“We are determined to provide for our students,” Coleman said. “We know that families are concerned about the bottom line, and so are we.”

Under Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s budget recommendations that were proposed last month, higher education would take a 3 percent cut statewide. MSU would lose about $9 million in state funding should the cuts go into effect.

The state Legislature must approve the budget by Oct. 1.

“It’s critical that we reverse that trend so we do we sustain our position nationally and for the matter, internationally,” Noren told the subcommittee.

Along with funding cuts, Granholm has asked universities to freeze tuition next year in exchange for a cut of the state’s federal stimulus money. It remains unclear how much stimulus money universities would receive.

After the three presidents discussed the universities’ individual and collaborative projects, the legislators were given a chance to ask the university leaders questions. No questions about tuition were posed.

Simon said the lawmakers stayed away from tuition discussions because it’s still early in the budget process. As she has previously, Simon didn’t rule out tuition increases next year.

“We’d like to keep tuition as low as possible in the context of the support we receive,” she said.

All three presidents acknowledged the tough economic climate Michigan currently faces. However, they agreed if state appropriations had matched inflation over the past five years, or matched the rate of funding increase for Michigan’s Department of Corrections, tuition wouldn’t be as high as it is today.

“It’s really ironic that we talk about the knowledge-based economy at the same time Michigan support for education has been declining,” Simon said.

For more on this story, read the Wednesday edition of The State News.