It’s a tale of two university systems: The state’s flagship schools, along with Michigan Tech, have expanded enrollment in the past decade while 12 other public universities lost a collective 46,000 students, amid a smaller pool of high school graduates.
Mike Wilkinson
Mike has been a reporter for Bridge Michigan since 2013 and focuses on data-assisted reporting, often finding stories by analyzing maps and data sets and has created Bridge's dashboards on COVID-19, the state's economy and Michigan's elections. He held similar positions at The Detroit News and The Blade of Toledo. A native of Michigan, Mike grew up in Macomb County, graduated from the University of Michigan and started his reporting career in New Baltimore before his career took him to Illinois, Tennessee and Ohio. You can reach him at mwilkinson@bridgemi.com
Posted inTalent & Education
Central Michigan University blames 'complacency' for enrollment dive
CMU has lost more than 11,000 students since 2012. In an internal email, the school’s head of recruitment placed blame with the administration, which she said has been outhustled by competitors for students from metro Detroit.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Omicron sub-variant BA.2 cases creep up in Michigan; some fear another wave
The BA.2 sub-variant of omicron is confirmed in Detroit and 21 Michigan counties. More contagious than the original omicron, it’s blamed for the sharp rise in cases in several western European communities.
Posted inQuality of Life
Should you drive across town to buy cheap gas? Use this tool to find out
As gas prices remain above $4 a gallon, it’s tempting to seek lower prices even if it involves a trek. Before heading out, use this calculator to see if the trip for cheaper rates is worth the drive.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan private school enrollment spikes amid discontent over pandemic rules
Some public schools are reporting double-digit declines, as certainty over in-person classes fuels increases in private school enrollment. Homeschooling also is up.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Michigan closes gap on racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths
Early in the pandemic, Blacks accounted for 40 percent of all COVID-19 deaths. But efforts to address the gap led to health changes that lowered the rate to 14 percent — equal to their proportion of the state’s population.
Posted inMichigan Government
Experts: Politics, as well as science, fuel Whitmer COVID, mask decisions
In the last few months, Whitmer has talked less about the pandemic. While her decision to lift mask recommendation follows local health rulings, it coincides with rising anger over pandemic policies.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Gretchen Whitmer drops mask suggestion, Michigan getting ‘back to normal’
With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations falling, Michigan health officials have drafted new mask guidelines which no longer recommend masking in many public indoor settings, including schools.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
The pandemic isn’t over. What Michigan needs to do if there’s a next wave.
Omicron struck like lightning. Now that it’s fading, educators are rethinking how to keep kids in school, hospitals are adjusting models and businesses are eying child-care alternatives for next time.
Posted inMichigan Health Watch
Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne signal lift of COVID school mask mandates
The decisions follow similar actions in counties across Michigan and the nation to drop mask mandates as omicron recedes.
