07/09/2007 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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2007 Higher Education Issues Under the Pawlenty Administra- tion several cuts have been made to Minnesota's education system. As a result of the cuts, tuition and cost of college attendance in Minnesota has been increasing at an unacceptable rate. The Min- nesota Legislature used the 2007 Session to focus on skyrocketing tuition and several other issues affecting affordability of Minne- sota colleges and universities. Tuition Members of the Senate worked with the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) to craft a plan that will hold tuition down. Legislation passed that will appropriate money for the colleges and universities core funding. The colleges and uni- versities will use the funding to slow the tuition increases instead of starting new initiatives. In the 2008 -09 school years, MnSCU will see a tuition increase of 4% and the University of Minnesota will see an increase of 3.5% for Minnesota families making under $150,000. Although they will still see an increase, it is the lowest increase in nearly a decade. Financial Aid Several bills were passed in the 2007 Session that will help college students with financial aid, including increases for the State Grant Program, child care grant increases, and funding for the GI Bill. The GI Bill will be used for eligible recipients after the federal Pell Grant, state grant program, and federal military or veterans education benefits are applied to the student's cost of attendance. Eligible Minnesota students must have served on or after 9/11 in the U.S. Armed Forces, accumulated five or more years in the Minnesota National Guard, or are a surviv- ing spouse or child of a person who died serving in the military on or after 9/11. Recipients may receive $1,000 per semester, or $2,000 per state fiscal year, with a $10,000 lifetime cap. Tuition Banding The University of Minnesota will receive funding to expand their "tuition banding" at all of their campuses. This will al- low students to only pay for 13 credits even if they take up to 18 credits. Higher Education Contacts: Minnesota Office of Higher Education (financial aid) Phone: 651 - 642 -0567 Toll Free: 800 - 657 -3866 University of Minnesota system Twin Cities campus: 612 - 625 -5000 Duluth campus: 218- 726 -8000 Morris campus: 320 -589 -2211 Crookston campus: 218 - 281 -6510 Rochester campus: 507- 280 -2838 or 800 - 947 -0117 Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system 651- 296 -8012 Toll -free: 888 - 667 -2848 Minnesota Private College Council 651- 228 -9061 Toll -free: 800- 774 -2655 Minnesota College Savings Plan Toll -free: 877 - 338 -4646 State Senator Sandy Rummel 323 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155 - (651) 296 -1253 sen.sandy.rummel @senate.mn