Larry Dietz, Interim President, St. Cloud State University

Invest: spoke with the interim president of St. Cloud State University, Larry Dietz, about the restructuring efforts under way to tackle enrollment challenges, the university’s “It’s Time” strategic framework, and the value proposition of a higher education. “Money isn’t everything, but the research also says that people with college degrees also tend to be happier, live a healthier lifestyle, and generally enjoy life more,” he said.

Could you describe a few main highlights for St. Cloud State University under your leadership?

This last year has seen significant restructuring efforts beginning on my first day in leadership on July 5, 2024. We saw declining enrollment numbers prior to my involvement, which necessitated the restructuring. There is now a five-year plan in place, and my job is to continue operating within the boundaries of our plan and to continue to work toward meeting the expectations of the chancellor, the board, and the state of Minnesota.

We are focused on the “four R’s of the institution,” which are retention, recruitment, revenue generation, and relationship building. 

How does the “It’s Time” strategic framework reflect the changing role of state universities, and what changes has this framework brought to St. Cloud State University?

It’s Time is indeed more of a framework than a concrete plan. Our current operations are complementary to this document, but we needed to pivot away from previous decisions and activities in order to stabilize enrollment. We have close to 10,000 students enrolled, and this number has been steady for the last four years. The school is intentionally emphasizing its strengths as part of our restructuring process. Our programs in nursing, engineering, education, business, liberal arts and mass communications are particularly strong. These programs are popular with students but are also integral to the workforce.

How is St. Cloud State using innovative degree offerings to attract and retain students?

I believe we are performing well in this regard. Not every student who attends St. Cloud started out at our school. We have an active transfer program from our local community college and technical college partners. Those relationships are deepening, and this is a population we rely on. We are also paying more attention to recruiting from our general area and service region, which mainly includes Central Minnesota, though we attract students from across the state. We also have one of the highest international student percentages, with 90 countries sending us students, and those students comprise about 10% of our student population. St. Cloud is focused on serving our local and transfer students, as well as our first-generation students. Diversity, equity and inclusion are important to the way we operate the school in order to serve our underrepresented populations.

What are the unique strengths of St. Cloud’s academic portfolio, and how do these align with Minnesota’s workforce needs?

There is a nationwide need for nursing, and we are able to answer that call at St. Cloud State. The community is also helpful in this regard, as a large company we work with provides internships and jobs to some of our students. Education is another popular area in which there is a pressing need for graduates. Our school has operated for 155 years, and we were founded as a teacher-education school, so we have a distinguished history in preparing educators. Engineering is also a sector in which the workforce needs people, and we have a strong program to match this need.

The St. Cloud community attracts business, and we are educating and graduating students in business. We’ve been fortunate that many local companies have been hiring our graduates. Our new mayor is a St. Cloud State graduate. Liberal arts and mass communication are still integral components of our university. We review workforce needs as we look at areas of student interest, and when you marry those perspectives, the result is a successful graduate who has the tools to obtain an excellent job. Ultimately, that’s what people are looking for when they enter university – a good credential that will lead them to a good job, and our school provides that.

Could you explain the value proposition of higher education in the United States today?

The strength of American higher education is in its variety of institutions that try to serve prospective students. There is certainly a great place in the workforce for students who want to pursue a vocational education and obtain a specific degree or certificate without spending as much time in school. The cost is less, and they can earn a good living in the trades. Our community and technical colleges do a great job of offering those alternatives. 

There is also a great place in the workforce for students who want to pursue higher education. Most research would indicate that if you have a four-year degree, the amount of money that you can earn over your lifetime is, on average, a million dollars more, than a person who does not have a four-year degree. Money isn’t everything, but the research also says that people with college degrees also tend to be happier, live a healthier lifestyle, and generally enjoy life more.

What roles do the Honors College and programs like Huskies Advance play in shaping the future of academic excellence at St. Cloud State?

The Huskies Advance program just won an award from the Minnesota State System for being the best in its class in helping students achieve success at St. Cloud State in addition to retention. This is a testament to the commitment among faculty and staff to meeting the students where they are. This sometimes involves providing additional resources or making students aware of the resources that are available. This success of this program demonstrates how thoroughly the institution cares for students and meets their needs.

The overall proposition about how students are achieving at our school can be measured by their individual performance in addition to the support they receive from our faculty and staff. We are actively improving our programs, and we have data showing they are working. We also intend to develop new programs to assist with retention. 

What are your top priorities for St. Cloud State University for the next two to three years?

The students are the ultimate decider of the future of the institution. They will tell us what they are interested in studying, even though only a third of students who enter college in the fall typically know what they want to study. There is another third who think they know what they want to study but will change their focus. The final third has no idea what they want to pursue and need help in deciding. Our role in helping students sort through those decisions will continue.

We are seeing a declining number of students graduating high school because the birth rate has declined from 17 years ago, so the impending demographic cliff will be a significant challenge. Our school will continue to prioritize meeting students where they are and helping our students find new markets. Online education is a part of our school’s future to meet students who may not be able to travel to our institution. Determining how we can best serve those populations is a key priority over the next few years, and I believe the future for our school is bright.