1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to higher education; students; establishing 
  1.3             the Minnesota student retention center; appropriating 
  1.4             money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] 
  1.7      There is established a student retention center that shall 
  1.8   operate under the auspices of the council on Black Minnesotans 
  1.9   and in cooperation and consultation with the higher education 
  1.10  services office.  The center shall identify and address policy 
  1.11  issues surrounding enrollment of students from historically 
  1.12  underrepresented groups at public and private institutions of 
  1.13  higher education.  For purposes of this act, students from 
  1.14  historically underrepresented groups includes students of color, 
  1.15  students from low-income families, or students from 
  1.16  single-parent homes. 
  1.17     Sec. 2.  [DUTIES.] 
  1.18     The student retention center shall: 
  1.19     (1) collect data and develop a database to monitor 
  1.20  recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation of 
  1.21  underrepresented students; 
  1.22     (2) develop recruitment, enrollment, retention, and 
  1.23  graduation strategies for public and private institutions of 
  1.24  higher education; 
  1.25     (3) create partnerships with nonprofit community 
  2.1   organizations and public entities to assist in underrepresented 
  2.2   student recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation 
  2.3   efforts; 
  2.4      (4) provide opportunities for the development of social and 
  2.5   cultural interaction and exchange among all underrepresented 
  2.6   students enrolled in institutions of higher education; and 
  2.7      (5) provide counseling, mediation, and advocacy services to 
  2.8   underrepresented students, including loan-related services to 
  2.9   and on behalf of underrepresented students to assist 
  2.10  underrepresented students that are in default on student loans 
  2.11  return to good standing and complete their education.  Public 
  2.12  institutions shall make reasonable and good-faith efforts to 
  2.13  negotiate with the center on behalf of students attempting to 
  2.14  return to good standing and complete their education.  
  2.15     Sec. 3.  [POWERS.] 
  2.16     The student retention center, with approval of the council 
  2.17  on Black Minnesotans, may: 
  2.18     (1) determine and lease office space for the location of 
  2.19  the center; 
  2.20     (2) employ necessary staff and contract for services to 
  2.21  ensure efficient operation of the center; 
  2.22     (3) receive and award grants, in consultation and 
  2.23  cooperation with the higher education services office; 
  2.24     (4) enter into contracts with public or private 
  2.25  institutions of higher education, to provide instruction, 
  2.26  training, and consultation on issues of recruitment, enrollment, 
  2.27  retention, and graduation of underrepresented students. 
  2.28     Sec. 4.  [REPORT.] 
  2.29     The student retention center shall report to the governor 
  2.30  and committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher 
  2.31  education by January 15, 2002, on the status and progress of 
  2.32  underrepresented students in Minnesota completing their 
  2.33  education. 
  2.34     Sec. 5.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.35     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.36  council on Black Minnesotans for the purposes of this act.  This 
  3.1   appropriation is available until June 30, 2003.