# Hubert H. Humphrey Center *Building on the University of Minnesota's West Bank that houses the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.* The Hubert H. Humphrey Center is the building at 301 19th Avenue South in [[Minneapolis]] that houses the [[Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs]] of the [[University of Minnesota]].[^1] The school dates its move into the building to 1986, under founding dean [[Harlan Cleveland]].[^2] The school takes its name from [[Hubert Humphrey]], U.S. Senator and [[Vice President of the United States]].[^3] Five years before that move, the [[Minnesota Legislature]] passed Chapter 362 of the 1981 session laws (H.F. No. 1474), approved June 1, 1981. The act appropriated state building-fund money to the [[Board of Regents]] to build two interconnected West Bank buildings serving the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute and the College of Business Administration. It capped their total cost at $16,484,000, an amount the act records as less than the regents had requested.[^4] The act authorized the commissioner of finance to issue state bonds of up to $54,495,000 to fund its appropriations.[^5] The school describes itself as a "living memorial" that would produce "the best research and nonpartisan advocacy based on that research."[^6] Its published history of the building does not mention the 1981 state appropriation or the bonds that financed it.[^2][^4] The record shows the 1981 appropriation for Humphrey Institute buildings and the 1986 move. It does not contain a document stating the final cost of the building the school occupies. ## Who The school states that it chose its name "in honor and recognition of a Minnesota political icon, U.S. Senator and Vice President Hubert Humphrey."[^3] It traces its lineage to the university's Public Administration Center (1936–68) and School of Public Affairs (1968–77).[^3] The school's leadership record runs as follows:[^2] - Professor John Adams led the move to the Humphrey Institute graduate school from 1976 to 1979. - Harlan Cleveland, "an internationally known political figure and former Assistant Secretary of State," was named the Institute's founding dean in 1980. - Later deans were G. Edward Schuh (1987–1997), John Brandl (1997–2002), J. Brian Atwood (2002–2011), Eric P. Schwartz (October 2011 to June 2017) and Laura Bloomberg (June 2017 to August 2021). - Nisha Botchwey became dean in January 2022. The school records [[Walter Mondale]] as a close friend of Humphrey and a member of its dean's advisory council. It credits him with leading a fundraising campaign that "raised more than $2 million for student scholarships" and with co-founding its Policy Fellows Program.[^7] The 1981 appropriation ran to the regents of the University of Minnesota. The act made their land and building decisions subject to consultation with the chairs of the Senate finance and House appropriations committees.[^8] ## What The school's mission statement says it "educates, engages, and equips leaders and communities to discover solutions that advance the common good in our diverse world."[^9] Among its listed values are "equity, access, and social justice" and "inclusion and dialogue across differences."[^9] The school says it ranks among the top 5 percent of professional public policy and planning schools. It reports offering six master's degrees, a doctoral degree and six certificate programs.[^10] It also lists six policy research centers, including the [[Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice]].[^10] ## When - **1977:** The school states it was founded at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.[^3] - **June 1, 1981:** Chapter 362, the higher-education bonding act, was approved.[^4] The [[Minnesota Legislature|Legislature]]'s Reference Library lists it as a 72nd Legislature law, HF1474, Chapter 362.[^11] - **1986:** The school moved into the Humphrey Center under Cleveland.[^2] - **2011:** The school was renamed the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.[^3] - **2022:** The school undertook a review that produced its 2023–2027 strategic plan.[^9] ## Where The school gives its address as 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455.[^1] It says the building was meant to present "a welcoming gateway to the University of Minnesota's West Bank."[^2] The 1981 act placed the two appropriated buildings on the West Bank of the Minneapolis campus.[^4] ## Why The school states that the building "was designed to enhance the research and outreach mission of the School."[^2] It says Humphrey wanted "a living memorial, one that would not only prepare future leaders, but also one that would be a forum for active debate on the policy issues of the day."[^6] The 1981 act set its own design terms. It directed that the buildings avoid duplicating each other or existing facilities. It also required that they "maximize access and sharing of facilities common to both programs."[^4] The record shows both statements of purpose. It does not establish how the final design was decided. ## How Chapter 362 laid down several conditions for the buildings:[^4] - Construction of either facility "may commence following completion of working drawings." - After the drawings were complete, the regents had to report on the project's progress and cost to the House appropriations and Senate finance committees. - The regents had to divide the cut from their request between the two buildings in proportion to the gross square feet they had requested for each. Other sections of the act applied to every project it funded:[^8] - **Consultation.** No land or buildings could be bought or built on university lands until the regents had consulted the two committee chairs. The chairs' recommendations were "advisory only." - **Plan review.** The regents could not prepare final plans until the chairs had reviewed the schematic plans. - **Cost overruns.** Spending above a project's authorization required the same consultation. "Failure or refusal to make a recommendation promptly is deemed a negative recommendation." - **Transfers and federal funds.** The act allowed unencumbered project balances to be moved within a section, with a report to the chairs. It also directed the regents to apply for the maximum federal share for each project. ## How much - The act appropriated $54,493,400 from the state building fund, including $38,057,100 to the University of Minnesota.[^5] - Of the university's share, $18,284,000 went to the Minneapolis campus. The Humphrey Institute and business buildings were capped at $16,484,000, and $480,000 was set aside for planning and working drawings for the Humphrey Institute.[^4] - A separate cap of $22,000,000 appears in the same subdivision, beside the clause for working drawings to remodel Smith Hall.[^4] - Bond authority to fund the act was set at up to $54,495,000.[^5] ## How many The act appropriated money for two interconnected buildings.[^4] The school reports six master's degrees, one doctoral degree, six certificate programs and six policy research centers.[^10] It reports nine deans or transition leaders from 1976 to the present.[^2] ## Omissions in official accounts The school's *Mission, Values, and Legacy* page (© 2026) covers its founding, its leadership succession and the 1986 move into the Humphrey Center.[^2] It does not mention Chapter 362 of the 1981 session laws, the state building-fund appropriation for Humphrey Institute buildings, or the state bonds authorized to fund it.[^4][^5] The record shows this sequence. It does not establish why the page leaves it out. ## Notes [^1]: University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, *Mission, Values, and Legacy* (© 2026) — school address, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/mission-values-and-legacy [^2]: University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, *Mission, Values, and Legacy* (© 2026) — "A Succession of Outstanding Leaders": deans 1976–2022, the 1986 move into the Humphrey Center, and the building's stated design purpose. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/mission-values-and-legacy [^3]: University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, *Mission, Values, and Legacy* (© 2026) — "School History": founding in 1977, predecessor units, naming, and the 2011 rename. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/mission-values-and-legacy [^4]: Minnesota Legislature, *Laws of Minnesota for 1981*, Chapter 362 (H.F. No. 1474), §5 subd. 2 (approved June 1, 1981) — appropriation for two interconnected West Bank buildings for the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute and the College of Business Administration; $16,484,000 cap; $480,000 for working drawings; reporting and apportionment terms. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/1981/0/Session+Law/Chapter/362/pdf/ [^5]: Minnesota Legislature, *Laws of Minnesota for 1981*, Chapter 362, §§1 and 7 (approved June 1, 1981) — building-fund summary ($54,493,400 total; University of Minnesota $38,057,100) and bond authorization up to $54,495,000. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/1981/0/Session+Law/Chapter/362/pdf/ [^6]: University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, *Mission, Values, and Legacy* (© 2026) — "A Living Memorial": Humphrey's stated intent for the institution. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/mission-values-and-legacy [^7]: University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, *Mission, Values, and Legacy* (© 2026) — "Walter Mondale's Legacy": advisory council role, scholarship fundraising, and the Policy Fellows Program. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/mission-values-and-legacy [^8]: Minnesota Legislature, *Laws of Minnesota for 1981*, Chapter 362, §§8–11 (approved June 1, 1981) — consultation, plan review, transfer, federal-share and over-authorization conditions. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/1981/0/Session+Law/Chapter/362/pdf/ [^9]: University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, *Mission, Values, and Legacy* (© 2026) — mission, values, and the 2022 review producing the 2023–2027 strategic plan. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/mission-values-and-legacy [^10]: University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, *Mission, Values, and Legacy* (© 2026) — the school's self-reported ranking, degree and certificate counts, and research centers. https://www.hhh.umn.edu/mission-values-and-legacy [^11]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Major Capital Investment and Bonding Bills and Laws, 1963–present* — entry: 72nd Legislature, 1981, Higher education bonding, HF1474, Chapter 362. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/history/bondingbills