New North Hennepin-St. Cloud State Partnership Aims To Grow ‘Med-Tech Alley’

A newly minted partnership between North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) and St. Cloud State University (SCSU) aims to pave a direct pathway for students entering the medical technology field.

Leaders from both institutions gathered on July 27 at NHCC in Brooklyn Park to celebrate an agreement that officially relocates several of St. Cloud State’s graduate programs directly onto North Hennepin’s campus.

Previously, St. Cloud State leased office space in Plymouth to host local college programs. By moving the programs to a college campus within the Minnesota State system, leaders said both institutions are capitalizing on a mutually beneficial financial arrangement.

“The rate that we’re paying here to use the facilities is a lot less than we were paying on the open market because it’s in-house and we’re getting charged a below-market rate for that,” said St. Cloud State University President Gregory Tomso. “So it’s a win for St. Cloud State, and it’s definitely a win for North Hennepin because they have some extra space that they now get to use to earn revenue.”

St. Cloud State University President Gregory Tomso and North Hennepin Community College President Rolando García cut a ribbon on July 27, 2026 to formally announce a partnership between the two institutions.

Aligning with ‘Med-Tech Alley’

The partnership will bring up to 280 graduate students to the Brooklyn Park campus. Students will be enrolled in master’s programs specifically tailored to regional industry demands, including Medical Technology Quality and Engineering Management.

Officials from SCSU emphasize that the physical location of the new graduate center provides students with an unparalleled geographic advantage.

“The location is really perfect because this is ‘Med-Tech Alley’ right here around this corridor,” said Katherina Pattit, SCSU’s provost and vice president of academic affairs. “There are many, many firms that employ our graduates and that we work with also for teaching opportunities, as well as internship opportunities and practical experiences.”

Classes at the newly established graduate center will launch this fall.

While the initial focus centers on engineering and medical technology, leaders from both schools are already looking to the future. Plans are underway to expand the partnership in the coming years by adding a master’s program in counseling to the Brooklyn Park campus lineup.

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