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In 1866, the Minnesota Legislature approved the establishment of a normal (or teacher-training) school in Mankato. This approval came upon the condition that the City of Mankato donate $5,000 prior to the State Normal School Board authorizing the founding of the institution. Another law in 1867 authorized the city to issue and sell bonds as a way of raising the $5,000 due to Mankato's difficulty in raising the needed funds. Mankato attorney Daniel Buck, a member of the state legislature, was Mankato's leader in securing both the acts of 1866 and 1867.
1868 - Mankato Normal School
In October of 1868, Mankato Normal School opened its doors serving twenty-seven students in its first year of operation. Its primary role was to train teachers for work in rural schools. (The institution's mission is far more "global" today, as it seeks to provide comprehensive educational opportunities for its diverse population of over 12,500 students, including 600 international students.)
In 1868, after weeks of classes, the school moved to semi-permanent quarters in the Shaubut building in downtown Mankato. Mankato Normal School established itself physically when the three-story Old Main was completed in 1870. Only fourteen subjects were taught then, none straying beyond the basic "3 Rs."
The original one-to-two-year curriculum of teacher training was gradually broadened to today's comprehensive undergraduate and graduate curriculum. George Gage was the first principal, succeeded in 1872 by his assistant, Julia Sears. In 1873 a retired Methodist minister, David John, abruptly replaced Sears amid some controversy about her continuance at the time of the women's suffrage movement. In 1880, Edward Searing became the school's first institutional head to be called president. His tenure also brought eighteen years of expansion and curriculum development. During that period, the school began offering courses above the high-school level as well as a five-year instructional program.
Searing was succeeded by Charles Cooper in 1899. The first women's dormitory, Daniel Buck Hall, was erected in 1913, followed by Cooper Hall in 1921 and Searing Hall.
1921 - Mankato State Teachers College - Name Change
In 1921 the school became Mankato State Teachers College and was authorized by the State to offer a four-year curriculum. The institution's first four-year degree, a bachelor of education, was awarded in 1927.
The school experienced near disaster in 1922, when the first Old Main building was destroyed by fire. The state legislature responded in 1924 by approving funds for a new building, which also became known as "Old Main."
In 1930, Frank McElroy became president, the first head of the institution to hold a Ph.D. In 1933, tuition was charged for the first time. The tuition fee replaced the pledge to teach which granted students free tuition. Students were charged $10 per quarter, and non-resident students paid an additional $5 per quarter.
Between 1930 and 1945 enrollment averaged from 600 to 700 students. Around 1943 the Extended Campus program saw its beginnings when classes were held off campus for the first time. At the same time evening classes were established so that working people who needed further training were able to attend classes.
Clarence Crawford was named president in 1946. He and state senator Val Imm were the catalysts in first optimizing Mankato State's confined campus, blueprinting a new highland location that was a cornfield. (The winding scenic roadway to this new area was eventually named Val Imm Drive.)
1957 - Mankato State College - Name Change
An enrollment surge in the late 1950s strained the capacity of the early campus and construction of a new campus began on the hilltop overlooking Mankato. In April, 1957, "Mankato State Teacher's College" officially became "Mankato State College." The first academic building for the new campus was the Wilson Campus School (1959). In the Valley Campus, the Lincoln Library (1958) and a Nichols Hall addition (1960) were completed. Students rode the intercampus bus between classes held both on the lower or "Valley" campus and upper or "Highland" campus. Because of acute housing shortages brought on by a surge in enrollment, additional residence halls were constructed such as Crawford (1959) and McElroy (1961). For the first time, with the completion of Armstrong Hall in 1964, both campuses were equal in number of classes.
During the James Nickerson presidency, from 1966-72, enrollment grew to more than 12,000 students. In 1970 and 1972 demonstrations against the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War caused much controversy both on and off campus. The college was spared tragedies which befell other campuses, suffering little property damage and no life threatening injuries to local demonstrators on either side of this painful national issue.
Douglas Moore was president for 1973-1978, and has been credited with the 1978-1979 transfer and consolidation to the highland area of all of the activities on the two campuses thus eliminating the need for the Valley Campus. (Many of the buildings on the Valley Campus exist today though they serve different private or public needs. The old Main Annex no longer stands, nor does the Physical Education Building. However, the Nichols Science & Arts building, Lincoln Library and Old Main survived the wrecking ball and function today with remodeled interiors, changed names, and new owners. The "Old Main" administrative building on the Valley Campus resurfaced as "Old Main Village," a retirement community; the Lincoln Library was converted to the Blue Earth County Government Center; and Nichols is now a private sector office complex.)
1975 - Mankato State University - Name Change
Enrollment expansion and Mankato State College's growing reputation for academic excellence led to its "University" status in 1975.
Margaret R. Preska became president in 1979. During her tenure, enrollment grew nearly 43 percent, resulting in a much-need expansion and remodeling of many campus buildings. That year the shift to the Highland Campus was finally completed with the construction of the Wigley Administration Building.
New and expanded programs, along with the availability of a master's degree in several areas, contributed to MSU's largest enrollment during 1989-90 and 1991-92 school years with over 16,300 on- and off-campus students in attendance.
Richard R. Rush took the helm in 1992. Additions to the university's curriculum included a new Master of Science degree in nursing and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. In late 1997 the College of Business achieved its long sought after goal of national accreditation. Graduates of the university's College of Business can now be satisfied knowing that the International Association of Management Education recognizes the depth of excellence that exists within the college's programs.
Rush is also remembered for his successful effort in procuring private and legislative support for $50 million in new construction. The 3 million Andreas Theatre, and $17.5 million Taylor Center. Were built with donated funds, a point which legislators noted when they committed $11 Million in state funds for the new Bud Myers Field House and Phase Two of the Student Athletic Facilities upgrade project. A $4 million Student Union addition was part of the massive construction effort under President Rush.
1998 - Minnesota State University, Mankato - Name Change
Enrollment currently is around 14,000 students with faculty and staff numbering 1,300. In addition to their excellence in teaching, the university’s faculty members continue to be recognized for their works in research and service. On the average, one member of the faculty is chosen as a Fullbright scholar each year.
The institution's most recent name change occured September 18, 1998, when the MnSCU Board of Trustees agreed the name change better represented the university as "one of the premier higher education institutions in the state and region."
Other Activities
In late March and early April 1998, more than a thousand students, faculty and staff helped in the massive clean up of tornado ravaged nearby St. Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College and surrounding smaller communities. This kind of disaster relief also occurred in 1965 when Mankato State students and employees turned out in large numbers to sandbag against the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers which overflowed their banks flooding portions of Mankato and North Mankato.
Adding an extra dimension to what is offered in the classroom, students continue to enjoy a wide range of activities from performing in theatrical productions and music events; competing nationally in forensics; attending lectures and concerts; and participating in student government, Greek lettered organizations, clubs, societies, intramural sports, and community service projects.
While the academic side of the institution has gained public recognition, so, too, has MSU's intercollegiate sport teams. These teams were called the Indians until 1977 when the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams took "Mavericks" as a name. The Maverick steer mascot, for years known as "Hoofer," received its current official "Stomper" name just a couple of years ago.
Mankato State University is proud of its continuing efforts to provide equal opportunity in athletics to both its men and women students. New women's programs include intercollegiate soccer and women's hockey. With the exception of men's hockey, all men's and women's intercollegiate teams compete in the powerful North Central Conference (NCC) of the NCAA's Division II. Men's hockey played its first full season as a Division I team in 1997-98 and is a member of the prestigious Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) conference.
Building Additions
Wissink, the Pennington Foundation Building, an addition to the Memorial Library, and the Trafton Science Center east wing, represent some of the results of an attempt to address the stresses associated with the enrollment increases that occurred in the late 1980s.
The university has also received major gifts toward the construction of buildings which addressed unique needs and added character to the overall look of the campus. Thanks to the largesse of Lowell and Nadine Andreas, the Andreas Observatory, which now houses our newest telescope, was built.
Funds from graduates made possible the construction of the Alumni Arch which now stands next to the bell tower in the middle of the campus' arboretum. The distinctive Alumni Arch was resurrected from one of the arched doorways of the fire damaged Old Main Annex which was later demolished. Thanks to the generous gifts of Lloyd and Mildred Ostrander and the Student Association, the Ostrander-Student Memorial Bell Tower is now a landmark easily identified with Mankato State University. The Mankato State University Foundation, Inc., continues to assist in different building endeavors, as it did by providing initial funding to the Warren Street Center, now renamed the Alumni & Foundation Center.
In 1997, a $750,000 expansion of the Student Health Services occurred, which was funded from student fees. This investment produced a modernized, state-of-the-art facility located in the lower level of Carkoski Commons.
Newer construction includes: $3.2 million Andreas Theatre funded from private donations matched with a large grant provided by Lowell and Nadine Andreas. A $17.5 million Taylor Center is a combination welcome center and 4,700 seat arena was funded thanks to a $9.2 million donation by Glen Taylor, local businessman and MSU alumn. One million dollars donated by Mankato native and Bresnan Communications President, Bill Bresnan, paid for the arena within the Taylor Center. Also, Pepsi Corp. provided $2.2 million towards the Taylor Center in exchange for exclusive pouring rights on campus. The Centennial Student Union now enjoys a $4 million addition completed in 2000, and is in the process of a $8.6 million extensive remodeling of the Union's older sections and providing a new "front door".
In April of 1998, $11 million of a $28 million student athletic facility project was approved by the legislature to begin phase one of the two phase project. As of January, 2002, the $11 million Bud Myers Field House was completed. Highland Center's $9.7 rehab was completed in fall 2002. In June 2003 the legislature approved remodeling the forty year old Bob Otto Arena to provide for the growing fitness needs of students and employees. This Phase III of the sudent Athletic Facilities project will cost, $8.4 million, which includes the Otto Arena upgrades. (Surveys of students indicate that fitness concerns are high on their list of needs.)
Measuring the Educational Experience
Though physical improvements are important, providing educational experiences for students has been the primary objective since the University's beginning. As one measure of success, Minnesota State's alumni now number 75,000, many in positions of leadership in both the private and public sectors. Minnesota State University's graduate studies enrollment of 2,000 students is second only to the University Minnesota in the offering of graduate education. Undergraduates and graduate students enjoy over a 90% success rate in finding a career in their chosen field within one year after graduation.
Looking to the Future
Examples abound that partnerships work, not only in the realm of buildings and facilities, but also on the academic front. MSU and nearby South Central Technical College have combined resources with four leading companies in the wireless industry (AT&T Wireless Services, Lucent Technologies, Inc., Ericsson, Inc., and Motorola) to provide advanced education in the growing realm of wireless communication.
Over 130 years after its founding, Minnesota State University has positioned itself in a leadership position for institutions of its size. It offers modern, efficient facilities and diverse academic, athletic, and social opportunities for its students. Known for its strong cultural diversity programs and services, Minnesota State looks toward the future. Its development from a teacher-training institution to a comprehensive university with six undergraduate colleges and one graduate college, enriches the region and fulfills Daniel Buck's early promise that if citizens would support the school, untold benefits would be repaid "tenfold for every dollar invested."
Yes, Minnesota State has a colorful and distinguished past serving many constituents. However, its promising future is the dynamic that keeps the institution even more vital and alive than ever.
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