<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 1997
                                                          Registration No. 333-
===============================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  ----------

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  ----------

                         ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                       
               Minnesota                          41-0743912
      (State or other jurisdiction             (I.R.S. Employer
   of incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)

         12501 Whitewater Drive
         Minnetonka, Minnesota                       55343
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)          (Zip Code)
                                       
                         ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                    NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
                           (Full title of the plan)
                                       
                                  Copies to:
         David F. Fisher, Esq.            Robert A. Rosenbaum, Esq.
        Vice President, General              Dorsey & Whitney LLP
    Counsel and Corporate Secretary         Pillsbury Center South
      ADC Telecommunications, Inc.          220 South Sixth Street
         12501 Whitewater Drive         Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402
      Minnetonka, Minnesota  55343              (612) 340-5681
             (612) 938-8080
     (Name, address, and telephone
      number of agent for service)


                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===============================================================================
                                    Proposed         Proposed         Amount
      Title of                      maximum          maximum            of
   securities to    Amount to    offering price aggregate offering registration
   be registered  be registered  per share (1)      price (1)          fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Common Stock     400,000          $24           $9,600,000        $2,910
  ($.20 par value)
===============================================================================

(1)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee,
   pursuant to Rule 457(h), based upon the average of the high and low prices
   of the Common Stock on April 18, 1997, as reported on the Nasdaq National
   Market.

   Pursuant  to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration  Statement
relates  to  the  registration of additional shares of Common Stock,  $.20  par
value  ("Common  Stock"),  of  the  Registrant  under  the  Registrant's   1991
Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan, a stock-based employee benefit plan for
which   the   Registrant  registered  55,000  shares  of  Common  Stock   under
Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May
3, 1991 (File No. 33-40357), the contents of each of which (including any post-
effective amendments thereto) are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

===============================================================================

<PAGE>

                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

            The   following   documents,  which  have   been   filed   by   ADC
Telecommunications,  Inc.  (the "Company") with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, as of
their respective dates:

           (a)   The  Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the  year  ended
     October 31, 1996.

           (b)   All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)  of
     the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),
     since October 31, 1996.

           (c)  The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in  any
     Registration  Statement  filed  under  the  Exchange  Act,  including  any
     amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

           All other reports and any definitive proxy or information statements
subsequently  filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),  14  and
15(d)  of  the  Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective  amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all  securities  then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of
such documents.

ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number    Description
------    -----------

  4.1     Restated Articles  of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to
          date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's
          Registration Statement  on Form S-3, dated April 15, 1997).

  4.2     Restated  Bylaws  of the Company, as amended to date (incorporated
          by reference to Exhibit 4.2  to the Company's Registration
          Statement on Form S-3, dated April 15, 1997).

  5.1     Opinion of Dorsey  & Whitney LLP regarding legality.

  23.1    Consent  of  Arthur Andersen LLP.

  23.2    Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 to this
          Registration Statement).

  24.1    Power of Attorney.

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS

     A.   Post-Effective Amendments

          The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)   To  file, during any period in which offers or sales are  being
  made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                                     II-1

<PAGE>

                (i)  To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3)  of
          the Securities Act of 1933;

                (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events  arising
          after  the effective date of the registration statement (or the  most
          recent  post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually  or  in
          the aggregate, represent a fundamental change to such information  in
          the  registration  statement.   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any
          increase  or decrease in volume of securities offered (if  the  total
          dollar  value of securities offered would not exceed that  which  was
          registered)  and  any  deviation from the low  or  high  end  of  the
          estimated  maximum offering range may be reflected  in  the  form  of
          prospectus  filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule  424(b)  under
          the  Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in  volume  and
          price  represent  no more than a 20% change in the maximum  aggregate
          offering  price  set forth in the "Calculation of  Registration  Fee"
          table in the effective registration statement; and

               (iii)  To  include any material information  with respect to
          the plan of distribution not previously disclosed  in  the
          registration statement or any material change in the information
          set forth in the registration statement;

     Provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not  apply
     if  the  registration  statement is on Form  S-3  or  Form  S-8,  and  the
     information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
     paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic reports  filed  by  the  registrant
     pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act  of
     1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

           (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability  under  the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to  be  a  new  registration statement relating to the securities  offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be  deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

           (3)   To  remove  from  registration by means  of  a  post-effective
     amendment  any of the securities being registered which remain  unsold  at
     the termination of the offering.

     B.   Subsequent Documents Incorporated by Reference

           The  undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes  of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of  the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's  annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     C.   Claims for Indemnification

          Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-2

<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all  of  the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to  be  signed  on  its behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Minnetonka, State of Minnesota, on April 22, 1997.

                                     ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.


                                     By   /s/  William J. Cadogan
                                        ---------------------------------
                                        William J. Cadogan
                                        Chairman of the Board, President,
                                        Chief Executive Officer and
                                        Chief Operating Officer

      Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

By   /s/  William J. Cadogan                      Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   William J. Cadogan
   Chairman of the Board, President,
   Chief Executive Officer and
   Chief Operating Officer
   (principal executive officer)


By   /s/  Robert E. Switz                         Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Robert E. Switz
   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
   (principal financial officer)


By   /s/  Charles T. Roehrick                     Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Charles T. Roehrick
   Vice President and Controller
   (principal accounting officer)


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   James C. Castle, Ph.D.
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Thomas E. Holloran
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   B. Kristine Johnson
   Director


                                     II-3

<PAGE>

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Charles W. Oswald
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Irene M. Qualters
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Alan E. Ross
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Jean-Pierre Rosso
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Donald M. Sullivan
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Warde F. Wheaton
   Director


By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   John D. Wunsch
   Director


*By    /s/ Robert E. Switz
   -----------------------------------
   Robert E. Switz
   As Attorney-In-Fact


                                     II-4

<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number Description                                             Page
-------------- -----------                                             ----

   4.1         Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as
               amended to date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
               4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3,
               dated April 15, 1997)

   4.2         Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended to date
               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
               Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated
               April 15, 1997)

   5.1         Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP ..........................

   23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP ...........................

   23.2        Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

   24.1        Power of Attorney ........................................
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15061}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC", "cik": "0000061478", "assigned-sic": "3661", "irs-number": "410743912", "state-of-incorporation": "MN", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-25623", "film-number": "97585239"}, "business-address": {"street1": "12501 WHITEWATER DR", "city": "MINNETONKA", "state": "MN", "zip": "55343", "phone": "6129388080"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4900 W 78TH ST", "city": "MINNEAPOLIS", "state": "MN", "zip": "55435"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "MAGNETIC CONTROLS CO", "date-changed": "19850605"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 1997
                                                          Registration No. 333-
===============================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  ----------

                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  ----------

                         ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                       
               Minnesota                          41-0743912
      (State or other jurisdiction             (I.R.S. Employer
   of incorporation or organization)         Identification No.)

         12501 Whitewater Drive
         Minnetonka, Minnesota                       55343
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)          (Zip Code)
                                       
                         ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                    NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
                           (Full title of the plan)
                                       
                                  Copies to:
         David F. Fisher, Esq.            Robert A. Rosenbaum, Esq.
        Vice President, General              Dorsey & Whitney LLP
    Counsel and Corporate Secretary         Pillsbury Center South
      ADC Telecommunications, Inc.          220 South Sixth Street
         12501 Whitewater Drive         Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402
      Minnetonka, Minnesota  55343              (612) 340-5681
             (612) 938-8080
     (Name, address, and telephone
      number of agent for service)

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===============================================================================
                                    Proposed         Proposed         Amount
      Title of                      maximum          maximum            of
   securities to    Amount to    offering price aggregate offering registration
   be registered  be registered  per share (1)      price (1)          fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Common Stock     400,000          $24           $9,600,000        $2,910
  ($.20 par value)
===============================================================================

(1)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee,
   pursuant to Rule 457(h), based upon the average of the high and low prices
   of the Common Stock on April 18, 1997, as reported on the Nasdaq National
   Market.

   Pursuant  to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration  Statement
relates  to  the  registration of additional shares of Common Stock,  $.20  par
value  ("Common  Stock"),  of  the  Registrant  under  the  Registrant's   1991
Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan, a stock-based employee benefit plan for
which   the   Registrant  registered  55,000  shares  of  Common  Stock   under
Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May
3, 1991 (File No. 33-40357), the contents of each of which (including any post-
effective amendments thereto) are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

===============================================================================
PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

            The   following   documents,  which  have   been   filed   by   ADC
Telecommunications,  Inc.  (the "Company") with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, as of
their respective dates:

           (a)   The  Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the  year  ended
     October 31, 1996.

           (b)   All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)  of
     the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),
     since October 31, 1996.

           (c)  The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in  any
     Registration  Statement  filed  under  the  Exchange  Act,  including  any
     amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

           All other reports and any definitive proxy or information statements
subsequently  filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),  14  and
15(d)  of  the  Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective  amendment
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all  securities  then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of
such documents.

ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number    Description
------    -----------

  4.1     Restated Articles  of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to
          date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's
          Registration Statement  on Form S-3, dated April 15, 1997).

  4.2     Restated  Bylaws  of the Company, as amended to date (incorporated
          by reference to Exhibit 4.2  to the Company's Registration
          Statement on Form S-3, dated April 15, 1997).

  5.1     Opinion of Dorsey  & Whitney LLP regarding legality.

  23.1    Consent  of  Arthur Andersen LLP.

  23.2    Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 to this
          Registration Statement).

  24.1    Power of Attorney.

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS

     A.   Post-Effective Amendments

          The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)   To  file, during any period in which offers or sales are  being
  made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                                     II-1
(i)  To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3)  of
          the Securities Act of 1933;

                (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events  arising
          after  the effective date of the registration statement (or the  most
          recent  post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually  or  in
          the aggregate, represent a fundamental change to such information  in
          the  registration  statement.   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any
          increase  or decrease in volume of securities offered (if  the  total
          dollar  value of securities offered would not exceed that  which  was
          registered)  and  any  deviation from the low  or  high  end  of  the
          estimated  maximum offering range may be reflected  in  the  form  of
          prospectus  filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule  424(b)  under
          the  Securities Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in  volume  and
          price  represent  no more than a 20% change in the maximum  aggregate
          offering  price  set forth in the "Calculation of  Registration  Fee"
          table in the effective registration statement; and

               (iii)  To  include any material information  with respect to
          the plan of distribution not previously disclosed  in  the
          registration statement or any material change in the information
          set forth in the registration statement;

     Provided,  however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not  apply
     if  the  registration  statement is on Form  S-3  or  Form  S-8,  and  the
     information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
     paragraphs  is  contained  in periodic reports  filed  by  the  registrant
     pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act  of
     1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

           (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability  under  the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to  be  a  new  registration statement relating to the securities  offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be  deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

           (3)   To  remove  from  registration by means  of  a  post-effective
     amendment  any of the securities being registered which remain  unsold  at
     the termination of the offering.

     B.   Subsequent Documents Incorporated by Reference

           The  undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes  of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of  the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's  annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     C.   Claims for Indemnification

          Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-2
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all  of  the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to  be  signed  on  its behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Minnetonka, State of Minnesota, on April 22, 1997.

                                     ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                     By   /s/  William J. Cadogan
                                        ---------------------------------
                                        William J. Cadogan
                                        Chairman of the Board, President,
                                        Chief Executive Officer and
                                        Chief Operating Officer

      Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

By   /s/  William J. Cadogan                      Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   William J. Cadogan
   Chairman of the Board, President,
   Chief Executive Officer and
   Chief Operating Officer
   (principal executive officer)

By   /s/  Robert E. Switz                         Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Robert E. Switz
   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
   (principal financial officer)

By   /s/  Charles T. Roehrick                     Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Charles T. Roehrick
   Vice President and Controller
   (principal accounting officer)

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   James C. Castle, Ph.D.
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Thomas E. Holloran
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   B. Kristine Johnson
   Director

                                     II-3
By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Charles W. Oswald
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Irene M. Qualters
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Alan E. Ross
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Jean-Pierre Rosso
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Donald M. Sullivan
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   Warde F. Wheaton
   Director

By             *                                  Dated:  April 22, 1997
   -----------------------------------
   John D. Wunsch
   Director

*By    /s/ Robert E. Switz
   -----------------------------------
   Robert E. Switz
   As Attorney-In-Fact

                                     II-4
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number Description                                             Page
-------------- -----------                                             ----

   4.1         Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as
               amended to date (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
               4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3,
               dated April 15, 1997)

   4.2         Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended to date
               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
               Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated
               April 15, 1997)

   5.1         Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP ..........................

   23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP ...........................

   23.2        Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

   24.1        Power of Attorney ........................................