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Guest commentary: Keep World-Class Standards for Michigan Learners

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

May 21, 2013/Bridge Magazine

By Doug Rothwell/Business Leaders for Michigan

This year, Michigan public schools began using the kind of high-quality content standards that our kids need to be competitive in the 21st century. Used by 45 states, the Common Core State Standards specify what students should be able to know and do at every grade level in reading and math, so they can be ready to advance when they graduate no matter whether they enter the workforce or continue their education.

We all want our children to succeed and for our state to flourish. The fact is that good paying jobs are increasingly requiring more education and the jobs will go where educated workers can be found. Michigan needs the Common Core. The standards have been carefully researched and developed to ensure their rigor and relevance in a 21st-century knowledge economy. After decades of shrinking incomes and population, Michigan is starting to rebound. To make our recovery permanent, we need to make sure our children have the knowledge and skills employers need.

Eastern Michigan's Autism Collaborative Center Offers New, Real Time Technology to Bring Needed Services to Michiganders

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

May 14, 2013/EMU News

By Pamela Young

YPSILANTI – Children with autism often have a difficult time being properly diagnosed or receiving crucial individualized therapy that they need. Those problems are compounded for families who can't access professional therapy because they live in underserved areas or are disadvantaged.

New technology at Eastern Michigan University is now changing all that. Telehealth, a live stream video program at EMU's Autism Collaborative Center (ACC), can bring needed services to Michigan families and professional development for health care specialists wherever they live in the state.

Michigan Tech's Peace Corps Program Ranked Number 1 in the Nation

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

May 7, 2013/Michigan Tech News

By Jennifer Donovan

Michigan Technological University ranks as the top Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) university nationwide for the eighth consecutive year. With 35 PCMI graduate students currently serving as Peace Corps Volunteers, Michigan Tech has earned the top spot in the 2013 rankings of PCMI and Paul D. Coverdell Fellows graduate schools. Tulane University placed second.

The PCMI program enables graduate students to incorporate Peace Corps service for credit as part of their master’s degree curriculum. The Coverdell Fellows program provides returned Peace Corps volunteers with scholarships, internships in underserved American communities and stipends to help them earn an advanced degree after they complete their Peace Corps service.

Oakland University Expands Its Reach

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

April 29, 2013/The Detroit News

By Kim Kozlowski

Rochester — Oakland University was once a bucolic place that began with two buildings in the middle of Oakland County.

More than 50 years later, the university has grown up, with students flocking to the campus, program offerings exploding and buildings sprouting everywhere.

But OU has yet to come of age, say officials, who contend the school's evolution puts it on the cusp of becoming a major player in Michigan's higher education scene.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

April 12, 2013/Grand Rapids Business Journal

By Lou Glazer

We started our work at Michigan Future with the question: “Where do we want to go from here?” Our answer: a high-prosperity Michigan.

We believe the goal should be to create an economy with lots of good-paying jobs, a place with a broad middle class where there is a realistic chance for families to realize the American Dream. Many areas across the country have lower unemployment, but they also have low incomes. That isn’t success to us.

University Accountability: Why Not Let the Public Track Performance?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 18, 2013/The Guardian

By Doug Rothwell

Universities hold the keys to economic vitality, says Doug Rothwell, and Michigan is shining a light on exactly how

In today's knowledge economy, there is growing recognition that colleges and universities are powerful stimulants of economic growth. The talent, research and development, and economic activity they produce are valuable public goods worthy of both private and public investment.

The obvious question, however, is this: how can colleges and universities show they are delivering healthy investment returns? We think we have the beginnings of an answer: Michigan's performance tracker for public universities.

More Wrong Track on Education Policy

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:49:58 +0000

April 2, 2013/Michigan Future, Inc.

By Lou Glazer

Two important editorials highlight how far off track too many state policy makers are when it comes to education policy. And that the consequence of bad policy is harmful not just to Michigan kids (what matters most) but also to employers and the economy. Both are must reads!

The Detroit News in an editorial entitled Michigan kids deserve a strong educational foundation: Weakening state curriculum would make Michigan students less competitive makes the case against lowering high school graduation requirements. Adoption of those standards seven years ago was one of the signature accomplishments of the Granholm years. They passed with broad bi-partisan and business community support. They represent a major step in educating all Michigan kids for the economy they are going to live in rather than the one their parents and grandparents lived in which is in irreversible decline.

New Career Services Consultant to Rev up Efforts in Matching Wayne State Engineering and Computer Science Students, Graduates with Job Openings

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

April 3, 2013/Wayne State University News

Career services consultant Carmen Gamlin is passionate about helping Warriors launch their careers. Working with the Wayne State University College of Engineering and the WSU Career Services Office, her goal is to connect talented students, graduates and employers.

The Detroit native, who joined Wayne State in March, will do so by providing greater support to student organizations, enhancing networking efforts with industry, integrating social media within the job search, hosting events and providing useful career resources

Grand Valley Among Nation’s Top Schools For Sustainable Practices

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 21, 2013/CBS News Detroit

By Matt Roush

ALLENDALE – Grand Valley State University became the only university in the state and one of 45 in the country to receive gold status after completing a sustainability program developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System is designed to help gauge the progress of colleges and universities toward sustainability in all sectors. Grand Valley joins universities such as Arizona State, Stanford and Cornell as a gold STARS institution. Of the 241 schools that received a ranking nationwide, Grand Valley’s average score was higher than the national score. The assessment included 1,000 questions and compared campus operations from 2005-2012. STARS includes four categories: education and research, operations, innovation and planning, and administration and engagement.

Study: Michigan Will Need More College Graduates to Remedy Skills Shortage

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 21, 2013/Crains Detroit Business

By Chris Gautz

Without a change in direction, the study contends, Michigan could wind up with too many residents needing low-paying and low-skilled work and not enough ready for employment in higher-paying and higher-skilled work.

The study cites a report from the Lumina Foundation that says by 2025 Michigan will have to produce 900,000 more college graduates than currently projected. The state's demographics are not making that any easier, because Michigan's residents are getting older and population growth is slowing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state will have about 100,000 fewer 18- to 24-year-olds in 2025.

Researchers Invited to Learn Essentials of Entrepreneurship

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 20, 2013/Michigan Tech News

By Jennifer Donovan

In an effort to help researchers fast-track their technologies to the marketplace, Michigan is launching a new entrepreneurial training program called Michigan I-Corps. Applications for the program, administered by the University of Michigan, opened last week.

Michigan I-Corps is modeled after the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps (Innovation Corps) program. Two Michigan Tech teams have participated in the national I-Corps. Earlier this month a team led by Ezra Bar Ziv, a professor of mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics, was selected as the top team among the 24 participating teams from universities throughout the nation. The first NSF I-Corps team from Michigan Tech was led by Physics Professor Yoke Khin Yap.

Report: Michigan universities Have Experienced More Severe Funding Cuts Than Those in Other States

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 21, 2013/Bridge Magazine

By Ron French

Michigan’s premier public universities have no problem attracting students, but they’re having a harder time appealing to legislators.

And while decreases in state funding are common across the country today, the percentage of cuts in Michigan is higher than in most states.

Computer Science Alum Solves Problems, Builds WSU Web Presence

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 15, 2013/CBS News Detroit

DETROIT — Wayne State University computer science alumnus Nick DeNardis is quickly becoming a nationally renowned expert on institutional Web presence in higher education. Fortunately for WSU, he opted to stay and lead online communication efforts at his alma mater.

DeNardis began working as a student assistant for WSU Marketing and Communications his sophomore year. He was hired as a full-time developer his junior year and was promoted to associate director of Web communications in 2007. anyone who has set foot on Wayne State’s campus or interacted with the university online has likely experienced DeNardis’ work.

Guest Commentary: Michigan's Economic Future Depends on Greater Funding of Universities

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 10, 2013/Detroit Free Press

By Patrick Doyle and Doug Rothwell

Michigan's economy is rebounding faster than most other states', but businesses here won't be able to get the high-skilled workers they need unless we commit to making higher education more affordable for more students.

That's true even though data show that Michigan's public universities, as a group, confer the fifth-highest number of degrees and certificates among all states. Even more impressive, Michigan produces the fourth-highest number of degrees and certificates in critical skills areas, including math, science, engineering and technology -- degrees that are needed to fill the high-paying, in-demand jobs that will help Michigan become a top-10 state for job, economic and personal income growth.

Ahlborn Named Woman of the Year by Transportation Group

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

March 11, 2013/Michigan Tech News

By Marcia Goodrich

Tess Ahlborn has been named Woman of the Year by the Michigan chapter of WTS, an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation.

Ahlborn, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan Technological University, will be accepting the award and giving the keynote speech at the awards ceremony, set for March 14 in Hartland.

Mary Sue Coleman to State Lawmakers: Invest in Higher Ed Because Michigan Cannot Afford an Undereducated Workforce

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Feb 26, 2013/AnnArbor.com

By Kellie Woodhouse

It's that time of year again: The time when lawmakers in Lansing ruminate over how much state funding to award Michigan's 15 public universities.

University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman spoke before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education Tuesday morning to advocate for her school's share of state appropriations.

Gov. Rick Synder suggested a 2 percent funding increase for universities in his fiscal 2013-14 budget proposal and suggested that money be tied to the same formula used last year, which evaluates universities based on graduation rate improvements, critical degrees, the number of Pell Grant recipients enrolled and tuition restraint.

MSU Study Indicates Link Between Autism, Larger Brain Ventricles

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

February 25, 2013/Detroit News

By Kim Kozlowski

Low birth weight babies with a certain brain abnormality are seven times more likely to develop autism, according to research announced Monday by Michigan State University.

The findings, culled from a 25-year study of low birth weight infants who received cranial ultrasounds, showed the heightened autism risk occurred among babies with enlarged ventricles — the brain cavities that store spinal fluid — and may indicate the loss of a type of brain tissue known as white matter.

Editorial: Grading Universities Will Improve Performance

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

February 19, 2013/Detroit News

Wide consensus exists that if Michigan is to become a top state for jobs and investment, it must develop a stronger talent pool. That is, we must invest more in our colleges and universities. But along with the increased funding comes an expectation of better performance, and that's something that must be constantly measured.

Gov. Rick Snyder is adding in his latest budget proposal $25 million to the $1.4 billion allocated for higher education.

Facts You Might Not Know About Michigan’s 15 Public Universities

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

February 14, 2013/Bridge Magazine

By Chris Andrews

You probably didn’t know this about Michigan’s public universities:

* The University of Michigan’s 90 percent graduation rate is 22 percentage points higher than the average at peer institutions.

* Michigan State University’s 126-1 student-to-administrative staff ratio is nearly twice as high as peer institutions.

* Central Michigan University’s state aid of $3,699 per student is just slightly more than half of its peer average.

* Thirteen of Michigan’s 15 public universities are above their peer median in producing degrees in critical skill areas, but 13 of the 15 are below their peer average in state support.

Wayne State Gets 10-Year, $165.9M Renewal Of Problem Pregnancy Research

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

February 14, 2013/CBS Detroit

By Matt Roush

DETROIT — Wayne State University will spend another 10 years conducting federally funded research into problem pregnancies under a $165.9 million contract renewal announced Thursday night.

Wayne State said the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health has awarded Wayne State a second 10-year contract to continue housing the institute’s Perinatology Research Branch.

Grand Valley State University Provost Gayle Davis: College Degree 'Most Important Investment' Students, Parents Can Make

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

February 11, 2013/Mlive.com

Guest Column by Gayle Davis

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The need for more people to complete college degrees as a means to create needed talent for Michigan’s future is being discussed widely across the spectrum of employers and government.

The conversation is controversial for some, as they consider the rising cost of attending college and conclude that a college degree may not be the good personal investment it once was.

Editorial: Higher education is Worth Higher Priority

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Feb. 7, 2013/Lansing State Journal

Don't let roads, other areas overshadow

Michigan has more to do to improve its higher education funding.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2014 budget proposal will give lawmakers plenty to chew over in weeks ahead. Several of his priority issues will be controversial, not least among them proposals to substantially increase gas taxes and registration fees to help raise some $1.2 billion needed for Michigan roads, an effort the editorial board has previously supported. Unfortunately, a critical area that deserves more attention will likely get too little: Restoring the still anemic funding for higher education

COMMENTARY — State Universities are More Vital Than Ever

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:32:12 +0000

January 28, 2013/Holland Sentinel

By Michael A. Boulus

Is there a higher education bubble in Michigan? The Mackinac Center recently suggested there is, and recommended Michigan scale back spending on higher education even further (state higher education support per student is down 48 percent in the last decade). Consider this: 62 percent of jobs in Michigan will require some form of post-secondary education or training by 2018, according to research by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Today, only 36 percent of Michigan residents have an associate’s degree or more; only 24 percent have a bachelor’s degree or more. We are in the bottom 15 of states in both measures. It’s the biggest reason that we are one of the poorest states in the nation.

University Research Corridor a Worthy Investment

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

February 4, 2013/Detroit News

By Lou Anna K. Simon, Mary Sue Coleman and Allan Gilmour

At a time when Michigan's leaders are working hard to guarantee they're getting the best return on the public's tax dollars, a recent study shows that Michigan's University Research Corridor (URC) is a good place to invest.

For every dollar the state invested in the three URC universities — Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University — it saw $17 in economic benefits in fiscal year 2010-11, according to the report by Anderson Economic Group in East Lansing. That added up to $15.5 billion in economic impact statewide

SVSU Moot Court Team Among Best in the Country

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 22, 2013/SVSU News

Two Saginaw Valley State University students proved themselves among the best undergraduates in the nation when it comes to arguing legal issues, advancing to the second day of the national moot court competition held in Virginia Beach, Va., Friday, Jan. 18, and Saturday, Jan. 19.

Michigan Research Corridor Generates Jobs and $15.5B in Economic Impact, Study Finds

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 23, 2013/Detroit Free Press

By David Jesse

Michigan's University Research Corridor generated more than $15.5 billion in economic impact across the state in 2011 and was responsible for more than 74,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to a report to be issued today.

The report said the growth in research spending in Michigan is outpacing such fabled university clusters such as North Carolina's Triangle Park, California's Innovation Hubs and Boston's Route 128 Corridor.

State Fails Higher Education Test

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 21, 2013/Detroit News

By Daniel Howes

The charts are sobering.

There, in stark type, stands a picture of Michigan that doesn't bode well for a state trying to break from the dysfunction of its past and embrace the promise of a growing, better-educated 21st-century future.

Between 2002 and 2012, state spending per student on higher education declined by 35 percent even as public spending per prisoner increased 42 percent, Business Leaders for Michigan said Monday. In 2002, Michigan spent $2 billion on higher ed and $1.7 billion on prisons. A decade later, the state spent $1.3 billion on public colleges and universities and $2 billion on prisons.

Putting College in Reach for Michigan Foster Children

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 17, 2013

By Chris Andrews/Bridge Magazine contributor

Young people who spend years in foster care, as she did, are unlikely to make it to college, let alone graduate. Jenks bounced from home to home, peninsula to peninsula, school to school, and relative to stranger. At one point, she thought a likely career option was stripper.

But she’s succeeding at Western, thanks to perhaps the most comprehensive program to support foster children in college in the nation. She expects to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work and ultimately get a PhD.

Doug Rothwell: Three Resolutions for an Improving Michigan

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 13, 2013/Detroit Free Press

By Doug Rothwell

January represents a time of resolve and optimism. It's a time to resolve to break bad habits, accomplish new goals, and change things for the better.

This year also brings an opportunity to renew how we look at our state. Big steps have been taken the last few years to revitalize and rebuild Michigan. We have broken many of the bad habits that led to Michigan's economic challenges by balancing our budgets and stopping the use of accounting gimmicks.

GVSU Internships, Other Field Placements up 40 percent, Says President

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 08, 2013/MLive

By Thomas J. Haas

For years, we’ve known that Michigan employers place a high value on internship and experiential learning. A recent survey of our state’s top companies shows that field experience may be among the best qualifications a prospective employee can bring to a job interview. At Grand Valley State University, we’ve helped more of our students to be ready for that important day; since 2005, field placements have grown by nearly 40 percent.

SVSU Festival to Bring in Visitors by the Thousands

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Jan 08, 2013/WNEM.Com

By Wesley Goheen

Saginaw Valley State University is welcoming 1,200 college students from across five states Tuesday as part of the Kennedy Center American College festival.

Aspiring playwrights and performers have the chance to advance to the national festival, April 15-21, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Detroit Economic Club's 2013 Michigan Economic Outlook: Retaining Talent, Improving Higher Ed Key to State's Success

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 8, 2013/Mlive

By David Muller

DETROIT, MI - Higher education was noted several times as key to developing a skilled and talented workforce in Michigan going forward at the Detroit Economic Club's 2013 Michigan Economic Outlook luncheon Tuesday.

Speakers Mike Finney, President and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Charles Ballard, a professor of economics at Michigan State University, stressed higher education as vital to building a strong economy in the state.

Michigan Economic Outlook Reveals Accomplishments, Challenges

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

January 8, 2013

By Matt Roush/CBS Detroit

ANN ARBOR — Michigan has plenty of room for new economic initiatives and leadership, according the results of the recently completed first annual Michigan Economic Outlook 2012 whose results were unveiled at the Economic Club of Detroit.

Conducted Nov. 12 to Dec. 7 by Baker Strategy Group and CFI Group of Ann Arbor, the survey had nearly 3,000 responses from 70 business, government and nonprofit organizations. Of the respondents, 87 percent or 2,611 are employed either full time or part-time and can be grouped in three sectors: business 60 percent, nonprofits 15 percent, and public 25 percent.

Eastern Michigan Partnership Offers Leading Software Tools for Michigan Students, Teachers to Access Real-World, Problem-Based Learning Activities

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

December 10, 2012/Eastern Michigan University News

by Pamela Young

YPSILANTI, MICH. - An exciting collaboration, that benefits ALL K-12 students, teachers and school administrators in the State of Michigan, provides a complete suite of geographic information systems (GIS) FREE to K-12 schools.

Chevy, Michigan Tech Reveal Cycle for Wounded Veterans

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

December 9, 2012/GM News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In advance of Saturday's 113th Army-Navy Game, Chevrolet and students from Michigan Technological University revealed a new hand cycle designed to make it easier for wounded veterans to compete in racing events, including marathons.

$1.28B: University of Michigan Top U.S. Public College in Research Spending

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

November 27, 2012/Ann Arbor.com

By Kellie Woodhouse

The Ann Arbor school spent $1.28 billion on research during the 2010-11 fiscal year, up 8 percent from the previous year, according to the NSF.

Because NSF and U-M use different accounting standards, their tallies for research spending vary slightly. U-M reported a $1.24 billion research enterprise in 2011- lower than that reported by the NSF.

SVSU Students Continue Model U.N. Success

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

November 26, 2012/SVSU News

Saginaw Valley State University is quickly gaining a reputation for success in the Model United Nations community, as two SVSU teams took top honors at the 2012 American Model U.N. Conference in Chicago Nov. 14-17. More than 1,500 students from 85 separate colleges and universities competed in the event.

Grand Valley’s Water Institute Gets Grant To Restore Parts Of Muskegon River

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

November 20, 2012/CBS Detroit

By Matt Roush

MUSKEGON — Researchers at Grand Valley State University’s Annis Water ResourcesInstitute have been awarded a grant for about $85,000 by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to help restore portions of the Muskegon River watershed.

The grant, given to AWRI as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, will allow AWRI researchers to create stewardship plans for sensitive areas included in a larger watershed restoration effort.

UM Startups Amaze As Tech Tour Continues

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 +0000

November 11, 2012/CBS News Detroit

By Matt Roush

ANN ARBOR — It’s like drinking from the proverbial fire hose.

When I’m on my Fall Tech Tour around Michigan and I ask university tech transfer officials to see their four or five coolest “science projects” that have economic development potential, they always say they have so many it’s a tough choice.

But try to imagine the tough choices faced by the University of Michigan, which has a research budget of a staggering $1.2 billion-plus a year, consistently among the top five in the nation. How the heck do you pick?

MSU: Spartans Shine To Wrap Up Tech Tour ’12

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

October 21, 2012/CBS Detroit

EAST LANSING — It’s a world-class research university, America’s pioneering land grant college, the first place on the planet to study agriculture scientifically, and just passed a little-known school called MIT for No. 1 in graduate studies of particle physics.

So while it may be a rebuilding year at Spartan Stadium on Saturday afternoons, Michigan State University is and always will be a must-visit as long as there are Great Lakes Innovation and Techology Report Fall Tech Tours.

Tech Tour Day Eight: Western’s Got Wings!

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

October 19, 2012/CBS Detroit

By Matt Rousch

KALAMAZOO — Okay, let’s start with full disclosure: My son, brother and two nephews went to Western Michigan University. So it’s hard for me to be entirely objective about the home of the Broncos.

But heck, even a Central Michigan Chippewa would be impressed by what I saw Thursday as the Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report’s 2012 Fall Tech Tour stopped in southwest Michigan.

Tech Tour Day Seven: Grand Tech At Grand Valley

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

October 17, 2012/CBS News Detroit

By Matt Rousch

GRAND RAPIDS — And the 2012 Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report Tech Tour winner for packing the most information into a 3 1/2-hour visit is…

Well, the Tech Tour still has two more stops, but it’s going to be hard to beat what I saw at Grand Valley State University’s Grand Rapids campus Wednesday morning.

The topics ran the gamut at this fast-growing state university, one of several state schools created in 1964, from the health of the Great Lakes and its fisheries to wind energy to app development to the incubation of some really interesting businesses.

Heck, they’re even keeping bees — for science.

My visit began with Richard Rediske, professor of water resources at Grand Valley’s Annis Water Resource Center in Muskegon.

Tech Tour Day Six: Ferris Tech Fantastic

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

October 16, 2012/CBS News Detroit

By: Matt Rousch

BIG RAPIDS — We’re a long way from the log cabins in which Ferris State University founder Woodbridge N. Ferris was born, way back in 1853.

But the university he and his wife Helen founded as the Big Rapids Industrial School in 1884 hasn’t really strayed all that far from its roots.

It’s still a place where you go to learn the science behind trades, from welding to plastic molding to rubber making to heating systems to construction.

But it’s also stayed with the times in fields like robotics and green technologies.

SVSU Receives Grant to Improve College Success of Foster Children

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

October 15, 2012/SVSU News

Saginaw Valley State University has received a multi-year grant from the State of Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services to aid former foster children who are currently enrolled at SVSU.

The $310,344 grant allows SVSU to provide support services over three years to eligible students who were part of the foster care system.

Tech Tour Day Two: Solar Power, Star Trek Replicators, New Drugs At Michigan Tech

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0000

October 14, 2012

By Matt Rousch

HOUGHTON — Solar power, Star Trek replicators, new antiviral drugs, more green energy, and a research showplace for the Great Lakes.

Yep, just another day at Michigan Technological University Friday as the Great Lakes Innovation and Technology Report 2012 Fall Tech Tour got into full swing.

The visit started with Joshua Pearce, associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, a passionate advocate and researcher in both advanced solar energy and so-called 3D printing.

It’s Never Too Early to Start College

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000

September 4, 2012/Bridge Magazine

Perhaps no stage of American public education is as freighted with tradition and collective memory as high school. Which is not exactly why David Dugger is tinkering with it, but it’s one reason.

“Our big failing as a public school system is not believing that high school kids are capable of higher-level academic work. In other countries, students are doing much higher-level work in high school,” said Dugger, director of the Early College Alliance at Eastern Michigan University, an effort to rethink the last years of public education in Michigan, at least for some students.

New Venture Business Training Class Free for Veterans at EMU Livonia

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

August 28, 2012/CBS Detroit

DETROIT — The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center and Eastern Michigan University said Monday they will offer a free New Venture program to veteran entrepreneurs starting Saturday, Oct. 13 at the EMU Livonia campus.

The New Venture class normally costs $700 per participant, but costs are being covered for veterans through a federal stimulus grant to Michigan State University.

Commentary: Oakland University is Helping Students Focus on the Finish Line

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

August 27, 2012/The Detroit News

By Gary Russi

It is well documented that obtaining a college degree is a critical investment for most people looking to succeed in life. On average, college graduates earn at least $30,000 more per year than high school graduates, and the return on investment is even higher for advanced degree holders.

None of this matters, however, if and when a student is unable to complete his or her college education.

The Good of Inefficient Universities

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 30, 2012/Michigan Future, Inc.

Higher education is being assaulted across the country, not just here in Michigan. We have been – to our detriment – cutting higher education funding longer and more than others. But now there is a nationwide campaign to question the value of higher education and particularly to attack public higher education. One part of that attack is that it is inefficient, not run like a business.

A recent Slate article is terrific in making the case that we don’t want our universities run like a business. That the so-called inefficiencies are at the core of what makes our universities so valuable. Before we get to the purported academic inefficiencies that the article is about I want to deal with financial management issues.

UM Fine-Tunes Cardiac Ablation For Better Results Against Arrhytmia

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 26, 2012/CBS Detroit

ANN ARBOR — University of Michigan heart researchers are shedding light on a safer method for steadying an abnormal heart rhythm that prevents collateral damage to healthy cells.

Irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, set the stage for a common, debilitating disorder called atrial fibrillation that puts adults as young as age 40 at risk for fatigue, fainting, cardiac arrest, and even death. Medications can help, but doctors also use catheter ablation, in which electrical impulses are delivered to a region of the heart to disrupt the arrhythmia.

Grand Valley Students Build Jeep For Disabled Girl

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 24, 2012/CBS Detroit

By Matt Roush

GRAND RAPIDS — When Grand Valley State University engineering students Phil DeJonge and Jake Hall enrolled in their product design class last fall, they didn’t expect to help change the life of 2-year-old Madison Riemersma. Madison has spina bifida, a condition that causes loss of function and sensation in the lower half of the body.

Lisa Kenyon, assistant professor of physical therapy, had been working with Madison and her family and asked students in Grand Valley’s School of Engineering to help.

Making the Case for Research Universities

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 19, 2012/Michigan Future, Inc.

Jim Duderstadt, President Emeritus of the University of Michigan, sent me the other day information on a report just released by the Committee on Research Universities of the National Research Council. Duderstadt is a member of the committee. The report and accompanying video are worth checking out. They can be found here.

As you know, Michigan Future has long believed that the state’s public higher education system – and particularly its research universities – are Michigan’s most valuable assets to the state’s future economic success. (I recently made that case again in a Detroit News op ed.)

A New Business Model for the University of Michigan

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 16, 2012/Holland Sentinel

By Phil Power

When it comes to college presidents, Mary Sue Coleman is a rock star. Since she took over as the University of Michigan’s 13th chief in 2002, she has been on a tear, successfully guiding the school to ever-increasing stature through very difficult times.

U-M has risen in reputation to No. 18 in the entire world, according to the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings. At the same time, the budget of the Ann Arbor campus has risen to $5.8 billion and its endowment to $7.8 billion — second highest of any public university in the nation. But right now, Michigan’s soft-spoken leader is worried, very worried.

Public Universities Under Attack

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 10, 2012/Holland Sentinel

Ann Arbor — There’s little doubt that our universities are among Michigan’s most valuable and important assets. But real alarm about public higher education is spreading throughout the country — and threatening profound consequences for our state and it colleges.

Take the case of Teresa Sullivan, a former provost at the University of Michigan and now president of the University of Virginia. On June 10, with no advance warning, she was forced to resign by the university’s board, which said she wasn’t making changes fast enough. The campus erupted in anger, and under pressure from the governor, Sullivan was quickly reinstated.

Michigan Tech, Central Michigan U Partner to Offer Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 12, 2012/MTU News

Michigan Technological University and Central Michigan University (CMU) are partnering to offer CMU’s doctorate of physical therapy program at Michigan Tech, to help meet a critical need for additional physical therapists in the Upper Peninsula.

Twelve students at Michigan Tech will be able to earn their doctorate through CMU’s doctor of physical therapy program. Central Michigan’s program is one of the top in the nation, with a 100 percent first-try passing rate on the mandatory national exam and 100 percent job placement of graduates.

Muskegon Community College Sets Up 'Reverse Transfer' Agreement with Grand Valley State University

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:00:00 +0000

July 10, 2012/The Muskegon Chronicle

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – The road from community college to university is now a two-way street.

Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas and Muskegon Community College President Dale Nesbary signed an agreement Monday afternoon that would allow students to transfer credits earned at GVSU back to MCC to count toward an associate's degree.

ACC, UM-Flint Ink Nursing Agreement

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 27, 2012/The Alpena News

ALPENA - Alpena Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint signed a nursing articulation agreement on Wednesday, allowing nursing students to complete a bachelor of science in nursing degree at ACC. The articulation agreement will provide a joint academic program, which enables ACC nursing program graduates to enroll in the UM-Flint nursing bachelor degree program, with classes offered at ACC in a mixed mode format, with online and on-campus courses.

"Our goal is to bring some classes for a bachelor of science in nursing to Alpena, student curriculum will be seamless and will prevent future redundancy. We want to get as many qualified nurses out there as we can," Margaret Andrews, director and professor of nursing at UM-Flint, said.

Partnership Provides Enhanced Opportunity For MSU Medical School

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 25, 2012/CBS Detroit

GRAND RAPIDS — The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Grand Valley State University have agreed to establish a cooperative program of premedical and medical education by which Grand Rapids Community College students who transfer as undergraduate premedical students to GVSU will have the opportunity to be granted an early assurance of admission to MSU’s med school.

The Early Assurance Program became official at an agreement signing ceremony held Monday at GRCC.

GRCC and GVSU Sign Agreement that Provides 'Enhanced Opportunity' for Medical School Admission

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 25, 2012/Grand Rapids Press

By Brian McVicar

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids Community College has signed an agreement that aims to make it easier for students who transfer to Grand Valley State University to attend medical school at Michigan State University, according to GRCC.

Going in the Wrong Direction on Research Universities

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 18, 2012/Michigan Future Inc.

Michigan spent most of the 20th century building a world class system of higher education – both universities and community colleges. That system is now at the top of the list of the assets Michigan has to grow its economy. It is vital to developing the concentration of talent we need to be successful in a knowledge-based economy. That is particularly true of our major research universities.

We can’t emphasize enough, in a knowledge-based economy, the strategic importance of our major research universities. One can make a strong case that the most productive state and local economic growth policies over the past several decades have been public investments in research universities in Austin, San Diego and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The payoff in each case has been huge.

The University as a Driver of Economic Growth

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 21, 2012/Huff Post

Recently, I spent a few days on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan attending the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference. The annual event brings together business, political and community leaders to talk about ways to grow Michigan's economy.

As a former (now twice-retired) Ford Motor Company vice chairman, such gatherings were a natural setting to talk about business and innovation. But when I became President of Wayne State University in the summer of 2010, I didn't think my attendance at the conference would be necessary.

UM-Dearborn and Schoolcraft Forge a ‘Reverse Transfer’ Agreement

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 18, 2012/University of Michigan - Dearborn News

Schoolcraft College and University of Michigan-Dearborn have forged a formal agreement to help students complete a “reverse transfer” associate degree while working on a bachelor’s degree.

The new reverse transfer agreement creates a process that allows students who transfer from Schoolcraft College to UM-Dearborn to be awarded an associate of arts or general studies associate degree with the help of credits earned at the university. Qualifying students must already have earned 40 credits at the community college prior to transfer. Most associate degrees require 60-72 credits for completion. Current estimates suggest that approximately 180 former Schoolcraft students currently studying at UM-Dearborn will meet the initial selection criteria for participation in this program.

Commentary: Michigan Pols Fail to Invest in Research Universities

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 15, 2012/The Detroit News

Michigan's public higher education system is one of the top assets Michigan has to grow its economy.

At Michigan Future Inc., the nonpartisan think tank I lead, we believe that investing in a quality, agile higher education system is economic development priority No. 1.

Business Leaders for Michigan, representing the CEOs of our state's largest businesses, also believes in the strategic importance of higher education, advocating for a $1 billion increase in annual state funding over the next 10 years.

Number of Coast Guard Students at LSSU Grows

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

June 12, 2012/LSSU News

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The number of U.S. Coast Guard personnel taking classes at Lake Superior State University has increased substantially in recent years thanks to an LSSU/USCG agreement that was re-established on June 12.

The memorandum of understanding between the two groups, which sets the rate for LSSU tuition the same as the Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Program for Coast Guard members and families, was first signed three years ago by LSSU President Tony McLain and former Sector Commander Capt. Mark Huebschman. Since then, nearly 60 Coast Guard students have taken more than 170 courses in various areas of study. The agreement was recently extended by McLain and Sector Sault Commander Capt. Joseph McGuiness.

Higher Education: Luxury or Imperative?

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 14, 2012/Michigan Future, Inc.

By Lou Glazer

For the past decade the state on a bi-partisan basis has disinvested in higher education without much debate. As we have argued for years this was a big mistake. In a world driven by globalization and technology, human capital is now the asset that matters the most to economic growth and prosperity. Quite simply the places with the greatest concentration of talent win!

Editorial: Maximum Interference, Minimum Support for Higher Ed

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Detroit Free Press/June 6, 2012

You'd never know that Michigan's universities have constitutionally guaranteed autonomy based on the way lawmakers are behaving. No nit is too small to pick if it sets off an itch in the Legislature.

In this year's budget bill, lawmakers have attached what appears to be a record number of strings and aspirations to university funding. And that's not even including the accountability hoops the Legislature and governor set up for universities to jump through in order to get more money than they did last year. The education budget bill got House approval last week, and moved through the Senate Tuesday morning.

Deal Links Community College Nursing Students with MSU

Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 24, 2012/MSU News

EAST LANSING, Mich. — A new agreement between Michigan State University's College of Nursing and Lansing and Macomb community colleges outlines a comprehensive strategy to advance nursing education by making it easier for community college students to take classes at MSU and graduate with a bachelor's degree.

The agreement offers concurrent enrollment and transfer admission from the community colleges' associate degree in nursing programs into MSU's online Bachelor of Science in nursing program for registered nurses, or RN to BSN program.

Entrepreneur 101: Michigan Universities Laying Ground for Entrepreneurism

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 14, 2012/MiBiz

WEST MICHIGAN — What a difference a decade makes.

Ten years ago Jeff Padden noticed that "there wasn't much to talk about" in terms of entrepreneurial activity on Michigan college campuses.

Today, a cultural shift is in full swing and all of Michigan's 15 public universities have in some form embedded entrepreneurism, both in academic programming and community outreach, as a core part of their mission, according to new survey data.

Study: More Michigan Universities Add Entrepreneur Classes, Clubs, Contests

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 4, 2012/Crain's Detroit Business

LANSING — Entrepreneurial degrees, classes, clubs and competitions are on the rise at all 15 Michigan public universities, a development that officials say bodes well for community and economic development, a survey has found.

"It's pretty phenomenal how much has begun happening in a short period of time," said Rob Fowler, CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan and chair of the entrepreneurship committee of the Michigan Sense of Place Council, which released the survey.

Digital Divas: EMU To Host Cybersecurity Workshop For Middle, High School Girls

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 17, 2012/CBS News Detroit

YPSILANTI — Do you mind the gap?

The Information Assurance Program at Eastern Michigan University does.

The gap, in this case, is a career gap. It is the low ratio — 12 percent — of women making up the work force in the many available careers in IT, information assurance and cybersecurity.

Tech Tour Day Two: High Tech’s Growing In The Soo

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 13/CBS Detroit

SAULT STE. MARIE — Michigan’s oldest city dates back to the 1660s. Its most famous feature, locks that get freighters around treacherous rapids between Lake Superior and the Lake Michigan-Huron system, date back to the 1850s.

But stay tuned. Sault Ste. Marie, the Rapids of St. Mary, might just be famous for something else pretty soon, something at the farthest reaches of technology.

OUR VIEW — Restore Public Funding of Public Universities

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 10, 2012/Holland Sentinel

Sentinel editorial board

Holland — The key driver of economic development in the world today is human capital. In a “flat” world where production can be shipped almost anywhere, education is the factor that gives one geographic area a long-term advantage over another. The availability of a well-educated workforce is the reason technology companies still congregate in places such as Massachusetts and California, states whose tax rates and high cost of living would otherwise make them uncompetitive.

Editorial: Michigan Revival Demands Investment in Higher Ed

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 7, 2012/The Detroit News

Business leaders urge improvement in university funding as a priority for budget makers

Recovery from Michigan's Lost Decade is well under way, but the road remains long and uncertain. It will be many years before the state can restore all of the critical investments that were hacked away without much strategic consideration during the bloody budget cutting frenzy.

But as revenue returns, higher education should be at or near the top of the priority list.

LSSU, Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation Break Ground on Entrepreneurial Center

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

April 24, 2012/LSSU News

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University and the City of Sault Ste. Marie's Economic Development Corporation broke ground April 24 on a building that will house fledgling industries and will serve as a center point for the Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone that was established in 2008.

Known as a "breeder building," the facility provides start-up space to help entrepreneurs learn about and select manufacturing methods and business methods appropriate for their ventures, and to build initial production runs in preparation for moving into a facility such as the EDC's Industrial Incubator, which houses new businesses as they get a foothold in the community.

CMU Research Corp., Mt. Pleasant Chamber Launch Startup Support Program

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

May 2, 2012/CBS Detroit

MT. PLEASANT — The Central Michigan University Research Corp. and the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce announced a partnership called the Prelaunch Passport Program to provide local resources such as accounting services and marketing consulting to startup businesses.

Already, nearly 20 CMU-RC clients are enrolled in the program.

“The Prelaunch Passport Program is aimed at stimulating the local business community and fostering an environment to help new ventures plant roots in the community,” said Erin Strang, president and CEO of CMU-RC.

Stephen Henderson: Higher Ed Cuts Shortchange Michigan's Future

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

April 29, 2012/Detroit Free Press

To get through the University of Michigan in the early 1990s, my wife worked three jobs and took the maximum class load so she could graduate in three years. She did everything she could to come up with the $8,000 she needed each year for tuition, room and board and books.

It wasn't easy, even back then. But if she were a student today, Michigan -- where students now need about $25,000 each year to attend -- would probably be out of the question. The only way she could possibly swing it would be with massive loans that would have saddled her, and eventually me, with a staggering long-term debt.

Former Foster Youth First to Graduate from Tuition-Free College Program

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

April 26, 2012/Detroit Free Press

When Heather Nichols strolls across the stage Saturday at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium, the former foster youth will be handed more than her bachelor's degree.

Nichols will get the distinction of being the first four-year graduate of a groundbreaking program that sends foster youth to college tuition-free -- one that was hatched on a "crazy idea," and fueled by human kindness and incredible timing.

SVSU and MSU Sign Agreement for Students in Agriculture and Natural Resources

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:44:12 +0000

April 25, 2012/SVSU News

Saginaw Valley State University and Michigan State University have reached a new agreement to provide students with more opportunities in the growing fields of agriculture and natural resources.

The Memorandum of Understanding between MSU's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and SVSU's colleges of Science, Engineering and Technology, Education, and Business and Management will increase access for students to these educational programs. It will be signed Wednesday, April 25 by officials from both universities.

OU School of Nursing Joins National Effort to Meet Veterans' Needs

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

April 18, 2012/Oakland University News

The Oakland University School of Nursing is supporting a national initiative to enhance nursing instruction in ways that will better serve U.S. military veterans and military families dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, depression and other combat-related issues.

Kerri Schuiling, dean of the School of Nursing, said OU will join First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and hundreds of nursing organizations and institutions in fully preparing nurses to meet the unique health needs of veterans facing these challenges.

Editorial: Michigan Universities Deserve Better from Snyder, Lawmakers

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

April 15, 2012/Detroit Free Press

Shame on Gov. Rick Snyder and lawmakers for the way they're treating Michigan's universities.

After cutting university budgets by 15% for the current fiscal year, Lansing's elected officials plan to add back only 3% to university funding -- and to make universities perform to various benchmarks to get it.

MSU's Ag Expertise Should Go Urban

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

April 17, 2012/LSJ

A proposal from Michigan State University to build an urban agriculture research center in Detroit has great potential.

Universities can offer practical solutions to everyday problems. They are not segregated from the world around them.

A new example of a challenge and the problem solvers eager to tackle it can be found in a proposal from Michigan State University, which hopes to develop a center for urban agriculture in Detroit.

Going Backward Faster on Higher Education

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

April 1, 2012/Michigan Future, Inc.

By Lou Glazer

In our 2006 A New Agenda for a New Michigan report we wrote: “As we assess the assets Michigan has to prepare, retain, and attract talent, our higher education system rises to the top of the list. Michigan has spent decades building a world-class system of higher education, both universities and community colleges. They are arguably the most important assets we have in developing the concentration of talent we need to be successful in a knowledge-based economy. That is particularly true of our major research universities. Higher education’s importance in preparing talent for a knowledge economy is clear. But it also is one of the most important assets—if not the most important—in retaining and attracting talent. Our universities, particularly the research universities, are among the few enterprises in the state that attract talent from around the world: students, faculty, and researchers. So the single most important thing policy makers can do for the future economic success of Michigan and its regions is to ensure the long-term success of a vibrant and agile higher education system.”

Why GVSU President Says You Should Care ABout Michigan's Support of Funding Higher Education

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 29, 2012/The Grand Rapids PRess

By Thomas J. Haas

ALLENDALE, MI — In the next 60 days, the state legislature and governor will complete work on the higher education budget for 2012-13.

This is no routine task. Every Michigan resident has a stake in the outcome.

For decades, Michigan was a Top-10 state in its support of public higher education. Today, we’re a Bottom-10 state, owing largely to the state’s economic difficulties.

Michigan has no future as a Bottom-10 state — a point clearly made by Douglas Rothwell, president of Business Leaders for Michigan, in an important address in Grand Rapids last week.

Is the GOP Trying to Kill Higher Education and Michigan's Economic Future?

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 29, 2012/Mlive.com

A reasonable person might come to the conclusion that Michigan's Republican-led Legislature is on a mission to kill higher education in our great state.

Sadly, this is not the hyperbole of an overworked columnist.

It was bad enough when Gov. Rick Snyder, a product of three degrees at the University of Michigan, last year proposed a 15-percent cut to state aid for the state's 15 public universities -- and GOP lawmakers couldn't sign off fast enough.

New Report Reveals TechTown’s Economic Impact On Detroit

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 26, 2012/CBS News Detroit

DETROIT — TechTown, Wayne State University’s business incubator and research park, continues to play an important role in Detroit’s economic revitalization, according to a new report issued by the organization this month.

The “impact report” highlights milestone achievements in entrepreneurship and economic activity between 2007 and 2011 in and around the City of Detroit.

TechTown currently supports 250 companies in industries ranging from the life sciences and advanced manufacturing to the arts and alternative energy through its 100,000 square-foot facility.

Commentary: College Funding Key to Future

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 22, 2012/Detroit News

By Glenn D. Mroz

Twenty years ago, I listened as former Michigan Technological University President Dale Stein adroitly pointed out a likely outcome of a key state investment priority — if you don't like the cost of education you surely aren't going to like the cost of ignorance.

I recently represented Michigan's university presidents in a joint presentation with Business Leaders for Michigan in delivering that same message to the Michigan Senate Higher Appropriations committee.

As the BLM leaders — who represent companies accounting for more than a trillion dollars in sales and a quarter of Michigan's gross domestic product — noted, we have shifted our state priorities over the last decade from higher education to locking up criminals.

Colleges: International Students Key to Michigan’s Economic Growth

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 21, 2012/CBS News Detroit

DETROIT — Fast-paced economic growth in the health care, computer and engineering sectors, coupled with a shortage of domestic students graduating with degrees in the high-demand science, technology, engineering and math fields, has created a significant percentage of jobs in Michigan that employers are unable to fill, threatening further economic growth and their ability to compete.

The Global Talent Retention Initiative of Southeast Michigan, funded by the New Economy Initiative, is working to help fill that gap.

“Employers need help fast filling these jobs or they stand to lose billions of dollars in new business,” said Athena Trentin, GTRI program director with the University Research Corridor, the joint effort of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.

MSU Named to 2012 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 21, 2012/MLive

EAST LANSING -- Michigan State University has received national recognition for its commitment to community service.

The university has been named to the 2012 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The distinction is the highest federal recognition available to colleges and universities for volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

MSU is the only Michigan institution named to the list with distinction. Nationally, 110 colleges and universities earned that recognition.

Phil Power: Officials Can be Worlds Apart on education priorities

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 22, 2012/LivingstonDaily.com

For years, physicists and science-fiction writers have speculated about whether parallel universes might exist alongside our own. I'm certainly not qualified to get into the domain of theoretical physics, but I can testify that when it comes to higher education, there are parallel universes existing right here in Michigan:

Universe One has to do with the worldwide ranking of the University of Michigan. Sure, we all know it's a wonderful place — but we may not realize exactly how wonderful. Last week, the respected Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings report moved U-M up a slot, to the 12th-best university in the world.

SVSU-Delta Watershed Research Project Cited as National Model

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:49:00 +0000

March 15, 2012/SVSU News

Students and faculty from Saginaw Valley State University and Delta College have spent the past year working together to improve the water quality of the Saginaw Bay Watershed, the largest watershed in Michigan. At The National Center for Science and Civic Engagement Symposium and Capitol Hill Poster Session in Washington, DC Tuesday, March 13, their joint efforts were cited as a premier example for similar partnerships throughout the Great Lakes states and nationwide.

Michigan College Students Facing $4.2 Million in Federal Aid Cuts as Penalty for State Aid Decreases

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 14, 2012/Mlive

LANSING – State university leaders are upset their federal assistance is being cut by $4.2 million, placing blame on a Legislature responsible for a “dark decade of disinvestment” in the 15 public universities.

Michigan and Alabama are being singled out by President Obama for cutting support to universities, saying the states did not comply with a federal rule requiring them to provide consistent funding.

Increase State's Higher Ed Investment

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 14, 2012/Lansing State Journal

Michigan's deep cuts endanger its economy

Some would argue that economic difficulties have given business interests an open pass to changing state policies to their advantage. They’d put last year’s revamp of the tax code atop that list.

But here’s what some of the state’s most prominent business leaders want now, and it may surprise plenty of lawmakers and a fair share of state residents: more investment in higher education.

MSU Graduate-Level Education Programs Rated Best in Nation for 18th Straight Year by U.S. News & World Report

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 13, 2012/Mlive.com

EAST LANSING -- Several of Michigan State University's graduate programs are ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools list.

Elementary and secondary education programs in the university's College of Education were ranked No. 1 for the 18th consecutive year by the magazine's 2013 installment.

Working for the Common Good: Public Universities to Showcase Community Partnerships and Economic Development Initiatives

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

March 06, 2012/The Grand Rapids Press

Fritz Erickson, Ferris State University’s provost, likes to joke that he could spend hours talking about an initiative at Ferris that aims to get Hispanic students from West Michigan to go to college.

Today, as he speaks with the public and members of the Michigan Legislature, he’ll face a much smaller timeframe: three minutes.

He’s among the representatives of Michigan’s 15 public universities participating in an event at the state Capitol – sponsored by the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan – highlighting the work the schools do to help boost the state’s economy through community partnerships.

A New Detroit Turnaround Plan: Wayne State’s

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:05:09 +0000

February 28, 2012/Bridge Magazine

After spending most of his career as an executive at Ford Motor Co., Wayne State President Allan Gilmour knows plenty about retooling. Taking a redesigned car from the drawing board to the showroom can take three or four years.

Building a successful student retention program could take longer.

From free housing for the summer to tougher admission standards, Wayne State is pulling out all the stops to improve its dismal graduation rate for African-American student

EMU Business Student Grows Web Consulting Business While Still Taking Classes

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

February 26, 2012/AnnArbor.com

Starting a successful business, turning a profit within a year and earning enough money to establish a scholarship at your alma mater are rare enough accomplishments for alumni of a college of business, but they’re even more unusual for a student who hasn’t yet received a diploma.

However, one Eastern Michigan University College of Business student, Kentaro Roy, has done just that.

Spend Budget Surplus on College Education

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Monday, February 20, 2012/The Macomb Daily

The state of Michigan’s economic automotive-inspired economic recovery has left the state gov ernment with a budget surplus estimated at $457 million. After a decade of austerity, the surplus is a most welcomed development, and the clamor about how to spend it is steadily rising.

Certainly, after decades where school budgets were cut and squeezed, Gov. Rick Snyder’s suggestion is a sound one.

Squeeze More Dollars for Michigan's Colleges

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

February 20, 2012/The Detroit News

Cutting spending elsewhere to restore university funding would make state more competitive

Top corporate executives are making a strong case that Michigan's public universities and community colleges can be key drivers of economic growth if lawmakers and Gov. Rick Snyder can find a way to significantly increase the government's investment in higher education over the next decade.

Business Leaders for Michigan estimates that Michigan needs an additional 1.3 million college graduates to meet the work force demand expected in 2025, and accordingly should bolster funding of higher education by $1 billion over the next 10 years. University presidents are proposing to add an array of performance metrics to those proposed by Snyder so elected officials can make sure the state's investment will be well-spent.

U-M to Lead Michigan University Technology Commercialization Initiative

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

February 21, 2012/Ann Arbor.com

The University of Michigan's Technology Transfer Office served as the model for a new initiative with six other Michigan public universities to accelerate technology commercialization by connecting entrepreneurs and experts to ideas and intellectual property.

With a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., U-M formed a $2.4 million program called the Tech Transfer Talent Network. Other members of the initiative are Wayne State University, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and Oakland University.

Michigan Tech Offers New Tactic In ‘War For Talent’

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

February 21, 2012/CBS Detroit

HOUGHTON — The term ‘War for Talent,’ coined in the tech boom of the 1990s, has resurfaced because a recovering knowledge-based economy has created an urgency for talent in technology fields.

One of the fiercest battlefields in this war, as it turns out, is 550 miles northwest of Detroit in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan — Michigan Technological University.

This year, more than 800 Michigan Tech will graduate with skills uniquely attractive to companies because they have already acquired significant hands-on lab and “real-world” project experience.