Purpose

Establish a formal process to tackle fraudulent enrollment in online courses. The goal is to prevent people from enrolling just to access financial aid, campus information technology systems, and student support services, by creating policies and procedures for preventing enrollment fraud.

Main Provisions

• Creation of an Enrollment Fraud Working Group within the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
• The working group is charged with developing policies and procedures to prevent fraudulent enrollment in online courses that would be used to gain access to financial aid, campus information technology systems, and student support services.
• The Board must submit a written report on the group’s work to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over higher education by January 15, 2026.
• The working group must include representatives from:
  • Minnesota State University Student Association
  • Minnesota State College Student Association
  • Minnesota State College Faculty
  • Inter Faculty Organization
  • Minnesota Association of Professional Employees
  • Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty
  • 7 other members as deemed necessary by the working group

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill creates a new Enrollment Fraud Working Group and a formal reporting requirement to state legislators. It adds a structured process to address enrollment fraud in online courses, which previously did not exist in this form.

What This Bill Seeks to Accomplish

• Reduce or prevent fraudulent online course enrollment intended to access financial aid and critical campus resources.
• Establish standardized policies and procedures to identify and mitigate enrollment fraud across Minnesota State colleges and universities.
• Provide lawmakers with a documented plan and findings by a specific deadline to inform potential future actions.

Relevant Terms - enrollment fraud - online courses - financial aid - campus information technology systems - student support services - Enrollment Fraud Working Group - Board of Trustees - Minnesota State Colleges and Universities - report deadline January 15, 2026 - Minnesota State University Student Association - Minnesota State College Student Association - Minnesota State College Faculty - Inter Faculty Organization - Minnesota Association of Professional Employees - Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty