Q. The department that awarded it to me explicitly stated that the fellowship was taxable and I needed to report it as such on my taxes.

A. Essentially you have a "loop hole". Scholarship is scholarship and as long as there are sufficient qualifying expenses, the scholarship is tax free, whether the expenses were actually paid by that specific scholarship or not.  But, if that makes you uncomfortable, do this: you will be asked if any of the scholarship was used for room and board. Answer yes and enter the taxable amount. Note the wording at that screen “or other expenses”. You didn’t have to literally use the scholarship for R&B. That's just the step needed, in TT, to make it taxable. 

I'm not familiar with MN rules or software.  But, my state (OH) has a similar rule and the TT Ohio software asks how much is not taxable. It prepopulates that box.  So, if the amount isn't right, you have to change it.