PRESS RELEASE: STUDENTS UNITED RESPONDS TO CHANCELLOR SCOTT OLSON’S MEMO REGARDING THE REALIGNMENT OF MINNESOTA STATE SYSTEM
PRESS CONTACT:
Grant Berg
218-491-4190
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Monday, September 21, Chancellor Scott Olson and the Minnesota State System Office released a memo titled “Making the Case for Change: Sustainability of Minnesota State.” In the memo, Chancellor Olson lays out his vision for Minnesota State colleges and universities in the upcoming biennium. “We share the same concerns as Chancellor Olson,” says Dr. Patrick Duffy, Executive Director of Students United. “Tuition has increased nearly 12% in just the last two years, and students have been clear that this is not sustainable in the long term.”
“During the consultation process, student leaders were clear: we need strong support services on campus, and we wanted to mitigate cuts to faculty and academic departments. Many students reluctantly supported tuition increases to preserve those departments and crucial student service roles,” said Faaliha Mohamed, 2026-2027 State Chair of Students United and current graduate student at Metro State University.
Students United, the official advocacy group representing the students at the seven Minnesota State Universities, has been in consistent conversation with the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, and the Minnesota State System Office.
“We have a great relationship with Chancellor Olson and administrators on our campuses. Obviously, conversations are ongoing, but we’re eager to get into the details of what needs to be done to save our institutions while still delivering quality, affordable education to our students.” said Mohamed, “Students deserve full transparency around the plans moving forward. We’ve borne the brunt of the cost here–both in tuition and in the ways our own education has been disrupted by budget cuts. We’re not blind to the issues our campuses are going through, and we must be part of the solution if we are going to save our institutions.”
The Board of Trustees approved the creation of the Long-Term Strategies Taskforce in June of 2026, which will aid in the initial generation of ideas and presented in January 2027.
“Once a plan is finalized [the workgroup for] Academic and Facilities Planning and the Allocation Model Redesign, also endorsed by the Board in June, will play a primary role in developing how we move forward to develop a comprehensive academic and facilities plan and an allocation model to support the new structure.” Chancellor Olson stated in the September 21 memo.
The workgroups will consist of students, bargaining unit representatives, and campus and system representatives. "We're looking forward to appointing our student representatives, and we want to be clear: this is a sensitive process and cannot be done without full student input. We know students are eager to roll up their sleeves and find solutions that revitalize our campuses and save our institutions,” concluded Mohamed.
Since 1967, Students United (previously Minnesota State University Student Association, or MSUSA), has been representing students from the seven Minnesota State Universities (Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University – Mankato, Metro State University, Minnesota State University – Moorhead, St. Cloud State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, and Winona State University) at the Minnesota State System, Minnesota State Legislature, and in Congress.
One student from each of the seven universities serves on Students United’s Board of Directors. Board members set up the direction for the organization, including the creation and approval of Students United’s annual legislative agenda. Previous policy wins from Students United include the North Star Promise, which made public universities free for families making less than $80,000 a year; naloxone, the overdose reversal drug, in all residence halls; parent priority registration and protections for parenting students; and the Student Borrower Bill of Rights, offering strong protections for student borrowers in Minnesota against predatory loan servicers.
PRESS CONTACT:
Grant Berg
218-491-4190
