The plight of part-time students is the focus of Robert Erickson, now on a 30-day “Scholarship Challenge” tour of all 53 campuses in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system.
Metropolitan State University:
WHO: Robert Erickson, 61, chair of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities Foundation, is on a 2,300-mile bicycle tour to raise
money and awareness for part-time students.
WHAT: Erickson will stop at Metropolitan State University on Friday,
September 7, to be greeted by President Wilson Bradshaw and
visiting presidents from the Metro Alliance. Erickson's
itinerary is available at
www.development.mnscu.edu/scholarshipchallenge/index.html.
WHEN: He is scheduled to arrive at Metropolitan State University at
11:30 am and remain until 1:00 pm.
WHY: Part-time students are often not eligible for scholarships.
Erickson has advocated for Minnesota to change its funding
formula to give part-time students more opportunities for
financial aid.
BACKGROUND: To date, Erickson’s five previous bicycle rides have raised more than $303,000, providing scholarships to 225 students. About 41 percent of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities students are enrolled part-time. At Metropolitan State University, approximately 65% of its students attend part time. Many juggle full-time jobs and family responsibilities in addition to their education.
As a former trustee and chair of the finance and facilities committee of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system’s board of trustees, Erickson also served as senior vice president for finance and operations for the University of Minnesota from 1991 to 1995 and worked as a senior executive for SuperValu for 16 years.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION: Contributions, which are tax deductible as charitable contributions, may be made to the individual college or university foundations or the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Foundation, Wells Fargo Place, 30 7th St. E., Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101-7804. All donations raised in connection with Erickson’s ride will be applied to student scholarships.