as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 04/16/2013 10:34am
A bill for an act
relating to higher education; requiring an analysis to develop financial strategies
to assist higher education students to timely complete their programs of study.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
new text begin
The director of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in consultation with the
higher education policy and finance committees of the legislature, shall analyze strategies
to financially assist students in the timely completion of their higher education program.
The director shall seek the advice of stakeholders in the higher education community
about the analysis. In addition to other issues, the analysis must include consideration of
the following:
new text end
new text begin
(1) tuition policies such as tuition guarantees, tuition rebates, declining tuition,
and other tuition strategies that provide a financial incentive to complete a program in a
timely fashion;
new text end
new text begin
(2) financial aid policies, including state grant awards and loan interest rate
adjustments, that make completing a program less of a financial burden than the costs
at the beginning of a program;
new text end
new text begin
(3) a system for identifying, counseling, and assisting students who are near
completion of a program but are considering leaving a program due to financial reasons; and
new text end
new text begin
(4) a strategy to connect students to employers prior to completion of a program and
combining a work experience with program completion.
new text end
new text begin
The director shall report the results of the analysis along with any recommendations
to the committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher education finance and
policy by January 15, 2014.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end