The Minnesota State college system is requesting $350 million from Minnestoa’s record budget surplus of $17.6 billion. If acquired, this money could potentially be used to provide some financial relief for students within the MN State system.

The projected surplus was released back in November as part of the state’s 2022 Economic Forecast. The MN State system office has already set up a plan of how to spend the money across its different colleges if that money is procured.

Scott Ellinghuysen, the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Winona State University for the past thirty years, gave some insight on how the university could receive the money and the possible benefits it could have.

When asked what this could mean for the university, Ellinghuysen stated that “the number one thing would be a tuition freeze.”

Every year, the cost of tuition in the United States increases. A tuition freeze would mean that MN State colleges and universities would not be able to raise the cost of tuition fees for a period of about one to two years. This situation could be beneficial to students who are struggling to pay and keep up with the rising costs of tuition and textbooks.

The MN State system office posted on their website a plan for how the money will be used across their campuses.

The first thing they list for what they intend to do with the requested $350 million is setting aside $125 million to “directly support our students’ critical needs with a focus on affordability.”

This cost is split up into $77 million towards a tuition freeze and expanding offerings for free textbooks, $26 million to student support services, $12 million for transfer scholarships and $10 million for emergency grants.

The rest of the money would go to addressing “the growth and advancement of Minnesota’s future workforce,” and to “maintain academic programs and keep tuition affordable.”

However, Winona State does not have the money yet. There are a few things that need to happen first before anyone receives the funds.

Ellinghuysen said that first, the MN State system must send in their “biannual budget request,” something they do every budget year (every two years).

Not only that, but Winona State is not the only university that the money would be going to if it is acquired. Nor does it mean that the MN State system will actually receive all of the money that they are asking for.

Ellinghuysen said that “there is no shortage of people asking for things.”

With the budget surplus being projected to be so high, there are many different institutions who will be wanting to cash in on it. The money could go towards funding other state functions such as healthcare or public education for K-12.

The MN State system office also uploaded a slideshow presentation outlining their capital request. Included is a priority list of the different colleges and universities that will receive funding from the request. At the moment, Winona State is ranked 11 on that list.

Ellinghuysen added that students should “advocate and lobby for that tuition freeze.”

Ellinghuysen suggested that students should get involved by contacting the Student Senate and their local representatives to advocate for the tuition freeze.

Right now, the tuition freeze and the funding in general is all up in the air. Nothing is set in stone yet. Another economic forecast will be released in February, giving an updated number to the projected surplus of $17.6 billion.

More information about this topic can be found at the MN State website under legislative information.