An organization in Cook County feeling the impact of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s budget veto is Cook County Higher Education (CCHE), which is facing a $40,000 cut in annual funding. CCHE Director Paula Sundet hopes that a letter clarifying Higher Education’s status as a non-profit organization will restore future allocations, but there is no way to reverse the decision which immediately eliminated $20,000 from Higher Ed’s funding.
Sundet points out that the reason for not allocating the funds as planned is flawed. The governor’s legislative billtracking website states, Cook County Higher Education Board, $40,000 each year, 2010 & 2011. A county board is not the appropriate place to fund higher education. In addition, this program could be served with funds from the dedicated taconite tax revenue in the Iron Range Higher Education District
Sundet responded to the governor that CCHE is not a county entity or a county board. She wrote, “CCHE is a nonprofit organization. We receive non-mandated county support ($9,500 annually), but we are not connected to the county in any other manner. In addition, although you suggest that the taconite tax revenue should be used to support CCHE, this is not at all possible for us to request, since we are not a county entity.”
Sundet said CCHE received $20,000 support from Iron Range Resources (IRR) for the first time ever in 2009, to be used for the North Shore Campus project, the conversion of the former First Baptist Church building to a learning center that will contain large classrooms, a computer lab, testing rooms, and quiet study area.
The project was initiated in 2008, when the Minnesota State Legislature approved a $40,000 annual increase to CCHE’s state allocation of funds. As a result of the funding support, CCHE was able to obtain a $125,000 grant from the Blandin Foundation, a $30,000 grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, and a $20,000 grant from IRR, in addition to local donations, all to be used to renovate the North Shore Campus.
Cook County residents were excited about the plans for the campus, which were introduced at an open house on February 16, 2009. Sundet said renovations were slated to begin in June. Sundet said the renovation will still take place, but the annual funding was for operational costs. “That money was given to us in support of our expansion as operating funds. We will still be renovating, but this makes it really tight. It won’t stop us, but it will certainly have a big impact.”
CCHE was created in 1996 to serve the higher education needs of rural Cook County. In the early 1990s, Cook County conducted a needs assessment that determined the county could not support a community college. However, the results justified receiving a threeyear $163,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to operate what was referred to as the Cook County Higher Education Project as an alternative to a large bricks-and-mortar facility. CCHE is currently funded by state ($120,000) and county ($9,500) annual grants, in addition to project grants, donations, and in-kind contributions.
Prior to the advent of CCHE, the average resident had to travel hundreds of miles to attend a college or university. CCHE collaborates with area colleges and universities (using a blend of technology and area professionals) to bring high quality degree and certificate programs to a community that would otherwise not be served. CCHE has grown rapidly. In 1996, enrollment was five students. By 2008, 212 individuals were enrolled in various higher education programs.
Sundet suggested that community members who want to see CCHE fully funded contact Governor Pawlenty and members of the legislature, to offer support for the higher education program in Cook County. Anyone wanting more information about CCHE may contact Sundet at (218) 387-3411.
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