Do You Know What MnSCU Means?

The nickname was been around here in Minnesota for awhile now, but do you know what MnSCU means?

If you're not sure, don't feel bad-- that's exactly the reason the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (which is what MnSCU is short for) is changing their name to 'Minnesota State' starting next month.

According to BringMeTheNews, MnSCU -- I mean, Minnesota State -- leaders commissioned several surveys that said most people don't know what that nickname means. And, that ambiguity in the name was starting to hurt admissions among the various 21 state community colleges, state universities and technical colleges that make up the system (including Rochester's own RCTC.)

The article said, "Research has shown that the vast majority of Minnesotans – including prospective students, parents, and community leaders – don’t know what ‘MnSCU’ means or how our state colleges and universities are different from other higher education institutions," MnSCU board chair Michael Vekich said in the story.

It makes sense, I guess. 'Minnesota State' sounds more like a college system to me than 'MnSCU' does. In their own, non-scientific Twitter survey, BringMeTheNews found that 3 out of 4 people DID, in fact, know what the nickname meant. Although, as they noted, that still leaves roughly 25-percent of people confused over the name. Which isn't good.

'Minnesota State' wasn't the group's first choice for a new name, however. I across THIS list of rejected names the group was also considering. Check it out HERE. I think they made the right call...