STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:05 P.M. on Tuesday,
January 20, 2009, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Bly, David, Vice-Chair
Anderson, S.
Atkins, Joe
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Nornes, Bud
Obermueller, Mike
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy
Members excused:
Carlson, Lyndon
Murphy, Mary
Norton, Kim
Solberg, Loren
A quorum was present.
Chair Rukavina welcomed Susan Heegaard, Director, Office of Higher Education, and invited her to begin her presentation.
Susan Heegaard, Director, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and began her presentation on the Office of Higher Education’s budget and on financial aid programs. Handouts were provided.
Mark Misukanis, Office of Higher Education, introduced himself and assisted in the presentation.
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and assisted in the presentation, providing information on financial aid programs.
Questions and discussion followed.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
January 20, 2009
Page Two
Tricia Grimes, Office of Higher Education, introduced herself and assisted in the presentation.
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus continued her presentation.
Questions and discussion followed.
Tricia Grimes offered further assistance with the presentation by providing information on the Achieve Scholarship Program.
Questions and discussion followed.
Mark Misukanis offered further information on the Achieve Scholarship Program.
Questions and discussion followed.
Tricia Grimes offered further assistance with the presentation.
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus continued her presentation with assistance from Tricia Grimes and Mark Misukanis.
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus continued her presentation.
Questions and discussion followed.
Tricia Grimes provided further testimony.
Questions and discussion followed.
Mark Misukanis provided further testimony.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina asked Meredeth Fergus to stay at the testifier’s table, and asked the financial aid panel participants to join her. The panel participants were Peter Zetterberg of the University of Minnesota, Michael Lopez of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system office, and Kathy Ruby of St. Olaf College.
Meredeth Fergus continued her presentation by describing a financial aid example for a public university student.
Peter Zetterberg of the University of Minnesota introduced himself and provided testimony regarding work study.
Kathy Ruby of St. Olaf College introduced herself and provided testimony regarding work study.
Mike Lopez, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding work study.
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus continued her presentation by describing a financial aid example for a private college student.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
January 20, 2009
Page Three
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus continued her presentation by describing a financial aid example for a community college student.
Questions and discussion followed.
Mike Lopez provided testimony regarding four year tuition costs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus provided further testimony regarding four year tuition costs at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Questions and discussion followed.
Kathy Ruby provided further testimony.
Questions and discussion followed.
Peter Zetterberg provided further testimony.
Questions and discussion followed.
Tricia Grimes provided further testimony.
Questions and discussion followed.
Meredeth Fergus provided further testimony.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina asked Mike Lopez, Peter Zetterberg and Kathy Ruby to begin their individual presentations.
Mike Lopez, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, provided testimony regarding state grants.
Vice Chair Bly assumed the chair at 2:20 p.m.
Peter Zetterberg, University of Minnesota, provided handouts and presented testimony regarding cost of attendance by financial aid type.
Chair Rukavina resumed the chair at 2:25 p.m.
Questions and discussion followed.
Kathy Ruby, St. Olaf College, provided testimony regarding the role of state grants for their private college students.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina discussed setting up break-out committees or working groups on various subjects including the budgets of University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and financial aid.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
January 20, 2009
Page Four
Chair Rukavina also asked the minority higher education lead to assist with ideas for these working groups. Chair Rukavina suggested that Representative Slocum chair the financial aid working group. The Chair’s hope would be that the working groups would go into more in-depth information than the full Division can during a hearing, and come back to the Division with their recommendations.
Questions and discussion followed.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant