LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — House Republicans are aiming to rein in two of Michigan’s most well-funded universities, proposing deep budget cuts to the University of Michigan and Michigan State University and shifting those dollars directly to students.
The plan would reduce UM’s taxpayer funding by 92%, or $335 million, and cut MSU’s by 73%, or $237 million—citing their multibillion-dollar endowments and growing reliance on out-of-state enrollment.
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“They’re the two universities that have the greatest opportunity to increase their endowments, attract more students, get more research dollars,” House Appropriations Chair Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) told The Detroit News. “Maybe they ought to mind their budgets just like the rest of us have to.”
Instead of pouring money into institutions, the plan creates $5,500 scholarships for Michigan students and shifts more than $1.1 billion from the K-12 School Aid Fund into direct aid for college-bound residents.
“We’re making cuts to the woke universities and giving it to the non-woke universities or the less woke universities,” Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) said. “Our budget gives greedy woke @UMich a $239 million haircut and @michiganstateu a $61M haircut.”
UM and MSU called the plan damaging. Specifically, UM described the cuts as “deeply disappointing” and said they would “send the wrong message about what the state values.”
Moreover, Daniel Hurley of the Michigan Association of State Universities defended the schools in a call for “long-term” stability: “The health and the vitality of our state’s flagship institutions directly correlates with the state’s economy.”
The proposal includes further guardrails: universities must certify all students are legal residents, or risk losing 5% of funding. It also bans the use of state funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; prohibits biological males from competing in women’s sports; and limits spending on non-teaching administrators.
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A full House vote is expected Jun 12.