Academic Affairs. Collection, 1916-Ongoing

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSU Archives Collection 014

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Due to the wide scope and extensive nature of materials being covered within this collection, the Academic Affairs collection has been divided into six series. Items in each series have been arranged alphabetically. These five series, some of which are very large, provide the best possible means for organizing a massive collection with numerous original filing systems. Original order has been preserved when possible to provide a collection that is usable and understandable for researchers. The series are as follows:

Restricted, 1963-Ongoing: Items in this series include promotion and tenure documents. Bush and faulty improvement grants, grievances, and sabbatical leave materials. Special usage requirements exist for this series and access is granted at the discretion of the archivist.

Curriculum Materials, 1964-Ongoing: This series' materials are primarily limited to semester conversion materials and meet and confer minutes discussing undergraduate and graduate curriculum. A small set of records exist from the Curriculum Advisory Committee and the Program Advisory Committee. These two groups of materials examine curriculum beyond just that of MSU, but contain within them MSU curriculum material.

Correspondence, 1955-Ongoing: The correspondence contained within this series covers many years and includes incoming and outgoing mail from the Vice President of Academic Affairs as well as from incoming correspondence from various university departments. Much of this correspondence is cataloged in "Chron Books" for trouble-free reference and access. Also included in correspondence are minutes from the Dean's Council, IFO Meet and Confer, and the Vice President's meetings. 2019-04-03

Subject Files, 1945-Ongoing: This series is conglomeration of materials sorted by the Academic Affairs office as well as miscellaneous files that do not fit under the rubric of any of the other series. Topics rangefrom the 504 Committee Correspondences to the introduction of Xerox machines at the University. Though separate series exist for correspondence, reports, studies, surveys, program reviews, and curriculum materials, they are present throughout this series. In an effort to maintain the original order of the collection, this series, which had been sorted alphabetically by the Academic Affairs office, has been left largely intact and unaltered.

Reports, Studies, Surveys, Programs Reviews, 1916-Ongoing: External and internal review and analysis of the University is an ongoing process necessary to maintain standards of academic excellence. This extensive series chronicles the lengthy process of accreditation for departments throughout the university and the continual efforts of self-evaluation through program reviews to ensure progressive development. Also included are various surveys and reports concerned with strategic planning, field studies, and many other issues.

Higher Learning Commission Visit Reference Materials, 2006: This series is composed of materials printed for the HLC visit in 2006. Individual items within this series may date back ten years or more, but folders have been left undated as all included materials were printed and used in 2006. Relevant data on departments and offices is present in this series.

Dates

1916-Ongoing

Conditions Governing Use

There are some restrictions on use of this collection for research purposes. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property and libel laws as they apply.

Biographical / Historical

The Office of Academic Affairs is one administrative unit among many at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Their mission is to provide an environment that supports structured scholarly development for undergraduate and graduate students as well as professional development for the faculty that wUl in turn benefit the community, state, nation, and the entire world. Academic Affairs has upheld this mission by assisting or overseeing certain aspects of the administration of the University including, but not limited to, undergraduate and graduate curriculum, sabbatical leaves, quarter to semester conversion, budgets, program reviews, accreditation, campus consohdation, and self studies.

Many vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, and deans have served in academic administration throughout the years. These include Winston Benson, Meredith Freeman, Milton Hassel, Kent Ahn, Brendan McDonald, Carl Lofy, Edward McMahon, Andrew Een, Mary Dooley, Margaret Preska, Claire Faust, Phillip Kendall, Richard Crofts, Althia deGraft-Johnson, John Winkworth, Karen Boubel, Scott Olson, and Marilyn WeUs.

Additional information available at the Academic Affairs website, http://www.mnsu.edu/acadaf

Information was obtained from this collection, the Minnesota State University, Mankato website at bttD://www.mnsu.edu/. and the book Mankato State University: The Second Century, the First Twenty Five Years, 1968-1992 by Claire E. Faust.

Extent

109.00 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This majority of this collection is composed of the administrative documents of the office of Academic Affairs, dating back to its establishment in 1968. In addition, a number of documents dating from 1916 to 1968 are also contained within this collection and chronicle the administration of academics at the college before an official Office of Academic Affairs was created. Six series have been created to divide and organize this extensive collection and include restricted materials, curriculum materials, correspondence, subject files, and the final series, reports, studies, surveys, and program reviews.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Academic Affairs. Collection, 1916-Ongoing
Status: Completed
Author: Michael J. Gieseke, Anne Stenzel, and Daardi Sizemore processed this collection and developed the finding aid.
Date: 2005-08
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin
Language of description note: English

Revision Statements

2010-09: Additions added by Heather Harren
2013-09: Additions were processed by Joseph Nowariak
2015-05: Additions to the collection were done by Mee Xiong September 2015. David Nichols and Josh Smith made additions to the collection
2017-09: Mee Xiong made additions to the collection