Higher ed omnibus bill passes Senate Finance Committee
On Tuesday, April 14, the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee released its omnibus bill, Senate File 5. The bill provides $60 million for a tuition freeze and $25 million for the Medical School in the FY 2016-17 biennium. It also provides $2 million for the University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation Partnership to award grants for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. The bill contains a few policy items of interest to the University of Minnesota:
- Campus sexual assault – establishes new requirements relating to campus sexual assault response and reporting.
- Study abroad – clarifies reporting requirements.
- Research on dogs and cats – removes sunset date.
- Human subjects research – requires a report on developing and implementing a plan to conduct human subject research.
- State grant tuition cap, and living and miscellaneous expense allowance – increases the cap and allowance.
Three University health sciences professors and clinicians joined Dr. Brooks Jackson, M.D., dean of the Medical School and vice president of health sciences, to testify in support of the investment in the Medical School. Read a statement on their testimony.
The committee passed the bill onto the Senate Finance Committee, where it was heard yesterday and also passed. The bill will likely be voted on the Senate floor next week.
House higher ed committee also passes omnibus bill
The House Higher Education Policy and Finance Committee heard its omnibus bill on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The bill, House File 845, provides no new funding for the University of Minnesota in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The bill contains a couple of policy items of interest to the University:
- College completion – requires the University to develop a comprehensive plan to encourage student to complete degrees, diplomas, or certificates in their fields of study.
- Campus sexual assault – establishes new requirements relating to campus sexual assault response and reporting.
On Wednesday, April 15, President Kaler testified on the bill, expressing his disappointment in the zero increase in funding. Read the statement. In addition, Minnesota Student Association director Drew Coveyou testified, underlining the financial costs students will bear without funding for a tuition freeze and a reduction in State Grant Program funding.
This bill will be heard next in the Ways and Means Committee on Monday, April 20. View a comparison of the governor, Senate, and House budget proposals.
Dean Ames testifies in Senate agriculture committee
On Wednesday, April 15, the Senate Jobs, Agriculture, and Economic Development Committee held an informational hearing on a highly pathogenic avian flu virus that has spread across Minnesota's turkey industry. Dean Trevor Ames, along with representatives from the Department of Agriculture and the Board of Animal Health, provided an update on the severity of the outbreak and the steps being taken to contain and eradicate the virus. This has become one of the top issues at the Legislature, as Minnesota is the number one turkey producing state in the country.