OHE February News Update





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*February 2024*






In this Issue:

* Delays with 2024-25 FAFSA information to cause later than usual financial aid offers [ #link_6 ]
* Minnesota Dream Act Application now open [ #link_2 ]
* Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan recognize Career and Technical Education Month [ #link_3 ]
* Learn more about American Indian Scholars Program [ #link_5 ]
* New high schools invited to participate in Direct Admissions 2024-25 [ #link_8 ]
* Minnesota P-20 Education Partnership publishes annual report [ #link_7 ]
* Minnesota Paramedic Scholarship application now open [ #link_1 ]
* Minitex publishes 2023 annual report [ #link_4 ]





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Delays with 2024-25 FAFSA information to cause later than usual financial aid offers

On Jan. 30, the U.S. Department of Education (US DOE) announced that colleges and universities will receive 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicant data beginning in the first half of March. Initially, US DOE had announced institutions and state agencies would begin to receive data by the end of January 2024.

This new timeline is up to six weeks later and will cause an additional delay for college-bound students and families to receive financial aid offers, which will likely occur in early to mid-April. Students will receive financial aid offers much later than anticipated, which compresses the timeframe that students and families can weigh options and make informed decisions with aid offer information.

We want to acknowledge the stress and anxiety that the current challenges are causing students and families, college access staff, as well as higher education institutions. US DOE is working to ensure that students and families receive all the financial aid they are eligible for.



*Read More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Minnesota Dream Act Application now open

The Minnesota Dream Act, the state's financial aid application for students with undocumented status, is now available for students to complete. College-bound students who plan to attend college or career school during the 2024-25 school year should complete the 2024-25 MN Dream Act. Like the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the application must be completed each academic year that the student is enrolled in college.

Students who complete the MN Dream Act are eligible for state-based financial aid, including the Minnesota State Grant [ [link removed] ] and North Star Promise Scholarship [ [link removed] ], if they meet state residency requirements. Students can also receive in-state resident tuition rates and privately funded financial aid at Minnesota public colleges and universities.



*Apply Now →* [ [link removed] ]


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Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan recognize Career and Technical Education Month

OHE Commissioner Olson speaks at a press conference held at Minneapolis College on Feb. 15; Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan pictured to his left.

In honor of Career and Technical Education (CTE) month, both Govenor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan visited classrooms at community and technical colleges, along with  Office of Higher Education Commissioner Dennis Olson, to see firsthand some of the many programs that thousands of students can take this fall without paying tuition and fees. On Feb. 20, Gov. Walz visited Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minn., and Lt. Gov. Flanagan visited Minneapolis Technical and Community College on Feb. 15.

With the new North Star Promise Scholarship program, eligible Minnesotans who have a family income of less than $80K can attend any public or tribal college in the state without paying tuition and fees. Students apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).



*Read More →* [ [link removed] ]

Left: Olson and Lt. Gov Flanagan visit with Mpls College student; Right: Gov. Walz, Olson present Normandale with State Proclamation [ [link removed] ]
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Learn more about American Indian Scholars Program

"New program provides a first-dollar tuition and fee-free pathway for eligible Minnesotans"

The new American Indian Scholars Program will provide a first-dollar full tuition and fee-free pathway to eligible undergraduate students. 

Eligible students include Minnesota residents who are enrolled members or citizens of any federally recognized tribe or Canadian First Nation to attend a Minnesota State institution or the University of Minnesota. In addition, students who are not eligible for resident tuition, but are enrolled members or citizens of a Minnesota Tribal Nation, are also eligible for the program.



*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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New high schools invited to participate in Direct Admissions 2024-25

The Office of Higher Education (OHE) is inviting new high schools to participate in Direct Admissions Minnesota for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Direct Admissions [ [link removed] ] Minnesota program is designed to encourage all graduating seniors to consider themselves “college material” by proactively notifying them of the colleges and universities that are eager to admit them. Students will receive a letter at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year that lets them know which Minnesota colleges and universities are granting them proactive admission. Currently participating high schools report that students benefit from boosted self-confidence, reduced self-selection bias, and enjoy a more stress-free college application process.

OHE is hosting four virtual information sessions in March for interested high schools administration and staff to learn more about the program. In addition to attending an information session, high schools interested in participating in the program should complete the Direct Admissions High School Interest Form [ [link removed] ] on the OHE website by March 31.



*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Minnesota P-20 Education Partnership publishes annual report
[ [link removed] ]

The Minnesota P20 Education Partnership (MNP20) has published its annual report, outlining progress and accomplishments over the past year. MNP20 works toward ensuring a seamless system of education across the state. From hiring its first executive director to strengthening operational growth, MNP20 is focused on strengthening pathways for Minnesotans from early childhood to K-12, to higher education, and into the workforce.

There has also been advancement in four priority projects intended to advance the state’s postsecondary attainment goal—to help more Minnesotans complete a postsecondary credential by 2025, while simultaneously working to increase equity, strengthen access, and eliminate success barriers for historically underserved groups.

*Read More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Minnesota Paramedic Scholarship application now open

MN Paramedic Scholarship emblem overlaid on image of paramedics lifting a patient into ambulance

The application for the Minnesota Paramedic Scholarship has launched and is available for eligible students to complete. A total of 600 scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded to Minnesota residents who are completing a paramedic diploma or degree. All eligible programs require students to be a current Emergency Medical Technical (EMT) license holder before starting the program.

This temporary scholarship program was passed during the 2023 Minnesota Legislative session to increase the number of licensed paramedics in Minnesota.

The first round of scholarships will be awarded to students starting Fall 2024. Questions about the program can be directed to Adam Johnson at [email protected].



*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Minitex publishes 2023 annual report

Minitex Logo

Minitex, a state-funded library organization located at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, published its 2023 annual report with highlights from the past year, statistics from its major services and a look into its future. The report, titled Community Collaboration, provides an overview of its partnerships and steps forward with two of its most important services, eLibrary Minnesota [ [link removed] ] and MNLINK [ [link removed] ].

Minitex is an information and resource sharing program that supports library systems throughout the state and operates with grant funding administered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.



*Read Annual Report →* [ [link removed] ]


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Reads "Earn your degree tuition free. That's the North Star Promise." Features two female students graduating and celebrating. Learn more button. [ [link removed] ]




OHE in the News

* Flanagan, education officials highlight Minnesota's free college tuition program - KSTP [ [link removed] ]
* College enrollment across Minnesota State system is up for first time in over a decade - MPR News [ [link removed] ]
* Recent FAFSA updates and delays are causing headaches in Minnesota - MPR News [ [link removed] ]
* State grant program offers formerly incarcerated students opportunity to pursue Postsecondary education  - KEYC [ [link removed] ]







 

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