Legislative bills aim to expand need-based aid
Legislative champions have stepped forward to help recommit the state to need-based aid for college students. Sen. Rod Skoe (DFL-Clearbrook) has introduced SF 786 with David Tomassoni (DFL-Chisholm), Tarryl Clark (DFL-St. Cloud) and Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) as co-authors. The companion bill, HF 1142, was authored by Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) with David Bly (DFL-Northfield), Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie), Terry Morrow (DFL-St. Peter), Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead) and Willie Dominguez (DFL-Minneapolis) as co-authors.
Under these bills, the state would reduce the share of costs that students are expected to cover and increase the cap on four-year tuition and fees to correspond with current levels at the University of Minnesota. With these and other changes, the legislation would:
- Allow thousands more middle-income families to be eligible,
- Help lower-income students who are already eligible, and
- Help part-time students by increasing the size of their grants.
"Improving the state's need-based aid for college students will target state dollars where they are needed most — with the students and families of modest means who run the risk of losing access to higher education. This proposal lowers the share of tuition the student pays from 46 percent to 40 percent and therefore reduces student borrowing," said Sen. Skoe.
"Without new state effort, the number of college graduates is forecast to fall 12 percent. Meanwhile, our economy will require twice as many graduates," said David B. Laird, Jr., president, Minnesota Private College Council. "All Minnesotans will benefit if lawmakers act to keep college affordable for as many students as possible by recommitting to need-based aid."
For more details on MPCC's legislative efforts, view the Education Agenda for the Common Good 2007