September 2026 Update

Building Appraisal

We continue to await the results of the building appraisal. As a reminder, the appraisal will help us better understand the facility's current market value, identify maintenance and repair needs, and evaluate potential options for the building, including the feasibility of a sale.

System-level Conversations and Involvement

As noted in the July 2026 update, President Brimhall met with the Minnesota State Chancellor in June to discuss the current state of the Detroit Lakes campus. This month, President Brimhall, along with Pat Nordick and Steve Erickson, participated in a follow-up discussion with the Chancellor and his team regarding the long-term sustainability of the campus. These discussions are part of broader systemwide efforts to examine sustainability and planning across Minnesota State. Further conversations with the system office and Board of Trustees will be happening over the next 6 weeks.

Statewide Facility Conversations

Long-term sustainability and facilities planning continue to be topics of discussion at Minnesota State Board of Trustees meetings. The Board is meeting today and tomorrow, and meeting agendas and recordings are available on the Minnesota State website: https://www.minnstate.edu/board/index.html .

Academic Program Space Planning

Discussions continue regarding potential locations within the Detroit Lakes community that could support academic programming and future student needs. We remain committed to exploring options that would allow us to continue serving students and the community effectively. If you have any questions, please reach out to me or any Cabinet member.