Date: March 14, 2024
Bill: SF4525 MN RISE Act
To: Senate Higher Education Committee
Chair Fateh and members of the Senate Higher Education Committee,
The Minnesota Council on Disability would like to express our enthusiastic support for SF 4525, the Minnesota Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (MN RISE) Act, introduced by Senator Fateh. This pivotal legislation addresses critical barriers faced by college students with disabilities, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable post-secondary educational environment.
Currently, college students with disabilities encounter numerous obstacles that significantly impede their ability to enroll, succeed, and graduate. Notably, approximately 63% of students with disabilities opt not to disclose their condition, thus forgoing vital resources and accommodations. This reluctance is compounded by the lack of clear information on how to access such services and the prohibitive cost and availability of required evaluations. Not getting essential accommodations and supports is the number one reason students with disabilities do not finish their tertiary education.
The MN RISE Act supports students with disabilities through provisions such as expanding the criteria for what constitutes acceptable documentation of disability, ensuring more students can establish their eligibility for accommodations without undue burden. Moreover, it mandates that institutions of higher education develop and disseminate transparent policies regarding disability services, thereby fostering a more supportive and accessible educational landscape.
It should be noted that Subd. 5 of SF 4525 is entirely student driven and reflects the experience of real Minnesotan students with disabilities who are currently enrolled in Minnesotan higher education institutions.
The significance of the MN RISE Act cannot be overstated. By eliminating common barriers for students with disabilities, the act not only facilitates greater participation of students with disabilities in higher education but also promotes their acceptance as valued members of the campus community. The envisioned reforms are expected to enhance enrollment, self-disclosure rates, persistence, and completion rates among students with disabilities, contributing to their overall success in their careers.
Thank you for your support for SF 4525 – The MN RISE Act.
Sincerely,
Trevor Turner
Public Policy Director
trevor.turner@state.mn.us
David Dively
Executive Director
david.dively@state.mn.us
Led by Minnesota State University students, we are the inclusive voice for all future, current, and former students. We actively work to represent and support Minnesota State University students and advocate at a local, system, state, and federal level for higher education policies that make a positive impact for our students and communities.
Students United would like to express their full support for SF 4525 – The MN RISE Act.