This document discusses several policy issues facing Minnesota higher education including credit transfer, affordability, college readiness, workforce needs, and the state legislative and budget outlooks. It also provides federal legislative context regarding budget challenges, sequestration cuts, and a divided federal government. Key topics covered are tuition increases, scholarship campaigns, aligning K-12 assessments with college placement exams, bonding requests for capital projects, and the "Unsession" aimed at repealing outdated state legislation.

1. Policy Brainstorm
Extravaganza!!

2. MnSCU System Policy
Work

3. Credit Transfer



Student Transfer Survey
Appeals Tracking
MnTC Certification

4. Affordability





Tuition set for 2014-2015
Fees increase up to 3%
Credit for Prior Learning
Four-year degrees on two-year
campuses
Scholarship campaigns

5. College Readiness


Increasing credit opportunities in high
school
Aligning high school assessments with
college placement exams

6. Meeting Workforce Needs


Statewide academic planning
Increasing internship opportunities

7. State Legislative
Landscape

8. State Budget Outlook



FY 2014-2015 projected $627 million
shortfall, however $2.1billion in
revenue increases during legislative
session will cover the deficit
MN’s economy ranked 5th fastest
growing in 2012
November Forecast – Surplus of $825
million after K-12 school shifts are paid
back

9. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
State Appropriation vs. Tuition Relationship
Fiscal Years 2002-2015
100.0%
90.0%
80.0% 66.3%
55.3%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0% 33.7% 44.7%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
60.1%
52.6%
51.4%
55.2%
47.4%
48.6%
44.8%
39.9%
Tuition
Appropriation
58.8% 58.1%
41.2% 41.9%

10. Legislative Basics



Biennial cycle: first year is a
budget/appropriations year, second
year is bonding bill
67 Senators, 134 Representatives
Higher Education committee members
in House and Senate are the main
focus of our work, Capital Investment
committee is also important,
especially in bonding years

11. What’s next at the Capitol?

Bonding
◦ MnSCU will be asking for:
 $130.6 million in HEAPR and demolition
 $155.9 million for capital projects and design
 The request relies on $58.8 of System financing
and $227.7 million in General Obligation
financing
 If fully funded, this request reduces total MnSCU
square footage by 257,360 feet
 Bonding bill will likely be between $800 and $900
million if passed

12. What’s next at the Capitol?

The Unsession
◦ Governor Dayton has named the 2014
session as the “Unsession”
◦ The goal is to repeal outdated legislation,
streamline and improve government

13. Current Legislative
Composition
 House
of Representatives
• DFL: 73
• R: 61
 Senate
• DFL: 39
• R: 28
 DFL Governor

15. Federal Legislative
Landscape

16. Federal Budget Challenges

Federal Government Shutdown
◦ Deal to end shutdown funds federal
government until January 15, 2014 and
raises debt ceiling through February 7,
2014
◦ Relatively minor impact on higher
education, did not impact federal financial
aid

17. Federal Budget Challenges

Sequestration Cuts
◦ First round occurred last year
◦ Reduced funding for





Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
TRiO
Federal work study
Suspension of military tuition assistance
Pell Grant was not impacted
◦ Second round of cuts scheduled for next
year which will be larger than the 2013
cuts

18. Divided Government

U.S. Senate
◦ 51 Democrats
◦ 47 Republicans
◦ 2 Independents

U.S. House
◦ 242 Republicans
◦ 193 Democrats

White House
◦ President Obama, Democrat

20. Time to Brainstorm!

Regional discussions
 What
are the most
important policy issues
facing students?