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March 2, 2026
March Program Tasks
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Priority: Please continue to promote the program to generate student responses. Continue to use your tool’s roster to encourage students to take advantage of the program through their unique survey and connecting with colleges. A third round of survey sends to non-responding students will go out to complement spring break reflections.
- Data and metrics are found below. Our new program data dashboard is due out soon.
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Priority: Invoices can be sent to our agency if data has been received and processed. More information on how to do so below. Please complete this step immediately.
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Priority: Refer any new high school partners to Direct Admissions coordinator. See referral channels below.
- Per your local process, student transcripts can be sent to their colleges of requested proactive admissions. More details below.
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Optional: Sign up for April trainings if a refresher is needed or if you have new staff at the high school.
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Optional: Plan to attend the monthly Just-in-time High School Mentor Check-in session on the morning of March 11th. REMINDER: April’s meet-up is canceled.
Program updates for the month follow:
Promoting the Program
We continue to receive student survey selections, and as such, we ask that you continue to promote the program to students and families. Your program Tool (Direct Admissions) can support these efforts. User view access is explained in more detail on the bottom of the High School Staff Resource Guide.
Survey Email Resends This Month
To generate more program engagement, we will be sending another round of emails with student surveys to non-responders starting the second week of the month. If you haven’t done so already, please double-check your whitelisting (Domains to Whitelist (2025-2026).xlsx - Google Sheets) and your school’s ability to receive batch emails. The email to student school email inboxes comes from “MN_OHE - Do Not Reply”, or ohe@state.mn.us. Your program Tool (Direct Admissions) can support these efforts, too. Multiple users from a high school can have access to the roster, and it is primarily meant for individuals who work most closely with students on the college search process and for folks who might evaluate macro level college-access data. User view access is explained in more detail on the bottom of the High School Staff Resource Guide page.
Data Update
Currently, we have 244 of 257 participating high schools (95% of the program’s high school cohort) reporting, with 34,514 surveys sent to 34,560 students via Direct Admissions. Currently, 4,600 students are requesting proactive admission to a participating college partner (approximately 14% of the eligible cohort). Part two of the new program tool will be available this month, the program-level data dashboard. While your portal allows you access to your individual school’s student level data and roster, this next phase is a comprehensive dashboard for public reporting and accountability.
Invoicing
Once your data has been received by the agency, you are able to invoice per your contract for program funds. More on invoicing can be found at the following toolkit resource: When and How do I Invoice OHE.
Program Outreach
Program outreach for new high schools is underway. You can help! We have a few opportunities to spread the word, including:
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Sharing the interest form with any high schools in your area who are not yet participating.
- Encouraging your high school colleagues and network to connect directly with me for the program’s application or if there are any program questions. Another opportunity to do so is our March info sessions, found on the interest form page.
Reminder
Be sure to be reminding students about sending along their transcripts to colleges they’ve requested proactive admissions to. Your local process does not need to change, and this is another possible use of your roster in the Tool. To get a better sense of when colleges prefer receiving this important document, please consult the toolkit resource: Transcript Send Timeline Table
Upcoming Trainings
April program trainings are set, RSVP if you need a refresher or have new staff. If you have new staff or would like a refresher, we have two training series of three main program topics occurring throughout April. These are not mandatory, and the content for each session will be the same if you’d like to register for the option that works best. All trainings are recorded, too, if you’d prefer to simply watch the video later, which should be posted in May. The trainings for new high schools are as follows:
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Direct Admissions: Data Sharing Agreements, Joint Powers Agreements, and Invoices:
This Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) Direct Admissions MN training focuses on program contracts, funds, and invoicing the agency for participating high schools’ program funding. Important information will be shared about the basics for data logistics and security, too. This training is required for the school's designated authority (usually the principal, superintendent, and/or head of school) and recommended for counselors and finance professionals assisting with the transfer of program funds. Use the following links to register:
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Direct Admissions: Marketing the program and logistics 101: This Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) Direct Admissions MN training focuses on marketing supports for the program. This training shares how to utilize the many marketing tools and supports for the program, including the program’s toolkit; social media and print materials; and more. Information about how to order and employ the marketing materials will be shared. This training is required for the school's primary program staff personnel (usually the counselor) and recommended for communications professionals assisting with the sharing of information to families and students. Use the following links to register:
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Direct Admissions: Building the data with the SIS and OHE's program tool:
This Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) Direct Admissions MN training focuses on broad data needs to conduct the program, particularly when utilizing your local student information system (SIS) to gather fields and run the report to conduct the academic review. We share general information about the program’s data fields, the current state of SIS integration, and agency-specific resources to interface with the program Tool. This training is required for counselors and technology support professionals assisting with data elements and reporting to run the program. There will be plenty of time for questions. Use the following links to register:
Monthly Check-ins
Our optional Direct Admissions' “High School Mentor Meet-ups and Community of Practice” gathering is on the morning of Wednesday, March 11th from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
The meeting ID and passcode is as follows:
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 277 387 226 787 3
Passcode: fJ3eV2yH
Additionally, due to an unanticipated conflict, April’s mentor meet-up (scheduled for the 8th) is canceled.
The legislative report is under ADA review currently. Once completed, a press release will notify you of its availability – stay tuned!
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