Update on Budget Issues

Northern Michigan University is committed to high quality programming and an outstanding student experience. Nothing will change that; it is our top priority. You have my guarantee that the NMU faculty and staff will move heaven and earth to protect the quality of a Northern education.

On this and the following pages you will find the details on how NMU is working to ensure higher education remains a top priority to the Michigan legislators. Details are also available on how you can help NMU in this process.

Budget information

• Legislators for Upper Michigan
• Legislative Leadership
• Talking Points on Michigan's higher education budget
• News Coverage of Michigan's higher education budget
• The Economic Impact of Northern Michigan University on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (PDF)
  

University Forum

• Faculty and Staff Legislative and Budget Forum (PDF)
  Streaming Audio of Legislative and Budget Forum (WMA)
  Legislative and Budget Forum for dial-up internet connections
  Monday, June 13, 2005

The legislative and budget forum discusses the two funding formulas proposed by the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate. It outlines the impact each formula would have on higher education in the state of Michigan. The forum also discusses what members of NMU's community can do to ensure their voice is an active part of the legislative process.

Editorials and letters from President Wong

• University funding - Fight for dollars intensifies
  Formulas aren't benefit to state
  Lansing State Journal
  June 12, 2005

Supporters of the recently announced House and Senate higher education formula funding proposals claim that such legislation addresses apparent inequities from campus to campus, disparities they say were created by political favoritism.

Public data, however, suggests the inequities were actually created by the state's inability to fund the explosive enrollment growth, especially since 1996. Read complete article.

• Flawed university funding
  New formulas would redistribute money unfairly
  Detroit Free Press
  June 8, 2005

The higher education funding formulas recently proposed by Republican sponsors in the state House and Senate are seriously flawed and will not address the future of Michigan in any substantial way. In fact, the proposal to cut funding significantly and disproportionately for two of Michigan's 15 public universities, Northern Michigan University here in Marquette and Wayne State University in Detroit, suggests seriously that the cure may be worse than the actual problem. Read complete article.

• Letter to NMU Community
  May 31, 2005

I have returned from Japan, having been a part of Marquette’s sister city delegation, and I wanted to write a brief update on the recent news from Lansing. Last Wednesday (May 25), the House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee released the House Republicans’ details of its proposed Workforce Investment Needs (WIN) formula. Northern does not fare well in this plan. Keep in mind that there are many steps yet to take before this plan would land as a bill on the Governor’s desk. Still, you need to understand the details of the proposal. Read complete letter.