While I understand that you do not believe this is a big deal, I do not agree. I think this is a major problem. I too am a Minnesota resident and have always felt our state was very educated and progressive. This makes me ashamed to be a Minnesotan.

If you're an employee of the OHE, and you somehow think it's a good idea to go on record defending this silly statute, then you need to be fired. Period. No one at that organization should possibly think applying a decades old statute to a non-degree granting institution is the right thing to do.

Edit: I have contacted the source at the OHE and am waiting for a response. I'm hopeful this was all a misunderstanding, but one can never hope too much for the right outcome when dealing with bureaucracy.