Winona State University is a comprehensive university that offers academically-inspired students the opportunity to obtain an education in the liberal arts and contemporary professions and to explore the application of knowledge in today’s world. The University prepares students to be skilled, competent, and active citizens with a strong sense of personal responsibility and motivation to contribute to the communities in which they live and work.
Located in the beautiful Upper Mississippi River Valley, Winona State University is built on a powerful sense of place and compassion for the human condition. The University offers distinctive graduate and undergraduate programs that reflect the special character of the communities it serves and that contribute to the quality of life in Minnesota and the region through thoughtful research, service, and unique collaborations with the community. Winona State University prepares the leaders of the 21st century to apply their knowledge to solve complex and ever-changing problems effectively. Winona State University is a community of learners improving our world.
Historical View: 150+ Years of Academic Excellence
Winona State University was founded in 1858 when the first Minnesota State Legislature established normal schools “to prepare teachers for the common schools of the state.” The first tax-supported school west of the Mississippi River was established at Winona to train teachers for the new frontier.
The State Normal School became Winona Teachers College in 1921 and was authorized to grant the bachelor’s degree. From the 1920s until World War II, significant curriculum changes enhanced the academic quality of teacher education. New courses were added, and departments emerged to organize a growing institution. Intramural and extramural athletics, social organizations, and co-curricular activities grew with the student population.
The boom following World War II saw rapid growth. In 1957, the institution became Winona State College; this new name reflected an expanded mission, which included the addition of Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science in Education, and Associate in Arts degrees. In 1975, the school became Winona State University.
Today, the University is structured into five colleges spread across two campuses in Winona and Rochester and is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The original campus in Winona primarily serves traditional students; whereas, the Rochester campus offers a non-residential commuter campus with upper-division undergraduate and graduate programs that serve a diverse population of traditional and non-traditional students.
Distinctives
- Nationally Ranked: Winona State University is ranked as the second public institution in Minnesota by U.S. News & World Report, has been listed among the “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review for 11 years in a row, and has been recognized as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for 19 consecutive years.
- e-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program: Winona State is the first public university in the Midwest to offer a tablet and a laptop to all students. Students are provided an iPad mini or Android-based tablet along with a Mac or PC laptop, and enjoy wireless access from anywhere on campus and at East Lake Winona.
- Health and Wellness: The university’s Integrated Wellness Complex aligns health, wellness, academic and recreational programs and services into a single state-of-the-art facility on the university’s tobacco-free campus.
- Student Involvement: WSU offers students the opportunity to get involved in student government and nearly 300 social, service, and professional clubs and organizations that reflect a broad spectrum of student interests. The University also sponsors professional cultural programs as well as student theatrical, musical, and dance performances.
- Darrell W. Krueger Library was designed to provide a wealth of information resources and services to the WSU community and beyond. The library has over 479,855 print and e-volumes, access to more than 100 databases and is a U.S. Federal Depository with more than 20,000 government resources in paper and 100,000 in microfilm formats.
- WSU Goes Green: Winona State University is a signatory of the American Colleges and University Presidents Climate Commitment and has been named one of the country’s most environmentally responsible colleges for the past five years by The Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council.
- In summer 2014 WSU will set sail on the Mississippi River aboard The Cal Fremling. This floating interpretive center and classroom will serve as a resource for the region, hosting both educational and social events centered on teaching and learning about the Mississippi River.
- Transforming Education: As one of 14 institutions partnering with the Bush Foundation, Winona State University’s Teach 21 is set to receive up to $4 million over the next decade to increase educational achievement in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
- Distinguished Programs: In 2011, the WSU College of Business earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. This specialized accreditation provides a “stamp of approval” recognizing the values of a Winona State University education.
- The University is home to the Child Advocacy Studies program, one of the most progressive model undergraduate curricula in the country. The multidisciplinary program is designed to train undergraduates-future teachers, law enforcement officers and health care professionals-in the identification and prevention of child abuse.
- Path to Purple: The university works with Rochester Community and Technical College to offer programs in which students are able to begin their undergraduate education at the college and transfer to the university’s Rochester or Winona campus.
- Top-Notch Varsity Sports: WSU is home to 15 men’s and women’s NCAA-II varsity sports: women’s basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball; men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, football, and golf.
WSU Campuses
Two campuses make up Winona State University: the original campus in Winona and Winona State University-Rochester.
Winona Campus
The original campus provides a serene yet stimulating collegiate environment in the heart of the city of Winona. Tree-lined walkways, fountains, prominent sculptures, and benches invite students and visitors to a learning community in tune with the natural beauty of southeast Minnesota.
The Winona campus provides students ample facilities for educational activities that combine traditional charm with convenience and state-of-the-art technology. All academic buildings are extensively wired for computer access, and wireless Internet access is available throughout the campus. As a feature of the e-Warrior Digital Life and Learning Program, many classrooms offer data and power connections for each student.
Winona’s west residential campus is about one mile from the original campus and is located in Lourdes Hall, Maria Hall, and the Tau Center. It offers a unique living and learning experience with a strong sense of community. Students can take classes, meet with professors, and enjoy cultural experiences on the west campus while still actively participating in university life on the main campus. Lourdes Hall includes residential, dining, and recreational space. The Tau Center offers 120 completely wired single rooms and conference space with picturesque views of the bluffs and a peaceful setting by Gilmore Creek.
In recent years, WSU has upgraded facilities and added new buildings specifically designed to support its academic initiatives. Recent enhancements include:
- Integrated Wellness Complex: The 90,000-square-foot Integrated Wellness Complex combines health and physical education, fitness, recreational sports, intercollegiate athletics, student health services, counseling services, and teaching and research space to educate a new generation of health care professionals.
- Phelps Hall: The oldest building on campus underwent a major transformation to provide upgraded facilities for the Mass Communication department, including a photo studio, TV studio, multimedia editing lab, and new quarters for the campus radio station (KQAL).
- Maxwell Hall: The renovated Maxwell Hall features an integrated academic services center, called the Warrior Hub, to assist students in accessing all the information they need in one convenient location. The building is also home to the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center and its state-of-the-art training facility, which includes a mock house and mock courtrooms.
- Kryzsko Commons: The campus Student Center houses dining facilities, lounge and recreation areas, offices for student organizations, student study space, and meeting rooms. In 2014, Kryzsko underwent a major construction project to add 7,300 square feet and renovate 23,000 square feet. The newly remodeled building features new study and meeting space for students and increased functionality for existing spaces.
- Science Laboratory Center (SLC): This contemporary facility was designed to create much-needed, modern academic space. The SLC has 118,000 square feet of space devoted to laboratories, a multimedia-equipped auditorium, student study spaces, and a vast atrium where even the floor and massive rock wall promote learning opportunities.
- Kirkland Hall/Haake Hall: This 408-bed residential complex, completed in 2010, features suite-style living open to upperclassmen. More than 2,500 students choose to live on campus, and on-campus residents enjoy resources and experiences that complement their academic work. The university features six residence halls on the main campus, with three additional residence halls and the University Apartments at East Lake connected by shuttle service.
Winona State University-Rochester Campus
Since 1917, Winona State University has served students in Rochester, MN, and the surrounding area. In 1993, Winona State University and Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) collaborated to create the University Center Rochester (UCR). The Greater Rochester area served by UCR has a population of more than 108,000 people; area residents have a high level of education attainment, and they are highly receptive to the lifelong learning opportunities offered by WSU-Rochester and the other institutions.
Its location in the growing city of Rochester provides WSU-Rochester with unique opportunities to offer specialized classes and programs aimed at key industries in the area, including business, computer science, education, health care, human services, and social work. WSU-Rochester’s strong “commitment to community” is evident as students, faculty, and staff from a variety of programs engage in experiential community-based learning in area organizations, businesses, and schools.
WSU-Rochester has served the region with distinction and the numbers tell the story. Approximately 275 students per year graduate from WSU-Rochester. More than 1,700 students are served each year through day, evening, weekend and online/hybrid classes, and more than 5,000 WSU alumni currently live and work in a variety of professional careers in the Rochester area. Approximately 40 resident faculty are located on the Rochester campus; in addition, 20 Winona campus faculty also teach at WSU-Rochester and a number of adjunct faculty professionals from area industries also serve Rochester students.
Housed with RCTC in a single, integrated building complex on the UCR campus, WSU-Rochester features modern facilities, technology-enhanced classrooms, and state-of-the-art Health Sciences building with clinical nursing labs and high fidelity simulation. Interactive communication and instructional technology links WSU-Rochester students with the Winona campuses and the world.
WSU students have access to the UCR Goddard Library, which houses 57,000 volumes, a large student computer lab, and a laptop rental center. Goddard Library has a large quiet study areas, a reading lounge, and seven group study rooms that may be reserved. WSU-Rochester students also have access to the Darrel W. Krueger Library on the main Winona campus. The UCR College Center includes a cafeteria and snack bar and lounge areas. UCR includes a fitness and recreation center with indoor courts and a running track.
The Communities
Winona
The city of Winona (population 27,000) is nestled among the bluffs of the beautiful Hiawatha Valley on the banks of the Mississippi River-one of the most scenic areas in Minnesota. Once one of the Midwest’s wealthiest cities because of its location on the river, Winona enjoys a rich legacy of historic buildings and vintage homes. Winona State University is located in the heart of the city, giving students convenient access to shopping, recreation, social activities, and community resources. Additional cultural opportunities are available in La Crosse, Wisconsin (30 miles away), Rochester (45 miles away), and Minneapolis-St. Paul (120 miles away).
In addition to WSU, the city of Winona is home to two other institutions of higher education: Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical. WSU cooperates with these institutions, as well as institutions throughout the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota, to enrich the educational and cultural opportunities for students at all institutions by sharing their programs and resources.
Rochester
WSU-Rochester is located on the UCR campus at the southeastern corner of the city of Rochester, a rapidly growing community with an increasingly diverse population of 108,000 residents. Consistently recognized as one of “the best places to live in America,” Rochester is the third largest city in the state and home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, the largest IBM Corporation facility under one roof, and the second largest airport in Minnesota. The city offers extensive cultural, dining, shopping, and sports resources, including the Mayo Civic Center, Rochester Athletic Club, Rochester Art Center, Rochester Civic Theater, Cascade Meadow Wetlands and Environmental Science Center, National Volleyball Center, and Quarry Hill Nature Center. The city also has more than 3,500 acres of park land with 85 miles of paved trails, 3 public golf courses, and 6 indoor hockey rinks.
Academic Mission and Goals
Winona State University is an exemplary arts and sciences institution with select professional and graduate programs. With an enrollment of more than 8,700 undergraduate and graduate students, WSU is a mid-sized public university committed to small class sizes and rigorous academic standards.
Faculty and administrators are involved with students, facilitate cooperative and active learning, and demonstrate respect for diverse talents and ways of knowing. Faculty members are dedicated to creating an optimal learning environment for students by using contemporary technology and by building learning communities, which help students maximize their post-graduation successes. Students acquire disciplinary expertise, enabling them to pursue careers or to enter graduate or professional schools. They learn the value of aesthetics and ethical integrity as well as the importance of becoming community leaders and furthering the public good.
Winona State University recognizes that many learning experiences occur outside the classroom. Therefore, the University is committed to building and maintaining a caring community. Community members strive for amicable relationships based on shared values and an affirmation of the principle of freedom of speech within an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect. Governed by collective bargaining agreements and guided by principled leadership, the University community respects diversity and collaborates to resolve issues that affect all its members. We celebrate our common successes and our distinctive heritage.
The University is committed to measuring results against self-defined and national standards. Through this ongoing assessment in which students, faculty, and staff participate, WSU will continuously improve and establish accountability for results. Thus, Winona State University reaffirms its social contract to provide educational benefits to the people of Minnesota, the nation, and the world.
Academic Programs
Five distinct colleges comprise the University: College of Business, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the College of Science and Engineering. Through these colleges, Winona State University offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 10 pre-professional programs, 23 Master’s (MS) degree programs, an Educational Specialist (EdS) degree, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, and several undergraduate and graduate licensure programs.
All programs are offered by highly qualified faculty in an environment that encourages a passion for learning and student service. Approximately 400 faculty members dedicate themselves to delivering challenging rigorous academic programs while maintaining “small school closeness.” Classes average 25 to 30 students; the student-faculty ratio is 21:1.
Accreditations and Memberships
Winona State University is accredited by the following organizations:
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB)
- Commission for Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC): North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
- National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
- National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST)
Winona State University is recognized by the following organizations:
- Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
- Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
- National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
Winona State University programs are approved by:
- American Bar Association (Paralegal Program)
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Minnesota Board of Nursing (Entry Level Undergraduate Nursing)
- Minnesota Board of School Administrators
- Minnesota Board of Teaching
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