The Minnesota Plan for the Continuing Education of Women, the first program of its kind in the nation, was established in 1960 under a Carnegie Corporation grant. The focus of this program was to provide service and guidance to women during their academic careers at the University of Minnesota. In 1963, the grant was extended for two years, with the provision that at the end of the grant period the University of Minnesota would take full responsibility for funding the program. In 1966, the Minnesota Plan was renamed the Minnesota Planning and Counseling Center for Women. In 1971, the office became the Minnesota Women’s Center.
The focus of the Minnesota's Women's Center has been diverse over its 40 year existence. Beginning in the 1960s, the focus was on continuing higher education for women. The next decade brought a role in the national women’s rights movement. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Center provided counseling and resources to women students on campus and the staff offered campus awareness programs staff to educate the campus and public on sex and sexual harassment. The Minnesota Women’s Center continues its work of supporting women students at the University by offering scholarships, connections through various student groups and multicultural programs.
From the guide to the Minnesota Women's Center collection, ca. 1975-1999, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])
