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February 15, 2005
Letter to the Editor: Students’ chance to voice concerns and opinions to legislators
This was a good year for public education in Minnesota, with Ką12 funding up approximately five percent and MNSCU (Minnesota Secondary Colleges and Universities) up almost 10 percent. The private institutions, however, did not fare quite as well.
Students at Minnesota’s 17 private colleges feel federal funding most directly through the state grant program. Across the state, an average of about one in four private college students receives a state grant.
Here at Hamline, 752 students receive a total of $2,491,618, for an average annual award of $3,313.
Even if you do not receive one of these grants, chances are a friend or roommate does. Also, the monies freed up by the $2.5 million that comes from the state allows for broader distribution of institutional aid.
For the fiscal year of 2006ą07, the governor chose not to put any new money into the state grant program.
Unfortunately, due to a change in student need determination as required in the Federal Need Analysis (part of the FAFSA calculation), many of our students will see cuts in not only their state grants, but other forms of aid as well.
Day at the Capitol is fast approaching, and this is a perfect opportunity to meet with your legislators and gain advocacy experience, all while working towards the betterment of state financial aid to higher education and where we lie in it.
The day will begin in the morning, with a bus leaving the student center around 8 a.m. We will arrive at the armory across the street from the Capitol, where there will be speakers and a brief legislative training session to get everyone on the same page.
From there, we will head to the capitol and students will speak with legislators during prearranged meetings that we set up for you. The day will end with speeches from key legislators in the Capitol rotunda (possibly Governor Pawlenty as well), and we will arrive back to campus around 2:30 p.m.
This is a rare and amazing opportunity for students from all disciplines. We will be in attendance with hundreds of other private college students from across the state, and the event has always proven to be a good time. If you are interested, head to this site and sign up:
http://www.mnprivatecolleges.com/events/day.php
There will be more information around campus in the weeks to come, so make sure to keep an eye out. Hope to see you all there!
Tim McDonald
MAPCS President-Elect
Shona Ramchandani
Student Congress President
Posted by msveum at February 15, 2005 01:04 PM