Other higher-education legislation in Minnesota
In the lull after Dayton's veto of the higher-education bill, I thought I'd give you the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) roundup of other legislation that would affect the system.
You can find this on MnSCU's nifty Friends Action Network blog (bold type mine):
Lawmakers passed some legislation that affects the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Agriculture Omnibus Finance bill - includes $94,000 for both years of the biennium for statewide mental health counseling support to farm families and business operators through farm business management programs at Central Lakes College and Ridgewater College.
Omnibus Liquor bill - included in the bill is a provision that removes outdated area of service language for public state universities. M.S. 340A.412 states that no license to sell liquor may be issued within 1,500 feet of a state university with certain exceptions near Minnesota State Colleges and Universities state universities. The liquor license prohibition was removed.
Teacher Candidates Basic Skills Exam bill - current law requires candidates for teacher licensure to pass a basic skills test in reading, writing and math, and provides for three years after receiving an initial teaching license to pass the exam. This bill requires candidates for teacher licensure pass the basic skills test before being granted an initial teaching license.
Alternative Teacher Preparation bill - provides for alternative pathways to becoming a licensed teacher. Alternative licensure candidates who meet all criteria would be granted a two-year limited license, which the Board of Teaching may renew for an additional year. Candidates must have a 3.0 or higher grade-point average or a waiver from the Board; pass basic reading, writing and math skills exams; and obtain qualifying scores on board-approved content and pedagogy exams.
State Agency Retained Savings Program bill - this bill establishes the State Agency Value Initiative, or SAVI program, to identify cost-effective and efficiency measures in agency programs and operations that result in cost savings for the state. All state agencies, including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, may participate in this program.
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