A study conducted by the Michigan Consortium for Educational Research, a collaboration between MSU, the University of Michigan and the state of Michigan, found the Michigan Merit Curriculum, or MMC, caused a decrease in high school completion rates for students who entered high school with weak academic skills, according to a press release from the consortium.

But the study shows this is not because of slacking off, rather it is the result of the more difficult guidelines of the MMC.

The MMC was introduced to Michigan public high schools in 2006. The curriculum is a set of graduation requirements for high school students stressing science and math, according to the release.

The study found as a result of these requirements, the graduation rate for lower-achieving students dropped from 49 percent to 44.5 percent for the class of 2011.

According to MSU’s 2012 enrollment report, 75 percent of the more than 9,600 incoming students in 2012 are Michigan residents, and 80 percent of the more than 37,400 undergraduates are from Michigan.

Although a large percentage of MSU’s students are from Michigan, Provost Kim A. Wilcox said at the last University Council meeting admissions at MSU have not been affected by lower completion rates at Michigan high schools, despite the study’s findings.

“Each year, we are having fewer students graduate from high school than the year before,” Wilcox said. “(But) we have had great success with attracting students, despite that there are fewer students graduating from high school.”

Beth Covay, research director for the Michigan Consortium for Education Research at MSU, said in an email it is important for students to know the state of education in Michigan and how the educational policies and the economy are affecting education.

“Student educational attainment is related to many life outcomes, so we need to know how effective educational policies are and for whom,” Convay said.

Convay said earning an educational degree is connected to the outcomes of different aspects of life, including earnings and health.

Graduate student Christi Taylor said the MMC did not apply when she was in high school, but she heard the students in classes after hers were having a more difficult curriculum. She said high school students should be held to higher standards, but the focus should be more on helping all students graduate high school.

“Not everybody should be held to the same standards,” Taylor said. “We know that some students will not go on to college, (so) our focus should be on getting them to graduate.”