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October 21, 1999 - MnSCU board approves partnership in Japan
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees today
directed Chancellor Morris J. Anderson to continue negotiations with Japanese
officials to try to find a way to keep operating a university program
in Akita, Japan.
But at the same time, the board authorized Chancellor Anderson to take
steps to phase out the Minnesota State University - Akita program by March
31, 2001, if the negotiations officials are not successful.
"I want to be very clear about my position," Anderson said.
"I want the MnSCU system to have a significant and strong presence
in the Pacific Rim area." He said he is hopeful that an agreement
can be worked out to offer expanded opportunities for American students
to study in Japan, but he acknowledged that there are no guarantees that
such an agreement can be reached.
Anderson said Walter Mondale, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, and Governor
Jesse Ventura, who will be visiting Japan next month, have agreed to help
work out an agreement to preserve and expand MnSCU's Japanese presence.
The MSU-Akita program, which grew out of 1986 trade summit meetings,
opened in May1990. At the time of its opening, officials had hoped the
program would be self-supporting and would serve 175 to 200 American students
and 750 Japanese students. Enrollment has never been above 51 American
students and 365 Japanese students. Currently, 48 American students and
225 Japanese students are enrolled there.
In the meantime, costs per student have increased. MnSCU is now spending
about $25,000 per year for each American student enrolled in the program.
The average per-student state cost for the 36 state colleges and universities
in Minnesota is about $5,000. The Akita program cost MnSCU $1.1 million
in 1999.
At the time MnSCU opened its program in Japan, a number of other American
universities also were opening branches in Japan. In 1992, there were
more than 40 American-style campuses in Japan, but that number has now
dwindled to a handful. In a public hearing Tuesday at St. Cloud State
University, where the board is holding its regular monthly meeting, former
Akita students and faculty members told board members that the Akita program
is unique. American students attend for one or more semesters and take
courses in Japan Area Studies and International studies. Japanese students
learn how to speak English.
Under the resolution adopted by the board today, Anderson is authorized
to take the following actions to prepare for possible suspension of MSU-Akita:
- Notices may be sent to faculty and staff of the possible closure of
the program
- Recruitment and acceptance of new students may cease temporarily
- Japanese officials may be notified that MnSCU intends to phase out
the program for American students after March 31, 2000, the end of the
current academic year
The board also asked Anderson to report in December on how discussions
are progressing with Japanese officials. Final board action to suspend
the Akita program would be taken in December, if the negotiations are
not successful.
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