Centers for Excellence

Minot State University’s Centers for Excellence stem from a 1999 Roundtable on Higher Education directive to establish engines for economic development on North Dakota university campuses.  The Board of Higher Education asked campuses to select areas of distinction and make them appealing to state and federal funding agencies.  The criteria for centers include:

  • Being distinct from academic programs.
  • Being self-supporting.
  • Meeting campus criteria to earn “excellence” label.
  • Aligning with the university’s mission.
  • Identifying a niche clientele.

While Minot State University was founded upon its teaching mission and has proudly continued this heritage for the last 100 years, MSU also has a responsibility for research and service.  Centers of Excellence expand the capacity of the university for research and service.  In the context of higher education, centers are “a place at which an activity or complex of activities is carried on; a place from which ideas, influences emanate; and a place to which many people are attracted” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1991).

Minot State University currently has two existing Centers of Excellence.