College of Science, Engineering & Technology (CSET)

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers more than a dozen international experiences for undergraduate, master's and doctoral students. Many of our students want to participate in these experiences but are limited by a lack of funding. Research indicates that exposure to diverse perspectives helps college students progress developmentally to form their ideas and values. We want these transformative opportunities available for all of our students.

In Belize, Central America, the Ministry of Education partners with our School Psychology doctoral program to provide advanced practicum experiences for our students and services for Belizean special needs students. In Mexico, our Social Studies students teach classes in Spanish and design diverse lesson plans. In South Africa, our Social Work students partner with aid organizations in support of a large population of orphaned children. In Ghana, England, Germany, Finland, Italy and Ecuador, our students are exposed to a wealth of diverse ideas while developing their own and serving others.

What your donation will do: Change lives at home and abroad.

Our Corrections Program creates better human communities by developing helpful approaches to dealing with crime and delinquency. We encourage innovative/critical thinking and a focus on transforming correctional systems. We provide Corrections students with experiential learning opportunities that have a big impact on the way they approach corrections issues.

They learn about the juvenile justice system through JOLT (Joint Opportunity to Learn and Thrive), a youth mentoring program. While serving as youth mentors, our students shadow real-world probation officers and learn firsthand about juvenile justice. They learn about women's prison and community re-entry experiences through classes they take with women in the Shakopee Women's Prison, following an international Inside Out Prison Exchange model. A guiding principle of Inside Out is to work toward "breaking down the walls that separate us"; that is precisely what happens inside the correctional facility—a place generally big on walls. The "magic" of the course is that both groups of students quickly drop all labels and preconceived notions and simply see each other as human beings, as students.

The Urban and Regional Studies program has a big idea: teach students to plan sustainable communities. Through real-world projects with regional communities, our students learn to navigate the world of city planning while injecting ideas that nurture and protect the environment.

Students who participate in field experiences have expenses above and beyond typical coursework, such as transportation and other travel expenses. Some students lose income from paid jobs for the time they spend on these real-world experiences. We want our students to develop their big ideas and have the experience to provide real-world solutions. Our graduates shape the future of these systems.

What your donation will do: Provide students with real-world experiences.

The 38 Scholars program is an initiative to recognize and support Native scholars at Minnesota State Mankato. The University operates under the shadow of the events of the U.S./Dakota War of 1862. As we approach the sesquicentennial of the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Mankato, we want to connect our past with our future, heal wounds and strengthen relationships with Dakota communities. This program provides 38 American Indian students at the University with a named award, scholarship funding, a peer-support network and a community of mentors.

The American Indian Studies program at the University provides a home for Native students seeking support, community and an academic program relevant to their personal stories. For Native students not ready to leave home, a community-based learning environment provides an opportunity for confidence-building success. We have designed such learning experiences by hiring Native teachers for American Indian Studies courses taught in a local education center. The opportunity to succeed in college courses within the safety net of local community support is transformative for Native students. Our dream is to expand these opportunities to more Native communities in Minnesota.

What your donation will do: Change the lives of American Indian students.