Minnesota State University Reporter

Calling all students: free tuition for those that qualify.

Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, proposed legislation at a press conference at the Capitol March 11 that would pay for the entire cost of tuition for the first two years for students from low- to moderate-income families.

"We need to improve state support of higher education," said Pappas, the chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. "This approach will benefit students as well as colleges as they manage budget challenges and changing student populations."

Qualifying students would be from families whose income is lower than $85,000, or $42,000 from single-parent families.

The bill, named "Tools for Tomorrow's Workforce," would offer more than just free tuition.

Promoting higher education to underserved K-12 students in assisting Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) by offering college preparation programs and recruiting more students is one goal of the higher education package, as well as an income tax credit for businesses assisting employees with post-secondary education.

The money, however, would not be handed to students just for qualifying through their family's salary. The "free-ride" would be given to students through federal grants, scholarships and a tax credit.

The details have not been figured and Pappas is unsure of the price the state would pay to provide such a tax credit.

Pappas and co-authors Sen. Mee Moua, DFL- St. Paul, and Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, were nevertheless upbeat at the press conference and plan to move forward with the bill.

The Higher Education Budget Division will review the bill soon.

Ayllssa Woodford is a Reporter staff writer

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