Johnson, 65, is a member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa who lives in Duluth. He retired last month as the University of Minnesota's first senior director of American Indian Tribal Nations relations.
In addition to spending, the higher education bill also includes a provision that would require all higher education institutions to include an affirmative consent standard as part of their sexual conduct policies.
At least 814 students on Monday were eligible to walk — the largest graduating class since 2019 — during the first full in-person ceremonies since before the start of the pandemic.
Students on the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses would see the full 3.5% increase, while those attending Duluth, Morris or Crookston would pay half that.
