Recent Program Features

Leadership changes are happening at Minnesota State Mankato. Our long-time serving Vice President for Finance and Administration, Rick Straka, is retiring in February 2024. Rick has been a tremendous champion of the student experience and Student Affairs. From new construction to creating new student scholarships, Rick has built a foundation that will serve the university for decades. Dr. Lynn Akey, who started her career at Minnesota State Mankato in Student Affairs and was serving as our Vice President for Student Success, Analytics, and Integrated Planning is becoming the new Chancellor at University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Lynn was also a great champion of the student experience and wonderful partner for Student Affairs. Our Director of Residential Life, Cindy Janney, is retiring in January 2024 after a tremendous career in Student Affairs. Under her leadership two new residence halls, an off-campus apartment complex, a new dining hall, and millions in renovations have kept our campus beautiful and serving the needs of our students. Searches are underway to fill these positions, so watch for announcements of the new leaders this spring.

With all of these leadership changes, some reporting lines are changing as well. President Inch is focused on the university achieving our new strategic plan (https://president.mnsu.edu/vision-mission-and-values/strategic-directions/) and has made structural changes to ensure our success. Beginning in December 2023, the Office of Registration and Academic Records now reports to me as the Vice President. In February 2024, the Office of Financial Aid will also report to the Division of Student Affairs. Later this summer, the Office of University Scheduling and Conference Services will report to the Division as we attempt to grow our summer camps and conferences activity. To assist with supervising these changes, we are creating a new Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management. This new leadership role will report to me and supervise University Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Office of New Student & Family Programs. A search will be conducted to fill this position in spring 2024. Finally, the great work of the Career Development Center will be reassigned in 2024 to the new Vice President for Student Success and Engagement. This provides a heightened presence of their work and how we can connect students and employers through a central effort at the university. The Career Development Center will be missed, but we look forward to seeing them achieve new heights.

As these changes are occurring, there is one other change we are making as a division. Since I arrived at Minnesota State Mankato, I have been the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management while the division has been titled Student Affairs. Beginning immediately, we will be the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management. This better reflects the scope and focus of our work.

Thank you for all of your support in 2023. Whether through your direct giving of scholarships and emergency grant support to your willingness to share your ideas and passions to help our students, we appreciate all you do for Minnesota State Mankato. At this time of celebration and reflection, I invite you to include a visit to our campus in 2024. I would like to hear more about your ideas to support the university, as well as share the latest news and changes. Until then, I wish you and yours the best this holiday season.

Yours in Maverick Spirit,

David P. Jones, Ph.D.

Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

Big ideas and real-world thinking on campus and in the community.

EDUCATION: 

Psychology & Applied Health Science minor
Class of 2026

ABOUT ME:

I am from Roseville, Minnesota which is about 10 minutes northeast of St. Paul. I grew up playing all types of sports from lacrosse, to dance, to basketball, and many more. I also have an ESA (emotional support animal) named Stevie, a tuxedo cat who is 4! 

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO:

I love the history and the beauty of this campus and how kind people are here. I also love that Mankato offers diverse courses, so there is truly something for everyone here!

FUN FACTS:

My favorite class I have taken so far would be Pyschopharmacology with Adam Steiner because he explains the way drugs transmit throughout neuropaths with candy! My favorite spot on campus is the Centennial Student Union, because just outside the giant windows there is a beautiful fountain. There's also a Starbucks for me to study in between classes!

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Annual Giving Engagement Center, Honors Program, and Letters of Love RSO. 

MAKE AN IMPACT TODAY

Your investment will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the empowerment of students, and the betterment of the University.

EDUCATION:

Dental Hygiene
Class of 2026

ABOUT ME:

I come from a very small island named Aruba. My favorite hobbies are going to the gym, hanging out with family and friends, and studying. An interesting thing about my native language, Papiamento, is that you cannot find it on Google Translate, which is cool. 

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO:

I am passionate about Minnesota State Mankato because of its diversity. Since I am an international student, I do not have any family members in America. Choosing a college that would help me feel welcome was very important, and this University made that possible.

fUN FACTS:

A fun fact about me is that I can speak four languages: Papiamento, Dutch, English, and Spanish. My favorite thing about my job is that I can connect with Alumni and share our experience being students together!

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Annual Giving Engagement Center, and Dental Hygiene Program.

MAKE AN IMPACT TODAY

Your investment will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the empowerment of students, and the betterment of the University.

Hosting Films on Campus

1. You must pay for Public Performances rights for any movie, film, TV show that is not shown in a class time in the scheduled room.
2. Costs for rights range from $250 to $1000 per film
3. Documentary costs range from free to $500
4. If you would like to host a movie on campus, please complete the following:
   1. Reserve your space through university scheduling
   2. Review the license website:
      • Major motion pictures and TV
      • Documentaries
      • International Films
   3. Contact William Tourville to secure film licensing

FAQ

Hand out #1

1. Can we show a movie in a classroom for free?
   • No, films can only be shown during scheduled classrooms during the class period.
2. How much planning time do we need to show a film?
   • Minimum of two weeks to secure rights
3. I own the movie. Do I still need a license to show it outside my home?
   • Yes! The rental, purchase, lending or download of a movie does not provide the right to exhibit it publicly outside the home, unless the screening is properly licensed. This includes streaming
4. Do we need a license even if we don’t charge admission?
   • Yes! A license is required for all public performances regardless of whether admission is charged
5. If I purchased a license to show a movie, can I show that movie whenever I want?
   • No. Licenses are for a specific, designated time frame mutually agreed upon by the licensee and Swank Motion Pictures.

Public Performances

Public Performances: The following guidelines apply to public performances of copyrighted works at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:

• The public performance of videos, motion pictures, or other similar audiovisual works without permission from the copyright holder is prohibited.
• The public performance of non-dramatic works and musical works without the permission from the copyright holder is prohibited, except in the following circumstances:
  1. The performance is not a broadcast or otherwise transmitted to the public (for example, via an internet, radio, or television broadcast)
  2. The performance is without any purpose of direct or indirect commercial advantage (i.e., is not a profit-making venture);
  3. The performance is without any payment of a fee or compensation to performers, promoters, or organizers of the performance; and
  4. There is no direct or indirect admission charge, or if there is one, the proceeds after deducting the reasonable costs of producing the performance are used exclusively for educational, religious, or charitable purposes and not for private financial gain. Even if the above circumstances are satisfied, if the copyright owner objects to the performance in writing at least seven days before the performance, the performance may not be held.
• Per the Office of the Chancellor, "public performance" is defined as follows:
  1. to perform or display the work at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered; or
  2. to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance or display of the work to a place specified by clause a) above or to the public, by means of any device or process, whether he members of the public capable of receiving the performance or display receive it in the same place or in separate places and at the same time or different times.