Will there be an increase in university funding in Michigan?

By: Amanda Crabtree

The process is long and hard, but Michigan lawmakers are trying to increase state funding for our 15 public universities.

In order for this to happen, a number of steps must be taken, according to Steve Smith, director of media relations at Central Michigan University.

First, the Governor has to make a proposal. Then, the senate has to make and pass a proposal, and then the house has to do the same. It is then negotiated and a bill may be passed, but it may not be as well.

The Michigan Senate has passed a plan to increase the funding to all 15 universities equally, according to the Associated Press.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm believes the increase should be based on factors, such as amount of research done at the university and amount of graduates. This would give certain schools more than a 6 percent increase than other schools.

CMU is sitting back, watching and waiting for the outcome from Lansing, Smith said.

“It is too early to speculate government funding” Smith said. Historically universities do not find out how much they receive until late fall, or even the end of the year.

The fiscal year for CMU is July 1 through June 30, the State of Michigan’s is from Oct. 1 through the end of September. They are out of sync, therefore the budgets do not come from Lansing in time for CMU to depend on an increase in funding.