MinnesotaCAN Newsletter | August 31, 2026

August 31, 2026

Your monthly newsletter with college and career attainment focused professional development, policy updates, and MN data

Updates from MinnesotaCAN

Tue, Aug 11

MinnesotaCAN Quarterly Meeting Recap: Building Momentum for College Attainment in Minnesota

On August 5, Minnesota College Attainment Network (MinnesotaCAN) members gathered for the organization's quarterly meeting to reconnect, learn from statewide and national experts, and discuss emerging

Wed, Aug 19

Minnesota’s New Standard Financial Aid Offer Letter

For many students and families, comparing financial aid offers can feel like comparing apples to oranges. Colleges often use different formats, terminology, and cost breakdowns, making it difficult to

Fri, Aug 28

Member Spotlight: Jen Alger and the Power of Helping Students Navigate the Path to College

Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Jen Alger, Scholarship Program Manager at the Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids, for a conversation that quickly moved beyond scholarships and into a deepe

Wallin Education Partners: Career Fair

Help connect your college students with employers from across Minnesota! Wallin Education Partners invites college students to attend our Career Fair on Wednesday, September 23, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at the University of Minnesota's Coffman Memorial Union.

Students will have the opportunity to network with employers, learn about internships and full-time opportunities, and explore career pathways across a variety of industries.
Please share this opportunity with your students and encourage them to register in advance.

Other Minnesota Education Fairs Resource from MACAC

MEFs are college fairs held in mid-fall and spring throughout Minnesota at high schools and other venues. They are a result of the collaborative work of MACAC, public and private post-secondary schools, and high schools. College representatives from post-secondary schools throughout the Midwest and other states attend to share information about their educational programs with students and parents.

List of Fairs 26-27

Have things from your organization to share?

In the spirit of collaboration and shared learning, MinnesotaCAN would love to help highlight things that could be applicable to other members. This includes things like:

Workshops, webinars, or trainings
Scholarship announcements
New tools, resources, or research
Events that support student success, equity, and access

Go to the Newsletter page of our website to send us your resources to help you get the word out!

What we are reading

Professional Development

Minnesota Goes to College recorded trainings: FAFSA and MN Dream Act

Recordings to come back to on your own time

Refresh your knowledge on FAFSA and MN Dream Act at your leisure presented by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. These trainings are for school counselors and community partners who assist families with FAFSA and/or MN Dream Act Completion.

College Board Fall Counselor Workshops 2026

Thursday August 27th 9am CT:

AP® Program: Updates and initiatives that support student success in advanced coursework

Wednesday Sept 2nd 12pm CT

BigFuture® Tools and Resources: Help students explore options, plan their futures, and take action with confidence

Thursday Sept 10th 1pm CT

SAT® Suite of Assessments: What’s new and how to support college and career readiness for all students

Thursday Sept 15th 10am CT

New and Enhanced Counselor Supports: Discover resources designed specifically to make your work easier and more impactful

[this email might have been clipped for length, please click “view entire message” below to see more!]

Chronicle Festival 2026: Building Trust During Change

September 10, 15, 17

Join colleagues from across higher education for Chronicle Festival 2026, a free three-part virtual event exploring trust, leadership, teaching, and the future of work. Hear from leading thinkers and The Chronicle’s journalists as they examine the issues shaping campuses today.

The Do’s and Don’ts for Nonprofits with Elections (Minnesota Council of Non-profits)

September 17 (Free for MCN members)

Did you know nonprofits can do voter engagement work in the community? Not only can we legally, we think nonprofits should – and MCN is here to help as the November 3rd midterm elections approaches. Join us as we learn together about what nonprofits legally can and cannot do to support election engagement but also understand strategies that support nonprofit staff doing engagement that makes sense for their organization’s mission and constituencies. We also will have time for Q+A to ensure the opportunity to ask clarifying questions. You will walk away feeling confident and energized to engage your constituencies in a nonpartisan way and receive concrete resources for your nonprofit to use.

Postsecondary Pathways | Aligning Education, Correctional Rehabilitation, and Workforce Readiness with The Hunt Institute

September 24th 1pm CT

This webinar will explore how state-level election outcomes influence the direction of education policy, from investments in teacher pay and workforce pipelines to priorities in literacy, mathematics, and college and career readiness. Panelists will examine how campaign issues translate into governing agendas, how ballot measures and legislative control shape policy implementation, and what education leaders should anticipate in the months following the election. Grounded in a bipartisan, nonpartisan lens, the conversation will elevate how states can move beyond political rhetoric to advance policies that improve student outcomes.

From Data to Dollars: Telling the FirstGen Story that Funders NEED to Hear ($79 for non-members of FirstGen Forward)

Sept 15th 12-1pm ET

*Network Institutions:Review Basecamp for instructions on how to receive a discounted rate.

Your first-generation students are achieving extraordinary success, yet securing the funding to sustain and scale these initiatives remains a challenge. Join us on September 15 for "From Data to Dollars: Telling the FirstGen Story that Funders NEED to Hear" a practical webinar introducing a framework for translating retention metrics into funder-ready narratives. Discover how to build a compelling case for long-term investment and secure the resources your students deserve.

2026 NCAN National Conference

October 5-7 | Las Vegas, NV

This multi‑day gathering brings together thousands of postsecondary access and success practitioners, leaders, and advocates for three days of networking, learning, idea‑sharing, and celebrating the incredible work happening across our field. You won’t want to miss it!

Registration Fees - 2026 NCAN National Conference

We want to hear from you!

Have something we should include in next month’s newsletter? We would love to hear from you! Fill out this form and we will be sure to include your professional development, event, or informative article/resource in our next edition.

mncollegeattainmentnetwork.org/newsletter