Gov. Snyder's 2012-13 budget recommendation

Dear colleagues,

Gov. Rick Snyder has released his budget recommendation for the state's fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The governor proposed a higher education budget increase of 3 percent or $36.2 million, presumably on a one-time basis. Since this means no funds would be added to our future base allocation, we are unlikely to increase budgets for permanent expenses such as compensation, utilities or debt service.

Our share was determined by this formula:

1. $17,192 for each additional undergraduate degree granted per year (on average during AY2009, 2010 and 2011) over the baseline of undergraduate degrees awarded in AY2008 ($0);
2. $685 times the three-year average number of undergraduate completions in STEM and health fields ($485,000);
3. $155 times the three-year average number of undergraduates receiving a Pell Grant ($1.2 million);
4. Assumed compliance with tuition restraint, with a cap set at 4 percent. Until all university rates are set, it is unknown exactly how much WSU will receive.

In sum, Wayne State is to receive 0.9 percent or $1.7 million in additional funds on top of the state's current $182 million allocation. This is the smallest percentage increase of any Michigan public university . Though Wayne State represents 15 percent of the state's total education allocation, we received only 6 percent of the increase. We did not get our fair share.

Like the President, I am pleased that we will not have a reduction in state funding next year. That said, we are emboldened to continue - even accelerate - the work we are doing in retention given our $0 allocation based on incremental undergraduate degrees.

You are by now familiar with the activities underway in:

Advising. We will be placing 45 new advisors across the university to bring our student/advisor ratios in line with National Academic Advising Association standards and to enable undergraduate students to receive a more integrated advising experience. Monica Brockmeyer, associate provost for student success, is coordinating this effort.

General education. Dr. Brockmeyer is also working with faculty and students on recommendations to improve our general education programs.

Promoting student success. The Board of Governors approved enhancements to undergraduate admissions at its February meeting, and the Academic Pathways for Excellence (APEX) program is under new leadership.

Enhancing Learning Communities and the first-year experience. A new leader for our orientation programs has been appointed and applications for additional Learning Communities for next year have been submitted.

Financial aid. Rob Kohrman, associate vice president for budget, planning and analysis, has overseen important process and infrastructure changes to comply with new and stricter federal guidelines.

We remain firmly committed to our graduate students and professional schools, as well as our extensive and successful research initiatives.

I hope you'll join with me in supporting the activities already underway with a view toward receiving Wayne State's fair share from the state in future annual budgets. I am grateful for your assistance in this process, and am confident that we will increase our number of graduates over the next several years. Given the performance-based funding structure now in place, our efforts should pay off in the future.

Thank you again for all that you do for Wayne State. I welcome your comments and suggestions at provost@wayne.edu.

Ronald T. Brown
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs