The provides need-based financial aid that goes directly to students. Fifty-two percent of Augsburg undergraduates receive funding through the program, with an average award of nearly $6,000. The focus of this year’s Day at the Capitol was to ask legislators and Governor Walz to make a substantial new investment in the program by lowering the share of college costs that the grant formula expects students to cover from 50% to 36%.

Along with representatives from the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Augsburg students took the Green Line to the capitol and kicked off the day with a training featuring Representative Mike Howard ’05. Then, they met in small groups with their hometown legislators to discuss expanding support for the state grant as well as other issues on students’ minds.

“It was so eye-opening for me,” said Carol Hei Yue Lee ‘24, a social work major, vice president of Augsburg Day Student Government, and Campus Kitchen intern. “At first I didn’t know how the process worked, since my representatives aren’t on the committee that oversees the state grant. But MPCC talked us through how legislators talk about issues with their colleagues and get them to sign on to a bill.”

Lee met with Woodbury Representative Ethan Cha and Senator Nicole Mitchell. “People think legislators look scary, but they are very nice. Representative Cha told us his backstory and experiences as a refugee, fighting for his family and his kids’ rights. I was able to talk about food insecurity, which is a very serious issue and it connects with the state grant.”

For Abby Petersen ’24, the experience complemented their work as a campus organizer through the Minnesota Youth Collective. “I’ve done organizing, but I’ve never had the opportunity to spend a day at the capitol or actually meet a legislator,” they said. “It was super interesting and it went by so fast.”

Both Petersen and Lee noted that the event built connections with other students and helped spur ideas about how to continue their activism on campus. “I was impressed with the number of Augsburg students who showed up,” said Petersen, who transferred to Augsburg last fall and is majoring in social work. “It was really fun to meet other students who are also interested in doing advocacy work. Our group met with Representative Mohamud Noor, who was so supportive, and people brought up food issues and transit accessibility and asked about expanding the state grant program to grad students—we had a long conversation about that.”

Lee ended the day with a sense of deeper community and expanded horizons. “Representative Cha told us, ‘You can be legislators too,’” she said. “Everything is possible.”

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Legislators need to hear from you about the importance the State Grant program to your education. Without those funds, what would you do? Tell them!

Augsburg College Day at the Capitol

Wednesday, March 14, 9:15 a.m.- 2:15 p.m.

9:15 a.m. Boarding bus in front of Music building

10 a.m. Meeting with Minnesota Private College Council representatives with training on what to say to each Representative and Senator during this session. Learn more about the Minnesota State Grant program.

11:30 a.m. Meeting with State Representative or State Senator from student’s home district.

12:15 p.m. Lunch break. Augsburg pays for lunch.

1 p.m. Meetings with State Representative or Senator and Governor or Governor’s staff.

1:30 p.m. Augsburg students gather at the meeting room along with Concordia College, Gustavus Adolphus College to discuss what worked during the day and future challenges. Legislative leaders from both political parties attend

2 p.m. Bus back to campus

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On March 12, students will have the opportunity through the “Day at the Capitol” event to have their voices heard by the legislators who make the decisions to fund these grants. At this event, students can let legislators know about the importance of this funding while gaining an insider’s view of the legislative process. All students are welcome and encouraged to attend the Day at the Capitol.

Participants will receive a policy and lobbying briefing, including comments from House and Senate members who represent their campus. Then, they will meet with legislators and attend a question-and-answer session. The Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC), the sponsor of the event, provides training and materials and makes legislative appointments for participants to meet with their local representatives.

The event is completely free and includes shuttle transportation to and from the capitol. Lunch also will be provided at no cost to students.

Schedule:

10:20 a.m. — leave campus from East Parking Lot to capitol

2 p.m. — leave capitol for campus

To register, simply go to the MPCC web site and register today. Additional campus events are being planned to educate students about issues surrounding financial aid.

Registration and more information:

On Wednesday, March 5, two discussion and information sessions will be held called “RealTalk: Student Aid.” This session will examine issues surrounding funding for aid, and it should serve as good preparation for the “Day at the Capitol.” Both sessions will be held in the Century Room of the Christensen Center — the first at noon, the second at 7 p.m.

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