| |
| |
|
|
Senate Majority Research 651-296-4949 2007 Omnibus Higher Education Bill Summary: Highlights from the MnSCU section of the bill include appropriations to eliminate nonresident tuition in seven community and technical colleges in the state, the creation of the Textbook Disclosure, Pricing and Access Act to fight against rising textbook prices, and $2 million for vocational education on the Range. MNSCU will receive $152 million. The Office of Higher Education will receive $35.857 million in new money for the biennium. Highlights for the OHE are the GI Bill, additional money for Minitex, $2.5 million for childcare grants, and the introduction of the ACHIEVE program. The U of M section includes money to create an The higher education new spending total is $361,488,000 for the biennium. Office of Higher Education
GI Bill The GI Bill will be used for eligible recipients after the federal Pell Grant, state grant program, and the federal military or veterans education benefits is applied to the students cost of attendance. Eligible students must have served on or after 9/11 in the ACHIEVE The ACHIEVE program will receive $10 million this biennium, and $20 million in the tails. Students will receive $1,200 to use towards cost of attendants if they receive at least a grade of C for rigorous course work defined in the Federal Competitive Grant (ACG) Program. Up to $3 million of the biennium funding can be used by the Office of Higher Education to support access to rigorous high school courses and college attendance programs. Eligible students must: (1) Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); (2) Take and receive at least a grade of C for courses that comprise a rigorous secondary school program of study in a high school or in a home-school setting, and graduate from high school; (3) Have a family adjusted gross income in the last complete calendar year prior to the academic year of postsecondary attendance of less than $75,000; (4) Be a (5) Be a
Credit Card Marketing Institutions will not be allowed to provide information to companies marketing credit cards to undergraduates. However that will not apply to graduate students, so that alumni associations will be able to make credit card offers to graduates. Personal Financial Management During initial student registration, each technical college, community college, or state university shall, and the
MNSCU
Nonresident Tuition $3.436 million is appropriated to CBED $880,000 is appropriated for the biennium for community-based energy development pilot projects at Mesabi Range Technical and Community College, the Minnesota West Community and MnSCU Performance Funding One percent of the MnSCU funding will be available if they can demonstrate that they: (1) Increase by at least 3%, compared to fiscal year 2005, the number of students who take college level courses in science, technology, engineering, and math. (2) Increase by at least 2%, compared to fiscal year 2005, enrollment in courses at the four existing center of excellence programs. (3) Increase by at least 700, compared to fiscal year 2007, the number of students trained on the use of electronic medical record technology. (4) Increase by at least 10%, compared to fiscal year 2007, the number of students taking online courses of the number of online courses offered. (5) Expand by at least 10%, compared to calendar year 2006, the use of “awards of excellence” or other initiatives that reward member institutions, faculty, administrators, or staff for innovations designed to advance excellence and efficiency.
Textbooks $500,000 is appropriated to MNSCU for the Textbook Disclosure, Pricing and Access Act. The bill will have publishers provide the following information for students:
The bill also requires the Office of Higher Education to identify methods to compile and distribute information on entities that sell course material for class room use. Instructors are required to tell bookstores what materials they are considering, and the bookstores are required to get information from publishers regarding pricing, content changes, and bundling. A textbook strategy report is due from the University, MnSCU and the Office of Higher Education on U of M
U of M Regent Selection Process A joint committee, consisting of the members of the higher education budget and policy divisions from each house of the Legislature, will meet to consider recommendations by the advisory council. Other than the advisory council, candidates can receive a recommendation to the joint committee by receiving support from at least three House and two Senate members. The joint committee will recommend candidates to the joint convention by giving candidates a majority of the vote from both houses. The Governor and his office are no longer involved in the selection process. U of M Performance Funding One percent of the U of M funding will be available if they can demonstrate at least 3 categories: (1) Increase financial support to pay the cost of attendance for students demonstrating financial need. (2) Maintain or improve the U of M’s rank in its national share of total research and development expenditures reported to the National Science Foundation over the 2007 ranking. (3) Increase by at least 5%, compared to fiscal year 2007, the number of degrees awarded in science, technology, engineering, math, and health science disciplines. (4) Increase by at least 5%, compared to fiscal year 2007, the amount of financial support from key funding sources for renewable energy research. (5) Increase and improve interaction and research activity beneficial to businesses and industry. $150,000 in appropriated to the U of M to establish an
Controversial? This bill should be a good compromise for the Governor. Several changes were made in response to his veto letter. The changes were:
Even with these changes, tuition increases should not be affected for the 2008 and 2009 school years. Researcher: Daniel Hicks 296-5561 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Subscribe to the Parents United e-list. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
