Greater access to college discussed at December forum in St. Paul
The question of how we continue to expand opportunity in higher education despite the financial problems facing our state was the focus of a Dec. 15 policy discussion hosted by the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC). Moderated by St. Paul School Board Vice Chair Elona Street-Stewart, the forum attracted about 50 community members. Street-Stewart set the stage by suggesting that “our higher education ‘destination’ should be quality and affordable higher education for all Minnesota students.”
The need for enhanced access to higher education was made clear by State Demographer Tom Gillaspy. Growth in the labor force is due to slow markedly, with talent shortages in key occupations. Factors he cited included Baby Boomer retirements and fewer high school graduates, with those numbers shrinking after this spring. “Our future economic growth depends very much on the kind of workforce that we develop,” Gillaspy said.
The demographic and labor force changes will pose significant challenges for employers, as noted by Alex Cirillo, vice president of community affairs for Maplewood-based 3M. “We could bring in a Nobel-winning scientist, but this individual would not be successful, unless he was surrounded by a cadre of people to support him,” Cirillo said. “The quality of our local labor force is a big deal to us at 3M...education has to be at the top when we’re making decisions about budgets.”
A video clip brought others’ articulation of the education and demographic challenges facing our state to the meeting, with highlights from the recent Vanishing Graduates & Minnesota’s Future production by TPT’s Minnesota Channel.
For responses, David B. Laird, Jr., MPCC president, noted that there are going to be different ideas and proposals for how best to respond. He highlighted two elements that have been lifted up in the Council’s College Opportunity Agenda: expanding TRiO access programs and Minnesota’s need-based aid assistance.
TRiO helps first generation and low-income students prepare for and be successful in college, explained Janet Tauer, TriO projects director at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. “There is a definite need to expand support programs like TRiO, especially when we can’t afford to let anyone fall through the cracks,” she said.
For the State Grant program, Minnesota’s need-based aid, Susan Heegaard, director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, talked about the affordability challenges students face and the challenge the program has in keeping up with demand and higher education costs. “I hope we can maximize opportunities for students.” she said.
Recent College of St. Scholastica graduate Diane Tran reflected on what financial aid meant to her, a first-generation student of immigrant parents. “I am incredibly grateful for the ability to receive scholarships funding from the government, from private foundations and schools themselves. They were certainly instrumental for me,” she said.
Laird summed up the rationale for the need for bold efforts: “I am concerned about the future for my grandchildren,” he said. “The status quo is our enemy. We need to work together and think strategically about how we can best position our state for the future.”