Higher education policy changes

A lower cap on state grant awards to students at private, for-profit colleges is among the provisions of an omnibus higher education policy bill on its way to the House floor.

Sponsored by Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia), HF3448 was approved April 14 by the House Finance Committee. A companion, SF184, sponsored by Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), awaits action by the full Senate.

The bill would lower tuition and fee maximums used to calculate the amount students are eligible to receive from the state grant program when attending private, for-profit colleges. The provision is designed to help address a projected $43 million state financial aid shortfall in the current biennium.

Rukavina said the provision is “an attempt to add some fairness” to potential reductions in students’ grant awards; however, some members questioned whether it was fair to single out students at particular schools.

“I hope you don’t hold the students responsible who are just trying to pay for the college they chose,” said Rep. Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers).

The bill would also direct the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to implement a pilot project where it would deposit some of its cash reserves in local banks as a way to encourage lending to small businesses. A report back the Legislature would be required.

Other selected provisions include:

• reinstating $1 million in funding for a new high-school-to-college developmental transition program, also known as the “summer bridge” program;

• requiring MnSCU to implement a plan to improve its system of transferring credits between schools;

• increasing the amount of revenue bonds MnSCU can issue for capital projects; and

• directing MnSCU to streamline its central office and reduce expenditures.

Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls) successfully amended the bill to include a provision requiring the University of Minnesota to report to the Legislature on ethical issues involved in nanotechnology research.

An amendment successfully offered by Rep. Thomas Huntley (DFL-Duluth) would require MnSCU to develop a surgical technologist training pilot project in conjunction with a local hospital. Huntley said the employment of technologists has been shown to reduce the rate of surgical errors.