2007 Minnesota Statutes

136A.233 WORK-STUDY GRANTS.
    Subdivision 1. Allocation to institutions. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education shall
allocate work-study money to eligible postsecondary institutions according to the resident
full-time equivalent enrollment of all eligible postsecondary institutions that apply to participate
in the program, and the amount of the allocation that an institution spent during the previous
academic year. Each institution wishing to participate in the work-study program must submit,
in accordance with policies and procedures established by the office, an estimate of the amount
of funds needed by the institution. Any funds allocated to an institution that exceed the actual
need of the institution shall be reallocated by the office to other institutions. An institution may
carry forward or backward the same percentage of its initial allocation that is authorized under
federal work-study provisions.
    Subd. 2. Definitions. For purposes of sections 136A.231 to 136A.233, the words defined in
this subdivision have the meanings ascribed to them.
(a) "Eligible student" means a Minnesota resident enrolled or intending to enroll at least half
time in a degree, diploma, or certificate program in a Minnesota postsecondary institution.
(b) "Minnesota resident" means a student who meets the conditions in section 136A.101,
subdivision 8 .
(c) "Financial need" means the need for financial assistance in order to attend a postsecondary
institution as determined by a postsecondary institution according to guidelines established by
the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
(d) "Eligible employer" means any eligible postsecondary institution, any nonprofit,
nonsectarian agency or state institution located in the state of Minnesota, a disabled person or a
person over 65 who employs a student to provide personal services in or about the person's
residence, or a private, for-profit employer employing a student as an intern in a position directly
related to the student's field of study that will enhance the student's knowledge and skills in
that field.
(e) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means any postsecondary institution eligible for
participation in the Minnesota state grant program as specified in section 136A.101, subdivision 4.
(f) "Independent student" has the meaning given it in the Higher Education Act of 1965,
United States Code, title 20, section 1070a-6, and applicable regulations.
(g) "Half-time" for undergraduates has the meaning given in section 136A.101, subdivision
7b , and for graduate students is defined by the institution.
    Subd. 3. Payments. Work-study payments shall be made to eligible students by
postsecondary institutions as provided in this subdivision.
    (a) Students shall be selected for participation in the program by the postsecondary institution
on the basis of student financial need.
    (b) In selecting students for participation, priority must be given to students enrolled for at
least 12 credits. In each academic year, a student may be awarded work-study payments for one
period of nonenrollment or less than half-time enrollment if the student will enroll on at least a
half-time basis during the following academic term.
    (c) Students will be paid for hours actually worked and the maximum hourly rate of pay
shall not exceed the maximum hourly rate of pay permitted under the federal college work-study
program.
    (d) Minimum pay rates will be determined by an applicable federal or state law.
    (e) The office shall annually establish a minimum percentage rate of student compensation
to be paid by an eligible employer.
    (f) Each postsecondary institution receiving money for state work-study grants shall make a
reasonable effort to place work-study students in employment with eligible employers outside
the institution. However, a public employer other than the institution may not terminate, lay off,
or reduce the working hours of a permanent employee for the purpose of hiring a work-study
student, or replace a permanent employee who is on layoff from the same or substantially the
same job by hiring a work-study student.
    (g) The percent of the institution's work-study allocation provided to graduate students shall
not exceed the percent of graduate student enrollment at the participating institution.
    (h) An institution may use up to 30 percent of its allocation for student internships with
private, for-profit employers.
    Subd. 4. Cooperation with local schools. Each campus using the state work study program
is encouraged to cooperate with its local public elementary and secondary schools to place college
work study students in activities in the schools, such as tutoring. Students must be placed in
meaningful activities that directly assist students in kindergarten through grade 12 in meeting
graduation standards including the profiles of learning. College students shall work under direct
supervision; therefore, school hiring authorities are not required to request criminal background
checks on these students under section 123B.03.
History: 1973 c 682 s 3; 1975 c 271 s 6; 1975 c 430 s 3; 1976 c 239 s 50; 1977 c 384 s 16;
1981 c 65 s 1; 1Sp1985 c 11 s 49; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 1; 1987 c 401 s 22,23; 1989 c
293 s 55; 1991 c 356 art 8 s 21; 1Sp1993 c 2 art 2 s 17; 1994 c 532 art 2 s 11,12; 1995 c 212
art 3 s 35,59; 1997 c 183 art 2 s 9-11; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 2005 c 56 s 1; 2005 c 107 art 2 s
60; 2007 c 144 art 2 s 30