conferencesLeadMN Recent Achievement

Recently, we have accomplished the following:

  • Food Security We’ve passed the Hunger Free Campus Act which addresses food insecurity. 16 campuses have been designated as Hunger Free Campuses and 30 food shelves across college campuses have been established.
  • Voting Minnesota leads the nation in young voter turnout: we have registered over 10,000 student voters and have been recognized nationally for this effort.
  • Tuition Costs and Leadership We’ve advocated for tuition freezes, raised funds, and provided scholarships, saving students millions of dollars in tuition costs.

What is LeadMN 2.0

In our next three years we are expanding the role of LeadMN from developing student leaders and advocating for change to also providing direct support to students. LeadMN will add capacity by increasing our outreach and communication team so that we have regional staff, hire a development manager to increase fundraising support for our work and bring on a team to manage a benefits navigator project.

What is the Benefits Navigator Service?

Benefits Navigators will be a single point of contact for vulnerable students in need of campus and community resources. Students working with a peer to peer navigator will receive high-touch help in developing and completing a roadmap of resources based on student goals including:

  • Provide student support case management through a one to one intervention that seeks to build a relationship to understand the students dreams and barriers
  • Reduce the frustration students feel in not knowing where to get the information of help that they need
  • Simplify options for students
  • Provide students with clear, concise, student-centered information

 

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FAQs

Benefits Navigator Service

 

What is the vision and goal of the Benefits Navigator Service?

LeadMN will expand the work that we do from developing student leaders and advocating for change to also provide direct support to students. We will fill the gap left by higher education institutions and expand the number of students working to help each other navigate the complexities of higher education by providing support to students in accessing resources that they have the right to access. This is not about providing charity, but about finding ways that students can help each other.

What is the scope of this service?

One-to-one benefits navigation would help students sift through available options in the areas of: 

  • Mental health support
  • Financial aid 
  • Emergency grants 
  • Academic services 
  • Transfer process 
  • Health services 
  • Career services 

How will this service be of use to me?

Students will get easier access to the information and services they need to succeed in college

Is this service available to all students regardless of academic standing?

Yes. The service will be available to all students across the 48 campuses

How do I access the service?

The service will be accessible via multiple channels including, a web-portal as well as a toll free phone number

Will I be able to meet with a Navigator in person?

Yes, in some instances meeting with the Benefits Navigator in person would be an option

LeadMN 2.0

 

What does LeadMN 2.0 entail?

LeadMN 2.0 looks to extend the role of LeadMN from developing student leaders and advocating for change to also providing direct support to students. LeadMN will add capacity by bringing on a team to manage the benefits navigator project, increase our outreach and communication team so that we have regional staff, and hire a development manager to increase fundraising support for our work.

Why is it important now?

basic needs are preventing students from learning, especially after the impact of the pandemic. Expansion into direct service would support vulnerable students and help gather important data on student needs that could impact LeadMN’s advocacy efforts.

How much will the fee increase be?

LeadMN recommends that the student fee be raised to $0.61 per credit, which is the same student fee that our counterpart Students United charges the University students.  This would mean that a student taking 15 credits for a semester would pay $18.30 to LeadMN for the year. 

How will this money be invested?

The money will be used to build the Benefits Navigator service elements, including technology infrastructure and hiring and training of resources to operationalize the service.

How will this impact what LeadMN currently does (conferences, scholarship, and advocacy)?

With the expansion of our staff, we hope to also enrich the capacity of our existing services. We may review our conference schedule to ensure we are providing access to students at all campuses regardless of whether they are on student senate and ensure the events are high impact. We will continue seeking resources for scholarships and moving forward with advocacy priorities informed by student need.