Inclusive Higher Education Grants

 

Increasing sustainable opportunities for inclusive postsecondary education for people with intellectual and developmental disability in Minnesota

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education administers the Inclusive Higher Education Grants per Minnesota Statutes 135A.162.

Established in the 2023 Minnesota Legislative session, the Office of Higher Education will administer a new Inclusive Higher Education competitive grants program for Minnesota postsecondary institutions to develop new or enhance existing initiatives with the purpose of increasing overall enrollment and access for students with an intellectual and developmental disability.

"Inclusive higher education" means institution-approved access to higher education for students with an intellectual and developmental disability that allows for the same rights, privileges, experiences, benefits, and outcomes as a matriculating student’s college experience, resulting in earning a higher education credential. 

Who is Eligible to Apply?

An eligible application must meet all of the following:

• A public, nonprofit, or tribal postsecondary two-year or four-year institution 
• Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Meets the eligibility requirements under section 136A.103

If awarded grant funds, a grantee must adhere to all of the following:

• Adopt the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education standards aligned with the model Program Accreditation Standards for Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities.
• Apply for and obtain the Comprehensive Transition Postsecondary (CTP) Program approval from the US Department of Education.  Institutions will apply to amend their Federal Financial Aid application to include inclusive higher education. This opens Federal and State financial aid eligibility for students with an intellectual and developmental disability who go to college in Minnesota at an institution with CTP approval
• Provide a 25% match for the grant funds, either monetary or in-kind
• Participate in independent program evaluation requirements
• Offer enrollment to students with an intellectual and developmental disability 
• Collaborate with the Office of Higher Education, Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center, and key stakeholders in the development of the inclusive higher education initiative
• Join the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium

Funding

The total appropriation for Inclusive Higher Education Grants during fiscal year 2024 is $750,000. The appropriation includes up to five percent allocation for agency administrative costs. Thus, the total amount available for grant awards in this RFP is $712,000.

Applicants may apply annually for and receive awards up to $200,000 per year for up to four years. Applicants may apply annually for and receive awards up to $100,000 per year in subsequent years for up to a total of ten years of funding.

Please Note: There is a 25% match requirement, in-kind or monetary, to receive funding for this grant.

2024 Request for Proposals

This program was funded and the 2024 proposal period is closed.

Fiscal Year 2024 Grant Recipients

FY24 Request for Proposals

• Lake Superior College

Who do I Contact with Questions?

For Inclusive Higher Education Grants Program questions, please contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education at GWI.OHE@state.mn.us. 

Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the Institute on Community Integration, at the University of Minnesota, partnered to establish the Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance (TA) Center, with the purpose of creating access and support for self-sustaining inclusive postsecondary education options across the state. The TA Center will:

• Coordinate and facilitating the statewide initiative to expand and enhance inclusive higher education opportunities;
• Provide expertise in inclusive higher education for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
• Provide technical assistance to Minnesota institutions of higher education and local education agencies; and
• Provide information to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education and TA Center will be collaborating on the Inclusive Higher Education Grants Program.

Learn more about the TA Center online at https://mihec.ici.umn.edu/.

Inclusive Higher Education Grant Proposal Workshop

The Inclusive Higher Education Grant Proposal Workshop was held on June 24 to assist applicants in learning more about the grant proposal process. Recording of the webinar is available here.

Download the presentation: FY24 Inclusive Higher Education Grant - Request for Proposal Workshop Presentation