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March 21, 2023
Applying for and accessing financial aid to pursue higher education should be an equitable process for all students, regardless of immigration status. To remove barriers, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education recently improved and launched a new student portal and application process for the Minnesota Dream Act to provide a similar filing experience to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
“We want to reduce obstacles and ensure Minnesota Dream Act applicants have a high-quality student experience that is user-friendly and intuitive by investing in technology and tools that can streamline this process from start to finish,” said OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson.
The Minnesota Dream Act has been moved into MNAid, a secure platform with a Student Portal, with a number of new features to enhance the student experience. Click to learn more: LINK
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The Fostering Independence Grant (FIG) is a new financial aid program that helps Minnesotans who were in foster care attend higher education by breaking down financial barriers. The grant is the first of its kind for Minnesota, with the goal of paying the full cost of attendance for students including tuition, fees, and living expenses such as housing and transportation. In its first semester of implementation, the grant was awarded to 389 students.
Fostering Independence Grants are made possible through an ongoing $3.8 million investment by Governor Walz and the Minnesota Legislature during the 2021 session. Of the 389 students awarded the grant in fall 2022:
- 249 students were enrolled in a Minnesota State 2-year program,
- 68 students were enrolled in a Minnesota State 4-year program,
- 19 students were enrolled in a University of Minnesota program,
- 48 students were enrolled in Minnesota private college program, and
- 5 students were enrolled in a Minnesota for-profit college program
According to the data, 157 of the grant recipients attended a college in the metro, while 232 attended a college located in Greater Minnesota.
Learn more on the OHE website.
 The application period for the 2023 Dual Training Grant is now open for eligible employers to apply for funding for related instruction of their dual-training programs. Grants are available to employers who are in the following high-growth, in-demand industries: advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services and information technology.
To receive the grant, employers develop their own dual-training programs for more than 80 eligible occupations with identified competency standards within the Minnesota Dual-Training Pipeline, which is administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. The application window will be open until April 3.
Hear from dual trainee graduates about their success with the grant, experience with their employer, and the positive impact on their careers. Click to read the success stories and learn more about the Dual Training Grant.
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