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FY2017 Budget Update
Final adjustments to the state's fiscal year 2017 budget are currently being made by legislative appropriators and executive branch officials. The preliminary budget agreement calls for a collective state appropriations increase of 2.9 percent, or $41 million, for the state universities. This figure is lower than the 4.3 percent, or $61 million, increase proposed by Governor Snyder in his Executive Budget recommendation. That increase would have restored funding in the aggregate to 2011 levels, a year before state funding for higher education was cut 15 percent. This restoration does not factor in inflation, which would require an additional investment of $137 million. The FY2017 increase in appropriations will mark the sixth consecutive year of state reinvestment in its public universities. MASU will continue to work fervently with institutional leaders in advocating for continued state reinvestment in Michigan's public universities. It is anticipated that the final FY2017 state budget will be passed the week of June 6.
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MASU Releases Public Policy Agenda
The Michigan Association of State Universities has released the
Michigan Higher Education Public Policy Agenda
-Higher Education Policy Priorities for Strengthe
ning the State Universities' Ability to Serve
Michigan
. The Agenda represents the first-ever comprehensive
compilation of state higher education issues that are particularly relevant to Michigan, including short statements that provide historical context,
pertinent data and the association's position on the given issue. Some 14 topics are discussed in the document. Also included is an introductory section that provides an overview of governance and policy development among M
ichigan's public universities. The Agenda is viewable in its entirety online, with each topic viewable on its own individual link, for quick vie
wing and downloading.
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MASU Legislative Priorities
During the current legislative session, the association has been
emphasizing three public policy priorities aimed at achieving two overarching goals: improving college affordability and enhancing student success at Michigan's public universities. The 2016 MASU Legislative Priorities are the top objectives
among the state policy issues included in the MASU Public Policy Agenda. They include increasing state need-based student financial aid, enhancing state operating support for public universities and investing in state capital outlay for Michigan's public universities.
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Second State Universities Summit Convened by Governor Snyder
Michigan State University hosted
Governor Snyder's 2016 State Universities Summit on May 24. More than 100 institutional leaders and governing board members from all 15 of the state universities participated in the day-long convening. Among the Summit's objectives were to enhance understanding of educational and economic challenges and opportunities facing the state, and identifying shared priorities and strategies for how the state universities can help meet the state's talent goals. Governor Snyder discussed the vital role the state universities fulfill in developing and retaining talent in Michigan. Other session topics included governance, as well as student success and fiscal sustainability strategies. MASU CEO Dan Hurley took part in the Summit's opening presentation,
Narratives in U.S. Higher Education, Michigan in Context.
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Pictured L to R at the Governor's State Universities Summit: Rick Legon, Association of Governing Boards; Trustee Tricia Keith, CMU; President Fritz Erickson, NMU; Trustee Jim Bolger, WMU; President Mark Schlissel, UM.
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Focused Opposition on Legislation Expanding Community College Baccalaureate Degrees
Among all of the bills introduced and receiving attention in the Michigan legislature during the 2015-16 session, special focus on the part of the state's public and independent universities is being given to
Senate Bill 98, which seeks to allow community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in certain fields, including nursing, allied health, information technology, manufacturing technology and ski area management. The additional program areas are in addition to four initial programs the legislature granted authority for Michigan community colleges to offer four-year degrees in during the 2012-13 session: cement technology, maritime technology, energy production technology and culinary arts. Analysis by the House Fiscal Agency indicates that allowing community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees would increase operating costs at the state's community colleges that elect to offer such programs. Increases in tuition prices and local taxation would also be needed to fund the degrees. Passage of the bill would add further significant challenges to nursing education, in particular, given the existing shortage of qualified nursing faculty and clinical placement sites. While there are numerous concerns stemming from SB 98, including labor market, legal and constitutional issues, a primary message is that allowing Michigan's community colleges to offer four-year degrees is bad public policy, representing an inefficient use of state resources and wasteful spending to address no unmet need. The issue of the community college baccalaureate degree is discussed in the MASU Public Policy Agenda, under the topic of
Collaboration versus Duplication as a Model for Michigan Public Higher Education. The state's public universities and community colleges are collaborating on numerous student success initiatives, including credit transfer (see next article). Here is additional background on
why the community college baccalaureate is poor state strategy.
Two companion bills, House Bills 5611 and 5612, have been introduced and passed by the House Tax Policy Committee, and which would prohibit a community college from collecting property taxes if they offer a new bachelor's degree. These bills passed with strong bipartisan support and are now on the House floor awaiting further action as needed with respect to any movement of SB 98.
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Transfer Steering Committee Announced
Following the
final report of the legislative workgroup that studied the feasibility of a 60 credit hour transfer block, the state's universities and community colleges are coming together instead to create a Transfer Steering Committee. This committee will coordinate various transfer issues the state has studied in recent years, including the Michigan Transfer Agreement, the Michigan Transfer Network, Math Pathways, and more. The committee will also study and make recommendations on establishing efficient transfer pathways in high enrollment/high transfer programs, relying heavily on faculty involvement. University participation will be key for success of the committee, and the Legislature is very interested in seeing this committee be successful.
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Professor of the Year Program Marks 10th Anniversary
Three award recipients and several award nominees gathered with family members and colleagues on April 15 at the Lansing Center to participate in the MASU's 10
th annual Distinguished Professor of the Year awards program. The awards program recognizes the outstanding contributions made by the faculty from Michigan's public universities to the education of undergraduate students. Each of Michigan's public universities were invited by the Association to nominate a faculty member who has made a significant impact on student learning through various mediums, including work in the classroom and student advising. Award criteria include: impact on and involvement with undergraduate students; individualized and experiential learning; scholarship and innovation in teaching and learning; and contributions to undergraduate education at the institution, in the community and in the profession/discipline. This year's Distinguished Professor of the Year award winners were: Matthew Boelkins, Professor of Mathematics at Grand Valley State University; Brian Coppola, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan; and Sue Ellen Christian, Professor of Journalism at Western Michigan University. Special thanks to members of the Association's Academic Affairs Officers Committee who served on this year's awards selection committee: Michael Gealt, Central Michigan University; James Lentini, Oakland University; David Callejo Perez, Saginaw Valley State University; and David Reinhold, Western Michigan University.
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Pictured L to R: Matthew Boelkins, Professor of Mathematics at Grand Valley State University;
Sue Ellen Christian, Professor of Journalism at Western Michigan University; Brian Coppola, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan; and Daniel Hurley, CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities.
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Michigan Receives LEAP State Status
Michigan has been
approved as a LEAP (Liberal Education and America's Promise) state by the American Association of Colleges & Universities. LEAP is a national initiative to champion and advance liberal education and learning outcomes assessment. David Reinhold, Associate Provost for Assessment and Undergraduate Studies at Western Michigan University, is the chair of Michigan's LEAP workgroup, also previously known as the Michigan Focus on Essential Learning Outcomes (MIFELO) committee. The workgroup will focus on assessment best practices, communications about the value of liberal education, and increasing student success for underserved groups. To view the Michigan LEAP State website, click
here.
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MASU News Services Off to a Great Start
The new e-mail clipping services offered by MASU continue to grow in subscribers and reputation. Over 800 active subscribers from higher education, state government, media, and the business and non-profit arenas follow the association's compilations of new stories involving Michigan's public universities. To view or subscribe to either newsletter, click on either banner below to go to the archive of each past weekly or monthly issue.
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James M. Smith Named Next President of Eastern Michigan University
The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents have named
James M. Smith to serve as the university's next present. He will begin serving in the role on July 1. Smith has served as the president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota since June 2009.
Prior to accepting the presidency at NSU, Smith was vice president for Economic Development at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. A veteran educational leader, Smith has also served as a professor, branch campus CEO, education dean, doctoral program director, and university liaison to K-12 schools. Smith began his career as a public school teacher and principal at the K-8 level, working in both rural and suburban schools.
He holds a B.S. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, M.S. from Xavier University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Miami University. His hometown is Washington Court House, Ohio, located south of Columbus. Donald Loppnow will continue serving as interim president until Smith begins his presidency in July.
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MASU staff Bob Murphy and Dan Hurley with incoming EMU president James M. Smith (middle) shortly after his election as the university's 23
rd
president
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Academic Affairs Leadership Appointments
Rhonda Longworth, a professor of political science and veteran
administrator at Eastern Michigan University,
has been named interim provost
at the institution. Longworth, who has worked at Eastern for 21 years, had been serving as associate provost and associate vice president for academic programs and support, a position she had held since 2011.
Lake Superior State University appointed
David Finley as Interim Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs in January 2016; he continues to serve as Dean of the College of Business and Engineering, and Professor of Engineering, positions he has held at LSSU since January 2012.
Keith Whitfield, vice provost for academic affairs at Duke University
and an expert on aging among African Americans,
has been named provost of Wayne State University
effective June 1, 2016. The WSU Board of Governors approved Whitfield's appointment at its April 1 meeting
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Upcoming Meetings
State Relations Officers Meeting, June 8, MASU Offices
Academic Affairs Officers Retreat, June 2 & 3, Saginaw Valley State University
Admissions Officers Meeting, June 2 & 3, Traverse City
Chief Information Officers Meeting, June 8, Central Michigan University
MASU Board of Directors Meeting, June 22, MASU Offices
Student Affairs Officers Retreat, June 22-24, Saginaw Valley State University
Alumni Directors Meeting, July 14, MASU Offices
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MASU Thanks Intern Ryan Miller
The MASU staff are pleased to have hosted Ryan Miller as a student intern during the winter semester. Ryan concluded his internship in late April and graduated this month from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. His service to the association included preparing content for MASU's "This Week" and "Stewardship" e-newsletters, promoting university accomplishments via social media, and assembling data and information for inclusion in some of the Association's public presentations. He also attended legislative committee meetings and other functions at the state Capitol. In summing up his experience as an MASU intern, Ryan wrote, "I have gained a vast amount of insight into the world of higher education in Michigan and nationally as well. I am much more appreciative of the reach the state universities of Michigan have throughout Michigan and across the globe." A native of Ionia, Ryan will be launching his full-time career in higher education working in the Office of the Registrar at Michigan State University.
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MASU staff Robyn Cline, Bob Murphy and Dan Hurley with intern Ryan Miller (second from right)
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