[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325006,"mediaKeyId","2335155-78e20fa4aa8500a51eb332ea5c1d9411","parentId",2335155,"title","Lawmakers probe hunger-free campus grants, statutory caps and distribution efficiency","audioSeconds",510,"startMs",1732000,"endMs",2242000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335155-78e20fa4aa8500a51eb332ea5c1d9411&start=1732&end=2242","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335155-78e20fa4aa8500a51eb332ea5c1d9411/thumbnail_1732000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325006/Minnesota/Lawmakers-probe-hunger-free-campus-grants-statutory-caps-and-distribution-efficiency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325006-fe5c2028e875b99b027707dbe38721f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003916&Signature=IdtTZsS3drfW8ImcjtkiYXV9OFkkC1wzaFAMF02AjNkITgrVrUsXATYgQwrQexCM7Ni2EzvAY32xZLrs910heBkd-vR4-gvnqtvoYINvlXEVtXO-oE58Lx03CL5JzjnB4HUZIGokcsQfIcPYyOGRGMwWInf4GQWW7vtNkDdeksvXUyRGxD6k8fOB33NKTPAz5LJx99nJoOnBMnzPWLXP2-9N9hKmBhsHkA9q2XZngZ6R7~K7ewPKWbRbFKlDDoqg4EkggQGXuT0C7w97arFVijlleL9VqnF~85n88HjzAiFLZiTWCqldtWanpBOavBlsWuiMM87Ehl8F9QZKVRjkuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MNHouseInfo","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Committee members pressed the Minnesota Office of Higher Education about how hunger-free campus grants operate, statutory award caps and whether campus-based pantries or regional food-bank distribution is the more efficient model.

Megan Fitzgibbon told the committee that hunger-free campus grants support on-campus pantry operations, outreach and, in some rounds, one-time equipment purchases. \"Many many of the campuses including ones that get hunger free campus grants do have partnerships with food shelves and food banks to either provide access to students for food pantries that are close by campus or actually on campuses and also to source food and bring it on campus for their on campus food pantry,\" Fitzgibbon said.

Members asked about statutory caps and recent award limits. Agency staff noted statutory caps and then momentarily misstated the amounts during discussion; the fiscal analyst, Ken Savory, clarified the program base and one-time equipment funding. Savory told the committee the base for the Hunger Free Campus Act in FY26-27 is $2,000,000; the prior finance bill allowed permissive one-time equipment funding up to $500,000 in FY24. Fitzgibbon also told members the statute limits private nonprofit institutions to receive no more than 20% of total award funds, which affected award sizes in the recent round and required proportional reductions to stay within the cap.

Committee members urged caution about shifting distribution arrangements. Representative Cleburne described a campus pantry model that reduces stigma and provides local distribution on campus, while Representative Liebling and others asked whether routing the funds through regional food banks might yield lower per-unit costs. Fitzgibbon said campuses typically partner with food banks where possible but hunger-free grants also fund outreach and operations at campus pantries, not just food purchase.

Why it matters: hunger-free campus grants are intended to address student food insecurity at Minnesota colleges; statute defines grant types and caps, and the committee questioned whether the current structure maximizes food purchased while preserving campus-based, low-stigma access. Savory’s fiscal note gave committee members the base appropriation and explained why one-time equipment funding was a short-term add-on to support campus pantry infrastructure.

Ending: members agreed the program is valuable but should be reviewed for efficiency and statutory clarity; OHE said it will provide further detail if the committee wants to explore statutory caps or adjustments during budget deliberations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/25","oneSentenceSummary","OHE described campus food-pantry grants and partnerships with food banks; committee members questioned statutory caps, private-institution limits and whether routing funds through food banks would be more efficient.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325010,"OHE pitches formula shift for tribal college O&M grants to speed payments",0,1366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335155-78e20fa4aa8500a51eb332ea5c1d9411&start=1366&end=1366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335155-78e20fa4aa8500a51eb332ea5c1d9411/thumbnail_1366000.jpg","/articles/6325010/Minnesota/OHE-pitches-formula-shift-for-tribal-college-OM-grants-to-speed-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325010-a0be54cc8419d36b658ec17635a562c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003916&Signature=ZXRKO7p2nm9oBGtz8wQFQCadkskig70F6-848AhHJvm9uMDVS5NulyZhAXqp9b2i6llu3wSP2C0CUJLAXab1xN2ZAPDHWflri84R1Xf3DAFZKgkb2~I12yJeBetB4Z6UJtEQk0UaxyV~2lU2Bpnv1uKTjGS56u0DUli2jEqmy5cpT6a9kXKF1Mqv75CGCe2mdoi7SODmhWSPS27cXbwZ1AnoGNxtsUtqVmXVL42nTmPmjoJV8GTG6-dX5RCYVNx5QRfPuVmDcUqZSMkJChpJCggGUtrshn1nF4mvqQEF881Ud3EycYxRY7o~QtTODfqSiqyUfH2knQQexaIFWgkaNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minnesota Office of Higher Education told the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee that three tribal colleges experienced uneven timing in receiving legislatively named operations-and-maintenance (O&M) funds, and the office is proposing to transition those grants into a formula-driven program to accelerate payments.

Commissioner Dennis Olsen said the governor’s budget includes a proposal \"to incorporate this program into the existing tribal college supplemental assistance grant program and transition it from a legislatively named grant into a formula based program.\" He and agency staff said the change would create a funding floor for each college while enabling formula distribution to reduce contracting delays.

Why it matters: tribal colleges said during earlier hearings that some saw almost all funds while others had little or none available in the initial months. Fitzgibbon explained that because legislatively named grants must be managed as contracts, OHE requires grantees to submit work plans and budgets, then to execute grant contracts and submit reimbursement requests. \"Our agency does for the most part work on a reimbursement process,\" Fitzgibbon said, noting that some colleges simply had less time to incur eligible expenses and request reimbursement before the end of the fiscal window.

OHE described the proposed mechanics: set a funding floor to meet legislative intent (the agencies discussed a $1,000,000 floor in testimony) and then fold remaining funds into the supplemental assistance formula (the office referenced the existing $150,000 appropriation within the supplemental program as part of the structure). The agency said the tribe presidents and administrators it consulted generally supported a formula approach because formula funding reduces negotiation time and speeds availability to campuses.

OHE staff also noted implementation details committee members pressed on: what counts as eligible O&M spending (the agency said statutory language and higher-education accounting standards were used to determine items that qualify; new construction is typically excluded) and grant contract timing. Commissioner Olsen said the office is working with the three tribal colleges on reimbursement for an unemployment insurance aid component passed last year.

Ending: OHE asked lawmakers to consider the budget bill language that would shift the existing legislatively named O&M appropriations into the supplemental-assistance formula. Committee members indicated they would consider the proposal during budget deliberations and follow up with questions about statutory language and any required statutory changes.","Office of Higher Education told lawmakers reimbursement and contract processes delayed operations-and-maintenance payments to three tribal colleges and proposed moving the legislatively named grants into a formula distribution to speed access to funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":79,"_43":90,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325016,"Minn. Office of Higher Education details grants, enrollment gains and strains on state grant and North Star Promise",3741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335155-78e20fa4aa8500a51eb332ea5c1d9411&start=3741&end=3741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335155-78e20fa4aa8500a51eb332ea5c1d9411/thumbnail_3741000.jpg","/articles/6325016/Minnesota/Minn-Office-of-Higher-Education-details-grants-enrollment-gains-and-strains-on-state-grant-and-North-Star-Promise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325016-bf915a86d8d7faf5267a73f294c9ad73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771003916&Signature=USEVQwMHiTTK3TTlfd6TFmLtZstdrsT-NdIvCTnrJdufwOMMA1Bjd44ABYpizkMbJtG5AdI3v8ICfnpLCvnnWX4lDcx97hoAvwl0aSt9KG0tTrgjoLZr6-gXBEw9YSK9yAMtN0YgDy9M64qo~oXjr3fcZvFxGyL~Kv95OWZgvus7toRu7KbjSf~YNj576bNlf3-YiV01MdruE~XpymQvTyz~2ig9RpCYYPPG7ULL9XSWaIg1IYhNGxc~TPZ81HQkj~G22R~wRoYjn39U4hLG0Ej--5YU30WhK9CPY7PD2KtuicZVJ4B4eVIljCuDBklAbK9sgU4WRm-8lnGDF3mKKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education told the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee that the agency’s portfolio of competitive grants and state financial-aid programs is expanding while demand pushes strain onto the state grant and new North Star Promise programs.

The Office of Higher Education (OHE) presented results and program details across a wide set of initiatives: a student-parent support competitive grant ($5.3 million awarded to 13 organizations), the spinal cord and traumatic brain injury research grants (19 projects awarded in the most recent round, totaling about $30,000,000), dual training grants (about $5.4 million awarded to 84 Minnesota employers for related instruction), and a new Inclusive Higher Education grant (Lake Superior College awarded $200,000). Megan Fitzgibbon, manager of grants and workforce initiatives, described program goals and recent award totals.

Megan Flores, manager of state financial aid programs, told the committee that Minnesota’s FAFSA completion drop was smaller than the national average after the federal FAFSA changes. \"In Minnesota we didn't fare quite as poorly as others. We were only down about 4.8%,\" Flores said, and she reported statewide undergraduate enrollment growth of about 7.4% year over year. Flores said the office and campus and nonprofit partners ran workshops and outreach to limit national declines.

Why it matters: committee members and OHE staff said enrollment gains are positive but create budget pressure for state aid. Flores reported initial North Star Promise disbursements for the program’s first year: \"we're seeing just under 15,000 students\" receiving the base tuition-and-fee benefit, and roughly 40,000 students receiving the North Star Promise Plus benefit; about 5,700 students received both awards. Flores gave average award figures of roughly $1,800 for the base Promise award and about $376 for the Plus award. OHE said rising enrollment, combined with existing state grant demand, has created a need for a deeper budget and policy review of the Minnesota State Grant and North Star Promise interplay.

Other program details provided to the committee: the student loan debt counseling grant was awarded to Lutheran Social Services (about $388,000 across the past biennium) and, according to Fitzgibbon, that grantee provides phone and online counseling to roughly 10,000 families annually. The Emergency Assistance for Postsecondary Students (EAPS) program produced thousands of emergency grants: OHE reported over 3,300 emergency grants at Minnesota State totaling more than $2.3 million, 850 emergency grants at the University of Minnesota totaling over $750,000, and roughly $900,000 awarded to 10 private and tribal colleges in a recent cycle. Concurrent enrollment and hunger-free campus grants were also described, with recent competitions funding multiple colleges and partnerships.

Flores summarized how state and federal aid interact. She explained federal law governs order when federal last-dollar programs apply; for state last-dollar programs OHE and the Legislature have relied on an \"order of enactment\" approach and agency guidance so campus financial-aid offices can calculate and disburse aid.

Committee response and next steps: members asked for a state-grant deep dive. Chair and agency staff agreed to schedule a follow-up hearing focused on the Minnesota State Grant budget and how it interacts with North Star Promise. Commissioner Olsen said the office would return for a detailed briefing on options and tradeoffs.

Ending: OHE completed an overview of dozens of grants and programs and flagged enrollment-driven budget pressures that lawmakers said they will examine in a dedicated follow-up hearing.","Commissioner Dennis Olsen and agency managers summarized competitive grants, loan-repayment programs and state financial aid, reporting enrollment gains after FAFSA disruption and warning of strain on the Minnesota State Grant and North Star Promise programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers probe hunger-free campus grants, statutory caps and distribution efficiency

OHE pitches formula shift for tribal college O&M grants to speed payments

Minn. Office of Higher Education details grants, enrollment gains and strains on state grant and North Star Promise