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Several million dollars in funding expected for new Center of Excellence

Minnesota State Mankato will receive several million dollars during fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for its new Center of Excellence in Manufacturing and Engineering.

2006-04-09

Minnesota State University, Mankato will receive several million dollars during fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for its new Minnesota Center of Excellence in Manufacturing and Engineering.

The University has requested $3.3 million from the statewide Centers of Excellence appropriation of $10 million, initiated by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and approved last spring by the Minnesota Legislature. The University expects to generate additional funding from private donations and grants.

The Minnesota State Mankato center and three others were recommended for approval by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system trustees on Oct. 19. Minnesota State Mankato and the other three centers each will receive at least $2 million in state funding over the two-year period.

Using cutting-edge applied research and industry collaboration, the Minnesota State Mankato center will prepare engineering and engineering technology students and manufacturing technicians to help Minnesota companies improve their engineering and manufacturing excellence.

"The Minnesota Center of Excellence in Manufacturing and Engineering will become the renowned national model for stimulating strong partnerships between higher education and industry to address workforce needs in Minnesota, and to attract new business from the Midwest to Minnesota," said Minnesota State Mankato President Richard Davenport.

Minnesota State University, Mankato will be the lead institution for the center, working collaboratively with partner institutions Alexandria Technical College, Anoka Technical College, Hennepin Technical College, Normandale Community College, the Northeast Higher Education District (Hibbing, Itasca, Rainy River, Vermillion and Mesabi Range Community Colleges), and South Central College.

The center will aim to:

• Increase the flow of technically educated graduates and certified employees, making special efforts to recruit women and minorities;
• Develop engineers and technicians with skills to support advanced manufacturing milestones in the next decade;
• Develop a national reputation for promising, innovative manufacturing processes and practices, and for use of renewable and recyclable resources;
• Help Minnesota industries compete globally and become national economic leaders;
• Improve the capacity of industry partners to meet critical needs through customized training, advanced technologies and greater use of advanced engineering processes;
• Increase the use of engineering and manufacturing education best practices for a rapidly changing competitive environment; and
• Provide human resources and college/university equipment to foster applied research projects that allow students, faculty and industry to promote advanced technologies.

Other centers at St. Cloud State, Winona State and Bemidji State Universities will focus on health care, engineering and information security. The four centers were selected from among 11 finalists reviewed by business, industry and higher education leaders.

A fact sheet about the centers can be found at http://www.mnscu.edu/media/newsreleases/2005/pdf/centers_of_excellence.pdf

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