After several years of stagnation and cuts, it appears the state’s main source of financial aid is on the rebound. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education estimates that college students next year should receive an average of $200 more in their State Grant awards, a 12 percent increase. That’s twice the 6 percent growth the Read more →
Minnesota Higher Education Commissioner Larry Pogemiller tells an Augsburg College immigrant student he’ll urge a change in the State Grant formula so that unauthorized immigrants — who can’t get federal grants — can receive more state money: “I’m so sorry that it’s not perfect yet. It’ll get there, hopefully for your sister, for your siblings.” At Read more →
Although yesterday’s story, MnSCU students concerned over a proposed State Grant increase, was ultimately an issue between MnSCU students and the governor / Office of Higher Education, I wanted to get the voice of private colleges. After all, their students are among those getting the largest shares of the governor’s proposed $80 million increase to Read more →
LISTEN: MPR’s Alex Friedrich discusses the State Grant increase A proposed record boost in the state’s main post-secondary financial aid program is drawing criticism from student leaders at Minnesota state colleges and universities, who say they wouldn’t get their fair share of the increase. Gov. Mark Dayton is asking for an $80 million increase over Read more →
A while back I did a radio piece on how student leaders at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system campuses were saying the State Grant formula was unfair toward working part-time students. Above is a survey that the Minnesota State University Student Association (which represents those at four-year institutions) conducted of part-time students. The Read more →
Meredith Fergus, State Grant analyst at the state Office of Higher Education, told the Senate higher-education committee at a hearing late yesterday that the State Grant program can afford to take in the estimated 330 or so students who are living illegally in Minnesota and who would qualify for state financial aid. The estimated cost Read more →
“When I was an aide to then-Sen. Walter Mondale in 1975-1976, education was one of my areas of responsibility. And back then federal student financial aid was one-third grants, one-third loans and one-third college work-study. Now it’s 2 percent college work-study, 18 percent grants for the poorest student and 80 percent loans; which means for Read more →
Today I’ve got a report on MPR News on part-time students who say the State Grant penalizes them for holding down a job. How so? They’re not get getting state aid that’s in proportion to the number of credits they take. One part that didn’t make it into the piece was that it has been Read more →
I’m working on my own radio spots about the state Office of Higher Education report above. But for now feel free to read the original report (Ed. note: Problems uploading. Link to report is here.) And check out the office’s take on the data in its press release below: OHE REPORT INDICATES HOW MN STUDENTS Read more →
The state Office of Higher Education released its annual report for the State Grant late yesterday afternoon. Here’s a copy, and I’m going through it, but I’ve also got a call in for some interpretation. Meanwhile, here’s what a spokeswoman for the office wrote: Page 9 shows that a significant portion of Independent, Not Married Read more →
Alex Friedrich