More general fund scholarships will be available for Eastern Michigan University students next year.

Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin

The EMU Board of Regents voted unanimously to increase school-backed scholarships by 6.9 percent next year, a $2.3 million increase from the $33.7 million that was distributed this year.

“This continues the trend we began four years ago as the state’s economic climate became increasingly challenging for students and their families,” EMU President Susan Martin told the regents at their Tuesday afternoon meeting.

The change —which puts scholarship funding at just about $36 million— increases academic awards by about $2 million and athletic scholarships by $290,000.

Martin said the additional funding marks a 68 percent increase in scholarship funding from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2013.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.