MnSCU Focused on Poverty (Pioneer Press)

Written by Josh Verges, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2/3/2016

At age 30, with a family of five to support but unable to continue working construction after an injury, Jacob Bernier enrolled at Century College in 2012.

His wife, An Garagiola, enrolled, too, after having been on bed rest for four years.

The couple has struggled with minimal income, relying at times on donated food. But unlike so many college students in poverty, they’re still working toward their degrees.

Both have counselors and instructors at the White Bear Lake college who have made them feel welcome and set them up with meaningful work-study jobs.

They are among the many students at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities schools benefiting from an emphasis on addressing basic human needs in hopes of improving academic outcomes for a growing low-income enrollment.

For the full article, click here.