Related links
St. Cloud State University earned two awards for program innovation from the Minnesota State system office.
The First-Year Experience (FYE) program at St. Cloud State is taking home the honor of the Innovation in Global Education Award for enhancing the perspectives and global competencies of first-year students.
The program is a year-long immersion program designed to encourage students to participate in education abroad programs early and often. Students are required to take a course in the fall semester of their first year that provides them with a history of the country they are going to, travel tips, safety and security, cultural shock and cultural awareness.
Since its formation in 2006, the FYE program has sent more than 75 first-year students abroad. Originally, students only had the option of pursuing a first-year experience in South Africa. Today the program has expanded to also include Australia, England and Malaysia.
The Case Management Program at St. Cloud State earned the Innovative Student Affairs Program Award for building a community of caring by expanding the capacity to respond to students with complex needs.
Created in 2009, the program assists students with a wide range of issues including academic stress, mental health and behavioral concerns. The director of Case Management assesses the student’s strengths and needs, and helps identify appropriate services both on campus and in the community.
“The program leads prevention, intervention and support efforts across campus to assist students facing crisis, life traumas and other barriers that impede their academic, personal and professional success,” said Taunja Meers, director of the Case Management Program.
The average new referrals are about 200 per year or average of 20 per month, not including ongoing contacts. It is likely that the numbers of students with complex needs will increase, and St. Cloud State will continue to be dedicated to addressing those needs through case management, she said.
“I have heard remarks across campus that this is such a difficult job handled with so much patience, commitment and grace,” said Nancy Mills, assistant provost for Student Success. “It is difficult to imagine the work of Academic Affairs without the support our students receive from Case Management.”
The two programs were recognized at the 2016 Fall Academic and Student Affairs Leadership Conference Oct. 20 in Breezy Point.
