SCSU Honors College

Honors students didn't just learn in St. Cloud—they experienced the world.

Celebrating 60 years of the St. Cloud State University Honors Program, we look back on the study abroad experiences, Oxford partnerships, and global connections that shaped generations of scholars.

New Places. New Perspectives. New Opportunities.

Join us for the Honors 60th Anniversary Celebration: https://www.stcloudstate.edu/advancement/connect-and-engage/events/homecoming-honors-anniversary.aspx

While administrators were debating the program, our students were busy living it!

From smaller classes and double majors to study abroad opportunities at Oxford and careers that push boundaries, the St. Cloud State Honors Program has opened doors and shaped unique paths for decades.

Different students. Different paths. One Honors experience.

Join us for the Honors 60th Anniversary Celebration Event: https://www.stcloudstate.edu/advancement/connect-and-engage/events/homecoming-honors-anniversary.aspx

By the early 1980s, the Honors Program at St. Cloud State faced criticism and debate over its role on campus. But challenges only sparked change!

Throughout the decade, new leadership, restructured curricula, and an Honors Task Force helped guide the program into a new era—officially renaming it the University Honors Program to welcome students across all disciplines.

Swipe through history with us as we look back on how the 1980s shaped the foundation of our community today.

Challenges sparked change. Change shaped the future. The story continues.

Join us as we celebrate 60 years of excellence at the Honors 60th Celebration: https://www.stcloudstate.edu/advancement/connect-and-engage/events/homecoming-honors-anniversary.aspx

Looking back at where it all started...

Six decades ago, the groundwork was laid by visionaries who dared to think bigger. Today, our students, faculty, and alumni carry that torch forward every day through innovation, leadership, and research.

Your legacy shaped our foundation, and together, the legacy continues.

Advocating for the future starts by stepping outside the classroom walls.

During the 1970s, St. Cloud State Honors students didn’t just discuss change—they put their ideas into motion. From leading campus initiatives to driving community progress through cognitive independence, passion consistently sparked real action.

In the Honors College, leadership isn't just taught; it's lived. Look back at how our early community stepped up to shape campus life and pave the way forward!

As we continue celebrating 60 years of the Honors College at St. Cloud State University, we’re looking back at a pivotal chapter in our history: the 1970s. During this era, our vision expanded far beyond the local footprint—the ambition was to build an academic framework that would serve as a model for the entire nation.

From major physical campus developments to elevating academic standards across the board, the mid-1970s represented a strategic leap forward. It wasn't just about expanding facilities; it was about fostering an environment where high-achieving students were challenged to lead, innovate, and shape their community.

Six decades later, that foundational drive continues to guide us. The standards set then still inspire how we empower our honors community today.

By the early 1970s, the St. Cloud State campus was facing a massive transformation. Students wanted more than just a standard education—they demanded relevance, new voices, and a new sense of independence.

Through critical thinking and active student advocacy, a lasting legacy of dialogue was born. This era of constructive questioning didn’t just change the curriculum; it shaped our entire Honors community.

Take a look back at how our earliest Honors students challenged the status quo and laid the foundation for the Honors College we know today!

Before the classes, the research, and the community we know today, there was a blueprint.

As we celebrate 60 years of the Honors College, we're introducing you to Dr. Marvin Thompson—a faculty member whose impact is woven into the very fabric of our program, even if many students have never heard his name.

His 1961 report was the catalyst that urged the creation of Honors at St. Cloud State, transforming an idea into a reality that has shaped thousands of student journeys since. Our history is full of remarkable people.

Some of the best learning happens when the classroom opens its doors to the community.

A huge thank you to Dr. Mic Bruner for bringing Introduction to Community Leadership to life this semester, creating space for students to move beyond theory and into real conversations with the people shaping our communities.
This course would not have been what it was without our incredible guest speakers:
Dr. Gregory Tomso, President of St. Cloud State University; Dr. Ken Holmen, CEO of CentraCare; Jake Anderson, Mayor of St. Cloud; Rick Bauerly from Granite Partners; and Brad Bacon, CEO of PleasureLand RV Center, Inc. Their honesty, experience, and generosity with our students made all the difference.

Here’s to a semester well spent and to the students who showed up ready to lead.