Michigan colleges and universities

CMU’s president and board chair say they understand the difficulty of reversing steep enrollment declines and have big decisions to make in the next budget cycle.

The majority of Michigan’s public universities, and half its private colleges, are below the national average in the percentage of their low-income students who earn a degree. Some do far better than others in ensuring these students graduate.

CMU acknowledged that new housing is necessary as part of a larger strategy to attract new students following steep declines. But its board said Thursday “now is not the right time” to advance new housing plans given ongoing economic uncertainty.

As CMU works to turn around a 43-percent drop in enrollment since 2012, the director of undergraduate recruitment had his last day on April 7, the university confirmed.

The move by Michigan State University reflects the downward trend in new coronavirus cases in the state, as well as the removal of similar mandates in K-12 schools.

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It’s a tale of two university systems: The state’s flagship schools, along with Michigan Tech, have expanded enrollment in the past decade while 12 other public universities lost a collective 46,000 students, amid a smaller pool of high school graduates.

CMU has lost more than 11,000 students since 2012. In an internal email, the school’s head of recruitment placed blame with the administration, which she said has been outhustled by competitors for students from metro Detroit.

Referencing the popular musical “Hamilton,” Grand Rapids Community College president Bill Pink said if he is confirmed as the next president of Ferris State University, he will be in the ‘room where it happens’ to encourage more people to pursue higher education.

Pushing for the best price and finding a school that’s the right fit are just two factors to consider when deciding where to enroll in the fall, according to two top college advisors.

The bills, which passed by votes of 104-1, reflect a national trend away from reliance on standardized testing by U.S. colleges and universities.

Dorm occupancy was just 63 percent this year, prompting CMU to consolidate its on-campus housing. It’s another example of the effects of waning enrollment in some of Michigan’s universities.

I’ve witnessed more than a dozen seniors shedding tears in my office when they found out there was a way for them to afford an education after high school.

Michigan State University announced Thursday that it will soon allow students and staff to be unmasked in many indoor settings. There are exceptions including in classrooms and in healthcare facilities.

Michigan has an enormous opportunity for its next economic renaissance. We can’t deliver on that vast potential while dead last in educational investment.

A lawsuit challenging the university’s rule that students and staff must be vaccinated was dismissed Wednesday in federal court. The plaintiffs vow to appeal.

The high school class of 2022 has been through a lot. From virtual learning in their bedrooms, to mourning the death of loved ones. Four seniors spoke to Bridge about all that they missed, and vowed “never to take anything for granted.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed education budget plan focused mostly on the state’s struggling K-12 schools. But Michigan universities and community colleges would also get a big spending bump, assuming GOP lawmakers buy in.

COVID continues to disrupt the number of high school graduates enrolling in college, which has consequences for the state’s economy. School counselors are seeing the pandemic’s toll as the governor seeks to boost student success.