From Archibald Business College to Closure: A History of Minneapolis Business College
Minneapolis Business College, the oldest accredited business college in Minnesota, played a significant role in shaping the state's workforce. Founded in 1874, the college adapted to changing economic landscapes and technological advancements for over a century before its eventual closure. This article explores the evolution of Minneapolis Business College, tracing its origins, growth, curriculum, facilities, and eventual decline.
Early Beginnings and Growth (1874-1945)
Minneapolis Business College was established in 1874 in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. From its inception, the college emphasized hands-on programs in accounting and administrative fields, designed to equip students with essential skills for office and commercial roles. By the early 20th century, its curriculum included core subjects such as bookkeeping, stenography (shorthand), typewriting, business law, commercial correspondence, and penmanship, reflecting the demand for proficient clerical workers in a burgeoning urban economy.
The college experienced steady growth in its initial decades, responding to the need for trained professionals in Minneapolis's developing business sector, though specific early enrollment figures remain limited in historical records.
Post-War Expansion and Curriculum Evolution (1945-1990s)
Following World War II, Minneapolis Business College experienced significant operational growth amid the broader national surge in vocational education demand, particularly for business-related skills. In the 1950s and 1960s, the institution expanded its offerings to include specialized programs in accounting and secretarial science, responding to the needs of a growing postwar workforce.
The curriculum at Minneapolis Business College emphasized practical, hands-on training designed to equip students with immediately applicable skills for entry-level careers in business administration, allied health, information technology, and related fields. Programs integrated foundational knowledge with real-world simulations, such as financial software applications for accounting tasks, patient care scenarios in medical assisting labs, and network configuration exercises in IT courses. Key focus areas centered on career preparation for administrative, medical, and IT support roles, blending technical expertise with essential soft skills.
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In business and administrative programs, students developed proficiency in office procedures, including word processing, spreadsheets, and records management, alongside communications training for professional correspondence and presentations. Allied health curricula, such as the Medical Assistant program, highlighted clinical and administrative competencies like vital signs measurement, pharmacology, insurance coding, and laboratory procedures, often culminating in supervised externships of 240-320 hours. IT emphases covered operating systems, programming logic, web development, and network security, using tools like Visual Basic, Java, and SQL to address business applications.
The teaching approach prioritized small class sizes, averaging 15-20 students in labs and up to 48 in lectures, to enable personalized instruction and interactive learning through projects, role-playing, and industry-standard software. Faculty, drawn from professional backgrounds, facilitated real-world application via externships and internships (e.g., 160-480 hours in accounting or retail settings), complemented by dedicated job placement assistance including resume building, interview preparation, and employer networking.
Over time, the curriculum adapted to technological advancements, shifting from manual techniques like typewriting and shorthand in the early 1990s to digital tools by the late 1990s, including word processing software (e.g., WordPerfect) and electronic spreadsheets (e.g., Lotus 1-2-3). By the 2000s and 2010s, emphases expanded to incorporate web authoring, object-oriented programming, and computerized medical records, with some programs adding online components for flexibility while maintaining hands-on core elements.
Relocation to Roseville and Facility Enhancements
By the late 20th century, the college's downtown Minneapolis location had become insufficient to support its increasing scale and modern requirements. In 1983, MBC relocated to a suburban campus in Roseville, Minnesota, at 1711 West County Road B, to provide larger facilities tailored to contemporary educational needs. This move enabled the introduction of upgraded infrastructure, including computer labs equipped with microcomputers and specialized classrooms for business simulations and practical training.
Minneapolis Business College was situated at 1711 West County Road B in Roseville, Minnesota, a northern suburb of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, after relocating there in 1983. This move shifted the institution from its original downtown Minneapolis location to a more expansive suburban setting, enhancing accessibility for students from both Minneapolis and St. The Roseville site occupied a commercial district at the intersection of Interstate 35W and Minnesota State Highway 36, providing convenient connections to the broader region.
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Originally established in 1874 in an urban, compact facility at 1011 Marquette Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis, the college's pre-1983 site was integrated into the bustling city core, reflecting the era's emphasis on central business education hubs. The relocation to Roseville allowed for a redesigned layout centered on a multi-building complex consisting of two connected buildings across three stories, with administrative offices on the ground floor and academic areas above, surrounded by ample parking to accommodate commuters. Specialized facilities supported hands-on training in key programs. Support infrastructure emphasized accessibility and student services.
Decline and Closure
Martin Calihan, president of Bradford Schools-the Pittsburgh-based owner of the college-stated that the decision was made to redirect resources toward ensuring current students could graduate and receive job placement assistance, noting, "We've had declining enrollments over a number of years.
Overlap with Globe University and Minnesota School of Business
It's important to distinguish Minneapolis Business College from Globe University and Minnesota School of Business (Globe/MSB), another private for-profit higher education network based in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. Minnesota School of Business was founded in 1877 by Professor Alexander R. Archibald, previously of Dartmouth College. He and an assistant taught classes in bookkeeping, shorthand, English, and penmanship in a three-room school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For 12 years the school was called Archibald Business College. In 1890 the school was purchased by Charles T. Rickard and Grove A. In 1929, the school was sold to the Correll and Kamprath families and was relocated to 24 South Seventh Street. purchased the school. Terry L. Globe College was founded in 1885 by Frank A. Maron, who was born and educated in Germany. An accomplished scholar, he received a classical education in his native country. Recognizing a need for a practical education for young men and women, he established Globe College in Minnesota. In October 1972, Helmer Myhre and Terry Myhre purchased the college.
Globe/MSB faced significant legal and financial challenges in the 2010s. In 2011, Heidi Weber, a former dean, filed a whistleblower-wrongful termination lawsuit against Globe/MSB. In 2013, her case went to jury trial in the Washington County Courthouse. After a seven-day trial, a jury found in her favor and awarded $395,000 plus interest to the former dean. Globe/MSB appealed the ruling; however, the Minnesota Supreme Court upheld Weber's verdict. In July 2014, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson announced that the state was suing Globe/MSB.
Current Landscape of Business Education in Minneapolis
Last week, Minneapolis College and Metropolitan State University announced that they have begun renovations on their joint business school center on Harmon Place in downtown Minneapolis. Formally known as the Management Education Center, the building will see a “total gut and renovation” on three floors, according to a news release issued Sept. 26. Additionally, the upgraded building will feature a new Entrepreneurship Center designed to provide applied learning experiences for students and act as a resource for small businesses in the Twin Cities. The new center will particularly focus on providing growth opportunities to minority-owned businesses in the Twin Cities, according to the schools. Since 2020, enrollment in the Minneapolis College’s business school has “stabilized” to about 750 total students each year, O’Kane said. “The program is designed to provide the very most current and essential business skills that people need to quickly get into the workforce,” O’Kane said. The building that houses the Management Education Center has a storied history. Originally constructed in 1927 as an office for Standard Oil, the structure went on to serve as the headquarters of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association in the 1960s.
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