Renae Prater
Campus Eye Contributing Writer
Two bills–one to improve credit transfer, the other on advertising PSEO programs in high schools–were discussed Wednesday at the Coon Rapids Student Government’s weekly meeting.
The first bill could change the game for post-secondary transfer students. There was an air of enthusiasm as Student Government President Thomas Berg explained the bill. “The legislation will hold MNSCU (Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) accountable for assuring that any student taking those 60 credits will transition into a 120-degree, four-year program—seamless transition.” The bill, which will be completed in the next week, would have significant impact on many students.
“This would be great for me,” said full-time ARCC student Amelia Knoll, “I’ve always been worried about how my credits will transfer after I leave this place.” Knoll is in her freshman year at ARCC and while unsure of her future degree, knows that she does want to pursue further education once she is done with her generals.
The meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, also covered a new bill, which would allow post secondary institutions to advertise PSEO on a financial basis on K-12 school grounds. This stipulation was originally in place because more PSEO students equates less money for the high schools. Many students spoke up during this segment testifying to the lack of PSEO advertisement in their high schools. “At my school, PSEO was barely a whisper on the wind,” said a student commentator, “I really didn’t know it existed until my junior year.”
According to Berg, State Sen. Patricia Torres Ray, D-Minneapolis, supports the bill and is eager to sign it once its final draft is authored this week.
These bills are will be voted on in the Legislature by late April.