WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

coeducational institution of higher learning, located in the Hiawatha Valley of the Mississippi River in Winona, Minn., U.S. It is one of seven institutions in the Minnesota State University system. It awards two associate degrees, three bachelor's degrees in more than 50 programs, and three master's degrees in more than 10 programs; it also offers specialist and preprofessional programs. Memorial Hall is a noteworthy athletic and recreational facility in the region. The university has cooperative study exchanges with nearby St. Mary's College and, in Rochester, with the University of Minnesota and with Rochester Community College. Winona State has an enrollment of approximately 7,500 students. Winona State University is the oldest school in the state university system. Founded in 1858 as a normal (teacher-training) school, it was the first American institution of its kind west of the Mississippi River. Instruction began in 1860. All of the normal schools in the state university system became teacher's colleges in 1921, when they were granted the right to award four-year degrees. In 1957 they were designated state colleges, having received the right to grant master's degrees in 1953. In 1975 the schools all gained university status.