Capitol Letter for February 14, 2022
The Capitol Letter™ is a recurring publication that provides reports from LWV Minnesota volunteer Observer Corps and Lobby Corps members on what is happening in the current legislative session.
General Legislative News
Abortion
Abortion proposals were brought in the House and Senate this week as the Supreme Court of the United States takes another look at Roe v Wade. Proposals to limit abortion access include outlawing abortion in early pregnancy and the abilility of private citizens to enforce the law. On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Katie Morrison (DFL–Deephaven) has proposed two acts to increase abortion access. The Patients’ Right to Know Act would undo the requirement for healthcare workers to read a script to patients before they receive an abortion and the Protect Reproductive Options Act would establish it a right for individuals to make their own reproductive health decisions.
First Bill Passed in Session
Last week, the Minnesota Legislature passed their first bill of the session. The bill is a continuation of a similar COVID-19 presumption law that ended on December 31 of last year. Under the bill, front-line workers who contract COVID-19 on the job are subject to collecting workers compensation. It will go into law after Governor Walz signs it. The bill is said to cover over 183,000 front-line workers in Minnesota.
Education
Rep. Zach Stephenson (DFL–Coon Rapids) proposed HF3063 to the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee, which would establish student loan advocates. The bill would create advocates and education courses to be a “clearinghouse of trusted information”. An estimated 900,000 Minnesotans have student debt with an average of $37,000 owed. The goal is to ensure borrowers are well-informed on long-term effects of borrowing money and racking up debt. There is currently no Senate companion bill.
Child Care
Child care assistance is an issue at the forefront of the legislature this session, as the pandemic has taken a toll on the industry. Previous waivers allowed child care providers to continue receiving payments even if children were absent for COVID-related reasons. The waiver ended last fall, but the recently passed HF2927 would retroactively repay providers starting from November 1, 2021 and is active through June 26, 2022. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL–St. Paul) with no Senate companion bill.
Climate Change
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the closure of coal plants by 2030, extending the life of nuclear plants to 2040, and adding new solar and wind farms. The plan for Minnesota’s largest electricity provider ensures reliability and has an equity focus that has been applauded by clean energy, labor, and ratepayer groups. The controversial gas plants and Prairie Island nuclear plants were not considered.
Carbon dioxide pipelines are slated to cross Minnesota that would move the gas deep underground. Liquified carbon dioxide is known as “climate-poisoning”, and considered a hazardous fluid by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership and other state agencies. The proposed pipeline costs more than Line 3 and is still pending PUC approval.
Racial Justice
Anti-violence Nonprofits
Crime continues to be at the forefront of both party’s priorities for the 2022 session. House DFLer’s proposed $40 million for community groups in the $100 million public safety spending plan. Governor Walz requested $15 million in crime prevention grants for community-based public safety programs on top of the $50 million for youth employment and education programs. The current proposal faces an uncertain future in the legislature; previously, Walz had used funds from the federal stimulus package to fund these programs, but this year DFLer’s have proposed using the state’s budget surplus. This means the right-leaning Senate would have to approve their budget, which seems unlikely.
The DFL proposes $9 million go to youth development programs and $15 million in grants go to support programs akin to neighborhood watch and resident engagement. Their conditions state that police departments are not eligible for the money, that two-thirds would be distributed in the Twin Cities metro area, and that no organization can get more than $1 million a year.
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans are skeptical of the nonprofit focus. Sen. Warren Limmer (R–Maple Grove) said it’s an “interesting concept”, but thinks putting third-parties into the mix limits the ability of police to build relationships with communities. Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R–Winona) wants to focus funding more police through retention and recruitment efforts because he believes more cops will result in less crime.
Race Equity Resolution
The Race Equity Resolution was passed 82-40 in July of 2020 and hopes to “[address] racism as a public health crisis to ensure House legislative efforts are analyzed through an intersectional race equity lens”. The House Ways and Means Committee reviewed a progress report last Monday, but did not take any action. Last session, they passed legislation including new grants and scholarships to expand the pipeline of BIPOC teachers, dedicated recovery funding to BIPOC businesses for COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest, funding to increase BIPOC representation in the mental health workforce, and legacy funding for cultural heritage grants to underrepresented communities. Advocates want to see more action this session, from addressing the opportunity gap to funding trauma-informed training to help families impacted by violence and hate crimes.
Racial Equity Index
Last Tuesday, the Center for Economic Inclusion announced their racial equity dividends index to assist companies in analyzing their racial diversity and inclusion programs. Companies can register for the index online and assess their equity and inclusion progress against 37 “standards of excellence” used to build a diverse workplace. The companies will receive a score and report that is customized to them with an outline of areas in which they can grow. Many local companies have committed themselves to expanding educational and training opportunities for people of color, and the index is a way for these businesses to quantify and evaluate their efforts.
Observer Corps Reports
HF726 - ERA State Constitutional Amendment
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Amy Caucutt:
HF726 is an ERA state constitutional amendment to be put before Minnesota voters at the next election. Same language as National ERA amendment, except using "gender" instead of "sex". Author explained that "gender" is more modern and seems more inclusive even though the Supreme Court of US has determined that sex and gender are interchangeable words. 26 states already have some form of ERA in their constitutions. 11 testified in support, including several women who are former or current military personnel, 3 from ERA Minnesota, 1 from LWVMN (me), 1 from YWCA, 1 from Gender Justice, and 3 from the women's march. This bill passed the House 2 years ago, and GOP opposition arguments are similar, especially pushing back on the word "gender" which they see as broader and potentially undermining legal "protections" for girls and women. Worry about shared bathrooms, "what does gender mean?" and trans girls in swimming competitions. Bill passed and referred to state Government Finance on a party line vote.
HF2026 - Resolution to the U.S. Senate to Strike the Deadline for federal ERA
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Amy Caucutt:
HF2026 is a resolution memorializing the US Senate to strike the 10 year deadline in the preamble of the original ERA language. 1 testified in support (Betty Folliard from ERA Minnesota). Ms Folliard said that now that the required 2 years has passed since 38 required states have approved the ERA (and the states approved the text, not the preamble with the deadline), the national archivist should file it as the US Constitution's 28th amendment. The Justice Department of the Trump Administration had ordered the Archivist to withhold that action, even though there has never been an amendment garnering the required 3/4 state approval which has not been added to the constitution. The most recent example is the 27th amendment passed by Congress in 1796 and added to the constitution in the 1990s. At this moment, the Biden administration Justice Department has not rescinded the earlier memo to the Archivist; instead calling on Congress to do it (the House has passed the rescinding of the timeline, but the Senate does not have the votes to get beyond a filibuster). GOP opponents on the committee suggested that the amendment process should begin again instead of pushing this through (already taken about 50 years since original Congressional passage) Rep. Hornstein's bill was adopted and re-referred to State Government Finance on a party line vote.
HF2875 - Prairie Island Indian Community Net Zero project deadline modified
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Amy Caucutt
HF2875 (Long) moves some deadlines for spending previously appropriated funds for Prairie Island Tribe to achieve carbon neutrality. Blake Johnson presented info on the 46 projects to improve efficiency, electrification, and use of renewables. The first report on progress is due this July, but they need to move back a year due to supply chain and cost increase problems. Bill passed 15-0 and was sent to Ways and Means.
Presentation by Richard Graves of the Center for Sustainable Building Research at the University of Minnesota. The idea is to evaluate use of environmental product declarations when going out for bids on state buildings. The authors were asked to investigate what this might entail for four products: concrete, unit masonry, metal and wood. The author stated that the next step would be to engage with stakeholders to balance feasibility and goals and increase success of implementation. Then establishing clear goals after understanding constraints and opportunities from those who would implement the work, so that a compliance regimen can be developed in the least onerous way.
Testimony from High School Students on Educational Needs
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom:
High school-aged students from Saint Paul, Montevideo Valley Learning Center, Austin ALC, Voyageurs Expeditionary School in Bemidji, Grand Rapids High School, and Washburn High School in Minneapolis testified. They answered two questions: what was the most urgent thing they feel their community needs right now and what they feel like they need to prepare them for post-graduation challenges.
They said that there are too many disparities between districts in regard to advanced classes, facilities, activities, availability of mental health counselors, and academic counselors to navigate preparation for post-secondary options. Students and families are experiencing increased food insecurity, diversity, and anxiety and other mental health issues. Distance learning is good for some, but stressful, distracting, and difficult for others who may shoulder additional at-home responsibilities on behalf of their families. All of the students emphasized that there needs to be more in-school counselors and therapists to help students navigate academic and mental health needs.
Students said that smaller class sizes are necessary at most schools, as is an increase in staff members of color. One student from St. Paul said that systemic racism and oppression and the recent backlash against educating all students about these things pushes the burden onto students of color to be not just students, but also teachers of their peers and white staff members about diversity issues and systemic racism.
Students all said that there needs to be more learning options that prep students for non-college post-secondary opportunities. More courses in the trades and other career exploration options would be very helpful.
ALC students and one Native American student (Red Lake) emphasized the need to support individualized and alternative education options which best help at-risk students. One student also spoke of the need to decrease the stigma associated with ALC education for students who need it. All students emphasized that low income and minority students need extra support and often cannot get it, particularly with distance learning.
Mental Health in Students
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
MDE Commissioner Heather Mueller and MDE School Climate Center Lead Heather Hirsch presented the current state of student and staff mental health needs. COVID-19 exposed the seriousness and increased prevalence of child and adolescent mental health concerns, with one in six children aged 2-8 diagnosed with a mental health disorder, and nearly one in three secondary students saying they have "felt depressed or hopeless" within the past two weeks. Over half of Minnesotan youth diagnosed with major depression could not access mental health care.
School Linked Behavioral Health is proven to be effective, but the waitlists are long, and in those places where access has decreased, BIPOC students have experienced disproportionate diminishment of access. Overall access has decreased 6% during the pandemic—the percentage is higher for BIPOC students. The impact on students is decreased ability to learn. Concentration, decision making, physical health, healthy relationships, and self-esteem all decrease, while anxiety and depression increase. Students with significant depression symptoms are twice as likely to drop out of school as their peers.
Based on 2019 data, Minnesota is near the bottom nationwide in regard to student to counselor (1:792), school social workers (1:407), and school psychologists (1:1700) ratios. Workforce shortages are not likely to ease up because the pipeline for the necessary dual licensure pathway is too small; not even at replacement level let alone to fill any necessary increases. Grants and other fundings are inadequate, out of pocket costs to get necessary licenses are high, and requirements for both mentors and mentees for supervised training hours are onerous. Faculty and staff have also lost access to mental health support as their own time to access it has gone down given the increased demands the pandemic has put onto teachers.
Governor Walz’s proposals are to increase funding for support personnel, with an average of half FTE per school, expanding Medicaid billing for non-IEP students for mental health services, and increase funding for workforce development, particularly BIPOC support staff.
The proposal to increase grants to districts to implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support will help students with both academic and mental health supports, and PELSB is to consider adding adult social and emotional behavior health to teacher prep programming.
HF2950 - Educator Support Amid COVID-19
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
Rep. Hodan Hassan, DFL–Mendota Heights introduced HF2950, which provides support, crisis online learning, and a short-call substitute teacher pilot. Districts could have employees with associates' degrees or employees with high school diplomas that are working as current paraprofessionals apply for a temporary short-call substitute license. These special exceptions would only run through the end of the biennium.
MDE Commissioner of Education Heather Mueller, MDE Director of Government Relations ADOSH Unni, and Matt Shaver of Ed Allies all spoke in favor of the bill. It would allow districts more flexibility to shift to online learning during crisis times, adds five more allowed e-learning days for this year, and allows for staff training and a short-call teacher pilot that would relax the four-year degree requirement for substitute teachers in certain cases. Kate Lynne Snyder spoke in favor of the bill, but with the caveat that existing collective bargaining agreements must still be honored in all cases, which has been a problem during the pandemic.
Various school administrator representatives also spoke in favor of the bill, emphasizing that it is a good first step, but more permanent solutions to staffing shortages are necessary. The HR Director from Moorhead Public Schools testified that as a border district, her district must compete with Fargo schools for substitute teachers, which have less stringent requirements. A representative from PELSB noted that the traditional pool of retired teachers and aspiring teachers who want to work as substitutes has greatly decreased, and the bachelor's degree requirement lessens the pool of new candidates that could be tapped.
Rep. Patricia Mueller (R–Austin) offered a DE1 amendment to provide a hybrid option for flexibility to hire substitute teachers to expand to a period of three years rather than just one year. This amendment was defeated by an 8-11 vote.
It is worth noting that the votes for both bills and proposed amendments were largely cast along party lines. DFLers supported the bill as written, limiting changes to the existing teacher licensure requirements to just one year, and Republicans wish to extend them for longer. Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R–Mazeppa) went further and questioned what would constitute a “crisis”, and the capability of local school officials to decide that. He called for more state oversight and description of what would justify an e-learning day, “we should be rallying our schools to run towards the kids, not away from them”.
HF2918 - Requires Cities to Allow Native Landscapes on Private Land
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Shannon Moore
HF2618 would require cities to allow native landscapes on private land. Five people testified for the bill. Olsen argues that community members can already go to their local government and request that pollinator gardens be allowed. The vote was taken, resulting in six ayes and three nos. The bill was moved to the State Government Finance Committee.
HF3005 - Climate and Health Funding
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member
Rep. Acomb is sponsoring HF3005. The Climate and Public Health program was funded in the past through a CDC grant. Kristin Raab (Minnesota Department of Health) presented some data collected that shows direct relationships between health and climate change happening in Minnesota now, including air quality due to extreme heat and fires, water quality due to drought, agricultural effects, and flooding. There was also a discussion on how climate change has a greater effect on the most vulnerable populations. Elizabeth Moe of MPHA read her testimony on the need for these resources now that the CDC has ended the grant to MDH.
Supported Governor Walz’s proposal to increase Minnesota’s resilience to extreme climate events with a focus on private and public water systems. Rep. Gruenhagen read a paper signed by many scientists stating that greenhouse gasses are not causing climate change, and asked the committee not to pass this. Rep. Morrison said that this bill is about response to what is happening now, not a philosophical construct. Bill voted on party lines 7-4 to send to the Health Policy and Finance Committee. It was passed 7–4, along party lines. Bill was passed to the Health Policy Financing Committee.
Testimony on State’s Healthcare Worker Shortage
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member
Commissioner Jodi Harpstead testified to the state’s caring occupation staffing, including nursing homes, group homes, childcare facilities, and home-based behavioral health. They are struggling to fill these positions and wages are 30% lower than other occupations. Delivering service to mostly white people who are the ones that can afford the services, and she emphasized the need to increase the number of BIPOC service providers. Harpstead said that healthcare needs to shift to a new model, focusing on independence and care in the home. Health services is the fastest growing sector according to DEED.
There was discussion on the temporary emergency staffing that has occurred. The goal was to decompress the situation in hospitals and provide temporary emergency staffing. One of the initiatives is CNA programs where all costs are paid by the state to get more people into these professions.
Assistant Commissioner with the Minnesota Department of Health Diane Rydrych did a deeper dive into the DEED statistics on professionals and the gap between skilled professionals, like doctors and physician assistants compared to CNAs and Aides. The staffing problem has a number of causes, including retirement, burnout, and the “great resignation” brought on by the pandemic. 330 FTEs spread out across the state to nursing homes and hospitals. The goal is to rebuild and support the healthcare workforce even after the pandemic.
Chesley Huntley spoke on the shrinking workforce, saying they need to consider building a system that trains people in a certain number of skill sets so they can be deployed in a number of areas in the healthcare arena. Additionally, there needs to be developments to increase diversity in the workforce, as white people account for 79% of the population but take up 87% of healthcare positions.
HF3114 - School-based Health Center Activity Grant
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Amy Caucutt
HF3114 offers a school-based health Center Activity Grant discussed with testifiers in support. All GOP members opposed and resulted in a referral to the Health Policy and Finance Committee, but all DFLers supported it.
HF2230 - 2021 Omnibus Early Childhood Bill
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
A summary overview was given of the 2021 Early Childhood Omnibus Bill (HF2230) that was passed during the 2021 Special Session and its provisions, as well as a breakdown of federal versus state allocations for early childhood programs. It was emphasized that most of federal funding is “stabilization” funding that will cease at the end of the three-year spending window.
CCAP Director Laurie Possin and Deb Swenson Klatt of MN DHS described the positive effects of the increased federal and state funding received in 2021. CCAP was able to serve 2,000 more families and 4,000 children. Waiting lists were reduced by 65%, but the continued existence of an over 700 family waiting list shows that more, and more permanent funding is necessary. Fee reimbursement increased by 16% on average for childcare centers, and 12.5% for family childcare providers. Maximum reimbursement rates are determined by regional clustering. Currently, 30% of applicants for childcare worker retention and training funds were still turned down - more funding is needed.
Four types of stabilization grants were made available: Transition (2 months), Base (22 months), Financial Hardship (applications began Jan 2022), and One-Time Supplemental (1 month). Over $300 million in federal funds have been put towards these grants. They have slowed the number of providers leaving the profession, but have not completely stopped it nor replaced those who have already left.
Testimony on Family Child Care Licensing Requirements
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
DHS Representatives explained last year's changes to family childcare licensure requirements to include four licensed caregivers under one roof without having to declare the business a "childcare center." Previously, only two were allowed. Research is also ongoing for best practices for childcare and license models and regulation reforms that are working in other states, and several are in the process of being implemented now. An inclusive childcare grant program for children with disabilities was created, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid approval was received for that in January 2022.
MDE reported that 4,000 seats in voluntary pre-K and school readiness programs were preserved with last year's additional funding. Screen time limits for pre-K and kindergarten students were passed last year and guidelines and implementation will happen next spring. Students are not allowed to use devices alone—only with teacher or peer engagement.
Other grant programs were reviewed, and it was emphasized that all data collection, school readiness screenings, and program developments have been hampered by the pandemic and dire staffing shortages at all levels. A special priority and focus is being put on children facing racial, geographic, and economic inequities with most programs.
MMB and the Children's Cabinet is assessing the impact of consolidation on five areas: kindergarten readiness, coordination and alignment of programs, effort needed by families to participate, effort required by providers, and articulation between early care and early education programs and the K-12 system. $200,000 has been allocated to complete this report. A "Great Start for MN Task Force'' has been created with the goals of increasing affordability, accessibility, and a supported workforce for early childcare across the state, with a particular focus on greater Minnesota. The task force has two working groups, and it began meeting last November. Its final recommendations are due in two years, and it has an $858,000 funding appropriation.
DEED representatives highlighted the Child Care Economic Development Program, which delivers funding to local communities to increase quality childcare providers across MN. It is meant to be flexible and responsive to community needs. Childcare business startups, training, facility modifications, employee retention, and improvements required for licensing and other regulatory issues are addressed with this program. Priority is given to communities with a documented shortage of providers. The pilot program has run on and off since 2017, and has transitioned to a larger program that is better funded ($5 million for the biennium), but more permanent funding would help sustain and grow the program statewide. DEED is also working with DHS to better align and coordinate programs that overlap between DHS, MMB, MDE, and DEED.
Testimony on Affordable Child Care
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
MIDB is affiliated with the University of Minnesota and partners with other community organizations for research, clinical, and education purposes. Research shows that neural development of the human brain takes place in the prenatal period and the first 1,000 days after birth. After that, it is a pruning process which adds knowledge and specialization to developed neural structure. The brain has a great capacity for resilience, but this 1,000-day window is the best window to optimize and maximize brain development and set the brain on the best pathway going forward.
YMCA of the North President Glen Gunderson spoke about the Itasca Project, which is pushing employers and government entities to enact family friendly policies so that parents can spend more time with their children during those first 1,000 days of life.
Access to affordable, quality child care is critical for children, and for their parents to be gainfully employed, which in turn is critical to businesses and our economy. Even for those with means childcare can consume 15% of income, and it is more for lower income families. Quality matters, but it is expensive, and the cost of operating often exceeds parents' ability to pay.
All presenters emphasized that the current market-based focus of the childcare model can no longer work. In order to make businesses profitable and keep costs down, wages have been kept low, which makes worker retention extremely difficult, particularly in a tight labor market. When even fast food restaurants pay more than childcare (and the same is true for elder care and care for people with disabilities), and are even offering benefits, workers will leave the childcare profession—and they are. Most family care providers cannot offer any benefits to their employees, and wages are particularly low in rural areas.
Decreasing regulations for providers can help and is being addressed, but it is not enough. Childcare is a profession, and should be treated as such in regard to compensation and professional development. The truth is that childcare workers, who are overwhelmingly women and many are women of color, have been artificially subsidizing the market childcare model via their low wages and lack of benefits for decades, and it is now unsustainable. Even business leaders agree that public and employer investment in quality, affordable childcare options is necessary as an economic and public necessity. Rep. Rod Hamilton (R–Mountain Lake) commented that a task force in northeastern MN could not come up with a child care proposal that could generate cash flow due to payroll and facility costs.
Suggestions for lawmakers: Permanent, sustainable funding to subsidize quality care, providing incentives to businesses to make it easier for parents to spend more time with their newborn and young children while still remaining employed.
Testimony on Higher Education Funding
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
MNSCU representatives testified as to the continued struggles with funding that have plagued the MNSCU system since 2003, when the state began to fail to meet its statutory requirement to fund 40% of state higher education budget needs. Minnesota is not keeping up with other states in regard to funding its universities.
Of particular concern is the loss of counselors, largely through budget cuts as other priorities take precedence. This has been particularly problematic for students and faculty during the pandemic, when academic and mental health counseling needs have increased significantly. It has especially been difficult for minority and low-income students, who are at increased risk of dropping out without proper intervention and assistance. Those counselors that remain (some serve thousands of students) are stretched too thin and spend most of their time putting out fires rather than focusing on prevention and maintenance of student health and success. Faculty also get more stressed as they lose the centralized point of coordination between services for individual students that counselors can provide. Academic advisors cannot fill the mental health and other crisis intervention gaps—that is not their role, and they are not trained for it.
Community colleges are especially impacted by the increased diversity of students in regard to race and ethnicity, financial status, familial situation (many are adults and parents themselves), housing status (housing insecurity is an increasing issue for students), and career status (many work full or part time while going to school). There is a high number of commuter students, and there is also a higher ratio of students with disabilities than at four-year colleges. COVID-19 has exacerbated and magnified the challenges that many of these students face, and the challenges that community colleges have in meeting student needs. The lack of funding and counselor shortage is particularly challenging and reduces student performance and retention.
The increased cost of textbooks and other materials is also a concern, and measures are being taken by faculty to develop their own quality materials whenever possible, and to coordinate to decrease the overall cost of purchased materials.
In response, Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R–Nisswa) commented that this would be "better addressed by allowing both faculty and students to carry firearms" in addition to visitors. He said that he is "shocked" that a response to a rise in campus crime would be to "strip students of their constitutional rights" to carry firearms at places of their choosing, including on campus." He called the testimony and request "uninformed" and based on "zero facts" and "no data," and questioned the reliability of the entire organization (Interfaculty Organization) and categorically denied that any further firearms restrictions is the answer to any rise in crime in Minnesota.
University of Minnesota Budget Requests
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Cathy Thom
The University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel and Senior VP of Finance and Operations Myron Franz presented the University's supplemental budget requests for the 2022 session. They include $75 million in recurring investment in student safety & Promise Program Scholarships. Also included $175 million in one-time investments in safety, security, and sustainability, plus $686 million for specific facilities projects, many of which are ineligible for general bonding obligation. All of these projects are listed in the PDF presentation available on the Committee's website. Of particular focus is the FAARM program facility, and the medical science facility in Duluth.
The university's total budget this year is $4 billion. 25% of that comes from tuition, and 35%–40% is from restricted sources that are dedicated to particular expenditures (research gifts or grants, endowments, dedicated gifts, etc.). The U of MN has a high freshman to sophomore retention rate, and a 4–6 year graduation rate that is one of the highest in the nation. All of this data is available on the university's dashboard, and is updated every year. In addition, the university is trying to keep tuition increases below inflation, while increasing financial aid as much as possible. 46% of university students graduate with student debt, which is lower than many comparable schools.
President Gabel answered questions about her recent raise, which she replied was market as well as performance based, and although the university tries to keep its pay in the middle of the market, her compensation is still at the bottom of her peer group even though she fills multiple roles in addition to President that presidents at other universities do not. She said that market considerations will also drive any future pay raises for other administrators.
President Gabel also clarified the realigning of the UMPD's relationship with the MPD, emphasizing that they still maintain a strong relationship in regard to investigative work, and patrols in border areas that are not part of but are adjacent to campus. The U of MN has increased its own resources at UMPD in regard to increased officers and patrols, infrastructure, social workers, crisis teams, escort apps and services with increased frequency and coverage. Hiring for UMPD has not been as adversely affected as it has been for municipal departments because of the different nature of university policing—many UMPD recruits come directly from the academy and from the military rather than transferring from other police departments.