Mich. Senate bill could increase MSU funding

The Michigan Senate passed a bill Tuesday to increase higher education funding for all state universities by 3 percent, a slight increase from Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposal to boost MSU’s budget by 2.7 percent.

Under Granholm’s proposal, state funding increases for research universities could not fall below the inflation rate and would be tied to three components: degree completion with emphasis on science, mathematics, technology and engineering graduates; number of students with Pell Grants; and research funding and the commercial activity it produced.

MSU Board of Trustees Member Melanie Foster said the 3 percent increase would be “admirable” given the state’s budget situation.

“Higher education represents the future for Michigan, and it’s imperative that the state invest in it, not just at Michigan State but at the other 14 institutions as well,” Foster said.

Leslee Fritz, spokeswoman for the Office of the State Budget, said MSU’s lack of Pell Grant-aided students was the primary cause for its lesser increase under Granholm’s plan.

Despite desiring more funding for research universities, Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Lansing, said she voted in favor of the bill, which passed by a 37-1 vote, because it was better than the alternatives.

“Obviously my hope would be that we would put even more money into higher education,” Whitmer said. “But considering the climate in state and at the state Capitol, the fact we made an improvement is huge.

“It’s not enough in my opinion, but it’s certainly a step in right direction.”

The state’s two other research universities — University of Michigan and Wayne State University — would take a 0.2 percent decrease compared to Granholm’s proposal if the bill passes in the House of Representatives and is signed by the governor.

Although the proposal hurts the other two research universities, geological sciences senior Michael Morse said it will boost MSU’s research capabilities.

“Dealing with inflation and dwindling pots of grants, I think this will help,” Morse said.

“I’ve talked to my professors, and they say that’s one of the worst things about working at a research university. There’s not enough money to support the grants.”

While it’s unclear what the funds will go toward, nutritional sciences junior Janae Jones said she hopes they go directly to students.

“I’d like to see more money for financial aid,” she said.

“I feel like I’m not getting enough and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.”

Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said he expects the House to approve the legislation when it returns from its two-week recess.

“I would like to be able to give universities more money, especially MSU,” he said. “However, right now this state is having some trouble with money. There’s not enough money to have everything we’d like to pay for.”

Not everybody is pleased with the legislation, though.

Fritz said she acknowledges many legislators supported Granholm’s plan, but ultimately settled on the Senate bill because lawmaking is “a process of compromise.”

Sen. Deborah Cherry, D-Burton, was the sole vote opposing the bill. Cherry said while some of her colleagues voted to make that compromise, she wasn’t willing to throw her support behind the bill.

“I didn’t support the ways other universities got funding,” Cherry said.

“The only way I can show that is by voting no.”

Sen. Valde Garcia, R-Howell, said giving preference to research universities highlighted last year’s higher education budget debate.

He voted in favor of the bill because research universities receive “quite a bit more” funding than other state universities.

Fritz, however, said she doubts the Senate bill will make it through the House in its exact form.

“It’s hard to say at this point exactly what the final composition will look like,” she said.

Staff writer Whitney Gronski contributed to this report.

Published on Tuesday, March 25, 2008