For Minnesota State, the bill includes a total of $8.175 million, of which $4.761 is in the base. $3.125 million is for additional funding for campus support, of which $1.011 million is ongoing in the base. There is also a $5.050 million increase to the workforce development scholarship program, of which $3.75 million is ongoing. The bill adds construction, social work and law enforcement to the list of eligible scholarship programs as well. Of the new funds for the workforce development scholarship program, $800,000 in one-time funds are specifically to be used for newly entering students in Allied Health Technician programs.
Other areas in the bill that receive funding includes $3 million in one-time funds for continued Certified Nursing Assistant training. The Office of Higher Education and Minnesota State’s HealthForce Minnesota partnership administer a program for recruitment and training of students to become certified nursing assistants. The program includes a model for covering student costs, including but not limited to tuition and fees, necessary materials, and testing.
There is also $750,000 in the base for the Student Parent Support Initiative. Grant dollars are to address the needs and support the educational goals of expectant and parenting college students across Minnesota. Grants are to be awarded to post-secondary institutions, professional organizations, community-based organizations, or other applicants deemed appropriate by the Office of Higher Education. Grants are to be used to offer services to support the academic goals, health and well-being of student parents.
$3 million is provided in the base for grants to Minnesota’s three independent Tribal colleges in order to fund their general operations and maintenance expenses. The funds are to be apportioned equally among the three colleges and a report to the Office of Higher Education and the Legislature is required on the use of the funds.
$2.414 million is added to the base of the State Grant program starting in fiscal year 2024 and will fund a 1 percent increase to the living and miscellaneous expense allowance (LME), from 109 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to 110 percent.
There is $500,000 in the base for the underrepresented student teacher grant program, which provides grants to student teachers in shortage areas.
There is $75,000 in additional base funding for the Hunger Free Campus program, as well as language that expands those eligible to receive Hunger-Free Campus grants to non-profit private post-secondary institutions.
The bill also includes $500,000 in the base for Inclusive Higher Education. Of this amount, $330,000 is for the inclusive higher education grants, and $170,000 is to enter into a contract establishing the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center to increase access to self-sustaining post-secondary education options across Minnesota for students with an intellectual disability to earn meaningful credentials through degree, certificate, and non-degree initiatives leading to competitive integrated employment, genuine community membership, and more independent living.
In collaboration with this Center, the Office of Higher Education is to establish a competitive grant program for Minnesota institutions of higher education to develop new or enhance existing inclusive higher education initiatives to enroll or increase enrollment of students with an intellectual disability. An eligible institution could receive up to $200,000 per year for four years and $100,000 in subsequent years pending performance and funding limitation.
The final bill also includes $1 million in one-time funds for a grant to the Owatonna Learn to Earn Coalition to help the Owatonna and Steele County region grow and retain a talented workforce.
There are some policy provisions in the bill as well. Regarding campus sexual assault policies, current law requires Minnesota post-secondary institutions to establish written policies on sexual harassment and sexual violence. The language in this bill would require those policies to include an affirmative consent standard as defined in the bill. There is also language that requires post-secondary institutions to train students on the affirmative consent standard.
Regarding developmental education, there is language in the bill that requires a college or university to determine whether an individual’s performance on a standardized test exempts the individual from a developmental course and informs the individual if a developmental course is required. The bill also prohibits a college or university from determining if an individual is placed in a developmental, non-credit course based solely on the testing process. The college or university is allowed to use multiple measures to make a holistic determination to place an individual in a developmental course. The term “remedial” is changed to “developmental” throughout this section of law.
The bill also repeals the Board of Trustees Candidate Advisory Council that had been tasked with assisting the governor in identifying criteria and candidates for non-student membership on the Board of Trustees for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. With the repealer of the Council, language is added to the requirements for the governor’s consideration in making appointments to the Board of Trustees.
Below are links to the final bill and the final spreadsheet for your review: