St. Cloud State University facts for kids
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Former names
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Third State Normal School (1869–1873) State Normal School at St. Cloud (1873-1921) St. Cloud State Teachers College (1921–1957) St. Cloud State College (1957–1975) |
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| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1869 |
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Parent institution
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Minnesota State system |
| Endowment | $30.3 million (2019) |
| Budget | $223 million (2019) |
| President | Larry Dietz (interim) |
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Academic staff
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331 full-time, 168 part-time (fall 2023) |
| Students | 10,514 (fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 8,430 (fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 2,084 (fall 2023) |
| Location |
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Minnesota
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United States
45°33′0″N 94°9′0″W / 45.55000°N 94.15000°W |
| Campus | Urban 100 acres (40 ha) campus |
| Colors | Spirit red, Black and White |
| Nickname | Huskies |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II – NSIC NCAA Division I - NCHC NCAA Division I - WCHA |
| Mascot | Blizzard T. Husky |
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St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is a public university located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA. It was started in 1869. The university is one of the biggest schools in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. In the fall of 2023, about 10,500 students attended SCSU. This included over 8,400 undergraduate students and more than 2,000 graduate students.
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History of St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State began in 1869 as the Third State Normal School. A "normal school" was a place where people learned to become teachers. At first, the school had only one building, the Stearns House. This building was a renovated hotel.
The first group of teachers had five members. The first 50 students included 40 women. As more women joined, the Stearns House became a women's dorm. A new building, Old Main, opened in 1874.
In 1898, the school started offering college-level classes. By 1914, it focused only on college education. In 1921, its name changed to St. Cloud State Teachers College. The word "Teachers" was removed in 1957.
The first bachelor's degrees were given out in 1925. In 1975, the school became a full university. It then had five colleges and a graduate school. The university started offering advanced doctoral degrees in 2007.
The number of students at St. Cloud State changed over time. From about 18,000 students in 2010, it decreased to about 10,000 by 2024. This change led to some financial challenges for the university.
To help with these challenges, the university made some big changes. They reduced the number of degree programs and minors. They also cut some staff and administrative jobs. The university stopped its football team and golf teams.
To attract more students, SCSU started offering more online courses. They also plan to remove some unused buildings. This will help lower the costs of running the campus.
Previous School Names
- Third State Normal School 1869–1873
- State Normal School at St. Cloud 1873–1921
- St. Cloud State Teachers College 1921–1957
- St. Cloud State College 1957–1975
- St. Cloud State University 1975–present
Academics and Learning at SCSU
St. Cloud State University offers many different study programs. Students can choose from over 200 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs. These programs are offered across six colleges and schools.
SCSU is special because it has certain engineering programs. These programs are approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). This means they meet high quality standards. These include manufacturing, electrical, mechanical, and computer science engineering programs.
The School of Graduate Studies offers over 60 advanced programs. These include Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science degrees. They also offer doctoral degrees in education.
Colleges and Schools at SCSU
St. Cloud State has seven main colleges and schools. They offer many different programs for students.
- College of Science and Engineering
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Education and Learning Design
- College of Health and Wellness Professions
- Herberger Business School
- School of Computing, Engineering, and Environment
- School of Arts
Student Life and Organizations
Students at SCSU can join many different groups. At the start of each school year, there is an event called "Mainstreet." This event shows off all the student organizations. Students can choose from over 250 different clubs and groups.
One example is the Investment Club. This club lets students manage a real investment portfolio. There are also about ten Greek houses on campus.
Student Media
SCSU has its own student-run media.
- KVSC 88.1 FM is a public radio station. It started broadcasting in 1967. The station hosts a 50-hour trivia contest each year. It also puts on community events.
- UTVS is the school's television station. Students create all the content. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Students also help fund Students United. This is a student-led group that supports students in the Minnesota State system.
Athletics at SCSU
SCSU has 19 sports teams that compete in NCAA Division II. They are part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The teams are called the Huskies. Their mascot is Blizzard T. Husky.
In 2014, the university updated its Husky dog face logo. In 2019, SCSU stopped its men's football team and men's and women's golf teams. To balance sports for male and female students, they added a men's soccer team.
Ice Hockey
Both the men's and women's ice hockey teams play in NCAA Division I. The men's team is in the NCHC. The women's team is in the WCHA.
In the 1986–87 season, Herb Brooks became the coach for the Huskies. He was famous for coaching the 1980 USA men's Olympic hockey team. He helped the men's hockey team reach NCAA Division I status. He also helped build the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, which is named after him.
The men's team won the WCHA post-season tournament in 2001. They have played in the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship 19 times. In 2013, the team reached the Frozen Four. Their co-captain, Drew LeBlanc, won the Hobey Baker Award. This is a very important award in college hockey. The team also won league titles in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
The university added a women's hockey team in 1998. They also compete at the NCAA Division I level.
Wrestling
The Huskies Wrestling team has won several NCAA Wrestling Championships. They won in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020. They also placed second in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2017.
Basketball
The Women's Huskies Basketball team was very strong from 1982 to 1990. They won many games and reached the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Tournament quarterfinals three times. In 2020, they won the NSIC Championship.
The Men's Huskies basketball team started in 1901. They have played in the NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament 10 times. In 2010, they made it to the semifinals.
Notable People from SCSU
