Gov.

Thursday, April 05, 2001

Gov. Jesse Ventura, much maligned for proposing little or no increase in public school and higher ed funding, did adequately address one aspect of education, according to a group of private college interests.

Dr. David Laird Jr., CEO and President of the Minnesota Private College Council, said Ventura’s $30 million increase in the state’s share of financial aid funding is right on the mark. &uot;I think the governor’s office has the right idea and recognizes that the state has an important role in allowing more Minnesota students to attend college,&uot; Laird said during a visit to Albert Lea this week.

The state shares the responsibility to supply financial assistance with the federal government and the colleges themselves, Laird said. The Minnesota State Grant Program specifically targets students from low and moderate income families. As the program grows and develops, Laird said, it is placing more emphasis on minority and non-traditional students.

Laird is touring the state to support the state grant program and encourage the legislature to approve the additional funds proposed by the governor.

Specifically, Laird said the new money would:

n Pay for financial assistance to non-traditional students

n Help students who need to take more than four years to complete their undergraduate work, and

n Allow more financial aid for high school students who might not otherwise consider higher education as an option

&uot;It think the governor’s proposal for a financial aid increase recognizes Minnesota’s need for more educated workers. Not only do we have a chronic shortage of educated people in the state, but many of our colleges’ future students will come from families with less financial resources,&uot; Laird said.

Minnesota’s growing numbers of first-generation immigrants and minority students, as well as displaced workers, will become a more prominent source of students for all of Minnesota’s colleges and universities, both public and private, Laird said. The state grant program could give these students a better chance to get a college education or vocational training.

&uot;The governor’s budget shows a strategically targeted investment in financial aid,&uot; Laird said. &uot;This kind of investment will help the state’s economy stay healthy as more and more educated workers retire.&uot; Laird said most graduates who receive state grants continue to live and work in Minnesota, helping to fill jobs that require training and higher education.

&uot;We hope the governor’s budget proposal for increased financial aid is heeded by the legislature. It would help Minnesota students, and those students are the backbone of the state’s future workforce,&uot; Laird said.

The Minnesota Private College Council represents 16-member colleges and universities and more than 51,000 students to develop policy and funding conditions which allow any qualified Minnesota student to attend a Minnesota private college, Laird said.