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Update #50

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

May 5, 2005
 

TO:	The CMU Community
FROM:	Michael Rao
SUBJECT:	CMU Update 50

I hope that this final update of the spring semester finds you well.

Advocacy in State Budget Process

On April 13, I provided testimony to the House Higher Education Subcommittee. On May 13, CMU presents its case before the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee. Your advocacy for equitable per-student funding for CMU continues to be critical. Surprisingly, few people have written letters to legislators expressing support of CMU. Thank you to those who have already written to your legislators. Talking points that you may wish to include in your letters, sample letters, addresses for government officials, and other information can be accessed at www.cmich.edu/govrelations.

CMU Continues to Explore Budget Options

As discussed in Update 49, the university continues to explore various revenue scenarios for 2005-2006. Options being considered include an across-the-board tuition increase for all students, a tiered-tuition approach with different tuition rates for lower and upper level division classes, a plan that would guarantee a fixed tuition amount for the period in which a student is enrolled, and differential tuition for programs that cost more to deliver. The university is also exploring the possibility of combining mandatory fees into tuition, thereby making the total cost of attendance much clearer to students and their families. Factors important to CMU’s evaluation of options include: providing a financial base that allows the university to sustain the quality of academic programs and services that students need; facilitating better financial planning for students and parents; promoting student retention; and achieving clarity for all costs.

Provost Tom Storch, Vice President George Ross, and I have agreed that delaying the work of the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group (SSBAG), which I reconvened earlier this spring, seems worthwhile as we consider various revenue possibilities to address the university’s serious budget issues. On the other hand, it is prudent for the university to be prepared in the event reductions are ultimately necessary. We believe that cuts would be devastating; however, we don’t believe that they will be necessary at this point. Nonetheless, the vice presidents and I have asked all budget center managers to prepare 5% reduction plans as a precautionary step.

CMU has been fiscally responsible throughout the state’s severe budget reductions. Now, its eminent need is to address student needs. If sustained, the impact of severe reductions to its appropriation, combined with its low tuition, will show up in the next few years in ways that will devastate the state’s ability to deliver quality academic programs through its fourth largest university. Particularly in light of the state’s interest in increasing the college-educated population in Michigan, reduced revenues per student will run completely counter to building a stronger economic base in the state.

The university is anxious to make a decision about tuition rates for next year. But we must also wait for more definitive information from the state budget process, including the fate of the proposed 2004-2005 reduction of $30 million to higher education ($1.4 million to CMU). We hope to know more about 2004-2005 funding after the state receives updated revenue estimates in a few weeks.

May Commencement Ceremonies

CMU’s spring semester concludes with three commencement ceremonies on May 7 in Rose Arena. A total of 3432 graduates will receive degrees in May. Each ceremony will feature a guest speaker. The 9:30 a.m. speaker is Joseph Bordogna of the National Science Foundation—someone whom we’ve worked for years to get involved at CMU; the 1:30 p.m. speaker is Deborah Dingell of General Motors; and the 4:30 p.m. speaker is David Brandon, head of Domino’s Pizza and a former CMU trustee. I look forward to seeing many of you on Saturday. The graduates appreciate your presence, as do I.

Annual Lem Tucker Speaker Series and Scholarship Dinner

CMU is pleased to sponsor the Ninth Annual Lem Tucker Speaker Series and Scholarship Dinner this week in Detroit. The keynote speaker, Gwen Ifill, is an accomplished political reporter, moderator and managing editor for the Public Broadcasting Service. Approximately 400 business and community leaders, alumni, editors, and reporters from the metro Detroit area are planning to attend. This year’s Journalism scholarship recipient, who is honored each year at the dinner, is Port Huron High School senior Kameel Stanley. I sincerely thank the organizations that help sponsor this event, the many people who make the event and sponsorships possible—including Tyrone Jordan, Dennis Washington, and Christine Alwood—and those who attend.

First Recipient of the Student Choice Award for Excellence in Teaching

In addition to the faculty excellence awards mentioned in Update 49, a new award—the Student Choice Award for Excellence in Teaching—was awarded for the first time this year to Assistant Professor Pamela Eddy, Educational Administration & Community Leadership. This award provides students with an opportunity to manage the award decision process and enables them to honor CMU faculty for excellent teaching and mentoring. Student members of the Excellence in Teaching Award Committee had sole responsibility for designing the selection process and determining a winner. Congratulations, Pam.

Articulation Agreements Update

CMU has a strong commitment to recruiting and serving community college transfer students. Please visit http://webs.cmich.edu/aga/default.asp for information about all of the articulation agreements and guides available. Four new articulation agreements have been signed this year with Mid Michigan Community College and Northwestern Michigan College. Three more are nearing completion with Mid Michigan and North Central Michigan College and others are under discussion.

Farewell to Mike Silverthorn

Following almost two decades of excellent service to CMU, Executive Director of News Services Mike Silverthorn will leave CMU to become Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Alma College. While I am disappointed, Mike deserves the opportunity to advance his career. I have had the pleasure of working very closely with Mike during the past five years and respect his honesty, integrity, and work ethic. On behalf of the entire university community, I offer warm CMU gratitude to Mike and wish him the very best.