MSU Listserv


EQUITY Archives

EQUITY Archives


EQUITY@LIST.MSU.EDU


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Proportional Font

LISTSERV at MSU

LISTSERV at MSU

EQUITY Home

EQUITY Home

EQUITY  March 2007

EQUITY March 2007

Subject:

MIRS Capitol Capsule, Wednesday, March 21, 2007

From:

Rudy Redmond <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Retention & Graduation Issues Concerning Minorities in Higher Education <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 08:00:15 -0400

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (42 lines)

12 Universities Join In Fight For Appropriations
The state's 12 smaller public universities have joined together to form a coalition to fight a move to split higher education appropriations into two bills * one bill for the big three universities and one for the 12 smaller ones. 

This possibility has been tossed around for a year or so, but it really gained steam this year when Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM proposed the split in her budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2007, with a 2.5 percent increase going to the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University. The other 12 would have their budgets addressed in a separate bill, but would also receive a 2.5 percent increase. 

Granholm's move prompted the 12 other universities to form the Education Alliance for Michigan. 

"Michigan's public universities should continue to collaborate, not separate," said Eastern Michigan President John FALLON. "My fellow university presidents and I are frankly disappointed that U of M, MSU and Wayne State have turned their backs on the real goal * securing more funding for all of Michigan's students." 

The universities fear that the division will result in them getting fewer increases and further widen the funding gap between the three research universities and those that have formed the Education Alliance for Michigan. 

The larger universities already get, on average, $3,000 per student more from the state than the other universities, said Oakland University President Gary RUSSI, who is concerned this gap will increase to a more than $8,000 per pupil difference. 

As a result, the universities will have to get more and more funding from tuition hikes and private donations, said Janet PISANESCHI of Western Michigan University. 

Terry DENBOW, vice president of university relations for MSU, said the three larger universities are not trying to pit one institution against another. 

"It is a false premise that anyone is advocating one institution or one set of institutions being advantaged at the expense of others," Denbow said. "That's not what we're talking about." 

Denbow said the measure is about investment and investment strategy. As a group, the big three will have a lot of clout when people are looking where to invest research and development money. 

"This will not be at the expense of anyone else," he said. "We will continue to be vigorous advocates for all public universities." 

Russi agreed that the other three universities are research universities, but he pointed out that the 12 in alliance are research "intensive," which means they also focus on research. 

"We collectively give a huge contribution to research and development in this state and to recognize only three institutes as research institutes will challenge the other 12 to be able to compete," Russi said. 

The alliance also made the case that they produce two-thirds of the state's undergraduates. And, unlike the larger universities, most of their undergraduate students actually stay in Michigan after they graduate. 

"In many cases we are the top employer," Russi said. "Two-tiered" appropriations systems will make it more difficult for these universities to keep this up. The system also doesn't make sense because these universities produce the most undergraduate students and keep them in the state, which is one of the Governor's goals. 

MIRS asked Russi if Granholm's call for separate appropriations bills is counterintuitive to her goal to double the number of college graduates in Michigan. 

"It is counterintuitive," Russi said based on the fact that these 12 universities contribute a lot economically to the state and host the majority of the state's undergraduates. 

Budget Office Spokesman Greg BIRD said he can't see how the separation would be counterintuitive to the Governor's goal.

"The reason for the proposal to separate is because we're really trying to recognize their unique contribution to the state's economy," Bird said. 

The three larger universities attract national and international investment through graduate programs, patents and inventions, he said. As part of the proposal, the universities will also have to provide an annual report stating their contributions to the state's economy. 

The alliance held a media roundtable at the Capitol this afternoon and met with Senators and House members to talk about the alliance.

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

Advanced Options


Options

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password


Search Archives

Search Archives


Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe


Archives

January 2020
March 2018
August 2017
February 2017
October 2016
July 2016
June 2016
April 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
August 2015
July 2015
May 2015
April 2015
February 2015
January 2015
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
July 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

ATOM RSS1 RSS2



LIST.MSU.EDU

CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager