Bill caps student tuition, increases financial assistance programs, and seeks cost savings for students
On a broad bipartisan vote of 62-3, Senator Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) joined his Minnesota State Senate colleagues in passing the bipartisan higher education budget bill that puts the needs of students and families first by boosting scholarship funds, capping student tuition, and bolstering successful programs that meet workforce needs and lead to future employment. The bill is a component of the final balanced budget agreement reached by the legislature and governor and is the first major budget bill of the 2019 session passed by both the House and Senate.
“From capping tuition to expanding workforce development scholarships, this bipartisan budget agreement aims to make college more affordable, accessible, and relevant,” said Senator Draheim, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and was a member of the bipartisan conference committee responsible for assembling the bill. “More than just focusing on the cost of tuition, this legislation looks to lower college costs through a multi-faceted approach, including freezing online student fees and expanding degrees that do not require the purchase of textbooks.”
The bill includes two measures authored by Senator Draheim that aim to reduce college costs through innovative reforms. The legislation expands the “Z-degree program” at Minnesota State colleges, which allows students to obtain a college degree without the need to purchase text books. The bill expands the program to three additional Minnesota State colleges. Additionally, the measure includes a freeze of fees charged to students for taking online courses at Minnesota State institutions and mandates the system to issue a report on lowering the cost of online tuition in the future, including the possibility of eliminating the fees.
“Student debt is nearing crisis level, and we should be looking at all possible ways to lower the cost of higher education,” added Senator Draheim.
Further, the final higher education budget invests over $18 million in the Minnesota State Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to low-income students at all higher education institutions in the state, including private college and universities. The bill also provides for a significant expansion of the Workforce Development Scholarship Program by including additional training programs, adding flexibility to target returning workers, and rewarding campuses leveraging private-sector partnerships to increase scholarship awards.
“This legislation uses an all-of-the-above approach to student scholarships, allowing flexibility in where students choose to learn,” concluded Draheim. “Further, we aim to ensure our higher education programs stay relevant, incentivizing students to pursue degrees that will lead to jobs in high-demand industries. By focusing on affordability, flexibility, and relevance, we are hope to put Minnesota students first.”