Chapter One Federal Government - Minnesota State Legislature

Chapter
Five
State Agencies
Chapter Five State Agencies
138
HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES OFFICE
Law provides: The office performs several statewide services that support access to post-secondary
education, including student financial aid. (Minnesota Statutes, Section 136A.01)
Director: Susan Heegard Appointed: 2003
Salary: $108,400
1450 Energy Park Dr., Suite 350, St. Paul 55108
(651)642-0567
Web site: www.mheso.state.mn.us
E-mail: info@heso.state.mn.us
Function: The agency informs students and parents about higher education finance issues.
The agency implements the state’s design for shared responsibility policy in which taxpayers,
students, and families share in paying the price of higher education. As such, the agency
administers the State Grant Program ($125 million to 71,000 undergraduates), the State Work Study
Program ($12 million annually to about 12,000 students), and the Student Educational Loan Fund
Program ($104 million annually to about 28,000 students). The agency also administers interstate
reciprocity agreements with neighboring states (39,000 students participate annually).
The agency encourages families to save for higher education by providing information and
administering the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Through the Get Ready! Program, the agency
works in schools and communities, with elementary school-age children of color and their parents,
low income children, and families with no previous higher education experience.
The agency registers and licenses over 140 private institutions that offer their programs in
Minnesota.
The agency collects and shares statewide data on enrollments and financial aid.
The agency also oversees the MINITEX Library Information Network which makes library
resources accessible to residents across the state, facilitates the development of a statewide online
library information system called MnLINK (Minnesota Library Information Network), and
facilitates operation of the Learning Network of Minnesota, the technological highway that provides
electronic access to education programs and library resources.