Community Impact
SCSU: A Community Cornerstone
Since 1869, we have been a cornerstone of our community, believing that knowledge works best when it serves the community. Engaging and connecting campus and community has long-lasting and measurable effects on everyone involved. We collaborate with local nonprofits, government agencies, and industry partners to make a meaningful impact in various focus areas.
SCSU is an anchor institution of Central Minnesota serving as a hub of education, research, and development, with its talent and employment.
More than 30% of recent SCSU graduates choose to stay and work within a 50-mile radius of St. Cloud, showcasing the University's role in educating and preparing the future workforce. Our alumni become business managers, educators, healthcare practitioners, technology experts, and more, contributing significantly to the local community.
economic impact
state and local revenue
supported and sustained jobs
alumni impact
SCSU's Economic Impact
SCSU is more than a hub for open minds; it is a cornerstone of the Central Minnesota economy and beyond. Our contributions support and sustain thousands of jobs annually, generating millions in local and state tax revenue. With a diverse and robust academic portfolio, SCSU attracts students from across the globe and various socio-economic backgrounds, infusing vitality into the Greater St. Cloud community.
Read More About the Minnesota State ImpactOur Community Contributions
SCSU Community Garden
The SCSU Community Garden has been rooted in the St. Cloud Community since 2005 and has become a special place for people to connect, learn, and develop a sense of belonging.
The Garden grows food and community through:
- Fresh produce for local restaurants
- Learning opportunities for SCSU students and the greater community
- Specialty produce for international students and multicultural events
- Meaningful relationships with local organizations, including local schools and charities
Let Knowledge Serve
The faculty, staff, and students at St. Cloud State University are a wealth of knowledge, ideas, and innovation waiting for an opportunity to serve. Our faculty use research opportunities to better our community, faculty and staff serve on local boards, and students work with local businesses to solve find solutions to real-time problems.
We are forever tied to St. Cloud and Central Minnesota and remain steadfast in our commitment to our community.
Research at Work for You
- Dr. Michele Barron-Albers examines special education teacher retention rates in Minnesota and the connection to effective mentorship provision.
- Dr. Randy Huard evaluates the relationship among pregnancy risk, prenatal care, and birth outcomes with neighborhood characteristics such as access to nutritious food, green spaces, free mobility, health care, and safety in Central Minnesota.
- Dr. Rachel Humphrey partners with Apollo High School for the "Plant the Moon Challenge," which involves students conducting experiments using lunar regolith-like substances.
- Dr. Jennifer Lamb works with SCSU students to study the conservation, ecology, and behavior of amphibians and reptiles in Minnesota.
- Reuben Wagenius is part of the team that researches the interactive distance learning technologies for Central Minnesota Distance Learning Network.
Service to the Community
SCSU faculty and staff generously share their knowledge and experience with non-profit and government boards:
- 180 Degrees Inc St. Cloud Youth Shelter
- Central Minnesota Sustainability Project
- City of St. Cloud Planning and Zoning Commission
- GREAT Theatre
- Grey Face Rescue and Retirement
- Initiative Foundation
- Kimball Area Schools Board
- Minnesota Council of Social Studies
- Paramount Center for the Arts
- Phases Family Support
- Sauk Rapids Planning Commission
- St. Cloud Chamber Music Society
- St. Cloud Public Library
- St. Cloud Regional Airport
- Stearns County Housing and Redevelopment Authority
- United Way
- Waite Park City Council
- Youth Chorale Central Minnesota
SCSU is an anchor institution of Central Minnesota serving as a hub of education, research, and development, with its talent and employment.