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December 15, 1999 - MnSCU Board Approves Akita Transition Plan
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees has approved
a transition plan for its campus in Akita, Japan, that will keep the institution
open until March 2003.
The plan, approved unanimously by the board during its meeting on Wednesday,
will give Japanese and American students educational options, avoid an
abrupt campus closure and may help pave the way for a dynamic new partnership
between MnSCU and the Akita Prefecture.
"I am very pleased that we were able to reach this agreement,"
said Morris J. Anderson, chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
"It addresses student concerns as well as the board's concern about
the high-cost of maintaining a campus in Japan."
In November, the chancellor sent a delegation to Akita to discuss the
future of the Akita campus. The group listened to the concerns of students,
faculty, parents and administrators, and then were able to work out an
agreement with Japanese officials. The parties agreed to a contract that
decreases MnSCU's financial contributions to the campus and contains costs.
Until 2003, Japanese students will be given the opportunity to transfer
to other MnSCU institutions or will be provided information about other
educational opportunities.
"I am very pleased with the staff work that lead to this agreement,"
said Michael Vekich, chair of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Board of Trustees. "International education is a top priority of
the board and the system. We are committed to providing opportunities
for students to study abroad."
The Akita program, which grew out of 1986 trade summit meetings, opened
in May 1990. Currently, 48 American students and 265 Japanese students
are enrolled.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is made up of 36
state universities, community and technical colleges. The system serves
approximately 230,000 students a year with a fall 1998 enrollment of about
147,000.
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