Statement: Governor Dayton’s Call for a Special Session

Posted: June 1, 2016

Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 1, 2016 – Governor Dayton today announced the conditions under which he will agree to call the legislature into special session. Included in his conditions is a requirement that bills submitted for consideration include an additional $21 million operating budget increase for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, an additional $28 million in Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) for a total of $63 million in HEAPR funds, and an additional critical classroom project, bringing individual campus projects to nine. 

“Governor Dayton’s support is great news for Minnesota and will help protect critical programs and ensure that our classrooms and laboratories will remain state-of-the-art, safe, warm, and dry,” said Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. “We are grateful for the support that both Governor Dayton and the legislature have shown throughout the session.  We look forward to continuing our work to develop the talent Minnesota needs for businesses and communities to grow, and eliminate economic and racial disparities by providing all Minnesotans with the opportunity to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.”

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The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities include 30 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 400,000 students. It is the fifth-largest higher education system in the United States.