Workforce development scholarships program eligibility expansion provision

This bill expands eligibility for Minnesota's workforce development scholarships by allowing Minnesota State colleges and universities to add one new program area per institution based on regional job shortages. Institutions can designate an additional program if local job vacancy rates for a specific occupation exceed the state average, as reported in the state's job vacancy survey data. Students must still meet credit requirements (at least nine credits per term) to qualify for scholarships in these expanded programs. The change applies to programs in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, health care, or cybersecurity, with institutions able to update their designated program annually based on new data. This directly affects students pursuing regional workforce needs at Minnesota State colleges and universities.