This Week in Michigan Public Higher Education News

March 26, 2021

MASU has published an updated-as-needed tracker of university operating statuses here: Operational Status of Michigan Public Universities in Response to COVID-19

MASU Commentaries

Vouchers are a good model for state financial aid, not institutional operating support

Bob Murphy, OPtimizing EDucation (Mar. 26)

In the News

Academic Operations

NMU and Michigan Tech plan limited pre-pandemic practices for the fall semester

WLUC TV (Mar. 19)

'What's going to happen to me?' Reflecting on a pandemic college year, through the words of student newspapers [UM]

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 20)

Winter 2021 grads to walk in-person [SVSU]

The Valley Vanguard (Mar. 21)

Western Michigan plans ‘near-normal’ fall semester with in-person classes [GVSU, UM]

MLive (Mar. 23)

WMU returning to ‘near-normal' operations in the fall, aiming for ‘herd immunity’

Western Herald (Mar. 23)

Wayne State joins parade of universities headed back to near normal in fall [MSU, OU, UM]

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 23)

President Wilson announces WSU planning for in-person fall 2021 semester

The South End (Mar. 23)

WMU President says fall semester will be “near-normal” when students return

WKZO FM (Mar. 23)

Wayne State announces plan for fall classes [MSU, OU, UM]

The Detroit News (Mar. 23)

One year later: Faculty members discuss struggles, advantages of virtual learning [CMU]

Central Michigan Life (Mar. 23)

WMU to offer 75% in-person classes for upcoming fall semester

WWMT TV (Mar. 24)

Majority of WMU classes planned to be in person this July

WOOD TV (Mar. 24)

University of Michigan grads can experience virtual commencement ceremony at Big House

MLive (Mar. 26)

Collaboration

It's about to get easier to transfer to MSU from LCC

Lansing State Journal (Mar. 24)

MSU and LCC partnering to improve access to higher education, strengthen transfer process

WILX TV (Mar. 24)

MSU and LCC form partnership to improve access to higher education, strengthen transfer process

WKAR TV (Mar. 24)

Educational Attainment

Mid-Michigan congressman introducing bill helping foster and homeless youth complete college [UM-F]

WJRT TV (Mar. 18)

Enrollment

As COVID spread, far fewer Michigan high school grads enrolled in college

Bridge (Mar. 22)

Facilities Planning & Campus Improvement

EMU College of Engineering and Technology renamed after alumni group GameAbove

The Eastern Echo (Mar. 18)

For the first time, UM names academic building after a woman

The Detroit News (Mar. 25)

University of Michigan names building after former school president Mary Sue Coleman

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 26)

Governance & Speech

WMU condemns discrimination against individuals of Asian descent

Western Herald (Mar. 21)

Regents, Schlissel have busy March meeting covering fossil fuel disinvestment, graduation options, LEO contract negotiations [UM-D, UM-F]

The Michigan Daily (Mar. 25)

Gov. Whitmer retries 17 appointments to state agencies that Senate previously blocked [GVSU, MTU, NMU]

MLive (Mar. 25)

100-plus march through Eastern Michigan University campus following Title IX lawsuit

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 25)

Michigan GOP chair quips on video about assassination, 'three witches' [UM]

The Detroit News (Mar. 26)

Higher Education Finance – Federal Funding & Financial Aid

$1.6M for water infrastructure projects coming to University of Michigan

MLive (Mar. 25)

Higher Education Finance — Institutional Dynamics

Campus labor leaders discuss budgeting for the University endowment at People’s Regents Meeting [UM]

The Michigan Daily (Mar. 22)

How coaching salaries, COVID-19 led to MSU Athletics' first budget deficit since 2014

Lansing State Journal (Mar. 25)

U-M disinvests in fossil fuel as part of goal to have net zero carbon investment portfolio

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 25)

UM shifts investment strategy amid global warming, pledges to become carbon neutral

The Detroit News (Mar. 25)

UM leaders: No more fossil fuel investments

Crain’s Detroit Business (Mar. 25)

Higher Education Finance — State Capital Outlay

Ferris State approves $29.5 million Center for Virtual Learning

Grand Rapids Business Journal (Mar. 22)

Higher Education Finance — State Operating Support

Central Michigan University Asking For Change In Appropriations

WSJM FM (Mar. 25)

Institutional Leadership

MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. joins Task Force on Higher Education and Opportunity

The State News (Mar. 18)

GV representatives testify in Lansing on school’s behalf

Grand Valley Lanthorn (Mar. 22)

Jane Briggs-Bunting, professor who taught students 'responsibility we carried as journalists' [MSU, OU]

The Detroit News (Mar. 24)

What is the media's role in democracy? GVSU roundtable explores premise in insurrection's aftermath

The Holland Sentinel (Mar. 25)

Labor Relations

U-M staff start petition to be included in University well-being break

The Michigan Daily (Mar. 22)

Leadership Transitions

Search for new NMU provost officially begins

WNMU FM (Mar. 23)

Philanthropic Support

UM Depression Center to be renamed after Eisenbergs gift $30 million

Crain’s Detroit Business (Mar. 25)

Program Delivery

WMU Board of Trustees removes major and minor, sets 2022 meeting dates

Western Herald (Mar. 19)

GV Board of Trustees approves recreational therapy master’s program

Grand Valley Lanthorn (Mar. 22)

Newly designed MBA program allows for in-person or virtual learning [WMU]

WXMI TV (Mar. 22)

Public Health

Lake Superior State University Hosts Largest Vaccination Clinic in the Eastern U.P.

WWTV TV (Mar. 19)

CMU brings vaccinations to rural communities

WILX TV (Mar. 24)

Central Michigan University helps administers COVID-19 vaccine to rural communities

WPBN TV (Mar. 24)

Recognitions & Awards

Military Affairs receives ‘military friendly’ award [SVSU]

The Valley Vanguard (Mar. 21)

GV named voter-friendly campus

Grand Valley Lanthorn (Mar. 22)

Safety & Health

WMU conducting COVID-19 testing event, urging students to get tested before break

Western Herald (Mar. 19)

Mental health center to open in the fall [SVSU]

The Valley Vanguard (Mar. 21)

Following case uptick, GV encourages students to get vaccinated when eligible

Grand Valley Lanthorn (Mar. 22)

Central Michigan University reports uptick in COVID-19 cases among students

WJRT TV (Mar. 23)

NMU cancels classes for a student ‘wellness day’

WLUC TV (Mar. 24)

Student Success

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine holds virtual Match Day ceremony

WDIV TV (Mar. 19)

Match Day 2021 - School of Medicine - Wayne State University

The South End (Mar. 22)

University Accountability

East Lansing City Council calls on MSU to release documents in Larry Nassar investigation

Lansing State Journal (Mar. 23)

Lawsuit: Eastern Michigan University ‘turned a blind eye’ to reports of sexual assault

WDIV TV (Mar. 24)

11 women file lawsuit against EMU, saying it mishandled sex assault claims for years

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 24)

EMU officials covered up dozens of 'brutal rapes,' lawsuit alleges [MSU]

The Detroit News (Mar. 24)

Lawsuit takes aim at Eastern Michigan Title IX; former director rejects claim [MSU, UM]

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 25)

Michigan lawmakers to MSU: Release Larry Nassar-related documents to Attorney General’s office

MLive (Mar. 25)

CMU suspends 2 employees over links to Lansing political consultant T.J. Bucholz

Detroit Free Press (Mar. 25)

Pressure increasing on MSU to release 6,000 documents related to Nassar

The Detroit News (Mar. 25)

CMU launches investigation into staff reportedly linked to TJ Bucholz allegations

WILX TV (Mar. 25)

Workforce Alignment

MSU joins collaboration to provide free professional development to teachers

WLNS TV (Mar. 19)

Commentaries

NMU could lead region, state on carbon neutral plan

The Mining Journal (Mar. 22)

Our community college completion challenge

Michigan Future (Mar. 23)

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