Like many campuses, Michigan Tech has its fair share of parking problems, which is why President Mroz put together a task force last fall to investigate possible solutions.

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For the second time in the last three years, Michigan legislators failed to reach an acceptable budget for the upcoming fiscal year. After settling on a continuation budget last week that will run through the end of October, lawmakers have less than four weeks to close the current $2.8 billion revenue-spending gap. This is no easy task, given that Michigan’s economy is one of the worst in the country. The auto industry meltdown has forced legislators to consider completely restructuring an economy that is largely geared toward and dependant on manufacturing. The problem is widespread and no solution is painless. Particularly as government enters an election cycle, debate is raging along party lines. Tax increases and budget cuts are the primary options, but with a Democratic Governor and House and a Republican Senate, solutions are hard to come by.
One of the most heated debates surrounds funding for education. The ironically named Michigan Promise Scholarship, which promises to provide students with up to $4,000 of state support, is at risk of being cut. Should this cut go through, 96,000 current college students would be directly impacted, not to mention the countless high school students who would utilize the scholarship in the future.
Because state government has extended their budget deadline, concerned students still have an opportunity to voice their opinion about keeping Michigan’s promise to students. Michigan Tech’s Vice President for Student Affairs Les Cook sent out two University-wide e-mails that directly address the problem. For more information, including how you can contact your legislators, check out the e-mails and visit www.michiganpromisescholarship.com.
“It is really important for students to be active in this decision,” said Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz. “The Promise still has a chance to come through, but students need to contact their legislators. It’s a fact: legislators listen to students.”
“Education should be an extremely high priority in Michigan’s budget,” said David Michael Smeenge, a third-year biomedical engineering major. “I’d be hard pressed to find that education doesn’t directly correlate to the common success. Educated children are the new generation. Educated jobs are the future. If that generation isn’t making money then our tax revenue will decrease. If the future generation lacks the smarts to manage everything, where is the hope in that?”
The educational funding problem is compounded by the fact that many universities, including Michigan Tech determined their budgets in July. Those budgets included consideration that Michigan would keep its promise. Consequently, many universities cannot step into fill the void that could be left by government. Michigan Tech is one of the few public universities in Michigan that has at least guaranteed support for students through the fall semester regardless of what the state does. The spring semester could be another story, unless students speak up.
Fortunately for Michigan Tech, the regular state appropriations for universities are remaining steady. They have to in order for the state to continue receiving federal stimulus funding, which they have relied on this year, but will see less of next year. While Michigan Tech is a financially conservative university in good financial standing (third in the state in terms of debt per student from the university’s perspective), according to CFO Dan Greenlee, the level of state appropriations has not been high enough to avoid tuition increases. Mroz said that adjusting for inflation, “We are now educating about 40 percent more students with the same amount of state support that we had 40 years ago.” Aside from research revenue, income from auxiliary services and fundraising, tuition and state appropriations are essentially what the university has to run on.
“Michigan Tech seems to be doing a pretty good job of handling its own budget in this economic time,” said Travis Waineo, a third-year electrical engineering student. “All programs that aren’t absolutely necessary need to be cut. The last resort should be to raise tuition.”
Michigan Tech Vice President for Governmental Relations Dale Tahtinen said, “I am cautiously optimistic [about Michigan’s economy]. We have contingency plans pretty well in place in case the worst does happen.” Greenlee echoed Tahtinen’s sentiments by saying, “There is a lot of uncertainty about what’s going to happen, but I believe we are fundamentally coming out [of the recession].” Greenlee pointed to the stock market increase as proof. Generally the markets recover first, with unemployment recovering last.
While Michigan Tech seems somewhat shielded from the turmoil at the state capitol, students are still at risk of losing substantial amounts of aid. With $8 billion in additional spending over the last five years despite a shrinking economy, Michigan will almost surely have to cut somewhere. Students can play a major role in making sure that cuts do not take place to education by contacting legislators, insisting that Michigan keeps its promise to students.
Stay tuned to the Michigan Tech Lode, both in print and online at www.mtulode.com for continued updates on Michigan’s economy and its effect on Michigan Tech and its students.

At its regular meeting just prior to Spring Break, the Board of Control approved for more than $24 million in funding for several projects, including a new student residential apartment complex, the construction of the Great Lakes Research Center, an expansion of the Keweenaw Research Center near the Houghton County Airport and a $1 million renovation of the John MacInnes Ice Arena.

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After more than a month since the announcement of Governor Granholm’s 2009-10 Executive Branch Budget and the signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus package, the financial waters are still muddy with uncertainty, particularly in regard to higher education. Granholm’s budget calls for a three percent decrease to Michigan public universities and along with cuts to the Kings-Chavez-Parks Initiative, which paves the way for under-represented groups to earn a college education, Michigan Tech will be receive at least $1.6 million less than last year as it currently stands.

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As reported via a Tech Today article in last week’s Lode, current provost and vice president for academic affairs Lesley Lovett-Doust has accepted the presidency and vice chancellorship of Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario.
Lovett-Doust came to Michigan Tech in August 2007 from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and will continue to serve at Tech until the end of June.
“I love working at Michigan Tech, and I will greatly miss my many friends and colleagues,” said Lovett-Doust. “I have had a wonderful opportunity here to work on things that matter very much to me; hiring the very best faculty and putting procedures in place to make sure that all searches bring out the best; working with deans and chairs to run things well; promoting interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship; and ensuring students have opportunities to experience research and hands-on work in their field.”
Lovett-Doust loves working in the middle of the academic affairs of a university, but will enjoy seeing the overall picture in her presidency at Nipissing University. It has never been a specific goal for Lovett-Doust to earn the presidency of a university, but she followed her interests, and took on new adventures as the opportunities arose. She applied for the position in October and everything fell into place from there.

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As the semester comes to an end, some seniors begin to pack their bags for one last time. Winter commencement for the class of 2008 is just around the corner, and the students are realizing how fast it is all coming to an end. Dec. 13, 2008, 10:30 a.m. in the Student Development Complex, the mid-year commencement will be the final steps for the graduating class in their Tech experience. The rehearsal will be held on Friday, Dec. 12, at 1:30 p.m. in the SDC Multi-Purpose Room. President Glenn Mroz and his wife will host a reception for the graduates and their families on Friday, Dec. 12th, 2008, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The reception will be held in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

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It is obvious that there has been a significant increase in the student population this year. However, this caused massive shortages in the amount of space in the residence halls. As a result, the University was forced to rent out the first and sixth floors of the Franklin Square Inn downtown as well as convert apartments and other larger conference rooms within the residence halls into eight- and 10-person residence hall rooms.

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David Karnosky, one of Michigan Tech’s premier scientists and mentors, died Friday, Oct. 24, at his home in Chassell. He was 59.

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Just this past year tuition at Michigan Tech has increased by a hefty 10 percent. It is recognized Michigan Tech has been put into a financial situation as a result of state appropriation decreases and inflation increases. As stated on www.mtf.mtu.edu, “State appropriations provided 75 percent of Michigan Tech’s budget in 1963. This number has decreased and today sits at only 27 percent. As a result, the University has been forced to increase tuition each year to keep pace with the cost of providing a quality education. Now, pressure to keep tuition increases to a minimum, combined with limited state support, dramatically limit Michigan Tech’s resources.”

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With the ever-increasing prices at the pump and the downward spiral of the economy, times have changed and prices have increased, including college tuition rates. According to FinAid.org, a smart guide to financial aid, college tuition will increase at a rate twice that of general inflation. Hence, on average, tuition rates will see an 8 percent increase nationally. Locally, Michigan Tech has seen 3.7 percent increase in tuition over the past year, according to an e-mail posted by President Glenn Mroz in early July.

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