St. Cloud City Council to Discuss Great River Children’s Museum Progress and St. Cloud State University’s Future

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud City Council will hold a work session next week to get an update on an ongoing museum project and what’s happening at a local college.

The Great River Children’s Museum is under construction and will be the second largest in the state once complete. The 31,000-square-foot facility will house eight core exhibits to get kids climbing, creating and learning. Plans for the facility started in 2012. Officials hope the building will serve as a catalyst for more downtown redevelopment.

The building is expected to draw around 500,000 visitors a year, many from 60 school districts in 12 central Minnesota counties. The museum plans to open to the public in early 2025.

The council will also hear an update from St. Cloud State University administrators. In June, the campus announced they were cutting 42 degree programs and 50 minors, losing 54 professors. SCSU proposes reducing the number of majors it offers to 94, consisting of 62 bachelor’s degrees, 29 master’s degrees, and three doctoral degrees. SCSU says 92% of students are currently enrolled in the programs that will be kept. There will also be 35 minors offered. The reductions were blamed on declining enrollment and a $14.4 million operating deficit. Enrollment has tumbled from 18,300 in 2010 to just over 10,000 in 2023.

SCSU is also in the beginning phases of an ambitious plan to overhaul the campus. In the next five years, the Institute of higher learning is looking at removing several older, vacant or underused buildings. Bulldozing the structures will allow for more green space and create a park-like environment. The plan will eliminate the cost of maintaining the unused space.

Monday’s work session is at 6:00 p.m. inside city hall.

___