This presentation will be a first look at the 2015-2016 MSCSA Policy Agenda proposal. Recommendations for changes to the agenda will occur later during the Platform Committee meeting during the conference.

1. Proposed Legislative Agenda

2.  This Minnesota session is going to be
quick:
◦ 10 weeks versus 5 months
◦ Won’t be as much time to negotiate
 Not all of these issues will necessarily
be a major focus:
◦ We are forced to react to what’s moving and
what’s not.
 The agenda is purposefully broad.
Things to keep in mind…

3.  September feedback session:
◦ Students brainstormed issues:
 Starting from the “big” and narrowing from
there.
◦ This feedback became the base for
discussions around the current
legislative/political environment.
◦ This draft reflects what we believe to be the
issues on which we have a chance to make
an impact this session/year.
Where did this draft come
from?

4.  Supplemental Budget:
◦ November forecast shows $1.87 billion in
surplus (about $1.2 available for spending).
◦ Taxes, transportation, pre-school funding likely
top priorities
◦ MnSCU supplemental request still unknown.
 Capital Bonding:
◦ Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
(MnSCU) bonding request
 Higher Education Policy:
◦ Developmental education
◦ College completion/retention rates
Minnesota Legislative Outlook

5.  Textbooks:
◦ OERs are a popular solution for saving
students money on textbooks.
◦ Both MnSCU and the University of Minnesota
have invested resources into OER creation
and promotion.
◦ We want to build off that momentum and
expand the use so more students can save.
◦ Historically, legislators have been open to
textbook initiatives.
State Legislative Agenda

6.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports legislation aimed at
increasing the availability and promotion of
open resource textbooks, other electronic
educational materials, and any other efforts
that will save students money on educational
materials.
Therefore….

7.  Developmental Education:
◦ Hot topic last session and likely to be so
again this year.
◦ Legislation last year sought a major overhaul
of how developmental education was offered
to students.
◦ Improvements can have a major impact on
college retention and completion rates;
especially for students from populations
traditionally under-represented in higher
education.
State Legislative Agenda

8.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports efforts to save students
money on developmental education and the
promotion of best practices across the state
that will directly benefit students.
Therefore…

9.  Retention and Completion Rates:
◦ Hot topic at the legislature last year and
likely again this session.
◦ Legislators want better rates from our
colleges and are linking funding to
improvements in this area.
◦ Improved retention rates will help campuses
and all students.
◦ A variety of proposals are likely to be
brought forward.
State Legislative Agenda

10.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports legislative initiatives aimed
at increasing student retention and
completion, especially those focused on
students from populations traditionally
under-represented in higher education.
Therefore…

11.  Bonding:
◦ Campuses across the MnSCU system have
building and repair needs.
◦ The MnSCU bonding process scores campus
projects based on a detailed scoring metric
and produces a ranked list for legislators to
consider.
◦ Legislators generally look favorably on
MnSCU’s process.
◦ Students can often be the best advocates for
local campus needs.
State Legislative Agenda

12.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) bonding
request.
Therefore…

13.  College Affordability:
◦ A top priority for MSCSA (and legislators) last
session.
◦ We want to continue talking about the need
to address the affordability of our campuses.
◦ Proposals could come in a couple different
proposals:
 Supplemental funding for campuses
 Further tuition direction
State Legislative Agenda

14.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports continued efforts to lower
Minnesota’s national ranking in tuition and
fees for community and technical college
students.
Therefore…

15.  Financial Aid Access:
◦ Some students have access to significant
financial assistance if they know how to find
it.
◦ While Minnesota has comparatively strong
FAFSA completion numbers to other states,
we believe there is work that can be done to
target those not attending college now.
◦ Our state needs more people graduating
with a college degree and increasing FAFSA
completion could help.
State Legislative Agenda

16.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports efforts to increase FAFSA
completion by Minnesota high school seniors
as well as populations of students
traditionally under-represented in higher
education.
Therefore…

17.  Textbooks:
◦ Sen. Franken has legislation around OERs
and has been pushing it for a few years.
◦ We believe now is the time to move on
federal legislation to promote OER creation
and use.
◦ Having legislation in place gives us a great
opportunity to jump-start a great student
issue.
Federal Agenda

18.  We’re proposing the adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports initiatives aimed at
promoting the creation and use of open
educational resources and other electronic
educational materials that will save students
money.
Therefore…

19.  FAFSA Simplification:
◦ National movement to simplify the FAFSA.
◦ Simplification would make it less
intimidating and could increase completion
rates.
◦ We would like to study national
recommendations for FAFSA simplification
and work them into our federal materials.
Federal Agenda

20.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports efforts to simplify the
FAFSA in order to make the application
process more student and family friendly.
Therefore…

21.  PELL Grant:
◦ The PELL Grant has helped millions of
students pay for higher education.
◦ PELL Funding should be maintained (if not
increased) and year-round (summer
semester) use should be reinstated.
◦ These discussions will be a part of the on-
going re-authorization of the Higher
Education Act.
Federal Agenda

22.  We’re proposing the adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports maintaining full funding for
the PELL Grant and reinstating the year
round PELL.
Therefore…

23.  College Affordability/Debt-Free:
◦ College affordability/free community college
is a hot issue in political campaigns and with
the president’s proposal from last year.
◦ We want to begin a conversation with our
federal delegation about a potential role for
the federal government in helping to make
community/technical colleges more
affordable.
Federal Agenda

24.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports efforts to significantly lower
or eliminate tuition for community and
technical colleges.
Therefore…

25.  Financial Access:
◦ Ongoing negotiations on the re-
authorization of the Higher Education Act
allow for a broad discussion around
expanding access to financial aid.
◦ With an aging workforce and the need for
more college graduates, now is the time to
expand access to much needed financial aid.
◦ Undocumented students are unable to
access any financial aid and this is a barrier
to higher education.
Federal Agenda

26.  We’re proposing adoption of the
following language:
◦ MSCSA supports changes to financial aid
programs that will allow all students to
receive financial assistance regardless of
immigration status.
Therefore…

27.  Platform Committee will adopt an
agenda on Sunday.
 Please talk about these issues in your
regional meetings!
 Give your feedback to your platform
committee members!
 Advocacy Day and DC too!
What’s next?