Snyder indicated he views higher education as part of the success of the state; economic prosperity, he said, will create an atmosphere more conducive to creating jobs for graduates and keeping young people in the state.

“Too many young people (are) leaving school without the education they need to succeed in the future,” Snyder said. “Too many people unemployed, underemployed, have been forced to leave the state — particularly our young people.”

But after the address, officials by and large agreed the extent of Snyder’s support for colleges and universities will remain unknown until he presents his budget wishes in mid-February.

MSU Trustee Melanie Foster, who watched the address at the Capitol, said a clearer picture still is to come. And although budget uncertainties loom, Foster said she was impressed with Snyder’s speech.

“There’s only so much you can cover in 50 minutes,” Foster said, referencing Snyder’s lack of discussion regarding higher education specifically. “It was a speech of substance where he gave concrete initiatives for change in Michigan, and he said it’s all about jobs. The bottom line is jobs.”

Education reform
The success of Michigan’s young people will come through education reforms which do not focus on K-12 matriculation, but through a focus on P-20, or preschool through post-secondary education, Snyder said.

“We need to establish a system that focuses on real achievement for all of our children,” Snyder said. “We cannot leave children behind without the tools to success in their adult lives.”

Legislators and MSU administrators alike said remarks such as these show at face value Snyder’s support for higher education.

During his speech, Snyder even called out MSU and its member institutions, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, because of a recent research agreement between the three and a national pharmaceutical and supply corporation, Procter & Gamble.

“He said we have to be committed to P-20, which means there’s a commitment to higher education, but that also means there’s a commitment for early childhood education. … That’s a significant thing,” state Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing said.

Snyder includes higher education on a newly-formed website called the Michigan Dashboard, which details his proposals for economic success in Michigan. The website states a college degree is but one measure of post-secondary educational success, and increased college enrollment and more people obtaining degrees contributes to Michigan’s workforce.

But experts throughout the past month have predicted cuts to higher education funding, indicating things might get worse before they get better for Michigan’s universities.

MSU lost $8.2 million in state support last year, and university administrators have a plan in place that assumes as much as $36 million could be slashed next year.

MSU Trustee Dianne Byrum said she was pleased with the governor’s speech, but said the “devil is in the details” when it comes to budgetary issues on a state and university level.

“Until we really know what the budget looks like and what kind of funding is going to support the priorities the governor spoke of tonight, I think we all need to be a bit cautious,” Byrum said.

Andrew Walker, chair of the MSU College Republicans, said Snyder’s message about education resonated with him. Walker acknowledged what appears to be a rough road ahead for higher education, but said he feels Snyder is to person to get the job done.

“The problem is all across the board they’re going to be making cuts; I think higher education especially will be in for a few rocky years before the state can get stable again,” Walker said.

Joe Duffy, president of the MSU College Democrats, said Snyder’s speech resonated with the organization.

Job creation, etc.
Other areas pinpointed by the governor as having the potential to impact MSU and its students included plans to bolster agriculture and, on the other end, revitalize urban areas to make them more attractive for young people.

Snyder hinted at a potential focus on entrepreneurial startups and business incubators, saying they are but one of the many keys to unlocking economic successes in the state.

But still, the governor acknowledged the road ahead is not all smooth.

“All of us know we’re in a crisis unmatched in the last 60 years of our state,” Snyder said. “There are no quick fixes or magic solutions.”

Above all, said state Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, the address marked an era of change.

“People understand that we must have drastic change in Michigan, and government can’t do everything,” Jones said. “And I think Gov. Snyder’s on the right track.”

Staff writer Megan Durisin contributed to this report.