Beet Sugar Engineer School

Beet Sugar Engineer School

The McGinnis Institute of Beet Sugar Technology (MIBST) is sponsored by the Beet Sugar Development Foundation (BSDF). MIBST is a self-sustaining school of beet sugar manufacturing technology. 

Beginning in 2024, a BSDF member company will host Engineer school, with the location rotating annually. Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative will host Engineer School in 2026, and Ed Swenson has been named the 2026 Engineer School Director. 

Purpose

The purpose is to instruct beet sugar company employees and other technologists in the fundamentals and beyond on factory processes, their application to factory operations and the details of the practical operations of the unit processes. Engineer School will include a lecture on a priority topic identified by the industry (e.g., carbonation, diffusion, crystallization/separatin, etc.) and include time in a factory(ies) to understand and develop possible solutions to factory issues. This year the course will focus on Sugar End Exhaustion. Courses are designed to improve the student’s knowledge of the factory processes, increase value to the employer, and provide greater potential for advancement. 

Eligibility

This course is open to any type of engineer (process, chemical, mechanical, maintenance, capital, etc…) or non-engineer, provided they have a background that would allow them to succeed in this setting. There are no higher educational requirements for students. However, instructors will present subject matter involving mathematics, engineering, physical and chemical subjects, and a proficient level of knowledge on these topics is encouraged. 

Students are enrolled on the proposal of regular or associate member companies of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation. Member companies are permitted to enroll up to two attendees per factory or up to two attendees per member company, whichever is greater. The BSDF Board of Directors approves attendance of non-member company students on the following basis: Each student must be sponsored by a member company. In addition to the normal tuition, a surcharge of $400 per non-member student per session will be assessed, and a letter of support from the sponsoring member company must be submitted to the BSDF office prior to registration. Space is limited for Engineer school and will be allocated to member company students first. 

Prospective students will pay and register online. Credit cards will be accepted upon registration. Click on the link below to register for Engineer School. Registration for Engineer school closes Friday, September 18, 2026. 

Engineer School 2026 Registration

Cancellation Policy

Engineer School – No enrollment changes will be permitted after September 28, 2026. Any cancellation of any MIBST student enrollment received by September 28, 2026 for Engineer School is fully refundable. A fee of $500 per student will be charged for any cancellation after September 28, 2026. 

BSDF reserves the right to cancel the entire school at any time for any reason. Tuition will be reimbursed should the entire school be cancelled. 

General Information

Tuition fees – The 2026 tuition for a BSDF member company student based on single occupancy is $1,800. A surcharge of $400 as described under Eligibility will be assessed to students currently employed by a non-member company. Tuition includes lodging for four nights at the Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport, instructor fees, supplies, breakfast, three lunches, two evening meals, and light snacks on days when class is in session. There are no tuition discounts for making other lodging arrangements. 

Meals – Breakfast is included in the school tuition and is offered at the hotel. Light snacks and drinks during the morning and afternoon breaks will be available to students while class is in session. Lunch will be provided Tuesday through Thursday, and dinner will be provided on two evenings. Companies should provide students with an expense account for meals, other than the above, as well as other travel-related costs.

Hotel accommodations – Tuition includes rooming at the Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport for four nights, with check-in on the Monday before school starts and check-out on the last Friday of the session. 

Transportation – The Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport offers a complimentary airport shuttle between 3:30AM and 12:00 midnight to/from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The hotel is approximately 1.7 miles from the airport. 

2026 Hotel check-in / check-out dates (included in tuition)*

Engineer School: Monday, October 19 / Friday, October 23 (four nights total) 

*Any additional hotel nights outside of the check-in/check-out dates listed above will be charged to the student at the daily hotel rate. 

Unless other advance arrangements are made with the BSDF by the sponsoring company, all students are expected to room at the Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport. It is imperative to let BSDF staff know by September 28, 2026 if a student has decided not to stay at this hotel, as BSDF must inform the Hotel of the rooming list at that time. 

General Plan of Courses

The instructor will assume that most of the students are proficient in the subjects listed under Eligibility, as this is an advanced course. 

Emergency situations do arise. The student must notify the director if they cannot attend a scheduled class. The director will work with the student to arrange make-up options for the student. A Certificate of Completion will be given to the student only when all assignments have been completed. 

Classes will be held in the Nokomis room at the Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport. The typical daily class schedule will be as follows: 

• Class will begin at 8:00 am and end at 5:00 pm on most days; however, class may start earlier or end later depending on the activity. 
• There will be two 15-minute breaks (one morning and one afternoon) on lecture days. 
• Lunch will be from 12 noon until 1 pm. 
• Class on Friday will end at 12:00 pm. 

Students are required to attend class every day through Friday in order to receive their graduation certificate. 

Students will work on a group project to develop solutions to factory issues identified by the host company. This group project allows students to network with individuals from other cooperatives, companies, and regions, discuss lecture learnings, share information and ideas, and develop solutions to real-world factory issues. On the last Friday of the session, each group will present their solutions to the rest of the class. 

When making travel arrangements, please note, students are required to attend class every day through Friday in full to receive their certificate of completion. Engineer School students are required to attend class on Friday, October 23 until 12:00pm. The hotel is approximately 1.7 miles from the airport. There are multiple transportation options to the hotel, including the hotel shuttle, train, rental car, Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc… 

We look forward to seeing you in Bloomington, MN. 

Sincerely,
Ed Swenson 
Director – MIBST Engineer School