Higher Ed committee continues overview, program assessment

A new day brought a new look at data and trends for the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance Committee.

“If there were a theme of this committee it would be access of choice for students,” proclaimed Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls), the committee chair.

The committee continued to discuss all things higher education Wednesday, including data on the use of state and federal financial aid programs and grants, data and trends regarding enrollment, tuition cost and student debt, and broad legislative goals. Both state and nationwide trends were reviewed.

“Our level of borrowing is not as risky as other states,” said Larry Pogemiller, commissioner of the Office of Higher Education. “… The Legislature has been very generous. It used to be not enough students, or financial aid, but that’s not the case now.”

The first committee meeting Tuesday was spent overviewing the committee’s governance and legislative oversight, as well as highlighting programs, appropriations and grants that were initiated last biennium.