Winona State trustees approve updated vision, outline Winona State 2035 strategic plan
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Winona State University presented a community‑driven 10‑year plan — Winona State 2035 — and the board committee approved a revised vision statement emphasizing student‑centered academics, equity and community engagement.
Winona State University trustees’ committee on academic and student affairs voted to approve a revised university vision statement after campus leaders and student representatives presented Winona State 2035, a 10‑year strategic plan focused on student engagement, retention and financial resilience.
The approved vision reads: “Winona State University strives to be Minnesota’s preeminent student‑centered academic community. As a community of learners, we support student growth and development by promoting purposeful student engagement, intellectual inquiry, creative innovation, and responsible stewardship of knowledge. The university aspires to be a leader in academic excellence, equity, and community engagement.”
Why it matters: Campus leaders said the mission — “a community of learners improving our world” — remains unchanged, but the vision had not been updated in 14 years. The new vision and Winona State 2035 are intended to guide priorities such as student belonging (the “Warrior Way”), academic and co‑curricular excellence (the “Warrior Edge”) and institutional sustainability (the “Warrior Shield”). Trustees moved the change forward for full board approval.
What presenters said - Kent Chance, president of Winona State University, told trustees the planning process included more than 50 listening sessions over the past year and emphasized student engagement and campus belonging as central themes. - Sofia Crowe, student body president, described the “Warrior Way,” citing student participation in dean’s advisory boards and recent listening sessions that led to targeted changes in advising. - Professor Zhandrea Bates (legal studies/history) outlined “Campus Compass,” an advising redesign aimed at culturally responsive coaching, mentoring and data‑informed interventions to close equity gaps. Bates noted retention and graduation disparities — for example, a lower six‑year graduation rate among male non‑athletes and among some student‑of‑color groups — and framed Campus Compass as institutionalizing successful, person‑centered advising practices. - Provost Brenda Marcela Kowalewski described the “Warrior Edge,” an academic plan emphasizing enduring literacies (critical thinking, communication, digital fluency), expanded experiential learning and reimagined program delivery (including three‑year bachelor degrees and an innovation hub in Rochester). - Vice President John Olson summarized the “Warrior Shield,” covering facility upgrades, sustainability projects (LEHI energy initiative), enrollment diversification and advancement goals.
Board action and next steps The committee voted by roll call to recommend the vision amendment for board approval; the item was placed on the consent agenda for the full board. Trustees asked campus leaders to align the plan with Minnesota State’s systemwide Equity 2030 goals and to return progress indicators and data that will allow the board to monitor retention, graduation and equity outcomes.
Ending Winona State executives said they will continue implementation of Winona State 2035 with increased emphasis on advising redesign, data infrastructure, and targeted programs for equity gaps; trustees signaled support and requested updates tied to measurable retention and graduation targets.