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February 27, 2024
Legislative Update
The past few weeks have been eventful in my committees, especially in the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee.
Decade of Declining Enrollment at MNState
We learned that after 14 years of declining enrollment in Minnesota colleges and universities, undergrad enrollment increased 1.2 percent last year. In 2015, the Higher Education committee signed into law a goal of 70% of Minnesota residents between age 25 and 54 will have earned a certificate, associate, or bachelors degree by 2025. We have quite a ways to go, as we are right now only at 63% overall as of 2023. But while those who identify as white had an attainment of 69%, American Indians attainment only rose to 29% up from 21% in 2015. Those who identify as Hispanic rose to 35.5% up from 23.6% in 2015. Those who identified as Black reached an attainment of 40.5% up from 34.5% in 2015. We have one of the biggest disparities in the nation. Because of the interruptions and delays caused by the pandemic, I suggested in committee that we change push the goal year out, which the Commissioner of Higher Education, Dennis Olson, agreed with.
MNState Asks for Even More Money
We recently had Minnesota State chancellor Scot Olson in committee, testifying about their need for an additional $61 million in addition to the historic amount of funding they received in the Higher Education Omnibus bill last year. When I asked in committee what schools within the MN State system were doing to right-size operations and live within their existing budget, Minnesota State's vice chancellor for finance and facilities, Bill Maki, said the system is reducing personnel and facility management costs.
U of M Also Asks for More Funding
The University of Minnesota also came to committee asking for an additional $45 million last week. I was stunned to learn that with student enrollment of about 68,000, the U of M employs 27,675 employees - one employee for every 2.5 students. That is a heavy burden on each and every student.
Tuition went up 3.5% at the U of M Twin Cities campus, even after the legislature's historic increase in spending on higher education by $650 million, for a total of $4.1 billion for the biennium. The U of M received $125 million more over the prior biennium for a grand total of $1.38 billion. This doesn't even include the $100 million for various research and all the state grant money student bring in. Additionally, violent crime is going up in the neighborhoods where students live, shop, and gather - a 23% increase this January over the same time last year. Something has to change! I certainly hope that the newly selected President, Rebecca Cunningham is the right person for the job to once again focus on students and not padding high salaries of administrators.
Panel Discussion About Antisemitism at the U of M
Finally, I sat on a panel discussing antisemitism in at the U of M last week, along with former U of M Regent Michael Hsu, Upper Midwest Law Center's James Dickey, and U of M Law Professor Richard Painter. The rise in antisemitism at our colleges and universities is truly alarming. I called out the University of Minnesota recently for hosting an antisemitic letter on their official website, which they "declined to remove" and instead put a disclaimer on the page saying that faculty opinions did not represent the position of the University. You can watch the panel discussion hosted by the last remaining conservative U of M group, Students for a Conservative Voice, here. There used to be 5 such groups. It just goes to show you how incredibly liberal the U of M has become.
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