Day at the Capitol Scheduled for March 6

Hundreds of students and financial aid supporters from Gustavus Adolphus College and other Minnesota private colleges and universities will gather at the state Capitol this spring to advocate for need-based student financial aid. Gustavus’ Day at the Capitol will be shared with Macalester College and is scheduled for Thursday, March 6.

Day at the Capitol is produced by the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) and allows students to learn how to become effective advocates while urging state legislators to support Minnesota students. Currently more than 71,000 Minnesota undergraduate students receive need-based aid through the State Grant Program. The average State Grant award is currently $1,748.

“The amount of student debt has grown 162 percent since 1995, and each year Minnesota students and their families have to borrow more than a billion dollars to cover the costs of higher education,” Gustavus junior and Student Senate Co-President Anthony Spain said. “That’s why we go to the Capitol every year — to ask our legislators to relieve the burden of increasing tuition costs on Minnesota families.”

The schedule for the day is as follows:

• 8 a.m.: Depart on charter buses from the three flags
• 9:30 a.m.: Arrive at the Capitol
• 10 a.m.: Legislative advocacy training
• 11:30 a.m.-1p.m.: Meetings with representatives and senators; lunch in the State Office Building cafeteria (per diem provided)
• 1 p.m.: Addresses from key legislators
• 1:10 p.m.: Early bus departs from St. Paul to arrive in St. Peter by 3:10 p.m.
• 3 p.m.: Tour of the Capitol building
• 4 p.m.: Late bus departs from St. Paul to Bloomington
• 4:45 p.m.: Dinner at Khan’s Mongolian Barbeque in Bloomington (students dine free of charge)
• 7:30 p.m.: Late bus arrives in St. Peter

For Gustavus students, the day is free of charge including lunch, dinner, and transportation. Faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and others impacted by the State Grant Program are also encouraged to attend. Sign up is available online at ga6.org/mnprivatecolleges/capitol.html.

If you have questions about Gustavus’ Day at the Capitol you may contact Vice President of College Relations Gwen Freed at 507-933-6355 or gfreed@gustavus.edu. You may also contact Spain at aspain@gustavus.edu.