State policymakers take steps but not strides on higher education
With the close of the 2007 legislative session, it appears that policymakers have taken some worthwhile steps without moving far enough to truly address the state's fundamental education challenges. State action on the five components of An Education Agenda for the Common Good, which was supported by the members of the Minnesota Private College Council and other community groups, appears insufficient.
Here are some of the key components of the Omnibus Higher Education Bill (House File 1063) that Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed into law on May 30:
- Achieve Scholarships
A highlight of this session has been the creation of new Achieve scholarships that will offer new encouragement for hard work in high school. Championed by Gov. Pawlenty's administration, the scholarships will be awarded to low-income students who have undertaken rigorous college-prep coursework. This is the kind of step the state needed to take to encourage those least likely to go to college to do just that. The Council's agenda called for a similar new scholarship effort but at a higher funding level. The bill appropriated $10.8 million for the biennium to fund one-time scholarships of $1,200. - Need-Based Aid
The biggest disappointment this session was the decision to increase base funding for need-based aid through the State Grant Program by only $2 million. This means that the state has not significantly addressed the falling value of this program's average awards, particularly for students from lowest-income families. Our advocacy did help sustain the program at a time when its funding faced several threats. For example, the bill did retain all of the Pell Grant and program savings and assigned them to improvements in the Grant Program, compared to earlier proposals to siphon these dollars for other non-financial aid uses. - Postsecondary Child Care Grant
The bill does improve childcare support for student parents. This was a key part of our agenda, given the need to help more low- and middle-income students afford post-high school education and the barrier that childcare costs can create. The bill includes a $300 increase in the maximum annual grant for child care expenses for student parents. - Minnesota GI Bill
To help support the education needs of recent veterans, the state has created a Minnesota GI bill with $12 million of funding for the biennium. Along with the direct benefit to these veterans, there would be a positive impact for the state from any resulting increase in the number of Minnesotans who earn college degrees. Funds will be able to be used by veterans at private as well as public colleges. - Public System Appropriations
Policymakers were focused this session on moderating tuition increases at public institutions in the two government systems, the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. This resulted in appropriations that exceeded the governor's recommendations and very nearly matched the public systems requests. This spending is of concern; moderating tuition for current students is inefficient and costly when compared to the state's ability to instead target supports for low- and middle-income students through the State Grant Program.
Looking ahead, we must always keep in mind that Minnesota is at a critical juncture for its economic and social future. Demographic changes are radically altering the age composition of our population and workforce and our school age population. Academic preparedness is critical for all students, but especially those students for whom the current system is not as likely to reach effectively. The state will need to nearly double its production of bachelor's degree recipients within the next decade. International competitive standards will draw into question the stability of Minnesota's quality of life and economic vitality in the decade to come.
Long-term vision is central in understanding how the latest higher education bill falls short of our common needs. Our economic advantage in the global marketplace relies heavily upon investment in our future workforce, essentially our future students and higher education institutions. Much more needs to be done.