Legislator says funding doesn’t reflect state university equality

State Rep. Ryan Berman today called for a revamped higher education funding model at the state level, noting that some universities in Michigan are being left behind.

Oakland University, located in Rochester Hills near Berman’s Oakland County House district, is the fastest-growing university in the state. But it only currently receives around $3,300 per in-state student, which ranks last in state funding amounts. The highest-funded state university, the University of Michigan, currently receives over $13,000 for each in-state student, while the average of the 15 state universities checks in at $6,684 per current fiscal year data.

“The math just isn’t adding up when it comes to getting Oakland University the investment it needs to help students be successful and prepare for the workforce,” said Berman, of Commerce Township. “We can’t be entrenched in years-long thinking that only certain universities are favored for state funding and others fight for the leftovers. We need spending plans that are fair and reflective of how universities are changing and growing.

“The state Legislature previously established a funding floor of $4,500 per student in the late 1990s, but we’ve strayed away from that. We’ve established funding floors for K-12 districts to level the playing field and help school districts across the state. We should do the same for our public institutions of higher learning when there is clear data showing the funding discrepancy.”

Grand Valley State University, Saginaw Valley State University, the University of Michigan at Flint and the University of Michigan at Dearborn all also currently receive less than the 1999 legislative benchmark of $4,500 per student.

Berman is working with the chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education to address the issue and level the playing field. The first-term legislator is also planning to unveil a proposal that would fix the funding discrepancies as the budget process for the upcoming fiscal year begins to take shape.