MICC tells House committee $4 million in prior biennial funding supported need‑based aid and programming for neurodiverse students

Amy Goodmister, chief executive officer of Minnesota Independent College and Community (MICC), and two current or recent MICC students spoke to the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee about MICC’s residential and community programs for young adults on the autism spectrum and with other neurodivergent conditions.

Goodmister summarized MICC’s mission and finances and told the committee that the organization uses state appropriations for need‑based tuition relief and to reduce the program’s sticker price for Minnesota residents. “We use that funding as need‑based financial assistance to Minnesota residents as well as tuition reduction and pulling down the cost of our tuition,” Goodmister said. Committee briefings provided by staff and MICC show a total appropriation of $2 million in FY 2024 and $2 million in FY 2025 (a $4 million total for the biennium) with zero added to the base (the “tails”) for the next biennium.

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