JMC News: Letter from the Dean

Let your legislators know that you support higher education funding in Michigan

Dear Friends of MSU and James Madison College:

We write today to ask for your help in reversing a very troubling trend in the state of Michigan. During the last few decades Michigan has gone from a state that valued and supported higher education, and treated it as a “public good”, to a state where higher education is considered a luxury undeserving of strong state support. 

In 1972 the State of Michigan, through state subsides, funded 75% of the costs of educating a student at MSU. By last year this percentage dropped to approximately 45%, with threats of additional cuts for the foreseeable future.

Along with driving students' costs up, the long-term disinvestment the state has made in higher education has serious implications for Michigan's future. As the Lt. Governor's Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth affirmed, Michigan's ability to grow out of this economic downturn, and flourish in the future depends on an educated workforce and the development of “talent centers” around research universities. 

We cannot and will not be competitive with other states if we do not invest in higher education to a greater extent than we have. Comparison with other states show this clearly; states who lead in educational attainment have 33% of adults with a baccalaureate degree or higher, while this figure in Michigan is only 22%. We must do better.

We ask that you join with us, and other leaders of Michigan's public universities, in signaling that you do not support this continuing disinvestment in our future. Please sign the enclosed on-line petition, which will be sent to your legislators, legislative leadership, and the Governor, urging them to invest in our future by reversing the trend of cutting higher education.

Sincerely,

Sherman W. Garnett
Dean, James Madison College

The State of Michigan has systematically reduced its support for higher education over the last thirty years putting Michigan's economic recovery and future in jeopardy. Sign our petition to the Michigan legislature urging that the state stop its disinvestment in higher education and our future.

http://spartanadvocates.msu.edu/campaign/budget_petition