A Message from the SMSU President

Dear Alumni and Friends,

This is truly an amazing time in the history of our great university. We have seen significant enrollment increases, incredible support from our alumni and friends, and numerous renovation projects that are enhancing the SMSU experience. I wish to extend my gratitude to all our alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends who engage with the university to make these achievements possible. This fall, enrollment for degree-seeking students at SMSU increased by 14.9% compared to the fall of 2023. This is an extraordinary accomplishment, making our current enrollment level the highest it has been since 2010. It also makes us the fastest-growing university in the Minnesota State System for the second year in a row. We saw enrollment increases in new entering students, degree-seeking graduate and undergraduate students, and student retention reached 73.4%. These results are due to the hard work and dedication of our amazing faculty and staff who work every day to focus on the needs of SMSU students.

In October, SMSU hosted several reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the accrediting body for SMSU and other degree-granting institutions in the United States. I am pleased to report that early indications suggest the visit was highly positive, and SMSU is well-positioned to maintain its accreditation status. Special thanks are due to Provost Ross Wastvedt and Associate Professor of Agricultural Education Kristin Kovar, who led the year-long process of gathering information and preparing the required HLC report prior to the reviewers’ visit.

The SMSU Foundation Board of Directors announced the “Run Together, Imagine the Impact” campaign. The board and foundation staff have been working on the campaign since 2019 and have reached a total of $22,461,052 about 75% of the overall $30 million goal. Their work has already made a significant impact on students through facility improvements, program funding, and scholarships. This private support is necessary for SMSU to attract and retain our amazing students now and well into the future. This is indeed an extraordinary time in the history of SMSU. What we are doing today is making the future brighter and stronger for all those who follow. Thank you once again to everyone who is contributing to these remarkable efforts.

Sincerely,

Kumara Jayasuriya