Posted: January 22, 2014
Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426
ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 22, 2014 – The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Access to Excellence scholarship campaign, a collaborative effort of the 42 foundations affiliated with MnSCU campuses across the state to raise $20 million in scholarship dollars over a two year period, exceeded its goal for the first half of fiscal 2014. For the six month period ending December 31, 2013, the foundations raised $9.2 million for student scholarships against a goal of $5.0 million.
“Our colleges and universities are places of hope and opportunity for thousands of Minnesotans, and scholarships play a vital role helping many students address unmet financial need,” said Steven Rosenstone, MnSCU chancellor. “The support made possible by our generous donors will enable thousands of low income students to enroll, complete their education, and create a better future for themselves and their families.”
The Access to Excellence campaign, the most ambitious scholarship goal in MnSCU history, is one element in MnSCU’s ongoing commitment to remain the state’s highest value, most affordable higher education option. Additional elements include a commitment to generate $44 million in efficiencies and cost control for the period covering fiscal years 2014 and 2015, tuition rates that are substantially lower than the state’s other higher education options, and a tuition freeze for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years made possible by support from the Minnesota legislature. As a result of these and other initiatives, more students graduate from the colleges and universities of MnSCU with little or no debt than from the state’s other colleges and universities.