MSU’s undergraduate student government hosted delegates from each of Michigan’s 15 public universities Saturday to discuss higher education issues in the state.

The Association of Michigan Universities goal was to speak and act on behalf of college students. The association, which began in 2000, meets four times a year, and is composed of student governments.

The next meeting is Nov. 15-17 at Michigan Technological University.

“It was a productive meeting with productive people,” said Matt Clayson, ASMSU Academic Assembly chairperson. “Every public school in the state was there.”

The meeting was the first held at MSU in the association’s two-year tenure, and Clayson said there were 38 delegates present at the conference, including eight from ASMSU.

Association Chairman Hrant Hratchian formed four committees within the group he calls standing commissions. The committees met for the first time Saturday during the convention to discuss academic affairs, legislative affairs, multicultural issues and shared governance.

“Everyone who went there walked away very pleased,” he said. “We’re on the brink of doing some very good work for Michigan.”

One issue brought to the table was Proposal 4, which would redirect about $8 billion from tobacco companies received by the state in 1998 to health-care programs. A portion of the money is used to fund the Michigan Merit Award, which gives qualified students $2,500 scholarships. ASMSU denounced the proposal in mid-September.

Clayson said the choice to oppose the bill was almost unanimous.

Tyler Gill, a delegate from ASMSU, said the event benefitted student leaders across the state.

“It gives us a more united voice than 15 individual voices,” he said. “We can better deal with student issues and student affairs more justly than we did before.”