Minnesota State


The Minnesota State System Office is divided into several divisions and offices, one of which is the Academic and Student Affairs (ASA) division. This division works with the system institutions to identify and meet shared priorities to improve the quality of the higher education experience for students, staff, and faculty alike. While the ASA division of the system office is involved in many things, one of the most important things facilitated by this division are the ASA councils, committees, and workgroups, each of which has a specific purpose and includes members from all of the bargaining units present within Minnesota State—including students!

Academic and Student Affair Councils

There are four main councils facilitated by the ASA division. Each of the councils may also employ the help of committees and work groups, which are generally smaller and focused on a particular subject of interest to the council it serves. Below is a list of the academic and student affairs councils and committees for FY24, as well as the miscellaneous work groups. Please send an email to our System and University Coordinator Samantha Raghu or fill out the form below if you are interested in being appointed to one of these councils, committees, or work groups, or if you have any general input for the members of these groups. You may also submit feedback via the form located at the bottom of this page.

If the State Chair confirms your appointment, you will receive an email from us to discuss further!

View the meeting schedule for academic year 2023-24 here.

Academic Affairs . . .

  • Purpose: The Minnesota State Academic Affairs Council will be the principal group responsible for advising the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs on academic initiatives and programs that are planned, piloted, adopted, and/or implemented for system-wide benefit.
  • Scope: Undergraduate and graduate teaching and learning, including: instructional development, professional development, accountability framework, student readiness and college transitions, career and technical education, career preparation and workforce development, program alignment and effectiveness, e-education, and inter-campus collaboration.
  • Committees of the Academic Affairs Council:
    • Global Education Committee
    • Faculty Development Committee
    • Academic Equity Committee
    • Transfer Governance Committee
    • Education Committee
  • Topics of Interest to the Academic Affairs Council:
    • Academic Initiatives and Programs
    • Transfer Pathways
    • Academic Equity
    • Credit for Prior Learning

Equity & Inclusion . . .

  • Purpose: The Minnesota State Equity & Inclusion Council will advise the Office of Equity and Inclusion’s (OEI) team on strategies, initiatives, programs, and policies focused on equity, inclusion and diversity that are planned, piloted, adopted, and/or implemented for system-wide benefit.
  • Scope: The Minnesota State Equity & Inclusion Council will receive reports and information regarding issues that are relevant to systemwide equity, diversity, and inclusion interests. In response to emerging issues, the Council may appoint limited term subcommittees or work groups to further review and provide reports and recommendations for action/consideration by the Council. Standing subcommittees or workgroups may be designated, if deemed necessary by the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Equity and Inclusion.
  • Responsibilities:
    • Act as a forum to facilitate communication between system stakeholders within the system office and across campuses, including students, faculty, staff, administrators and system office staff.
    • Examine relevant information , review best practices, review existing system wide equity efforts, discuss challenges, assist with prioritization, and identify strategies thatsupport and advance equity and inclusion.
    • Act in an advisory role to the VC of Equity and Inclusion and OEI team on systemwide equity, inclusion, and diversity issues.
    • Make recommendations and/or provide feedback to the VC of Equity and Inclusion, or appropriate designee, that result from a process of discovery, planning, adoption, and analysis with relevant campus-based stakeholders.

Policy . . .

  • Purpose: The Policy Council provides consultation advice on proposed ASA Board of Trustees policies and system procedures.
  • Scope: To review proposed new and current ASA board policies and system procedures. Terms and conditions of employment are addressed through labor negotiations and outside the scope of this council.
  • Decision-making Process and Authority: The council is an advisory group to the ASA Senior Vice Chancellor. Recommendations are typically based on a unanimous vote among members on proposed new and amended board policies and system procedures. When a unanimous vote is not achieved, the minority vote may submit a written opposition explaining their position. The opposition document is attached to the policy or procedure draft as it proceeds thorough the ASA process. Council recommendations are approved by the ASA senior vice chancellor prior to submission to the chancellor for approval, and then the Board of Trustees for adoption of new policies and policy amendments.
  • FY24 Policy Work Plan:
    • Chapter 2 - Students
      • 2.2.2 US Military Personnel, Spouses, Dependent Children
      • 2.3 Student Involvement in Decision-Making
      • 2.3.1 Student Involvement in Decision-Making
      • 2.10 Student Housing
    • Chapter 3 – Educational Policies
      • 3.3 Assessment for Course Placement *(AA Committee tee up)
      • 3.3.1 Assessment for Course Placement *(AA Committee tee up)
      • 3.4 Undergraduate Admissions
      • 3.4.1 Undergraduate Admissions
      • 3.8 Student Complaints & Grievances
      • 3.8.1 Student Complaints & Grievances
      • 3.18 Honorary Degrees
      • 3.18.1 Honorary Degrees
      • 3.29 College and University Transcripts
      • 3.29.1 College and University Transcripts
      • 3.36 Academic Programs
      • 3.36.1 Academic Programs
      • 3.40 Recognition of Veteran Status

Student Affairs . . .

  • Purpose: The purpose of the Minnesota State Student Affairs Council is to be the principal group responsible for advising the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs on student affairs issues, initiatives, and programs that are planned, piloted, adopted, and/or implemented for systemwide benefit.
  • Scope: The council receives reports and information about issues of system interest from its committees and other student affairs groups and provides recommendations to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. In response to emerging issues, the council may appoint limited-term ad-hoc committees to further review these issues and provide reports and recommendations for its consideration.
  • Committees of the Student Affairs Council:
    • Assessment for Course Placement Committee
  • Topics of Interest to the Student Affairs Council:
    • Satisfactory Academic Progress: Communications Plan
    • Universal application
    • uAchieve Planner
    • Mental Health
    • Basic Needs
    • Co-curricular assessment

Technology . . .

  • Purpose: The Council will be the principal group responsible for advising the Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic & Student Affairs on all academic and student service related technologies that are piloted, adopted, and/or licensed for use across the Minnesota State system. Additionally, recommendations made to the Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs will be sent as an informational item to the Vice Chancellor of Information Technology Services.
  • Committees of the Technology Council:
    • Learning Environment Committee
    • Media Management and Web Conferencing Committee
    • Accessibility Committee
    • Textbook Affordability Committee
    • Topics of Interest to the Technology Council:
    • Learning Management Systems (e.g. D2L Brightspace)
    • Z Degree
    • E-Services OER Course Search
    • Student Tutoring Services
    • uAchieve Graduation Planner

System Council and Committee Sign-Up


Student representation at the Minnesota State System office is a crucial for our organization's advocacy. If you are interested in serving on a System council and/or committee, please fill out the System Council and Committee Sign-Up form here.

Board of Trustees


The Minnesota State system is governed by the Board of Trustees, a 15-member body that includes one state university student, one community college student and one technical college student.  These three voting positions were permanently established by the 1994 Legislature as a result of cooperative efforts between Students United and the Minnesota State College Student Association, now LeadMN.