MN HF3861

Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must designate up to ten colleges as applied learning institutes beginning in fiscal year 2012, with at least one institute established in each underserved state region.

Each selected institute receives a minimum award of $1,000,000 to enhance technical education opportunities for high school students, with up to half of first-year funding available for purchasing equipment needed to establish technical education curriculum in partner high schools.

Participating institutes must develop partnerships with regional high schools and their eleventh and twelfth grade students, with students able to access partner college facilities and faculty, and the option to enroll in concurrent high school and college programs.

Students completing applied learning college courses through an institute must receive college credit that transfers to an affiliated college for continuation of postsecondary technical education.

Each institute and partner high schools must develop relationships with regional business and industry to identify job prospects, workforce requirements, and generate support for the institutes, with Northeast Higher Education District providing development assistance.