Over 1,500 students benefit from Future Together Grants | Student Loan Debt Relief | Parenting in College Webinar Series

Minnesota Office of Higher Education sent this bulletin at 08/31/2022 10:00 AM CDT

EVERY FIFTEEN DAYS

August 31, 2022

Future Together Grants benefit 1,500 students enrolled in tuition-free pathways to high-need careers

Minnesota Future Together Grants will remain available for eligible students through 2024, as long as funds remain available

Graphic with nurse that reads "1,500 students now enrolled in Tuition-Free Pathways to High-Need Careers. Minnesota Future Together Grants.""

Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan announced that 1,572 Minnesotans are benefitting from the Minnesota Future Together program, created to provide tuition-free higher education opportunities for students in high-need career areas.

Minnesota Future Together Grants are made possible through a $35 million investment of American Rescue Plan funds and seek to increase the number of qualified workers for careers in the following areas: health care, business, STEM, industry and technology, education, and public service. Click here to read the full news release.

Interested in receiving a grant? Find out if you qualify by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or MN Dream Act application. Learn more about eligibility and the Future Together Grants on our website.

Federal Student Debt Relief Plan Explained

Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a final extension of the student loan repayment pause, as well as targeted debt relief to low- and middle-income families of up to $20,000 of loan debt cancellation. Please note that state and private student loans are not included in this announcement.

Are you unsure if you are impacted? The best way to manage your student loan debt is to contact your lender and ask! In addition, click to read more about the Administration's Student Debt Relief Plan, what it means for you, and what you can do next.

Visit OHE at the Minnesota State Fair!

Photo of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Commissioner Dennis Olson, and OHE State Fair workers at the OHE State Fair Booth

Attending the Great Minnesota Get Together this year? Stop by our Office of Higher Education booth in the Education Building! Test your higher education knowledge with a fun Jeopardy game and win a pair of OHE sunglasses! Helpful publications, including Choosing a College, Financial Aid and Grant and Scholarship booklets are also available. The Education Building is located between Snelling Avenue and Cosgrove Street on the west side of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Free CNA classes available at Alexandria Tech

Become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for FREE and join the next generation of Minnesota's health care workers. As part of the state's Next Generation Nursing Assistant initiative, CNA classes will be available at Alexandria Technical and Community College this fall. Click here to register for the free class sections, beginning on October 3 and November 7. Other current offerings include class sections at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Made possible with a $3.4 million investment from federal American Rescue Plan funds, the initiative has allowed the State to cover the cost of tuition, books, uniform, and certification exam fee for anyone interested in pursuing a career as a nursing assistant.

Watch for additional tuition-free CNA class opportunities this fall!
Visit this webpage for up-to-date information.

Free Webinar Series - Parenting in College: The Whole Family Approach

Join us for a FREE, virtual three-part series focused on parenting students in Minnesota!

These sessions are created for parenting students, campus leaders, student support staff, social workers, childcare providers, and stakeholders who are interested in contributing to an environment for student parents to succeed in higher education.

Participants will learn from leading experts about strategies to support parenting students, how to create meaningful change at both the individual level and across complex systems, and build an understanding of how parenting students fit into the broader discussions around equity in higher education. Sessions will center the voices of parenting students, while also providing insights and strategies gleaned from research, best practices, and skilled higher education practitioners. Click to view the webinar flyer OR click to complete your registration.