Western Student Association leadership welcomed federal, state and local elected officials
back to campus for the group's 5th annual Dinner with the Delegates.
|
|
New formula for higher ed funding proposed in state budget process
Spring has officially sprung and accordingly, the Michigan Legislature has begun its work on presenting a balanced state budget to Governor Gretchen Whitmer by summer.
Two very different proposals to provide funding for higher education have been introduced in each chamber, setting the stage for potentially prolonged negotiation. While the senate provided a budget with very few substantial changes from the current year, the house proposed a complete shift in how institutions are funded. The allocation of funds as proposed by the house would be based on the number of in-state undergraduate students at each university. See the table below, which highlights the basic recommendations of each legislative branch as it applies to WMU.
Further complicating these varying funding approaches is a requirement from the federal government that states must fund K-12 and higher education at the average level of the last three years or risk losing a portion of their full federal stimulus appropriation.
WMU is working closely with our legislators to provide critical input as negotiations among the three branches continue.
FY 2021-22 Michigan higher education funding proposals
|
|
Executive
- 2% increase of one-time funding for all universities across the board
- Tuition restraint of 4.2% or $590
|
|
House
-
Begins phase in of funding based on in-state enrollment
- 3% decrease for WMU in funding
- No tuition restraint
|
|
Senate
- Flat budget--no increase
- Tuition restraint of 4.2%
|
|
APLU: American Families Plan could do more to support university students
In advance of President Joe Biden’s address to Congress April 28, the White House released the second component of its recovery/infrastructure proposal, the American Families Plan.
The AFP proposal includes a $1,400 increase in the maximum Pell Grant "as a down payment on President Biden’s commitment to double the maximum award.” The proposal also includes a federal-state partnership to achieve free community college and $62 billion to support college completion and student success initiatives.
“While these investments deserve much praise, the plan is unfortunately incomplete in our view as it does not provide a broad strategy to increase access and affordability for public four-year university students," said Association of Public and Land-grant Universities President Peter McPherson in an April 28 press release. "We strongly believe a federal-state partnership that provides free community college should, at a minimum, provide equivalent support to students attending public four-year institutions."
Please consider contacting your congressional leaders to encourage them to include all public institutions in the AFP.
|
|
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer tours expanded aviation college |
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer toured the newly expanded College of Aviation in February to learn more about the University's internationally renowned aviation program. Meijer represents Calhoun County and the rest of Michigan's 3rd District in the U.S. House.
Capt. Dave Powell, dean of the college, hosted the tour of the college's new 67,000-square-foot instructional facility just coming online. It expanded the college's number of classrooms from four to 10 and increased instruction and research capability to help meet projected demand for more than 500,000 new pilots by the 2030s.
Two aviation students, Brian Orent and Emma Anderson, met with Meijer to share their perspectives on how the college has prepared them to excel in their future careers.
|
|
A lesson in advocating for environmental policy
From drinking water and air quality to renewable energy, environmental policy decisions impact every facet of our lives. Instead of just learning about the impacts, a group of WMU students got the opportunity to urge lawmakers to take action through an environmental policy and politics class taught by Dr. Denise Keele.
"It was an experience I've never had before," says Mitchell Denolf, a senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan, studying integrated supply management. "I've been to some town council meetings when I was younger but never had the opportunity to actually have that back-and-forth discussion with a representative myself."
We appreciate our Michigan legislators for participating in this 90-minute Zoom discussion: Senators John Bizon, Winnie Brinks, Jeff Erwin, Dan Lauwers, and Sean McCann; Representatives Christine Morse, Julie Rogers, Mary Whiteford, Kelly Breen, Jim Haadsma, Matt Koleszar; Tim Langholz representing Sen. Tom Barrett; and, Amber Vrooman representing Sen. Roger Victory.
|
|
WSA leaders host legislators on campus for fifth year
The Western Student Association in collaboration with the Office of Government Relations hosted a Dinner with the Delegates on March 19 to provide WSA leadership an opportunity to meet and interact with federal, state and local elected officials.
|
|
Congratulations to 2005 alum Tristan Brown,
who was recently appointed acting administrator
of the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Brown reports to Secretary of Transportation
Pete Buttigieg.
|
|
Michigan Sen. Sean McCann, is the 2021 recipient of the Michigan Economic Developers Association Legislative Champion Award. McCann’s nomination came because of his "tireless" advocacy for historic preservation and leadership in restoring Michigan’s Historic Tax Credit. MEDA press release.
|
|
New connection hub for corporate partners
The University is committed to partnering with our community to blur the lines between the classroom and the workplace and provide mutually beneficial partnerships. Businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, neighborhoods—Western appreciates the opportunity to have a meaningful connection with all. Join us, and see what Broncos can do! Connect at:
|
|
University census efforts lauded |
The United States Census Bureau recently recognized the University as an invaluable member of the 2020 Census Community Partnership and Engagement Program.
A very special thanks to all of our campus partners for promoting participation in the 2020 Census!
With your support and outreach to students, faculty and staff, our region exceeded the national self-response rate of 65% and had the highest self-response rate among all regions: 69.8%.
Way to go, Broncos!
|
|
|
Together we elevated the power of giving! |
|
The Western Michigan University Office of Government Relations will ethically
operate with transparency, civility, bipartisanship and inclusivity to support public
higher education. We advocate for and advance public policy and partnerships
benefiting Western Michigan University and the communities we serve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
