Grants Season is Here | Ready, Set, FAFSA! Recordings





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OHE Monthly Newsletter Update




*February 2025*






In this issue:

* Direct Admissions Now Accepting Applications [ #link_5 ]
* Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program Open Now [ #link_7 ]
* Intervention for College Attendance Program (ICAP) Opening March 4th [ #link_6 ]
* Dual Training Grant Opening March 4th [ #link_1 ]
* Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students Grants Opening March 24 [ #link_8 ]
* Ready, Set, FAFSA! Webinars Are Live [ #link_2 ]
* 2025-26 FAFSA Updates [ #link_4 ]

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Direct Admissions Now Accepting Applications

Direct Admissions

Every student is “college material.” This core belief is the driving idea behind the Office of Higher Education's Direct Admissions program.

We are inviting new high schools to participate in Direct Admissions Minnesota for the 2025-26 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 2025-2026 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.

Three virtual information sessions will be available throughout March:


* 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Monday, March 3rd, 2025, Click to Register [ [link removed] ]
* 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM, Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, Click to Register [ [link removed] ] 
* 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Friday, March 21st, 2025, Click to Register [ [link removed] ]


*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program Open Now

Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program

In consultation with the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education is currently accepting proposals for the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Annual Research Grant.

The overall objective of this program is to foster and encourage innovative research for that leads to a cure, novel treatments, and/or rehabilitative techniques for spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. 

*Request for proposal is available now and must be submitted by April 23, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.*



*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Intervention for College Attendance Program (ICAP) Opening March 4th

Teacher speaking with high school students

ICAP's purpose is to foster postsecondary attendance and retention by providing outreach services to historically underserved students in grades six through 12 and students in their first year of college.

Eligible applicants include the following organizations, located in Minnesota, that provide eligible services to eligible students: public and private postsecondary institutions, Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), school districts, middle/high schools, nonprofit organizations and professional associations. Some of the eligible services include academic counseling, mentoring, and academic enrichment activities.

*Request for proposal is available March 4, 2025, with proposals due by noon on April 7, 2025. **Proposal workshop is available on March 6, 2025.*



*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Dual Training Grant Opening March 4th

Dual Training Grant promotional image.

DTG helps companies or organizations meet workforce needs by pairing on-the-job training with formal related instruction. Through the dual-training approach, employees are offered a pathway toward attaining an industry recognized degree, certificate or credential, while you can request reimbursement for related expenses.

This collaborative and strategic partnership between the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry allows Minnesota companies to build a skilled workforce while creating a robust learning environment for their employees.

*Request for proposal is available March 4, 2025, with proposals due on April 15, 2025, at 4p.m.. Proposal workshops will be available in early March and registration is required for in person events.*



*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students Grants Opening March 24

EAPS Grant Program's purpose is to foster postsecondary attendance and retention for low-income students by providing funding and resources to Minnesota colleges and universities with a demonstrable homeless population. Grant funds are intended to meet immediate student needs related to housing, food, and transportation that would otherwise prevent students from completing their term.

*Request for proposal will be available March 24, 2025 with a submission deadline of April 24, 2025.*

Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students

*Learn More →* [ [link removed] ]


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Ready, Set, FAFSA! Webinars Are Live

The 2025 Ready, Set, FAFSA! sessions might have wrapped but that doesn't mean you missed out on the information. All the sessions were recorded and available for viewing when you are ready. 

Topics include:


* Apply for Financial Aid: FAFSA
* Apply for Financial Aid: MN Dream Act
* Search for Scholarships
* Understand Your Aid Offer 
Ready Set FAFSA. Woman yelling with her hand next to her face and words all around.

*Learn More → * [ [link removed] ]


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Minnesota Selected for National Cohort Around Dual Enrollment Policy

Minnesota is one of seven states selected to join The "Next Phase of Dual Enrollment Policy Cohort", a new initiative from the College in High School Alliance [ [link removed] ] (CHSA) that seeks to advance dual enrollment policies across the nation. The cohort also includes New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.

Logo: College in High School Alliance

*Read the full release →* [ [link removed] ]


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OHE Awards $462,808 in Concurrent Enrollment Grants

OHE awarded four colleges with Concurrent Enrollment grants, totaling $462,808. Concurrent enrollment connects high school students with college courses increasing the likelihood that they will continue their postsecondary education after graduation.  

The four Concurrent Enrollment Grant recipients for 2025 are:


* Minnesota State University, Mankato is awarded $103,157.92 to expand their partnership and course offerings with Stillwater High School.
* Alexandria Technical and Community College (ATCC) is awarded $56,222.40 to expand their partnership with Alexandria Area High School, including the addition of a course in carpentry.
* Distance MN, a consortium of three Minnesota State colleges (ATCC, Northland Community and Technical College, and Northwest Technical College), is awarded $276,124.46 to expand career and technical education to over 50 high schools statewide through their Online College in the High School program [ [link removed] ].
* Bethel University is awarded $27,303.84. They will partner with Como High School to offer students courses in healthcare.

*Read the full release →* [ [link removed] ]


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Minnesota’s P-20 Education Partnership Receives $473,000 in Grant Funding to Advance Work Supporting Minnesotans from Birth to Career

From housing to education to health, there are many factors that can impact a person’s path to success. If we want to increase equity and opportunity for all, it is critical that Minnesotans have access to the supports they need to thrive. This belief is what drives Minnesota’s P-20 Education Partnership (MNP20), a public-private collaboration that examines services and data across sectors with a goal of improving alignment of those supports and identifying policy recommendations to improve the lives of Minnesotans.

In recognition of the importance of this work, MNP20 has received two grants totaling nearly $473,000 to advance their efforts.

*Read the full release →* [ [link removed] ]


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2025-26 FAFSA Updates

fafsa graphic 2

The 2025-26 FAFSA is open now! It is never too early to apply for aid. We want ALL students to have access to the information they need to make the best decisions about how to pay for college education.

The MN Office of Higher Education has a financial aid resource page [ [link removed] ] that will be updated regularly with any relevant information for students, families, and professional staff across the state. This page also has resources for students who are eligible to file the MN Dream Act to receive state financial aid. Every student will complete either the FAFSA or the MN Dream Act, not both. 

The first step to submitting your FAFSA is to create your studentaid.gov account [ [link removed] ]. If you are unsure how to get started, sign up to attend the virtual Ready, Set, FAFSA! series below. 



*Read More →* [ [link removed] ]






OHE in the News

* Partnering to Support Single-Parent Students | Minneapolis College [ [link removed] ]
* State awards $5.3 million in student parent support initiative grants | Mille Lacs Messenger [ [link removed] ]
* Lake Superior College to help students with disabilities with grant | Hometown Focus [ [link removed] ]
* Minnesota to make college-level courses more available to high school students | KIMT [ [link removed] ]
* Duluth event offers info about financial aid, local colleges | Duluth News Tribune [ [link removed] ]







 

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