SYSTEM
OFFICE
Students United champions initiatives to enhance accessibility and equity on our campuses by lobbying the Minnesota State System Office on behalf of the students at the 7 Minnesota State Universities.
The Minnesota State System Office is the governing body of the 26 state colleges and 7 Minnesota State Universities. The third largest system in the United States, it enrolls more than 300,000 students annually.
But how exactly does the Minnesota State System work? And how does it affect you as a student?
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES?
The Minnesota State System Office is overseen by the Board of Trustees. In July of 2024, George Soule was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees. Chair Soule, a Minnesota State University-Moorhead alum, will serve a two-year term.
His Vice Chair, Dawn Erlandson, will serve a one-year term. Chair Soule and Vice Chair Erlandson oversee the Board of Trustees and its operations, including the System Office, academic programs, fiscal management, admissions, tuition, and rules and regulations.
The Board of Trustees is made up of 15 volunteer members who are appointed by the Governor of Minnesota.
The Board includes:
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8 trustees, one from each congressional district
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4 trustees from the state at-large
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2 student trustees; one from the universities and one from the community and technical colleges.
Students United meets regularly with the Board of Trustees through reports given at the monthly Board of Trustees meeting. There, the State Chair gives reports on our work, actions the Board is considering that we are in favor of or oppose, and issues we'd like the Board to be aware of.
Examples of what we bring to the Board of Trustees:
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Tuition considerations, student positions on tuition increases, etc.
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Student issues that affect each of the 7 Minnesota State Universities, including things like Federal immigration actions.
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Comments or opinions on Request for Proposals, such as health insurance plans for mandatory International Student Health Insurance.
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Rennato Alarcon, former Community Leadership Program Fellow and a student at Metro State University, is the current Trustee representing the students at the seven Minnesota State Universities.
​WHO IS THE CHANCELLOR, AND WHAT DOES THE SYSTEM OFFICE DO?
The Chancellor is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Minnesota State System Office and carrying out the will of the Board of Trustees.
Students United meets regularly with the Chancellor and members of the Chancellor's cabinet (who serve as advisors on matters of policy, tech, administration, and campus matters).
Examples of things brought to our conversations with Chancellor Olson:
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Tuition, fee increases or decreases, etc.
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Questions about positions on certain policies being proposed or issues at the Minnesota State Legislature, such as bonding or HEAPR requests
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Detailed discussions on ongoing campus issues, such as mental health, parking, housing, tech concerns, or building issues.
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Students United does not remedy individual-level problems with the System Office, but we're happy to help you troubleshoot problems you have on campus and ensure your needs are met.
WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON IN 2026:
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Keeping tuiton rates low.
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Parent Priority Registration and ensuring that student parents receive support on campus.
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Exploring better transparency for International Student Healthcare premium rates. ​​