Michigan needs to get serious about higher education. If we want to build a high-performance economy for the 21st century in the Great Lakes state, we need to invest in colleges and universities.

Gov. Granholm and Lt. Gov. Cherry's Commission on Higher Education & Economic Growth have shown bold leadership by outlining a series of policies and programs that will double the number of Michiganians earning college degrees, align our colleges and universities with employment opportunities and educate a world-class workforce. Now it's time for the Legislature to do its part.

The Republican budget proposal being debated in the House is a bad start. It slashes needs-based scholarships and financial aid which currently benefit about 40,000 Michigan college students.

While the new higher-ed funding formula is a step in the right direction, and a boon to MSU, it cuts state appropriations to Northern Michigan University and Wayne State University.

Now more than ever, colleges and universities need more funding to support their efforts, not less. We can't move forward as a state by continuing to slice the pie into smaller, more inadequate pieces.

If House Republicans are serious about education and job creation they need to get serious about higher education - starting with the budget.

Nathan Triplett
Political theory and constitutional democracy
and social relations senior