Higher education group reviews last biennium success, looks ahead

With a new committee name and a new membership roster, the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee began the 2017 legislative session reviewing the past while expressing optimism for the future.

During Tuesday’s first committee meeting, numerous members expressed a desire to improve education as a whole throughout the state.

“I know when I’m out in my district people are talking about all levels of education,” said Rep. Laurie Pryor (DFL-Minnetonka). “We need to be thinking ahead in career readiness, in all occupations, for the future.”

Questions regarding student enrollment trends, tuition and student-debt increases, and future bonding issues were also discussed.

During an overview of the committee’s governance and legislative oversight, highlighted changes from the 2015-16 biennium included $15 million to increase the national ranking of the University of Minnesota Medical School; appropriated funds to the university’s Mobile Dental Clinic; appropriated funds to design the collegiate recovery program at the university’s Rochester campus; and the tying of 5 percent of Fiscal Year 2017 funds to operations and maintenance programs tied to performance goals.

Several new programs and grants created last biennium were also highlighted, including an occupational scholarship pilot program offering scholarships to two-year college students for college credentials in high-demand occupations; a teacher shortage loan forgiveness program; dual-training competency grant programs; equity in post-secondary education grants; campus sexual assault data collection; and establishing a higher education attainment goal.