BEMIDJI — The college experience can be a notable chapter in a person’s life story, but with skyrocketing costs of tuition and the prospect of burdensome student loans, a college degree has been out of reach for low-income families and other disadvantaged groups.
Last session, the Minnesota Legislature enacted the North Star Promise, which helps sponsor a college education at a state public university for qualifying students with a minimal price tag.
The Commissioner for the Office of Higher Education visited with students, staff and faculty at Bemidji State University on Tuesday, culminating in a round table discussion at the American Indian Resource Center for questions on the new scholarship offerings.
President of the Interfaculty Organization Jenna Chernega said the program could be instrumental in changing the face of Minnesota’s workforce.
“When we talk about this program, the focus is on students,” said Chernega. “But the reason for a program like this is because the state of Minnesota needs more indigenous nurses. It needs more indigenous teachers. It needs more indigenous managers. It needs more indigenous workers. It needs more indigenous thinkers across the state in all areas that we work and live in.”
Universities across the country are facing declining enrollment since COVID-19, and the financials of the new program were briefly discussed. Commissioner Dennis Olson said the program, which aims to remove barriers for students, generated a lot of excitement, and he doesn’t foresee the state dwindling on the investment.
“In terms of the language of the law... This is the mandate on the system, both Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota, to provide any student that's eligible with the benefit. It's not a one time, ‘See how it goes.’ It's a $15 million biannual investment.”
The North Star Promise helps students from families making less than $80,000 a year by covering 100% of their tuition and fees at Minnesota’s two- and four-year public colleges and universities after other federal and state financial aid is applied. The program begins for students entering college this fall.
