The House Higher Education Finance and Policy committee heard from
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
President Stephanie Hammitt, Dean of Student Services Anita Hanson, and Dr. Robert Peacock, Fond du Lac Tribal College Director, on Wednesday about the mission, vision and core values of the college.
President Hammitt shared with committee members about what makes the college unique. Hammitt said that Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is the only tribal and state community college in the country and is the first Tribal College in Minnesota. The college is a member of both Minnesota State and American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) with World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) accreditation. Fond du Lac is also the only community college approved by the Legislature to offer a four-year baccalaureate degree.
Some of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College’s attributes shared with the committee members include 76 percent of the college’s undergraduates in fiscal year 2018 were classified as underrepresented, meaning students were either non-white, or Pell eligible, or first generation. The college’s underrepresented population is 23 percent higher than the Minnesota State system.
The committee also heard from Minnesota State faculty organizations, IFO and MSCF.
Inter Faculty Organization (IFO)
President Brent Jeffers, a faculty member at Southwest Minnesota State University, shared with committee members that the Minnesota State universities are places of hope and opportunity. Jeffers said the IFO supports efforts that prepare students for life and are responsible for excellent and accessible education in Minnesota. He said the IFO is concerned with the budget constraints on campuses, but is committed to partnering with the committee to make students and campuses successful.
Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF)
Vice President Matt Williams, a faculty member at Inver Hills Community College, told the committee that MSCF is proud to work in open access institutions where everyone is welcome. Williams spoke about the challenges students face, and said they can become barriers to achieve success as a college student. He talked about the importance of student services for all students.
There is not a lot of legislative activity in St. Paul today. The
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy committee
will meet this morning at 9:30 to talk about the P-TECH School Model, a new six-year public school model focused on STEM fields and career and technical education. If interested, you may view that hearing at
Senate Media Services
.
Another reminder to mark your calendars and join us for
Minnesota State Day at the Capitol
Tuesday, January 29, 2:30-4:00 p.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda. Minnesota State’s 30 state colleges and seven state universities will be at the Capitol to share student and campus stories with legislators and the public.
______________________________________________________
At the Capitol
Friday, January 25
9:30 a.m.
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy
Room: 1200 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Agenda:
The P-TECH School Model - A new 6 year public school model focused on STEM fields and Career and Technical Education
Monday, January 28
11:00 a.m.
Senate in Session
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Agenda: Reading progress, Reading resources and evidence-based Reading instruction
Tuesday, January 29
8:00 a.m.
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: Overview from the Department of Employment and Economic Development
8:00 a.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda:
HF80
(Murphy) - Capital investment; previously authorized capital projects funding source changed, spending authorized to acquire and better public land and buildings and other improvements of a capital nature, bonds issued and money appropriated.
9:45 a.m.
House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jeanne Poppe
Agenda:
Board of Animal Health: Budget and function overview and update on animal disease issues - Beth Thompson, Executive Director
Agriculture Utilization Research Institute: Budget and function overview
- Shannon Schlecht, Executive Director
- Dan Skogen, Planning and Government Relations Director
HF221
(Poppe) - Agriculture special license plates funding provided, and money appropriated.
9:45 a.m.
House Government Operations
Room: B State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mike Freiberg
Agenda:
HF141 (Poppe):
Port authorities; majority vote of commissioners required to approve real property sales and transfers.
HF281 (Koegel):
Open Meeting Law; interactive television attendance requirements modified
.
Pending referral from the Subcommittee on Elections:
HF94 (Vang):
Elections; number of voters an individual may assist in marking a ballot increased.
2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance & Policy Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda: Minnesota Student Association
Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans
Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
Adjournment
Post- Session: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Open House @ the State Capitol Rotunda
Wednesday, January 30
2:30 p.m.
House Higher Education Finance & Policy Division
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Connie Bernardy
Agenda: Lead MN: Presentation of Vision, Mission, Goals, and Challenges:
Federal Shutdown Impacts on Higher Education
2:30 p.m.
House Education Policy Committee Meeting
Room: State Office Building Room 5
Chair:
Rep. Cheryl Youakim
Agenda:
Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker Introduction to Committee
Presentation: Standardized student testing recommendations from MDE's Future Assessment Design Working Group.
HF125 (Bennett) - Education programs; legislative grants awarded to organizations for education programs evidence-based grant standard established, and report required.
3:00 p.m.
Senate E-12 Finance and Policy
Room: 1100 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Chair: Sen. Carla J. Nelson
Agenda:
S.F. 15-Goggin: Military, skilled trades and manufacturing career options access by school districts requirement.
S.F. 293-Nelson: Construction and skilled trades career counseling commissioner of education collaboration requirement; safety of youth in skilled trades report requirement.
S.F. 295-Nelson: P-TECH schools establishment and appropriation.
S.F. 94-Eichorn: Postsecondary enrollment options (PSEO) nonpublic 10th grade student enrollment authorization and appropriation.
S.F. 19-Cwodzinski: Personal finance course for high school graduation requirement.
Thursday, January 31
8:00 a.m.
House Capital Investment
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Mary Murphy
Agenda: The American Society of Civil Engineers–Minnesota grades the state’s infrastructure based on capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovations.
8:00 a.m.
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Tim Mahoney
Agenda: HF 282 (Fischer) Manufactured and modular home provisions modified.
Presentation from State Demographer on Workforce and Labor Information: Dr. Susan Brower
9:45 a.m.
House Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Division
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Jeanne Poppe
Agenda:
Farm Finance During Challenging Times
I. Ag economy from a lender's point of view and dynamics of federal shutdown
II. Trends and usage of programs designed to support farmers during difficult financial times
III. Farm panel: weathering difficult times
Bills:
HF158
(Brand) - Farmers' Legal Action Group funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF47
(Anderson) - Agricultural fertilizer research and education fee, the Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council, the Minnesota agricultural fertilizer research and education program, and the agricultural fertilizer research and education account extended by ten years.
