Michigan’s 12 regional public universities offer a deep connection to their communities and an affordable option for students seeking a better life, particularly first-generation college students, nontraditional students and students of color.
Michigan school opinions
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan’s free college tuition isn’t serving all our residents
Only 33 of 83 counties are served by a community college. This makes it more difficult and expensive for students from generally poorer and more rural counties to take advantage of the Michigan Reconnect program.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | MSU is filling Michigan’s teaching, nursing, engineering ranks
Michigan State is addressing the state’s critical workforce needs by accelerating its teaching program, expanding nursing enrollment and serving as a pipeline for in-state engineering jobs, particularly in the auto industry.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan community colleges better than portrayed, but need help
Our student success rate is now approaching 50 percent, but we recognize more is needed to ensure more students graduate or transfer to four-year schools. For that to happen, we need greater state investment in student support.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new education agency carries dangers
It makes sense for a single agency to coordinate policies in higher education. But Whitmer’s new department may violate the state Constitution and, as we’ve seen in Florida, there are perils when a state executive takes away power from independent institutions.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan foster care children deserve a better education
Michigan has failed children in foster care by sending them to classes in state facilities that did not provide credit toward graduation. The state must require better judicial oversight to help them fulfill their educational needs.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan charter school boards ensure financial accountability
As a board, we’re accountable to our authorizer and the state. Most of all, we’re accountable to our students and their families. When we set academic goals, we put everything in place to ensure these goals are met.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan public universities can help lead a population revival
Michigan’s state universities drive economic growth and produce a pool of talented graduates. To stay a viable, competitive state, we’ll need our state universities to help guide Michigan out of this demographic crisis.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Stop throwing more cash at Michigan schools, reform them instead
Democrats must stop measuring how much they love public education by how much taxpayers’ money they spend. We need vertically aligned public schools that hold leaders accountable for students’ academic success.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Virtual schools are a lifeline for students, we can’t cut funding
Michigan lawmakers are considering a 20-percent budget cut for full-time virtual schools. This threatens countless students who won’t thrive in traditional schools due to bullying, crippling anxiety or behavioral challenges.