About the Collaborator
Minnesota State has 26 colleges, 7 universities, 54 campuses, serving 300K+ students with affordable, inclusive, and career-focused education.
Solutions
Design Imperative(s)
Engagement Level(s)
Institution(s)
Contributors
Lisa Foss
Senior Director, U.S. Practice
Jessica Wu
Project Manager, Design Accelerator
Ashish Vaidya
President and CEO, Growing Inland Achievement
Former President, Northern Kentucky University
How can a higher education system serving over half of its state’s undergraduate population become more accessible to underserved communities?
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (Minnesota State) is tackling this challenge head-on through Equity 2030, a strategic vision aimed at closing educational equity gaps across its 33 institutions while strengthening the state’s workforce.
To accelerate progress, Minnesota State partnered with the University Design Institute (UDI) through its Design Accelerator program, funded by a grant from the Kern Family Foundation. Launched in June 2024, the collaboration brought together Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead, and Metro State University to develop targeted solutions for one of higher education’s most pressing challenges: transfer student success.
The Transfer Student Challenge
For many students, transferring from a community college or between institutions is a difficult process. Nationally, only 16% of community college students complete a bachelor’s degree within six years. Within the Minnesota State system, that number drops to 12%—and just 8% for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students.
Each of the three participating institutions focused on improving the transfer process to increase student retention, graduation rates, and workforce readiness.
Designing Innovative Solutions
The Design Accelerator guided teams through a structured process based on UDI’s IMPACT Framework and concepts from Principled Innovation. Over six months, teams engaged in hands-on design sessions, collaborated with experts, and developed pilot programs tailored to their institution’s unique needs.
The resulting pilot programs include:
- Bemidji State University & Northwest Technical College - Developing a Transfer Navigator, a multi-channel initiative to provide students with clear transfer pathways and support through partnerships with local colleges.
- Metro State University, Saint Paul College & Minneapolis College - Leveraging AI-driven equitable course equivalencies to simplify credit transfers and keep degree mapping current through the National Association of System Heads (NASH) initiative.
- Minnesota State University Moorhead - Improving transfer student onboarding and communication by implementing preliminary credit evaluations, interactive onboarding experiences, and personalized course completion roadmaps.
Scaling Impact & Long-Term Benefits
Each institution received seed funding to launch its pilot program, reducing barriers to implementation. Over the next year, the University Design Institute will continue to provide guidance, track progress, and evaluate outcomes.
Beyond the immediate impact, this initiative has trained Minnesota State’s design teams in higher education transformation. Team members will join UDI’s Community of Practice, a global network of change-makers working to reshape education.
By addressing transfer barriers, Minnesota State is taking a significant step toward creating a more accessible, equitable, and workforce-ready higher education system — that better addresses student needs and prepares the workforce for the 21st Century.