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| Date: | May 19, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| MINNESOTA SENATE APPROVES HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT |
St. Paul – The Minnesota Senate continued to finalize budget bills, as the Higher Education Conference Committee report passed Thursday. The legislation, House File 1101, is the omnibus higher education budget bill for Fiscal Year 2012-13. The bill contains over $2.5 billion in general fund appropriations for the University of Minnesota (UMN), the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) and the Office of Higher Education (OHE), which administers financial aid programs for eligible public and nonpublic students.
Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Michelle Fischbach (R-Paynesville) stated, “This budget funds our priority of higher education while reducing bureaucratic overhead and encouraging true structural reforms. The legislation increases funding to critical programs which make it easier for students to afford and access higher education. We included measures to protect students from excessive tuition increases, as our future leaders, business owners and educators cannot afford a budget that balances on their backs. By focusing on affordability and operational improvement, we take steps to protect students while funding higher education at a level that reflects the means of our economy.”
Significant provisions in the bill include:
· Increased projected FY2012-13 financial aid funding by $15.1 million (4.4 percent)
o The conference committee adopted an increase in funding for the need-based State Grant program.
o The proposed $20.9 million (7.3 percent) increase to the State Grant program over FY 2012-2013 projections make up most of the projected shortfall in the program.
· Child Care Assistance Grants are held harmless.
· Work Study receives a 3.1 percent increase over the current biennium.
· Tuition caps for MnSCU four-year institutions at five percent in the first year and four percent in the second; tuition is capped at 3 percent each year for two-year institutions.
· Mayo Foundation Family Medicine Residency Program and the Mayo Medical School funding is held harmless.
After passing in both the Senate and the House, the Conference Report will be sent to Governor Dayton for final approval.
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