OPtimizing EDucation

In Higher Ed Finance, by Mia Murphy March 8, 2019

We might have expected much of the general approach Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took to her first budget, announced this week, by her campaign platform. Certainly a number of proposals like pulling School Aid Fund out of the universities’ budget were expected based on her platform…

In Economic Development, by Dan Hurley February 21, 2019

An earlier version of this commentary originally appeared in Bridge Magazine The world of work has changed over the last 20 years. It’s vital that Michigan change with it. That means placing a priority on investing in education that can provide the talent needed to attract and…

In Educational Attainment, by Dan Hurley February 20, 2019

In her State of the State Address, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an ambitious and much-needed goal for Michigan to increase its postsecondary education attainment level to 60 percent by 2030, as measured by the proportion of Michiganders with a college degree or…

In Economic Development, by Dan Hurley January 18, 2019

It is clear that talent is the currency of today’s hypercompetitive, global economy. The cities and regions that successfully attract and retain college-educated individuals will reign supreme on measures of economic prosperity. And the markets that are succeeding in drawing…

In Educational Attainment, by Dan Hurley November 14, 2018

The Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU) unveiled a marketing campaign this week reminding Michigan high school students and their parents that earning a college degree is a great way to ensure a good career, a chance to “make the difference” in their life and…

In Higher Ed Finance, by Dan Hurley September 20, 2018

The extent to which state governments invest in their public colleges and universities and in their student financial aid programs has a direct impact on access to and affordability of a college degree. Greater state investment mitigates the need for colleges to raise tuition…

In Accountability, by Mia Murphy July 26, 2018

When last we checked in on our friends at the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS, the federal government’s higher education data center), their graduation rate data was, uh, not very good. As I said at the time, if you don’t count a significant proportion of…

In Educational Attainment, by Dan Hurley July 20, 2018

Boosting the proportion of Michigan residents who obtain a college degree or other postsecondary credential is vital to the state’s future economic competitiveness, both domestically and globally. Ultimately, it is talent, not tax policy, geography, or demographics, that is the…

In Higher Ed Finance, by Mia Murphy May 17, 2018

The leaders of Michigan’s 15 public universities, joined by the staff of the Michigan Association of State Universities, have long touted the personal return on investment a student earns with a four-year college degree. We’ve also long talked about the benefits that accrue to…

In Workforce Alignment, by Will Emerson April 27, 2018

General Motors (GM) is investing $1 billion to expand the Warren Tech Center outside Detroit, Michigan. This expansion will create 2,600 jobs, but GM’s main challenge will be staffing it! “We have to meet or beat the talent levels in Silicon Valley and other technology hubs…

In Student Success, by Will Emerson March 23, 2018

The 2017-2018 academic year has been marked by forward progress on student success at the state universities of Michigan; efforts spearheaded by the institutions in partnership with the Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU). Since receiving a student success…

In Student Success, by Will Emerson March 20, 2018

Each year the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency conducts a survey of higher education institutions in the state to assess the quality of their veteran programs. The survey, “The Veteran Friendly School Application,” uses seven criteria to determine the level of support provided to…

In Student Success, by Will Emerson February 23, 2018

Student Success Coaching programs have grown in popularity in recent years and are represented at nearly all Michigan public universities. This is in part because they are a collaborative effort between universities and their students designed to nurture holistic student…

In Diversity & Inclusion, by MASU Guest February 12, 2018

[Note: Today’s guest blog is provided by Melissa Peraino, member of MASU’s Extended Education and Professional Development Directors Committee.] America’s got talent. Does Michigan? Many cite the lack of access to a talented workforce as one of the reasons for Amazon’s recent…

In Higher Ed Finance, by Mia Murphy January 19, 2018

One thing that’s always perplexed me is how drivers occasionally get hit by trains. Trains don’t veer off course. Trains don’t suddenly make a right turn in front of you on your way to the grocery store. Trains just lumber steadily down the track, unable to slow down or speed up…