University of Minnesota Technical College, Waseca

The Waseca Technical College was originally established as the Southern School of Agriculture in 1953. In 1969, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill to phase out the School of Agriculture and establish a two-year collegiate level program in its place. In 1971, the Technical College was dedicated and the first class graduated in 1973. The first provost was Edward C. Frederick. Waseca was organized to reflect the course work available at the Crookston Technical College. The mission of the new technical college was to prepare graduates for mid-level positions in agribusiness and other career options available in rural Minnesota.As early as 1973, there was a movement in the state legislature to close the campus. Although Waseca had an excellent placement record for its graduates, it was unable to demonstrate a steady growth rate in enrollment. Although the college provided the only regional opportunities in areas such as veterinary technology and horse management, the debate to close the college heightened in the 1990s. The University of Minnesota was in a period of financial difficulties and one option under examination by the administration was to close a campus.When President Hasselmo announced that the University might have to close UMW on October 31, 1990, there was a strong reaction from the public, alumni and the student body. Letters were sent to the President, Regents, and Legislators by former graduates, rural businesses, farm organizations, and townspeople. The South Central Education Association also launched an effort to save the campus. On campus, the College Restructuring Task Force was formed to study ways in which the campus could be organized to remain open. It organized idea sessions which offered a forum for input into the planning process. Students organized a trip to the legislature to hold a rally in support of keeping the campus open. All protests were futile as the Regent's voted to close the campus in March 1991.

The Waseca Technical College was originally established as the Southern School of Agriculture in 1953. In 1969, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill to phase out the School of Agriculture and establish a two-year collegiate level program in its place. In 1971, the Technical College was dedicated and the first class graduated in 1973. The first provost was Edward C. Frederick. Waseca was organized to reflect the course work available at the Crookston Technical College. The mission of the new technical college was to prepare graduates for mid-level positions in agribusiness and other career options available in rural Minnesota.

As early as 1973, there was a movement in the state legislature to close the campus. Although Waseca had an excellent placement record for its graduates, it was unable to demonstrate a steady growth rate in enrollment. Although the college provided the only regional opportunities in areas such as veterinary technology and horse management, the debate to close the college heightened in the 1990s. The University of Minnesota was in a period of financial difficulties and one option under examination by the administration was to close a campus.

When President Hasselmo announced that the University might have to close UMW on October 31, 1990, there was a strong reaction from the public, alumni and the student body. Letters were sent to the President, Regents, and Legislators by former graduates, rural businesses, farm organizations, and townspeople. The South Central Education Association also launched an effort to save the campus. On campus, the College Restructuring Task Force was formed to study ways in which the campus could be organized to remain open. It organized idea sessions which offered a forum for input into the planning process. Students organized a trip to the legislature to hold a rally in support of keeping the campus open. All protests were futile as the Regent's voted to close the campus in March 1991. The final graduation ceremony was held June 6, 1992.