We ask the Saint Mary’s community to speak up and encourage support for increased financial aid for students at our university and across all nonprofit colleges.
The Promise Equalization Scholarship authored by Sen. Omar Fateh and Rep. Dan Wolgamott would provide much needed help for low- and middle-income students at nonprofit colleges. The investment of $13.9 million would mirror how much the state is investing through the North Star Promise in students at the University of Minnesota, restoring financial aid parity for students at nonprofit colleges.
With the new Promise Equalization Scholarship, the State of Minnesota would partner with our institution to make college more affordable and reduce student debt — just as the North Star Promise Scholarship has done for low- and middle-income students at public and tribal colleges.
Last year policymakers made a historic investment in college affordability with North Star Promise, but it left out one-third of low- and middle-income students who attend four-year colleges — those at nonprofit colleges. Low- and middle-income students at private nonprofit colleges have the same financial needs as students at Minnesota State and the University of Minnesota who are helped by the North Star Promise. But low- and middle-income students at nonprofit colleges were not included in the new program.
We are asking you to take action now. Ask your Minnesota state senator and representative to speak up for nonprofit college students through support for the Promise Equalization Scholarship. An estimated 13,000 students would receive an average scholarship of about $1,000, helping low- and middle-income students currently receiving State Grants. Here at Saint Mary’s, over 200 undergraduates would benefit from the new scholarship. Because there is a large surplus in the appropriation for the North Star Promise, this can be accomplished without any additional state funding.
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As Saint Mary’s faculty, students and staff, we can share our views and let our Minnesota senators and representatives know that they should invest more money in need-based aid for college students. Click here to go to a page where you’ll see more information and be helped in quickly sending an email to your hometown legislators.
Thank you!
