Subdivision 1. Establishment. (a) A Hunger-Free Campus designation is established for public postsecondary institutions and for nonprofit degree-granting institutions physically located in Minnesota and registered with the Office of Higher Education under section 136A.63. In order to be awarded the designation, an institution must meet the following minimum criteria:
(1) have an established on-campus food pantry or partnership with a local food bank to provide regular, on-campus food distributions;
(2) provide information to students on SNAP, MFIP, and other programs that reduce food insecurity. The institution shall notify students in work-study employment of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits and provide information to those students that includes eligibility criteria and how to apply for benefits;
(3) hold or participate in one hunger awareness event per academic year;
(4) have an established emergency assistance grant that is available to students; and
(5) establish a hunger task force that meets a minimum of three times per academic year. The task force must include at least two students currently enrolled at the institution.
(b) Each institution must reapply at least every four years to maintain the designation.
Subd. 2. Designation approval. (a) The statewide student associations representing the state community and technical colleges and the state universities shall create an application process and an award and provide final approval for the designation at each state college and university, respectively.
(b) The University of Minnesota Student Association at each institution shall create an application process and an award and provide final approval for the designation at each University of Minnesota institution.
(c) The Minnesota Association of Private College Students and the Student Advisory Council member representing Tribal colleges pursuant to section 136A.031, subdivision 3, shall create an application process and an award and provide final approval for the designation at each nonprofit degree-granting institution.
Subd. 3. Competitive grant. (a) Institutions eligible for a grant under this subdivision include public postsecondary institutions and Tribal colleges.
(b) The commissioner shall establish a competitive grant program to distribute grants to eligible institutions to meet and maintain the requirements under subdivision 1, paragraph (a). Initial grants shall be made to institutions that have not earned the designation and demonstrate a need for funding to meet the hunger-free campus designation requirements. Sustaining grants shall be made to institutions that have earned the designation and demonstrate both a partnership with a local food bank or organization that provides regular, on-campus food distributions and a need for funds to maintain the requirements under subdivision 1, paragraph (a).
(c) The commissioner shall give preference to applications for initial grants and to applications from institutions with the highest number of federal Pell Grant eligible students enrolled. The commissioner shall consider the head count at the institution when awarding grants. The maximum grant award for an initial institution designation is $8,000. The maximum grant award for sustaining an institution designation is $5,000.
(d) The commissioner, in collaboration with student associations representing eligible institutions, shall create an application process and establish selection criteria for awarding the grants.
Subd. 4. Grant requirements. (a) An eligible institution that receives a grant under subdivision 3 must:
(1) use the grant funds to meet or maintain the minimum criteria of a hunger-free campus designation under subdivision 1; and
(2) match at least 50 percent of the grant amount awarded with funds or in-kind resources.
(b) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (a), in order to receive a sustaining grant, an institution must demonstrate a partnership with a local food bank or organization or other source of funding that ensures regular, on-campus distributions.
2019 c 64 art 2 s 38, 1Sp2021 c 2 art 2 s 38,46
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 135A - 137 — Postsecondary Education
Chapter 135A — Postsecondary Education
Section 135A.01 — Funding Policy.
Section 135A.011 — State Higher Education Objectives.
Section 135A.012 — Higher Education Attainment Goal.
Section 135A.031 — Appropriations.
Section 135A.034 — Budget Priorities.
Section 135A.04 — Variable Tuition.
Section 135A.041 — Fee Statement.
Section 135A.042 — Fee Waiver.
Section 135A.043 — Resident Tuition.
Section 135A.0431 — Military Veterans; Resident Tuition.
Section 135A.0434 — Mandatory Student Activity Fees Referendum.
Section 135A.044 — Private Scholarship Aid.
Section 135A.046 — Asset Preservation And Replacement.
Section 135A.051 — Program Requirements.
Section 135A.052 — Postsecondary Missions.
Section 135A.08 — Credit Transfer.
Section 135A.101 — Postsecondary Enrollment Options.
Section 135A.12 — Unique Needs And Abilities Of American Indian People.
Section 135A.13 — Student Services Prices.
Section 135A.131 — Local Assessment.
Section 135A.135 — Personal Financial Management.
Section 135A.136 — Student Health Care.
Section 135A.137 — Hunger-free Campus Designation.
Section 135A.14 — Statement Of Immunization.
Section 135A.145 — Sale Of Student Information; Marketing Credit Cards To Students.
Section 135A.1459 — Policies On Hiring Practices.
Section 135A.15 — Sexual Harassment And Violence Policy.
Section 135A.153 — Higher Education Center On Violence And Abuse.
Section 135A.155 — Hazing Policy.
Section 135A.157 — Notice To Students Regarding Possible Impact Of Criminal Records.
Section 135A.158 — Information Provided To Student Parents And Pregnant Students.
Section 135A.16 — Policy For Students With Disabilities.
Section 135A.165 — Deaf Students; Tuition Assistance.
Section 135A.17 — Provisions To Facilitate Voting.
Section 135A.18 — Authorization For Agreements.
Section 135A.19 — Financial Emergency.
Section 135A.191 — Research Dogs And Cats.
Section 135A.20 — Midwestern Higher Education Compact.
Section 135A.21 — Members Of Commission.
Section 135A.22 — Effect On Reciprocity.
Section 135A.25 — Textbook Disclosure, Pricing, And Access.
Section 135A.30 — Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship.