Steven raised many questions in his post (see edited version below), but didn't relate it to Mpls. Given the large numbers of students in Mpls. that attend MNSCU institutions, and the fact that the UofM main campuses are also in the Twin Cities, I think this issue does hold some relevance on the list. City students interseted in higher education can choose between the U or MNSCU, or private colleges and universities. I have additional questions.
I believe that MNSCU includes state universities, community colleges and vocational/technical schools-- a very large system, with literally dozens of campuses throughout the state (the University of Minnesota is a separate system). In the Mpls. area, Metropolitan State University, Normandale and Mpls. Community and Technical College are representative institutions. I'm wondering, what if any prerequisites are required to enter the MNSCU system of higher education and enroll/complete a degree program; or just take classes without being enrolled in a degree program. I assume a high school diploma or equivalency is a requirement, and tuition funds via personal savings and/ or loans. Anything else? Is there any competitive evaluation that serves to limit participation in the various degree programs? What about just taking classes outside of a degree program? Is there a distinction? I see one initial distinction. I think degree programs are one thing and just taking a class here and there for personal interest/ improvement seems to be something entirely different; but I don't believe there is any distinction in cost paid by the student? Should there be a distinction in cost, or the degree of state subsidy, given the distinction in student goals and achievement? What of self-directed learners who simply use the library and/or the Internet to explore areas of personal interest/ improvement, with no cost or state education subsidy involved? Subjects could be math, science, literature, music.. you name it. Public budgets, including education, must be cut and it represents a difficult situation-- and not just for the students involved. The difficulties for policy makers was clearly evident at last weeks MPS Board meetings, where the public discussed how to cut $30 million from the MPS budgets... and more the next year. Should not the higher education community also be asked to share in this budget cutting pain. Who should be exempt and why? It might even be suggested that K-12 receive a higher priority in the cutting exercise, given that all kids deserve the opportunity for a basic education... our societal effort to balance the playing field, so to speak. Such entitlements becoming harder to justify as the students become adults. But I digress. I don't believe all diplomas are equal, they hold relative value. Further, I'd suggest that a student enrolled in a degree program should be viewed differently from the casual student taking classes intermittently over time. Thus, I think it is valid to question the degree of taxpayer support to the various sectors of higher education and to consider the status of students in that hierarchy. What is the value of higher education in it's many forms, and the degree of public responsibility in subsidizing that value? I'd be interested in hearing viewpoints from others on the list regarding these issues. Michael Hohmann 13th > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of > Steven Froemming > Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 11:21 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Mpls] MNSCU Money > snip > The Minnesota State College and University System provides thousands of > educated workers every year. In fact every year there are about 27,000 > Students that Graduate from MNSCU institutions annually. 1 in 5 > workers in > the State of Minnesota is a MNSCU Graduate. Think about this for a minuet > the MNSCU system provides the state with 86% of its nurses, 50% of its > teachers, 90% of its law enforcement offers, and 54% of its informational > technology workers. In additition,MNSCU provided customized training for > about 240,000 people between 1999-2000. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CUT FUNDING > FOR THE MNSCU SYSTEM? > As I can tell you because I pay for my tuition it is getting > more and more > difficult for young students to pay for there education. Tuition at > Minnesota's State colleges has increased significantly in the > recent years > it is getting more and more difficult for young students to go to a > community college. Or any higher education for that matter. More and more > young students cannot afford to pursue higher education without > shouldering > staggering amounts of student loan debt. A good way to educatate the > citizens of Minnesota and to train a new workforce I think is to make it > financially feasible for people to go to college. It is very > important that > all of the citizens who whish to purse education beyond high > school have the > opportunity to do so. THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGHER > EDUCATION IS > TO MAKE TUITION AFFORDABLE. > snip > >WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CUT > FUNDING TO HIGHER EDUCATION? snip >... A 10% cut in > the financial aid budget could mean that MORE THAN 9,000 STUDENTS > COULD LOSE > THEIR STATE GRANT AID, AND MORE THAN 2,000 STUDENTS COULD BE REMOVED FROM > THE STATE WORK STUDY PROGRAM. I would like you to know that I do > have a work > study job. It helps me pay for college. Work study jobs help > students with > organization. It helps students know what it is like to have a job while > they are taking classes. Why would some one want to take that oppturnaty > away from students. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO CUT FUNDING TO HIGHER EDUCATION? > Higher Education: the Catalyst to Fuel Minnesota's Economy. > During times of economic downturn, many people pursue high education to > upgrade there skills or change there direction. The state's > public college > and Universities must be able to provide the education and training > necessary for citizens to enter the job market with the skills that are > needed by the state's employers. An college education will enable the > students to earn more money, thereby stimulating the Minnesota's economy. > Please keep these things in mind when you vote on the state budget.Please > keep this in mind. We need help from you to help us get through > this tough > economic time. > > > Thanks for your time and you will here from me again very shortly. > > Steven Mac.Donald Froemming > 5437 Pleasant Ave So. > Mpls,MN 55419-1846 > 63A 11-6 Windom > snip _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
