MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon is putting much-needed pressure on Michigan legislators to make funding for higher education a priority — especially for MSU.
Simon met with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Friday to argue for more funding for MSU and other universities. The committee examines Gov. Jennifer Granholm's budget for the next fiscal year after it's released.
Simon contends the university relies on tuition more than state funding and MSU needs more money to keep tuition down.
MSU tuition ranks as the seventh highest in the Big Ten, despite its steady increase throughout the past few years.
Although it is seventh highest, MSU needs to continue to work toward making college more affordable and keeping tuition down.
It's a tough situation for MSU officials, who want to continue funding MSU's programs and advanced research and keep tuition at a reasonable level.
It's becoming clear the only way the university can do this is with more money from the state.
More funding from the government might not lower tuition, but it might help keep it from rising to ridiculous heights.
Higher education needs to continue to be a priority for the Michigan legislature and Gov. Jennifer Granholm. It will be integral in improving Michigan's economy and creating an educated workforce that can get the best jobs in the future.
Senators and Granholm need to listen to Simon and realize how important funding higher education is in a state whose economy is struggling.
If MSU is expected to help Michigan by researching alternative energy resources, which Granholm wants, it needs more money from the state to finance that research.
Granholm's budget for the next fiscal year is on the right track. In it, MSU will receive a 2-percent increase in funding.
But it just isn't enough. Funding isn't rising with the inflation rate, and an MSU official has said the university will need an estimated $130- $140 million in additional funds above inflation for the next 10 years to cover costs.
If Michigan isn't going to fund colleges at the necessary level, then we need to start finding new ways to help colleges and universities.
Whatever that might be, we need to start looking at ideas now, before getting a degree at MSU becomes too expensive for everyone.
