.”

The university also received funding for a new grant program to support undergraduate research and scholarly activity.

There also were over 1,200 FFA students that participated in last year’s Ag Bowl scholarship invitational on campus.

University highlights

“We are fortunate enough (that) we have an independent association that also evaluates various universities, and we were selected as a College of Distinction for this current year, because the way we are engaging our students, providing great teaching, we have a vibrant community, and are meeting our successful outcomes,” Jones said. “That’s made possible again by everybody that works here.”

There were a handful of award winners between students and faculty over the year.

Jailah Smith earned The President’s Student Leadership Award, associate professor Ben Walker received The President’s Civic Engagement Leadership award and The President’s Community Partner Award went to the People’s Juneteenth Celebration Planning Committee in partnership with the city of Marshall.

The Enactus – Mindful Meals also received an honorable mention for the Emerging Innovation Award.

Jones additionally noted a trio of students that are working on statewide posts.

Sheridyn Runs After was appointed to the Young Women’s Initiative by Gov. Tim Walz, and is also a member of the Students United statewide board. Dora Facundo also was appointed by Walz to serve on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and Lauren Hunt is serving as the State Sentinel for the Minnesota FFA Association.

“Our students are definitely making a difference,” Jones said. “(We are) super proud to see our students making a broad impact, and all that they can do within our community and state.”

Athletic highlights

For the athletics department last year, student-athletes compiled for a 3.27 average GPA on a four-point scale, and 127 students were named Scholar Athletes.

“The Gameday Roundup experience was named a finalist for the 2025 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence,” Jones said. “If anybody’s hung out in our pre-football game experience, it’s phenomenal.”

The volleyball and both basketball teams also played in the NCAA Tournament last year, and the wheelchair basketball team placed third at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Tournament.

Foundation highlights

“Our Run Together: Imagine the Impact program has surpassed the $25 million mark towards the $30 million goal that we have, and is making great progress and staying on the timeline that was anticipated from the very beginning,” Jones said.

The campaign raises money that goes back into the student experience and support, such as establishing new programs, expanding learning, scholarships and advancing learning spaces.

“Scholarships, directly from donors from the foundation, grew to $1.4 million, up 5.7% over a year ago,” Jones said. “We know this is important to our students. Anything we can (do) to continue to help them achieve their goals, as well as leave here with less debt.”

Student support

Jones also discussed some of the student support advancements the university made over the year.

“We also put tremendous work into our student support here on campus, and continue to have more work to do in front of us. But, we’re making great headway in what we can do to help serve all students here at our university,” Jones said. “We continue to be closing equity gaps for the attention of traditionally under-served students … We want to make sure that historically under-represented students are achieving a closer rate to majority students that traditionally might have been performing at a higher rate.”

SMSU also hosted an inaugural First Gen Day last year, celebrating first generation college students.

Other student support highlights included that over 330 students are supported by accessibility services, the Mustang Market was relocated and expanded its hours along with additional support for parenting students.