As she shared her vision for SCSU’s future at her 2018 inauguration, 24th President Robbyn Wacker talked about legacy, aspiration, purpose, courage, resilience and adaptability. Those words would take on deep significance as ongoing realities troubling higher education and a dreadful pandemic would make hers a presidency of extraordinary challenge and change.
After arriving at St. Cloud State University in 2018, she met with students, faculty, staff, alumni and high school and community leaders to listen and learn what the University was doing well and where it needed to do better to meet the region’s evolving needs.
“Those conversations also included identifying and addressing the challenges we were facing, as we all knew it was time to reimagine St. Cloud State so we could address those challenges head on,” Dr. Wacker said.
SCSU’s difficulties were clearly evident. Every year since 2010, enrollment numbers dropped due to a smaller pool of college-age individuals opting for higher education, compounded by intense competition among hundreds of universities both within the state and nationally for a diminishing number of students. Add those stories of doubts about the value of a college degree, and the picture was clear: SCSU must chart a bold new course to be in step with how our student pool and our world is evolving. Simply “tinkering around the edges” would not be sufficient in addressing the challenges facing SCSU head on.
Steven McCullar, director of SCSU’s higher education doctoral program, observed: “From the beginning this was not the most attractive presidency to assume. President Wacker came into it showing character and bravery. She saw a lot of opportunity where others didn’t.”
Under her leadership the campus turned its attention to identifying what SCSU would be in the future and how it would change to address the needs and challenges to come. Faculty, staff and students came together to proactively shape SCSU’s future to ensure that it remains a thriving and relevant institution. Their efforts created an innovative strategic framework named It’s Time.
“We were ready to build on a foundation of strength and move forward with big, positive changes,” President Wacker said.
Strategic Framework
The It’s Time strategic framework charted a bold path for St. Cloud State to be a new type of university, designed to recognize and build upon institutional innovation, forward-thinking research, teacher-scholars, strengthening distinctive academic programs — all while identifying new ways to serve students and extending the University’s reach to become the institution of choice for a wide range of students.
It’s Time combines the best parts of a public university education — access, affordability, a rich network of alumni and business relationships — with a strategic focus on a personalized student experience and a direct connect to career preparation experiences.
“As I reflect on those initial discussions surrounding It’s Time, for me, it was exciting because it provided us with a clear vision upon which we could build and reimagine our initiatives,” said Michelle Schmitz, former executive director of SCSU’s Career Center.
While acknowledging initial hesitations from some, Schmitz highlighted the positive impact of It’s Time on her strategic planning amidst financial constraints. “It provided much-needed direction during a period where we were all challenged to accomplish more with fewer resources,” she said. “It spurred a renewed commitment from the campus to explore innovative approaches, fostering stronger partnerships with academic departments and local businesses. These collaborations have greatly enhanced our ability to prioritize personalized student support services.”
The work the campus had begun on It’s Time before COVID upended life as we knew it helped administrators, faculty and staff mobilize to accelerate changes that would allow the University to continue delivering education to students from a virtual ghost-town campus in the wake of the March 13, 2020 shutdown. No one knew how long the situation would continue or when/if there would be an end to the complications and turmoil it brought.
“Through the pandemic she still continued following through with the plan for moving forward while dealing with the new challenges,” McCullar said. “I think that’s pretty remarkable. It would have been easy to lose sight of her mission.
“I don’t think any president was prepared to shut down a university then restart it — there’s not a president’s handbook for that,” added McCullar.
Focused on Student Success and a Vibrant University
As the University rapidly adjusted to COVID-19, it only accelerated and affirmed the It’s Time work, especially the importance of personalizing the student experience, meeting students where they’re at and making education more equitable. Under Dr. Wacker’s leadership and in partnership with Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management Jason Woods and his team, SCSU doubled the number of advisors and implemented the Huskies Student Success Adviser model, which infuses advising with success coaching to address the whole student.
Knowing how important it is for a university to have faculty who are outstanding teachers and scholars in their field, Dr. Wacker also made sure supporting their work was a top priority.
President Wacker came on board just as SCSU was launching its first comprehensive fundraising campaign in 20 years. This campaign surpassed its initial fundraising goal by $7M, and its success is already having a direct and long-lasting impact on the current and future students at SCSU. Additionally, in partnership with Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Engagement Nic Katona, Wacker established annual alumni gatherings in Minnesota, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Washington D.C., at our Alnwick Castle location in the UK and in Kathmandu, where Wacker and Associate Vice President for International Studies Shahzad Ahmad met with over 25 alumni, many of whom have children coming to SCSU.
“Our alumni, 131,000-plus strong in Minnesota and across the globe, are incredibly important to SCSU and it was important to start a concerted effort to connect with our alumni,” she said.
With Dr. Wacker’s leadership, St. Cloud State University is staying ahead of upcoming education needs as is evident in the most recent program offerings. SCSU offers online certificate programs in cannabis education, the first of its kind in Minnesota. More than 300 students have enrolled in the program since its launch last year.
As another example of innovation, the Herberger Business School faculty is offering an accelerated online MBA program to meet the educational needs of adult learners. The program brings high quality instruction to the flexibility of the online environment — a need for working adults who are balancing work and life responsibilities while still advancing their careers. In 18 months since this program was started, it has enrolled 400 students.
In support of the It’s Time focus on faculty scholarship, Wacker assisted faculty creation of institutes and centers that further the mission and outreach of the University. This included the Linda ’74 and Richard Offerdahl Autism Discovery Center, which provides a true training clinic and resource for parents and families; the Center for International Disability Advocacy and Diplomacy that created training modules for employees in the hospitality industry to better serve persons with disabilities and the Center for Cultivating Community & Environmental Sustainability, which will use our longstanding Community Garden as a focal point to educate and expand knowledge about sustainable agriculture.
President Wacker will be remembered for her sincere interest in and commitment to the welfare, success and engagement of every student.
“President Wacker consistently displayed a genuine eagerness to engage with, support and connect with students,” Schmitz said. “I believe students felt empowered and valued by her approach. She ensured that every student felt heard, which not only energized them but also fostered a sense of authenticity in their interactions.”
SCSU’S No. 1 Fan
Social media was a way Wacker personally connected with Husky Nation. Those on social media became familiar with her golden retrievers Zoe and Kemmer when she and spouse Jani Malkiewicz first arrived in Central Minnesota. We grieved with her when they passed and delighted in the antics and tricks of their new young ‘treivers, Mady and Kizy.
Her enthusiasm for SCSU and its students also came through in President Wacker embracing all things Huskies. She was unabashedly their number one fan.
“During President Wacker’s time at SCSU, we have seen continued support both through her leadership and her presence at our events,” said Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner. “She has a true understanding of the time and dedication it takes to compete at this level and has always been our top supporter. Her genuine desire to see us succeed has been inspiring.”
She also worked with her leadership team to build a sense of community and she started Winterfest in 2022, an outdoor campus celebration each December. She was overheard saying, “It’s Minnesota! Let’s celebrate winter!”
President Wacker took her pride into the community, building connections that would benefit students.
St. Cloud Mayor and ’81 graduate Dave Kleis also appreciated the “town and gown” partnership President Wacker sustained through her presidency. “Robbyn and I became friends when she arrived and continued through the challenges of COVID and the ensuing issues no one could have expected,” he said.
One significant community partnership is with Granite Partners CEO Rick Bauerly, a private investment and holding company in St. Cloud that became the premier sponsor for the Power in Diversity Leadership Conference and Diversity Job for the first time this year.
“We are grateful for the impact that St. Cloud State University has in our region and across the state and appreciate President Wacker’s stewardship for the past six years, including navigating COVID, balancing challenging budgets, expanding experiential learning and supporting programs for student success,” Bauerly said.
Wacker is quick to credit many members of the institution for the strides that been made.
“The successes we have experienced has been realized because we have an outstanding group of academic leaders, faculty and staff who were committed to implementing our new, bold vision.”
In fall 2023, new enrollment numbers made it apparent It’s Time was having a positive impact. Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Jason Woods issued this welcome announcement: “After four years of careful planning and implementation efforts we have done it! We have accomplished the first year over year headcount increase since 2015. As of October 4, our overall headcount is 10,134 Huskies strong.”
Wacker is also proud of the diversity at St. Cloud State University, and she sees that diversity as a tremendous asset to our students and our community. Under her leadership, SCSU now welcomes students from nearly 100 different countries who attend school alongside students from Minnesota and across the county. “The community has benefited from international connections through the University,” Mayor Kleis said.
And with over 25% of our students being students of color, SCSU is a university of rich diversity which focuses on ensuring that everyone feels welcomed and has a sense of belonging.
Parting thoughts from Dr. Wacker
“I wish for St. Cloud State that it will continue to be the vital, thriving, relevant institution that it always has been — alert to the needs of students, communities, business and education — and always evolving to be a force for positive change, adapting and responding to the changing world around us. I am grateful to have met so many incredible faculty, staff and alumni who care deeply about this institution and so many students who are ready to make a difference in the world. GO HUSKIES!”
