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1.9.2012 Size Isn't Everything
1.9.2012 Size Isn't Everything
com/sports INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A HEALTHiER 2012: GET fiT iN THE NEW YEAR LAkER LifE i B4 READ THE ARTICLE: GV ALUM SHARES DATiNG HiTS, MiSSES iN JOURNAL www.lanthorn.com/lak erlife
Lanthorn
G R A N D VA L L EY
M O N DAY, JA N UA RY 9 , 2 01 2
EDITORIAL
New formulas for state appropriation more fairly represent universities academic achievements
61.1 percent, and GVSU President Thomas J. Haas accountability report shows that GVSUs nursing program, which Gov. Rick Snyder identified as a key growth area for the state, has a 100 percent pass rate for graduates and a 93 percent pass rate for undergraduates. The most successful universities in the state are innovating, making do with less and keeping graduates employed in the state (84 percent for GVSU alumni), and those are the qualities that the state should be recognizing. GVSU is in a unique position as a still-budding university, the per-pupil equation neglects to account for rapid growth, and the funding needed to accommodate that growth. Low funding has prevented the university from hiring additional faculty members to teach popular courses and limited GVSU to 123 square feet of nonliving center buildings per student, half of the state average, former VP of Development Maribeth Wardrop told students in a presentation last semester. If the Michigan government wants to see college graduates succeeding in a less-than booming job market, then it only makes sense for the state to support its institutions in a way that is conducive to growth and quality education. Giving larger universities more money per student just because theyre bigger makes as much sense as giving a massive check to Warren Buffet just because hes rich. If Michigan wants to attract young people to the region and retain its graduates, revamping the current higher education funding system to reward quality over quantity is an important first step.