Earl Potter III, President of St. Cloud State University, provided an interesting program.  The University has had to trim 20% from its $140,000,000 budget the last four years, half of that amount for next year alone. 

Forty-five percent of the new Fifth Avenue Coborn apartments are filled; ahead of projection.  100% occupancy within three years, says Earl.  The on-campus dormitories will undergo a $100,000,000/ 10-year major renovation starting soon.  National Hockey Center will become a greater part of the community as it evolves toward a convention space. 

Alcohol problems:  SCSU was 18% above the national norm, now it is at the national norm.  Economic impact of the University on Central MN is $197,000,000 but that doesn’t factor in the social and cultural impact which might be more important. 

The current organizational and governance structure – and funding – are not sustainable; the next 20 years will redefine all of that.  Colleges in the middle like SCSU (not Harvard, not Community – representing the two ends of the continuum) will have an enormous restructuring challenge. 

The University must be what it teaches –preparing people for work and for life.