MDE awards $5 million in student support personnel grant funding to Minnesota universities

The College of St. Scholastica has been awarded a grant as part of the Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline Program. According to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), this initiative, created by Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Legislature in 2023, aims to “support students pursuing licensure as student support personnel in order to expand the student support personnel workforce in Minnesota.”

As part of a total award of $5 million distributed among 13 university programs, St. Scholastica will receive significant funding to bolster its social work program. This funding not only allows the College to enhance its course offerings but also aims to better serve a larger number of students pursuing licensure.

The objective of the Student Support Personnel Workforce Pipeline Program grant is to support students in completing accredited programs to become licensed school psychologists, school nurses, school counselors and school social workers. There is also a focused effort to increase the representation of Black, Indigenous and people of color within these support roles. Additionally, participating colleges and universities will “work with the Minnesota Department of Education on training, technical assistance and coaching to create recruitment and retention strategies that are culturally responsive, antiracist and equitable.”

This grant marks an exciting opportunity for The College of St. Scholastica to advance its mission of providing intellectual and moral preparation for responsible living and meaningful work.