Legislative session recap and federal update
A new issue of the Legislative Update from the Advocates for Minnesota Student Aid has been published, covering policy work at both the state and federal level.

New cohort selected for Black Men's Success Initiative program
Eighteen Black men have been identified as new Eddie Phillips Scholars, a program that combines significant scholarships in their junior and senior years with a cohort-based mentoring program focused on leadership development, academic success, and personal and career development opportunities. Students in the 2023-25 cohort are enrolled at Augsburg University, Concordia College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Saint John's University, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and St. Olaf College. This program is funded by grant support from the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.

Council and Fund board changes
Barbara McDonald, president of The College of St. Scholastica, has been selected as the new chair of the board of the Minnesota Private College Council and Minnesota Private College Fund. This summer, the board also welcome two new presidents — Colin Irvine at Concordia College and Susan Rundell Singer at St. Olaf College — along with several new community members: Sarina Baker (Minnehaha Academy), Matt Entenza (Entenza Law Firm PLLC), Melisa López Franzen (NewPublica), Patricia Pratt-Cook (St. Paul Public Schools), Nicholas Van Deelen (St. Luke’s Hospital), Nancy Wallace (Xcel Energy) and De’Mon Wiggins (Pentair).

Pilot direct admissions program benefited nearly 24,000 Minnesota high school seniors
The program administered through the Minnesota Office of Higher Education launched in 2022 and provides guaranteed admission based on high school seniors’ academic records to Minnesota colleges and universities, including 14 of our members.

Race equity in higher ed addressed
Nearly 200 people came together for a June convening held by the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership looking at how to improve race equity in higher education. The event focused on the need to act with urgency to increase college access and retention for students of color and Native American students.