Students ask for system support; Schedules posted

Yesterday at the Capitol
Senate Higher Education committee members heard from students and faculty with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota yesterday about the role higher education plays in their lives and in Minnesota, and the impact of cuts to the two systems. Geoff Dittberner, Vice President of the Minnesota State College Student Association, said that without a strong Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, it would be impossible to meet the state's workforce needs, and he urged committee members to keep in mind the system's principles of access, opportunity and success; high quality learning; enhancing the global economic competitiveness; and innovating to meet educational needs.

Caitlin Stene, Vice Chair of the Minnesota State University Student Association, or MSUSA, told committee members that state university system students ask how they can push the system to be the most innovative in the nation, and the state cannot afford to restrict access to higher education. Chair of MSUSA, Andrew Spaeth, told members that the organization's 75,000 students would urge them to keep in the forefront of their minds that these students are the workforce of tomorrow.

Today at the Capitol
8:15 AM
House Education Reform
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Sondra Erickson
Agenda: Presentation: Career and Technical Education in the 21st Century (continued) Presenter: Mike Mieron

8:30 AM
Senate Taxes
Room: 15 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Julianne E. Ortman
Agenda:
Dynamic Scoring Presentations and Discussion
Presenters:
Dan Mitchell, Senior Fellow, CATO Institute
John Spry, University of St. Thomas
Paul Wilson, Research Director, MN Department of Revenue
February 2011 Forecast Presentation
Presenters:
Commissioner Jim Showalter
State Economist Tom Stinson

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda:
HF717 (Abeler) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system credit transfer required.
MnSCU Report to the Legislature: 'Improving Transfer of Credit'
Mayo Medical School Overview/Presentation
HF378 (Scott) Graduate education study required in for-profit sector

12:30 PM
House Education Finance
Room: 5 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Pat Garofalo
Agenda: HF355 (Kiffmeyer) Home school mandates reduced, and superintendents relieved of reporting requirements.
Early Learning Task Force Report

3:00 PM
House in Session

Looking Ahead

Tuesday, March 8
12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Presentation of governor's Department of Labor and Industry budget proposal

1:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Doug Magnus
Agenda:
"Agriculture's Contributions to Improving Water Quality"
Presentations from the MN Agriculture Water Resources Coalition, MN Department of Agriculture & University of Minnesota