This Week in Michigan Public Higher Education News - Nov. 6, 2020

November 6, 2020

MASU has published an updated-as-needed tracker of university operating statuses here: Operational Status of Michigan Public Universities in Response to COVID-19

In the News

Academic Operations

Should the University of Michigan have an in-person winter semester? Here’s what students had to say

The Michigan Daily (Nov. 2)

MSU students impacted by COVID-19 want pass-fail grading option

Lansing State Journal (Nov. 6)

U-M to students: Don't come back for winter term

Detroit Free Press (Nov. 6)

University of Michigan urges students not to return to campus for winter semester

MLive (Nov. 6)

UM urges remote study for winter semester, reduces undergrads in residence halls

The Detroit News (Nov. 6)

Diversity on Campus

GVSU aims to promote diversity and inclusivity in faculty

Grand Rapids Business Journal (Nov. 3)

Economic Development

MSU, German Company Open Advanced Imaging Research Center

dbusiness (Nov. 3)

Enrollment

Michigan colleges hit hard by dipping enrollment — except 2 that reported growth

Detroit Free Press (Oct. 31)

Facilities Planning & Campus Improvement

GVPD adds new technology, goals for the upcoming year

Grand Valley Lanthorn (Nov. 2)

Western Michigan University will borrow $70M to finish student center project

MLive (Nov. 5)

Governance & Speech

Michigan State BOT approves appointments, addresses gathering regulations [UM]

The State News (Oct. 30)

University boards: Mosallam out at MSU, Land in at WSU [EMU, UM]

The Detroit News (Nov. 4)

Republican and Democrat lead in MSU Board of Trustees race with one county left

Lansing State Journal (Nov. 4)

University boards: Dems, GOP split seats at MSU, UM, WSU [EMU]

The Detroit News (Nov. 4)

Politicians, businesspeople set to win tight races for Michigan university boards [EMU, MSU, UM, WSU]

Crain’s Detroit Business (Nov. 5)

Two new MSU Board of Trustees discuss Larry Nassar documents

WILX TV (Nov. 5)

Unofficial results: Democratic incumbent Bernstein stays on U-M Board of Regents while GOP challenger Hubbard may win spot [MSU]

The Michigan Daily (Nov. 5)

Republican O'Keefe and Democrat Vassar win MSU Board of Trustees election

Lansing State Journal (Nov. 5)

Higher Education Finance – Federal Funding & Financial Aid

UM-Dearborn awarded $1.26M to boost student success initiatives

Press & Guide (Nov. 4)

Higher Education Finance — Institutional Dynamics

Lawrence Tech to add varsity sports, 200 student-athletes [CMU, MSU]

Crain’s Detroit Business (Nov. 2)

Western Michigan University to consider ending Cooley Law School affiliation

MLive (Nov. 4)

Western Michigan University Cuts Ties With Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Diverse Issues in Higher Education (Nov. 5)

Western Michigan University Severs Ties With Law School

Inside Higher Ed (Nov. 6)

Higher Education Finance — State Student Financial Aid

Free tuition offer for frontline workers will mean enrollment boost for community colleges

Lansing State Journal (Nov. 1)

Higher Education in the 2020 Elections

University of Michigan Gets Creative to Mobilize Undergraduate Voters

WDET FM (Oct. 29)

Early Voting at WMU Increases

WMUK TV (Oct. 30)

Election 2020 outlook: Higher education has a lot riding on vote [MSU, MASU]

Crain’s Detroit Business (Nov. 1)

WSU student runs for Michigan House of Representatives

The South End (Nov. 1)

Michigan sees 'dramatic' increase in young voters casting ballots as colleges mobilize [CMU, MSU, UM, WSU]

Detroit Free Press (Nov. 2)

Who WMU students voted for in the 2020 presidential election

Western Herald (Nov. 3)

Hundreds of GV students vote in 2020 elections on campus

Grand Valley Lanthorn (Nov. 3)

Non-partisan organization encourages students to register, vote on Western Michigan campus

WXMI TV (Nov. 3)

University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus quiet on Election Day morning

WDIV TV (Nov. 3)

‘Count Every Vote’ rally held at University of Michigan Diag

MLive (Nov. 4)

Hour wait times and plenty of PPE as students turned out to vote at Bernhard Center [WMU]

Western Herald (Nov. 4)

Institutional Leadership

GV President Mantella remembers late Peter Secchia

Grand Valley Lanthorn (Nov. 2)

President delivers state of the university [OU]

The Oakland Post (Nov. 4)

Leadership Transitions

Cooper to Serve as MTU Interim VP/Dean [MTU]

Keweenaw Report (Nov. 5)

Philanthropic Support

MTU to double testing capacity for COVID-19 with gift from Portage Health Foundation

WJMN TV (Nov. 2)

MTU to double COVID-19 testing capacity with gift from Portage Health Foundation

WLUC TV (Nov. 2)

Program Delivery

MSU students experiment with theatrical forms

Lansing State Journal (Oct. 30)

Wayne Law partners with WSU College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts to offer Minor in Law

Legal News (Nov. 3)

Safety & Health

COVID-19 threshold ranges, expectations for rest of semester [NMU]

The North Wind (Oct. 30)

U-M students, leadership prep for mounting mental health strain ahead of election

The Michigan Daily (Nov. 1)

COVID-19 "Exit Testing" Encouraged But Not Required At WM

WMUK FM (Nov. 1)

Visitors to be restricted from NMU for two additional weeks

WNMU FM (Nov. 2)

Stay-in-place order for University of Michigan students lifted by health department

MLive (Nov. 2)

Emergency stay-in-place order for University of Michigan students will expire Tuesday

WDIV TV (Nov. 2)

Kellogg Center turns into home for MSU students exposed to coronavirus [UM]

Crain’s Detroit Business (Nov. 3)

GVSU on high alert as COVID-19 cases continue to rise

WZZM TV (Nov. 4)

PEIF & Fit Zone close along with campus restaurants after surge of new COVID-19 cases

The North Wind (Nov. 4)

WMU Dining Services taking names and phone numbers of diners

Western Herald (Nov. 5)

NMU closes rec center as coronavirus cases rise

WLUC TV (Nov. 5)

74 test positive on NMU campus as COVID cases continue to rise

WJMN TV (Nov. 5)

NMU closes rec facilities as cases rise: Off-campus student population has increase in positive results; Whitmer signs new bills into law

The Mining Journal (Nov. 6)

University Accountability

Western Michigan University settles lawsuit with Black employee who claims white coworker pretended to lynch him

MLive (Nov. 3)

U-M fraternity waits on judge decision to keep name after allowing women, non-binary members

WJBK TV (Nov. 5)

Workforce Alignment

Program pairs GVSU students with small businesses for real-world experience

WXMI TV (Nov. 2)

Commentaries

Opinion | It's time for Eastern Michigan to drop racist's name from building

Bridge (Oct. 30)

Nineteen Universities Join Large-Scale Effort To Diversify STEM Faculty [GVSU]

Forbes (Oct. 30)

Opinion | Federal higher ed relief urgently needed for Michigan students

Bridge (Nov. 1)

State and National Reports

Michigan in Context

Preliminary Enrollment Report - Fall 2020 [PDF]

Michigan Association of State Universities (November 2020)

While first-time freshman enrollment at the Michigan public universities declined as expected due to the pandemic, overall credit-taking remains high as full-year equated students declined less than half of the total headcount decline.

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