September 29, 2003
Erickson to complete 2,300-mile
bicycle tour to raise awareness of the needs of part-time students
Contact: Nancy Conner, 651 296.0541, nancy.conner@so.mnscu.edu or
Barb Schlaefer, 651 296.9443, barb.schlaefer@so.mnscu.edu
Enduring heavy weather and a cracked rib from a collision with
an automobile September 12, Robert O. Erickson, a 57-year-old retired
executive and former trustee for the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities, is expected to complete a 2,300-mile bike tour of
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Tuesday at Saint Paul
College. Erickson will complete his 31-day campaign to draw attention
to deficiencies in Minnesota's financial aid program, which he says
provides little help for needy part-time college students.
"If I caused a few more people to think about the human and economic
implications of helping a struggling working parent pay for college,
then every mile was worthwhile," Erickson said Monday morning. "Minnesota's
financial aid formula was constructed more than 20 years ago for
the young student who could count on his or her parents for financial
help. Times have changed. Demographics have changed. Minnesota must
change."
Of the 235,000 students served by the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities annually, about 44 percent are enrolled part-time.
The average age of the system's part-time students is 30. Erickson
visited with many students and staff who work with students during
his tour.
The chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities,
James H. McCormick, applauded Erickson for his unconventional campaign
to address an issue that has long troubled student and policy leaders
of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
"Bob Erickson's commitment to helping students is phenomenal," McCormick
said. "After dedicating thousands of hours to the betterment of
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities as a board member,
he gets on his bicycle and pedals an important message of fairness
directly to the people."
This is the second time Erickson has toured the system's 53 campuses
by bicycle. As of Monday, Erickson had raised about $98,000 in scholarships
over two years to help working part-time students attend Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities. A portion of the funds are directed
to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Foundation, with
other funds designated for individual college and university foundations.
Erickson's bicycling itinerary for Monday and Tuesday (below).
Monday, Sept. 29
Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie, 8 a.m.
Campus contact: Carole Carlson 763-550-2194
Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis
10 a.m.
Campus contact: Jill Gebhardt 612-341-7304
North Hennepin Community & Technical College, Brooklyn
Park, 1 p.m.
Campus contact: Carmen Shoquist, 763-763-424-0820
Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park, 3 p.m.
Campus contact: Carole Carlson 763-550-2194
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Century College, White Bear Lake 10 a.m.
Campus contact: Nancy Livingston 651-779-3222
Metropolitan State University, St. Paul's East Side, 11:30
a.m.
Campus contact: Thomas Cook 651-772-7777
Final stop: Saint Paul College, St. Paul arriving 12:15
p.m.
Campus contact: Jim Brown 651-846-1305
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System comprises 33
state universities and community and technical colleges serving
the higher education needs of Minnesota. To contribute to the "Biking
for Bucks" tour visit www.mnscu.edu.
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