The St. Paul Campus Task Force continues to discuss the evolution of the Twin Cities campus in St. Paul. The task force, charged in November 2024, will provide recommendations to President Rebecca Cunningham by May 2025 regarding land use; student services; green, retail, and event space; and facility changes to effectively position the campus as a destination of innovation.

“The hope is that among the ideas we present will be one or more that will be a natural fit with the upcoming strategic plan," says Scott Lanyon, St. Paul Campus Task Force co-chair, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, and faculty member in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior.

Taking shape

Addressing the needs of the Twin Cities campus in St. Paul has been an ongoing discussion across the Twin Cities campus. Over the past decade, various reports have been shared related to planning for this area, like the 2019 St. Paul Campus Strategic Facilities Plan and 2021 UMN Twin Cities Campus Plan Update. 

Through extensive evaluation of these past studies and strategies, the committee has a good foundation for its work.

The committee also surveyed thought leaders in the colleges located in St. Paul for preliminary input about the strengths, challenges, and opportunities that lie ahead. The campus has long served as a rich interdisciplinary education environment and research powerhouse integral to the University’s presence across the state, nation, and world.

The Twin Cities campus in St. Paul is also known for its K-12 outreach and an unexpected green oasis among an urban sprawl. The approach to the campus’s evolution will honor those unique features and histories while modernizing amenities and facilities.   

Julie Tonneson, St. Paul Campus Task Force co-chair and vice president and budget director in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations, says that beyond conceptual strategies, elevating the amenities and experience of the campus will further position it as a destination for students and scholars. 

“Lifting [the St. Paul campus] up and improving its vibrancy will attract more students and more faculty, bringing more opportunities for connections to the community and more world-changing scholarship—which will help the U continue to deliver on its mission in new and exciting ways.”

Next steps

The committee has completed the research phase and is now conducting listening sessions with stakeholder groups. The University community, local government, Minnesota State Fair organizers, neighborhood residents, and more will provide valuable input to uncover current and projected needs of the Twin Cities campus in St. Paul.

The group is committed to hearing the many voices invested in the prosperity of the campus to present a recommendation that accurately reflects the breadth of experiences and perspectives.

“I'm excited to know that the University is giving serious thought to the unique nature of the St. Paul campus, the critical role it plays in the University's research, teaching and outreach mission, and its relationship to the surrounding community,” says Lanyon. 

As conversations continue and recommendations take shape, the St. Paul Campus Task Force is steadfast in providing President Cunningham with a comprehensive strategy that advances our public land-grant mission. 

“The possibilities for exciting changes are very real,” says Tonneson.