Core Component 5D:
Internal and external constituencies
value the services the organization provides.
Clearly, St. Cloud State University is highly valued by our internal and external constituencies. One of the more visible contributions of a university to its constituents is economic impact. For every dollar spent by taxpayers, students pay ten dollars back into the local economy (October 9, 2006, University Chronicle). But the contributions of a university to its constituents includes more than the obvious economic benefits, even economic benefits such as contributing to the workforce. We are also aware that we are stewards of the region, and that a public university is often valued to the degree that it values its constituents. By seeking feedback from our constituents, the university also recognizes how simply asking increases the awareness of the value offered.
The Community Highly Values St. Cloud State University
Based on the evaluation methods described in Core Component 5A, along with those highlighted previously as a part of the self-study process, we conclude that St. Cloud State University constituencies value the services the university provides as demonstrated by new and ongoing partnerships, employment of St. Cloud State University graduates, and constituent support and interest in programs, events, and initiatives. The university’s engagement and service are apparent through the continued participation in St. Cloud State University programs by campus and non-campus groups. Additionally, the university receives frequent requests for involvement in community initiatives, training, research, cooperative planning, community internships, volunteerism, service learning, publications, and awards and recognition for efforts. Judging from these requests, St. Cloud State University has a strong record of responding to constituent research and service needs.
Many service projects focus on populations that are diverse and underserved, including groups such as recent immigrants to the area, children and adults with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged people. Many of those involved with the projects have received letters and commendations affirming the high value that recipients placed on the results of these service activities. These letters and commendations are an integral part of faculty evidence of service during promotion and tenure reviews. In addition, faculty, staff, and administrators have assessed constituent needs at both the curricular and co-curricular level.
St. Cloud State University programs and activities are a decided benefit to the St. Cloud neighborhood and community. Each year athletic events at St. Cloud State University attract tens of thousands of local and visiting fans to Division I hockey games in the National Hockey Center, to football games in the two-year-old stadium, to basketball games in the Halenbeck gymnasium, and to other sport venues. Community attendance at cultural and fine arts events such as musical performances, plays, and art exhibits is significant, for St. Cloud State University is viewed as one of the most important cultural centers of the community.
Every summer for more than 30
years, the annual Summer
Lemonade Concert and Art Fair brings hundreds of arts and craft vendors
and thousands of community 
members to campus and culminates in a free St.
Cloud Symphony outdoor concert. The Mississippi
Music Fest attracts thousands of music fans to the banks of the Mississippi
River. Atwood Memorial Center offers an art gallery, recreation, and meeting
facilities for community meetings, especially when they are in conjunction
with university programs and committees.
Events in the concert, cultural, and speaker series sponsored by the University Program Board bring thousands of people to campus to hear speakers like Jean Kilborne, Bill Cosby, Maya Angelou, Bill Nye, Margaret Cho, and Ray Bradbury. University Program Board events are open to the public, and many of the events are free of charge.
The annual Earth Day Half Marathon and related activities attracts more than 2000 participants. Numerous neighborhood children participate in RecKids events, community families attend special events such as New Year's Eve sponsored by Campus Sports and Recreation, and numerous children and young adults participate in summer sports camps offered by Campus Sports and Recreation.
Special initiatives like the Elizabeth: Ruler and Legend exhibit and activities at Learning Resources and Technology Services bring in community partners from schools, theatres, musical groups, and scholars to provide challenging learning experiences for students and community members.
Clearly, the strong participation by our constituencies demonstrate the high value placed on our programs and services. One of the barriers to community participation in St. Cloud State University activities has been the lack of availability of convenient parking for the public. An agreement with MetroBus offering free bus rides for students, staff, and faculty has improved parking considerably in the last three years. In addition, a new parking ramp is under construction to help remove this barrier to participation in campus activities.
This is only a small sample of the many St. Cloud State University events offered to the public. Many events have considerable longevity and speak to the reputation for excellence that the university has earned over years of producing high quality activities for both campus and community members.
Value of Service Activities
Numerous requests for assistance from the university community provide evidence that the services provided by St. Cloud State University are sought after and valued. For instance, 225 requests for volunteers to assist community nonprofit organizations and other local activities came to Volunteer Connection for the 2004-2005 academic year. Similarly, specific colleges and departments are often approached to provide needed services. For instance, the Small Business Development Center was started in part as a means to provide assistance to people contacting the college for help in starting small businesses. Teen Night at the Paramount was developed when the Paramount employees asked the St. Cloud State University Art Department for help with this new program. The Art Department responded with student volunteers who serve as weekly art mentors.
Many project and organization leaders have received letters and other communications expressing the positive value of projects. Some have provided letters to the editor published in the St. Cloud Times and other area newspapers. Children who were recipients of the service have often written (or drawn) letters of thanks to the St. Cloud State University group that helped them. Many project groups and leaders include satisfaction surveys administered at project events for service recipients' response.
Many of the leaders of activities selected as outstanding service projects have noted that the suggestions provided by recipients are often a catalyst for improvements to the service projects, many of which are long-term. The successful repetition of these and numerous other service activities in and of itself suggests recipient satisfaction with the service provided. Many grants received by St. Cloud State University include an element of service to the external community, and these grants are evaluated through the Office of Sponsored Programs. For example, The Mississippi River Sampling Project is supported by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. A professor and students conducted field research to sample specimens at ten mile intervals from Bemidji to the Iowa border to assess the effects of treated sewage and other remnants. Another notable example is the Clinical Laboratory Scientist Program that represents a partnership with Job Skills, St. Cloud State University, and North Hennepin Community College and is used to develop curriculum to train over a thousand lab assistants and specialists. The program is the first of its kind in the country.
Evaluation of Core Component 5D
Strengths: St. Cloud State University is celebrated in the surrounding community for its excellent programming, athletics, and cultural events. The contribution that St. Cloud State University makes to the economic vitality and quality of life in Central Minnesota is extensive. The community recognizes that the university is at the center of community life.
Initiatives in Progress: One of the barriers to community participation in St. Cloud State University activities has been the lack of availability of convenient parking for the public. When completed as part of the Facilities Master Plan, a new parking ramp will help to remove this barrier to participation in St. Cloud State University activities. More consistent signage would also help campus visitors locate their destinations.
Future Challenges. Many of the excellent service opportunities and programs offered by St. Cloud State University faculty, staff, and students are not always well known. Advertising and public relations efforts could be extended to highlight the many positive aspects of St. Cloud State University and its contribution to the community. Moreover, information about service and engagement activities is sometimes difficult to obtain. A campus-wide information management system that would make it easy for colleges, departments, units, student organizations, and individual faculty to record service contributions would be beneficial in giving St. Cloud State University's service programs more visibility and thus greater utilization by varied constituencies and communities.
As part of this overall improvement in communications, one point of emphasis for communication of our extensive programs would be an investment in additional web development. Many people, including our external constituencies, depend on the World Wide Web to obtain accurate and reliable information. For instance, the St. Cloud State University Events Calendar has recently been improved to make updating of calendar events a simpler process. However, web technical support for the myriad departments and units at St. Cloud State University is often not sufficient to allow all areas of the university to keep web-based information updated or to create and maintain web pages that keep pace with innovations in web design and thus appeal to our current and potential constituencies.
