I heard this story on WEMU this morning, but I couldn’t find a link on their web site. So from annarbor.com comes “University of Michigan says Snyder ‘moving in right direction’ by proposing 2% increase for higher ed.” It’s good news generally, though as the article points out, this comes on the heels of a 15% cut a couple years before. Here’s a quote from Susan Martin in the piece:
“We applaud initiatives that recognize the importance of higher education in helping to prepare our state’s workforce to meet the needs of evolving industries and technologies,” Martin said. “There is a direct correlation between a state’s investment in higher education and economic growth.”
I remember a similar promise made by a governor from the other side of the aisle as the current governor, but that promise of increased funding was later revoked even after schools held their side of the bargain and kept tuition increases under 4%. The state (especially Republicans) abandoned public higher ed more than a decade ago, so schools should move along as if no funding was coming, since soon enough it will be true.