Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to expand eligibility for workforce development scholarships in Minnesota. It seeks to address workforce shortages by modifying the criteria under which students can qualify for scholarships, supporting sectors with high job demand.

Main Provisions

• Expanded Eligibility: The scholarships will be available to students who are residents and enrolled in certain programs.
• Eligible Programs: The list of eligible study programs includes advanced manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare services, information technology, early childhood education, transportation, construction, education, public safety, energy, and cybersecurity.
• Regional Flexibility: Each educational institution can add an additional program based on regional workforce shortages. These shortages are identified through the Department of Employment and Economic Development's job vacancy survey.
• Enrollment Requirements: Students must be enrolled for at least nine credits at a two-year college within the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to be eligible for first and second-year scholarships.
• Transfer Scholarships: Students transferring from a two-year college to a four-year university within the same system, after completing at least two terms, can qualify for a one-year scholarship, given they maintain a minimum of nine credits.

Significant Changes

• Inclusion of Regional Workforce Needs: Institutions can tailor scholarship offerings to address specific local economic needs, updating this choice biennially based on new employment data.
• Broader Program Category Access: By specifically naming several high-demand fields and allowing for added regional programs, the bill acknowledges the dynamically changing workforce requirements.

Relevant Terms

• Workforce development scholarships
• Higher education
• Resident tuition
• Job vacancy rate
• Postsecondary education
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system