Indeed. Basically the whole world went to hell in 2008 and has spent 10 years digging itself out. I don't have the stats at hand, but the number of housing foreclosures resulting from the Great Recession was staggering.

We aren't talking about keeping a car a few extra years or whatever but folks who have lost their homes which is like a 10 on a 10 point misery scale. Losing a house and a job is a 12 on a 10 point misery scale.

Once again, if the state of Michigan can pony up an extra 100 - 150M per year for public colleges and universities, it would stabilize most of the problems MAC, GLIAC, etc. schools may have.

Unfortunately for EMU our endowment isn't big enough where the earnings on investments can be somehow be channeled back to the general operating budget to help pay for building projects, etc.

(06-01-2018 08:52 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
My two cents is the failure of our State government to fund higher education the way that was done over twenty years ago. So many of us (society) continue to believe the myth that we can exist with constant tax cuts. Until people realize that it takes money to fix our infrastructure, pay for medical costs, and yes fund education, we are just going to go round and round about what to do.

THIS.

(06-02-2018 03:07 PM)CMichFan Wrote:  

(06-01-2018 08:52 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
My two cents is the failure of our State government to fund higher education the way that was done over twenty years ago. So many of us (society) continue to believe the myth that we can exist with constant tax cuts. Until people realize that it takes money to fix our infrastructure, pay for medical costs, and yes fund education, we are just going to go round and round about what to do.

THIS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30knrJBeyr0

I do think that EMU is betting that 'tomorrow will be better than today."

As discussed in this thread there are two major drivers of EMU's financial picture:

1). Credit hours attempted which is a function of students and academic hours taken.

2). State aid to higher education.

#1 is largely unpredictable in the sense it is the result of academic decisions made by thousands of students (to attend or not attend EMU). As indicated earlier in this thread, the CURRENT higher education system was built for a society with a higher birth rate than we have had for decades. 1990 births become the cohort of potential incoming freshmen at EMU and other universities.

#2 is largely the big kicker. It is the result of political decisions made in Lansing. In bad times, not much Lansing can do. In improving times, Lansing could solve a lot of small budget shortfalls with more money.

In November Michigan voters will vote. The results of that election may well change the view of Lansing toward funding higher education.

This is the big issue lurking in the background: Lack of population growth in Michigan. States which grow very slowly (or not at all) are essentially dying on the vine.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/201...nac-agenda

What EMU has built in terms of buildings, infrastructure, etc. was built for a university with more students than today. However, in the 1990s when EMU spent tons of money on things like Rynearson expansion (required by the NCAA), Convo, McKenny Union, Rec/IM facilities, and later things like the student union, and building renovations (00 - 09), etc.

Yet, the population growth and esp. birth rate has slowed to a trickle. Without another 'baby boom' schools like EMU are hurting. Their 'customer base (students)' is drying up.

As far as population growth and economic development, what we have seen in decades is the movement of population and economic growth from Detroit to the suburbs and now some of that is moving back to Detroit (mostly downtown and close in areas like Midtown).

Yet, there is not a big growth in population in S.E. Michigan which is EMU's primary base for prospective students.