Minnesota State describes how bonding request can transform lives of students and communities.
Minnesota State presented its
$224.5 million bonding request
to both the Senate and House higher education committees yesterday. In his testimony, Chancellor Devinder Malhotra thanked committee members for their support for Minnesota State. “We are honored to have the opportunity to tell our story on behalf of Minnesota State’s 375,000 students and 16,000 employees,” Malhotra said.
Malhotra shared his experience from his time at St. Cloud State University and Metropolitan State University. “Having served at two of our campuses I have experienced first-hand what you already know, and that is your investments can literally change the lives of students and transform the communities where our colleges and universities are located,” Malhotra said.
Joining Chancellor Malhotra was a panel from Century College who spoke about what the 2014
Digital Fabrication Lab, or Fab Lab
, renovations at the college have meant to students, and why the bonding request is more than just brick and mortar. Michael Berndt, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Century College shared with committee members that the Engineering and Applied Technology Center project in this year’s bonding request, and all the requests that make up Minnesota State’s priority list, are more than just buildings. “These buildings create opportunities for students, support employers, and invest in local economies,” Berndt said.
Scott Simenson, ITT faculty and Fab Lab Director at Century College shared with committee members that the Fab Lab has been transformative for students. He said that Century College was the first lab in the region, which has provided many opportunities for local, as well as national partnerships. The Fab Lab is equipped with open source CAD/CAM software, allowing people to design and manufacture products. Simenson said that this up-to-date equipment provides a hands-on experience for students.
Katherine Lange, Aerospace Engineering Student and President of the Century College Engineering Student Club shared with committee members that she has participated in projects throughout her education at Century College in which she has used the Fab Lab extensively. She said the skills and knowledge she has acquired by working in the fab lab are necessary to meet the growing needs in the field.
The Fab Lab at Century College is one of many examples of how students’ lives can be transformed through legislative investments. Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Brian Yolitz provided further details to committee members about the other projects in Minnesota State’s request, as well as demonstrated the need for funding for asset preservation, or HEAPR. Yolitz said that the HEAPR request represents Minnesota States’ stewardship of taking care of academic space we already have and need, and said the specific focus of the $130 million HEAPR request is to keep students, faculty and staff warm, safe and dry.
Associate Vice Chancellor Yolitz said that the age and condition of the college and university academic buildings is why HEAPR is the Board of Trustees’ number one priority and makes up the largest part of the bonding request.
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This Week at the Capitol
Wednesday, March 7
10:15 a.m.
House Government Operations and Elections
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim O’Driscoll
Agenda:
HF2722 (Jenifer Loon): Publication of a natural person's home address addressed.
HF2902 (Joe Schomacker): Program evaluation duties transferred from the management and budget commissioner to the Legislative Budget Office.
HF2574 (Matt Dean): Rare diseases advisory council established.
HF2725 (Matt Dean): County-based eligibility determination for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare required, seeking a waiver to determine eligibility for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions required, legislative oversight of expenditures provided, and money appropriated.
HF3077 (Jason Metsa): Duluth; Seaway Port Authority membership modified.
HF3076 (Julie Sandstede): St. Louis County Civil Service Commission amended, technical changes made, and obsolete language removed.
1:00 p.m.
House State Government Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sarah Anderson
Agenda: Update on Legislative Budget Office
1:00 p.m.
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jenifer Loon
Agenda: Community Education Overview
Nonpartisan Staff Overview on Program Funding
Community Education Programs
-Youth Development
-Adults with Disabilities
-Health and Developmental Screening
-Early Childhood and Family Education &
-Adult Basic Education
HF625 (Youakim): Community education revenue program funding increased, and minimum population guarantee increased
3:00 p.m.
House Higher Education and Career Readiness Policy and Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: HF3063 (Matt Bliss): Bemidji State University Hagg Sauer Hall replacement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF3051 (Bud Nornes): Loan forgiveness appropriations limited.
HF1111 (Nels Pierson): Rochester Community Technical College Memorial and Plaza Halls replacement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF3351 (Dario Anselmo): University of Minnesota asset preservation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
3:00 p.m.
House Agriculture, Rural Development and Housing Finance
Room: 1150 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Torrey Westrom
Agenda:
S.F. 2555-Goggin: Farm families and farm business operators mental health counseling appropriation.
S.F. 2551-Lang: Rural finance authority bond issue and appropriation.
S.F. 2824-Draheim: Rural economic development study and policy proposal development for a pilot project in south central Minnesota appropriation.
Presentation from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
3:00 p.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Dean Urdahl
Agenda:
Overview of a grant program for behavioral health facilities.
Overview of three law enforcement training centers.
HF2274 (Tony Albright): Regional behavioral health crisis program development grant program established, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF3155 (Dennis Smith): Maple Grove North Metro Range expansion funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2965 (Tony Jurgens): Cottage Grove; Health and Emergency Response Occupations Center funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
HF2922 (Regina Barr): Dakota County; regional public safety facility funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Building
Chair: Sen. Carla Nelson
Agenda: Minnesota Statutes Section 120B.232 and the Challenge of Character Development
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Policy
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Eric R. Pratt
Agenda:
S.F. 2748-Pratt: Teacher license revocation, suspension, denial or teacher discharge grounds expansion.
S.F. 2487-Nelson: Academic balance policy establishment.
S.F. 2652-Nelson: Pupils enrolled in postsecondary enrollment options transportation aid calculation modification
Thursday, March 8
8:15 a.m.
House Education Innovation Policy
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: HF 3315 (Erickson) - Minnesota Department of Education Policy Bill
HF3190 (Peggy Bennett): Extended time use expanded to pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses.
HF2843 (Brian Daniels): Charter school admission lotteries modified.
HF2752 (Pat Garofalo): Castle Rock Township enrollment preference for charter school applicants created.
HF3173 (Jenifer Loon): Statutes for intermediate districts renumbered.
HF3207 (Sondra Erickson): Textbook definition modified.
HF3182 (Sondra Erickson): Pupil transportation authority assigned for homeless students, and money appropriated.
8:15 a.m.
Civil Law and Data Practices Policy
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Peggy Scott
Agenda: HF2815 (Steve Green): Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal made a crime.
HF2982 (Rod Hamilton): University of Minnesota agricultural research data classified.
HF3259 (Peggy Scott): Mandatory biennial audits of automatic license plate reader and police body camera data modified.
HF3027 (Peggy Scott): Recognition of parentage effect amended.
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
1:00 p.m.
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jenifer Loon
Agenda:
Perpich Center Update: Curt Tryggestad, Executive Director, Perpich Center for Arts Education; Office of Legislative Auditor
Crosswinds Sale Update: Department of Administration
HF2836
- (Ecklund): Taconite assistance area modified.
HF3093
- (Urdahl): Teacher's master's degree tax credit eligibility modified.
HF3190
- (Bennett): Extended time use expanded to pupils enrolled in career and technical education courses. *Information Only
1:00 p.m.
Senate Higher Education Finance and Policy
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle Fischbach
Agenda: S.F. 2142-Osmek: Regent candidate advisory council repeal.
S.F. 2611-Fischbach: University of Minnesota (U of M) Board of Regents election process modification
S.F.1347 (Hoffman) will be discussed, but not given an official hearing as a part of this meeting
1:00 p.m.
House State Government Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sarah Anderson
Agenda:
Secretary of State’s office election equipment grants
Interagency agreements and intra-agency transfer report
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Policy
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Eric R. Pratt
Agenda: S.F. 2748-Pratt: Teacher license revocation, suspension, denial or teacher discharge grounds expansion.
S.F. 2487-Nelson: Academic balance policy establishment.
S.F. 2652-Nelson: Pupils enrolled in postsecondary enrollment options transportation aid calculation modification.
3:30 p.m.
House in Session
