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LeadMN, Students United outline spring advocacy plans and legislative priorities
Summary
Student leaders told the Board of Trustees they will hold statewide advocacy events in February and March, support the system budget request, and push priorities including hunger‑free campus grants, direct admissions and naloxone access on campuses.
Student leaders from LeadMN and Students United briefed the Board of Trustees on upcoming advocacy work and legislative priorities, including statewide advocacy days and a March trip to Washington, D.C.
Christian Itano, vice president of LeadMN and student at Inver Hills Community College, said LeadMN will hold an advocacy day on Feb. 18 at Saint Paul College and the state Capitol and will prepare students for meetings with legislators. He also said LeadMN will attend a March 16–18 Washington, D.C., summit to meet federal higher education staff.
“Overall, the consensus is pretty straight. Everyone believes that the future for the association and for the system is bright,” Itano said.
Sierra Reiger, state chair of Students United, told trustees Students United approved state and federal legislative agendas and will take students to the State Capitol for a spring lobby day. Students United’s priorities include increasing state investment in the hunger‑free campus grant, scaling direct admissions to increase FAFSA completion and supporting access to naloxone in campus residence halls.
Both student groups said they will support Minnesota State’s system budget request and urged robust student consultation as campuses consider tuition, fees and rates during the legislative session.
Why it matters
Student advocacy can influence legislative priorities and funding that affect financial aid, campus basic‑needs programs and public health measures. Trustees were told students will press for state support for anti‑hunger grants and programs that smooth transitions from high school to college.
Context and next steps
LeadMN and Students United plan direct meetings with legislators and agency staff during the legislative session and will coordinate campus‑level storytelling and training to prepare students for those conversations. Both groups indicated readiness to return to the board with updates after their spring advocacy activities.
Direct quotations in this article are attributed to Christian Itano and Sierra Reiger, who spoke during trustee session public comment.
