We have taken the lead in the state by offering our Challenge Program courses not only to secondary schools in Minnesota, but also in Iowa and South Dakota. The Challenge Program is a vital link between secondary schools and the university. The courses offered through the Challenge Program are regular offerings at Southwest State University. University faculty and program administrators carefully monitor the courses to ensure that the Challenge Program sections maintain standards identical to those of sections taught on the University campus. The program can be seen as a classroom enrichement program.
Students gain valuable confidence in taking college level courses in a controlled environment.
It also lends itself to non-traditional students and gives gifted students access to a challenge they may be seeking. The program works as a supplement to the high school curriculum. The courses are taught on a semester basis and either incorporated into an existing class or as a special topic. Flexibility allows the school to customize the program to meet the individual needs of students and teachers alike.