The Legislature appropriated $73 million to higher education: $36 million to the University of Minnesota, $36 million to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU), and $1 million for student financial aid.

The $36 million to the University of Minnesota was for the following purposes:

• $31.85 million for strategic academic initiatives in digital technology, molecular and cellular biology, and design; an equipment base adjustment; a faculty setup and equipment fund; a rapid agricultural response fund to conduct research to solve problems including, but not limited to, those affecting spring wheat, barley, canola, potatoes, and respiratory diseases affecting turkey; and faculty and staff compensation;

• $3.65 million for agricultural research and outreach; and

• $250,000 for the law clinics program in the law school, and $250,000 for Project Outreach. The Governor vetoed the appropriations for these two initiatives.

The $36 million to MnSCU was for the following purposes:

• $10 million for activities to enhance partnerships between colleges and business and industry. $450,000 of this appropriation is to review aviation maintenance program needs and for equipment to upgrade the aviation maintenance programs at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Northland Community and Technical College, and Winona/Red Wing Technical College. The MnSCU board is directed to: (1) review avionics programs at other campuses to determine equipment and program needs; and (2) review current and prospective aviation maintenance programs to ensure that programs are coordinated across campuses, and that courses offered are not duplicative. This appropriation also contains money to increase the number of student internships;
  
  
• $20 million to reduce the funding variance in state appropriation per full-time equivalent student. Factors to be considered in making allocations include type of institution, campus size, type and cost of programs, and instructional/program level. Allocations may be used for an equipment base adjustment and training in instructional technology for students, faculty, and staff; and
  
  
• $3 million for the acquisition of library materials and equipment, and $3 million for colleges of education to redesign their curricula to prepare teachers to work with the graduation rule, and to integrate the use of computers and technology into their teaching methods.
  
  

  By reinvesting an estimated $13.5 million in savings from changes in federal student financial aid and providing $1 million in new money for the work-study program, the Legislature continued its commitment to help families pay for their children's college education.

  
  

  Under Minnesota's student financial aid policy, students are currently responsible for 50 percent of the recognized price of attending college. The Legislature reduced the proportion of the cost the student must pay from 50 percent to 47 percent. This will decrease a student's share of the recognized price of attending college by approximately $212 at MnSCU two-year institutions, $234 at MnSCU four-year institutions, $286 at the University of Minnesota, $327 at private two-year institutions, and $388 at private four-year institutions. Typical dependent undergraduate students with parental adjusted gross incomes under $20,000 will see significant increases in their combined state grant and federal Pell grant awards: $610 at MnSCU two-year institutions, $659 at MnSCU four-year institutions, $755 at the University of Minnesota, $945 at private four-year colleges, and $958 at private two-year colleges.

  
  

  The Legislature included $1 million for the work-study program to further assist students in paying for their education. This money will provide jobs for about an additional 1,000 students.

  
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