September 21, 2005

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities trustees approve resident tuition rates for hurricane-affected students

Contact: Melinda Voss, (651) 296-9443, melinda.voss@so.mnscu.edu

Students enrolled in a regionally accredited college or university now closed by damage from Hurricane Katrina will be charged resident tuition rates if they want to attend one of the 32 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities this year, under a resolution adopted today by the Board of Trustees.

Resident tuition rates will be available to the displaced students for the fall or spring semesters of the current academic year. Non-resident tuition is generally double the resident rate.

"This is a practical step we can take to help students who wish to continue their academic work while their home institutions recover," said Chancellor James H. McCormick. "We want to help them feel welcome, comfortable and secure so they can focus on their academic pursuits."

"Given the devastation caused to dozens of college campuses by Hurricane Katrina, the board believes this is an appropriate and helpful move that can make it easier for students to move forward with their lives," said Board Chair Robert Hoffman.

The educational plans of an estimated 100,000 college students in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have been disrupted by the hurricane and its aftermath.

The non-resident tuition waiver is the latest in a series of actions by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to help the displaced students. Earlier this month, the system offered to accommodate up to 300 students affected by the disaster. And, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Foundation set up the Katrina Student Relief Fund.

Also, last week, Minnesota Timberwolves majority owner and business executive Glen Taylor committed up to $500,000 for the Taylor Relief Fund to help about 100 displaced students attend Minnesota State University, Mankato, or South Central College, a two-year community and technical college with campuses in Mankato and Faribault.

For students who are not able to come to Minnesota, the system offers about 100 online degree, diploma and certificate programs and more than 1,000 courses, which can be taken via the Internet. Information is available at www.minnesotaonline.org .

For more information about services for hurricane evacuees or to donate to the Katrina Student Relief Fund, visit http://www.mnscu.edu and click on Katrina Student Relief Fund or call toll-free 1-800-456-8519.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 130,000 students in non-credit courses.