Advocates for Minnesota Student Aid - AMSA

With today’s good news for college grads with debts, it's great to see additional relief targeting low-income students who received Pell Grants. The announcement includes important improvements for income-driven prepayment plans too. Learn more:

BREAKING NEWS: The Department of Education will provide up to $20,000 in targeted student debt cancellation to borrowers with loans held by the Department, ensuring that borrowers are not worse off financially due to the pandemic. https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-announces-final-student-loan-pause-extension-through-december-31-and-targeted-debt-cancellation-smooth-transition-repayment

Happy 50th birthday to the Pell Grant!🎉

During its first 50 years, the Pell Grant has helped more than 80 million students. Now's the time to ask your members of Congress to awards to support current and future generations of students!

Want to do your part for Pell? Start here!
https://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/news-events/news/take-action-doublepell-programs-50th-anniversary

While the Minnesota State Grant program reaches tens of thousands of students, the size of the grants has not kept up with need, especially as COVID-19 has taken a toll on students and families' finances.

You can help! Act now and ask your legislator to invest in the Minnesota State Grant program: https://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/policy-research/advocating-student-aid/take-action

Jonathon Krull, chair of the Minnesota Association of Private College Students discussed the need for changes to the Hunger Free Campus Act in a recent op-ed.

"Students across the state have been forced to choose what meals they can eat because of the amount of money they have on their meal plan or in their pockets. Because of this reality, on-campus food pantries need to be an option, and all colleges and universities need to be able to access funding to operate them."

Read more here:

OPINION EXCHANGE | New Voices: All Minnesota college campuses should be hunger-free Public schools aren't the only institutions who have students in need.

St. Catherine University student Melody Her just testified in front of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee on the impact of Minnesota State Grant on her and other students.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota student Jonathon Krull just wrapped up his testimony in front of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, making the case for more investment in the Minnesota State Grant program.

Twelve of our members made the list of top 15 Minnesota institutions for student voter participation in the 2020 election — with St. Olaf College taking first place — according to All In Challenge for Campus Democracy. Click the link to read the full report:

State of Student Voting Report 2020 Students faced numerous barriers to voting during the 2020 election. The pandemic caused many colleges and universities in Minnesota to move online, making it more difficult for students to register to vote and cast their ballot. Yet, thanks to the work of colleges and universities, students were pr...

Will your campus win the Minnesota Democracy Cup? Every two years, the Democracy Cup is awarded to campuses with outstanding student voter participation rates. Join us Dec. 2, 2021 at 12 p.m. to find out. Register for this free, virtual event at: https://www.leadmn.org/minnesota-democracy-cup-awards-ceremony

Macalester College President Suzanne M. Rivera urges doubling Pell as part of the post-pandemic recovery to ensure that this generation of young Americans receives the education and training they need to move up the economic ladder and get the economy working again.

An increase in Pell Grants must be part of any final budget deal | MinnPost Doubling Pell as part of the post-pandemic recovery will ensure this generation of young Americans receives the education and training they need to both move up the economic ladder and get the economy working again, while helping America compete in a global economy that demands educated workers.