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

Funding

Based upon current grant utilization among grantees and received appropriations, up to $1,228,328 is available for this grant round. The intention is to award as many grants as possible within the means of available funds. Proposals may be partially funded depending on the availability of funds and/or budget efficiency. Any future grant rounds will be contingent upon available funds.

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.

What is the Application Process?

2025 Request for Proposals

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education is currently accepting proposals for the Inclusive Higher Education Grant.

Please review the FY26 Inclusive Higher Education Grant Request for Proposals before beginning the submission process.

Inclusive Higer Education Grant - Fiscal Year 2026 RFP

A ten-year plan is required to be submitted with a proposal. This ten-year budget template is provided as a tool that can be used to fulfill this requirement however applicants are not required to use it. Excel Template

Request for Proposals Timeline

Date	Description
April 3, 2025	Request for Proposals available to applicants
April 15, 2025 (1:00 p.m. CT)	Inclusive Higher Ed Grant Proposal Workshop – Virtual (see teams link below)
May 1, 2025 (4:00 p.m. CT)	Technical Question Deadline
May 15, 2025 (4:00 p.m. CT)	Proposal Submission Deadline
First week of June 2025 (6/2-6/5)	Applicant Presentations and Q&A (virtual) – An email invitation to applicants the week of May 19, 2025
June 18, 2025	Award Notice to Applicants
July 10, 2025 (1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. CT)	Mandatory Grantee Orientation – Grantees will receive a virtual teams invitation after their award notice.

Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. CT on May 15, 2025 through the OHE Competitive Online Grants Management system. 

Applicants must be available the first week of June 2025 for the virtual proposal review presentation to give a ten minute presentation on their proposed project and respond to reviewers' questions. Invitations for Presentations with specific times and days will be sent in the week of May 19, 2025.

If you need assistance with the grants management system, please email GWI.OHE@state.mn.us.

Request for Proposals Applicant Workshop

Interested applicants should attend this Request for Proposals workshop at 1 p.m. Central Time, April 15, 2025.

The workshop will be recorded and posted online for later review, however, OHE recommends attending live to answer any time sensitive questions.

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 273 442 078 507

Passcode: F3vU3VA2

Dial in by phone +1 651-395-7448,,669702434# United States, Minneapolis

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 669 702 434#

Join on a video conferencing device

Tenant key: mn@m.webex.com

Video ID: 116 178 836 5

More info

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