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M State wins national award for streamlined, student-centered course scheduling

Three M State leaders hold a small gold trophy for the 2025 AcOpscar Innovation Award at a Coursedog conference in Chicago.
M State’s Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Matt Borcherding, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alicia Carley, and Academic Operations Coordinator Jonathan Lovejoy accepted the 2025 AcOpscar Innovation Award at Coursedog’s annual conference in Chicago on July 31. 

 

Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) has been honored with the 2025 AcOpscar Innovation Award for its efforts to enhance student success through more cohesive, efficient course scheduling.  

The award was presented by Coursedog, a leading academic software company that supports over 300 colleges and universities nationwide. M State’s Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs Matt Borcherding and Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Alicia Carley accepted the award at Coursedog’s annual conference in Chicago on July 31. 

“We’re honored that M State was chosen to receive the Innovation Award,” says Borcherding. “We wanted to be the first college within the Minnesota State system to revolutionize how we do course scheduling – and we will be. Our go-live date is November 7 for the 2026-2027 academic year scheduling cycle.”

Two Coursedog leaders shake hands with two M State representatives on stage at the 2025 awards ceremony.
Coursedog CEO Andrew Rosen and Chief Customer Officer Ben Gardner congratulate M State's Matt Borcherding and Alicia Carley on stage at the awards ceremony.

The Innovation Award was one of three distinct honors presented by Coursedog to recognize excellence in operational innovation, change management and product roll-out. M State was selected for its bold approach to streamlining academic operations and improving access to accurate, real-time information for students, faculty and staff. 

According to Coursedog, M State’s success “extends beyond their own campus and serves as a model for other institutions within the (Minnesota State) system.” 

The initiative is expected to produce significant benefits at M State, including:

  • Freeing up an estimated 920 work hours – 23 weeks of work each year that can be redirected to strategic initiatives.
  • Saving $846,000 annually by optimizing course offerings and consolidating underfilled sections.
  • Improving student outcomes, progression and retention rates, with data-driven scheduling helping students graduate faster and with fewer roadblocks.

Coursedog’s cloud-based platform is designed to help colleges like M State eliminate scheduling conflicts and delays that can slow student progress. It supports clear degree pathways and reduces administrative delays, so students spend less time navigating college systems and more time learning.