For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
St. Paul, MN – State Representative David Dill has introduced legislation that will provide additional state funding for Cook County Higher Education’s North Shore campus, located in Grand Marais, on an ongoing annual basis.
Dill said the funding is needed to help sustain Cook County Higher Education’s service to the region.
“For the past 14 years, this innovative, nation-leading higher education program has been serving the needs of our communities by both educating our students and helping meet local hiring needs," said Dill. “Because most of the fees and tuition paid flows back to the MnSCU campuses, this ongoing funding is necessary to support their operational costs.”
For students living in the Grand Marais area, the average one-way commute to another higher education campus is 120 miles. Cook County Higher Education allows area residents to attend classes locally by working with existing colleges within the region.
Executive Director Paula Sundet Wolf said she considers the additional funding from the state to be the foundation piece of Cook County Higher Education.
“The first year we received this funding, we used it to pay for the renovations of our first building,” said Sundet Wolf. “On an ongoing basis, these dollars will help us stay operational.”
Cook County Higher Education served 800 students in the past year, with 115 enrolled in degree programs.
“This program is a great fit for our rural community, and a model for similar programs across the nation,” said Dill.