Michigan university presidents to meet with Gov. Rick Snyder
Like other public institutions across Michigan, leaders at Eastern Michigan University say they're curious to see what the new administration in Lansing will signal for the state dollars that flow their way.
EMU President Susan Martin is hoping she’ll get a hint Wednesday when she, along with the presidents of Michigan’s other universities, meet with Gov. Rick Snyder and his budget director.
EMU President Susan Martin
Martin told a lunchtime crowd of students and faculty in EMU’s Student Center today that working with a new crop of state leaders and within the state’s budget constraints is the biggest challenge the university is facing
“Our immediate concern is the new normal that says you’re going to have to do more with less,” Martin said. “We’re not sure how much less we will have.”
Martin made a brief opening statement and then took questions for about 30 minutes while students and staff milled about a large food court area.
Students asked about issues ranging from financial aid to bus service between the main campus and the downtown Ypsilanti campus.
Among Martin’s comments:
- Applications for the incoming freshman class are up 34 percent compared to last year, with 9,195 so far this year compared to 6,800 last year.
- Enrollment for the winter term is up 2.2 percent. The retention rate from the fall semester to the winter term is 77 percent, the highest retention rate since 1992.
- The university has no plans to build another parking structure, but could look at shuttles from Rynearson Stadium if parking spots remain hard to find on campus.
- A bill to let community colleges award four-year degrees is likely to be reintroduced in the state Legislature. Martin opposes the bill because she feels it will turn those colleges into four-year colleges. She said the state can’t afford to fund the existing four-year colleges, much less add more.
David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
Susan
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 11:54 a.m.
Solve parking: The idea of bussing staff and faculty deserves another look. Their schedules are reasonably predictable, aren't they? And, of course, it's the highest-paid people who currently have *reserved* spaces right outside their building doors, so they don't have to deal with FINDING PARKING. It's easy to talk about what students should do when you're getting paid a hefty wage to nestle your car up against your building every day. Let the president take a bus from her house, and give her parking spot to a student. Then we can talk seriously about parking.
Cash
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 5:41 a.m.
Well folks, when will EMU stop allowing faculty and staff to park on campus and start busing THEM from Rynearson? That's the real answer. Employees, who are PAID to be there, can take a shuttle to work. Why won't it happen? Then the students who PAY to go to school, would have spaces to park in, ON campus.
Tyler
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 11 p.m.
Violent crime occurs all around EMU campus and the intellect they hired as president feels that students should sit around like targets waiting for a bus? Yes, a sincere lack of compassion exists coupled with an even more obvious disconnection from reality.
loves_fall
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.
A mile? EMU students complain about taking a bus a MILE? Good thing they didn't get into UM, they probably wouldn't know what to do.
joe golder
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 7:39 p.m.
Busing students from rynearson has been tried now for over 8 years and has not worked. Commuters will not park a mile from main campus walk across a big parking lot during a MI winter and stand and wait for a bus. Waiting to ride a bus a mile back is will be as bad. President Martin do you really understand the sacrifices your students are making to attend EMU? I first hand understand the universities lack of compassion. Have you been contacted about another position yet?
Steve
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.
Here's hoping that Synder finds a way to get rid of Coleman, she is an embarrassment to the greatest University on the planet!