The Minnesota State Board of Trustees has rejected a student association’s proposal to increase fees in order to better serve the two-year college students it represents.
LeadMN, which charges students 35 cents per credit — $10.50 a year for full-time students — sought to raise the fee to 61 cents, or $18.30.
The association had a plan to double its staff by hiring organizers to re-establish student senates on individual campuses, adding a fundraiser and career planning services, and hiring multiple benefits navigators to help students meet their basic needs, from food and housing to health and child care.
Two-thirds of campus representatives endorsed the plan at LeadMN’s delegate assembly, but trustees heard complaints about the association’s process and concerns that they’d be duplicating services already offered by colleges and universities.
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but this isn’t the right way to do it,” Trustee Cheryl Tefer said Wednesday.
Following the proposal’s first reading at last month’s Board of Trustees meeting, the Minnesota State system office solicited input from campus student governments. The responses they got were roughly 3 to 1 against the fee increase. College presidents opposed the plan, too.
The board’s finance committee, which controls student fees, rejected the proposal Wednesday on a 5-2 vote.
George Soule, who voted for the fee increase, said some parts of the plan are “no-brainers.” His only concern was that LeadMN’s benefits navigators would undermine or interfere with the work of professional staff on campuses, but he said he hasn’t heard much evidence that would be the case.
Chancellor Devinder Malhotra said that while he disagrees with “the approach and the tactics” LeadMN proposed, he acknowledges colleges and universities “need to do more” to support students.
“To me, this is not the end of the conversation,” he said, pledging to “accelerate the work” in student services.