The mission of the Michigan Story Festival is to share stories through image, sounds and action with the people of the Great Lakes region and beyond.

“The story festival is a project initiated by CMU for the mid-Michigan region and has been in the planning for more than a year with representatives from the community, the Tribe and university working together to create a schedule of storytellers in the areas of music, art, thought and image,” said Sharon McDonald-Tiknis, CCFA director of development.

A town hall meeting to introduce the festival is planned for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at Veterans Memorial Library, 301 S. University Ave. The public is invited to the free program and refreshments will be served. The festival will take place Oct. 17 and 18.

Joe Sowmick, public relations director for Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, said the $15,000 donation was to support the cooperative effort for CMU/Tribal relations.

“We felt strongly about it, and it was unanimously accepted by the Tribal Council,” he said. “It’s another example of the Kahgegab administration supporting the arts. We’ve seen that in the past through the Opus 6 sponsorship, and by supporting the movie festival.”

McDonald-Tiknis said the Tribe joins the Michigan Humanities Council and CMU in sponsorship at the highest level.

“(Those donations are) incredibly important, and it demonstrates the strength of the partnership in this civic engagement project,” she said.

Presenters at the festival include:

• CCFA Dean Sue Ann Martin, who will give an overview of the Michigan Story Festival;

• University President Michael Rao, who will discuss his commitment to civic engagement;

• Ambassador Monica Rao, who will explain the broad cultural scope of the festival;

• Mary Olivieri, community relations director for Isabella Bank and Trust, who will discuss a January visit by storyteller Leland Faulkner and Isabella Bank’s sponsorship of the festival;

• Michigan Story Festival co-chairpersons Pamela Gates, associate dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Kevin Malloy, library-media specialist at The Morey Charter School, who will moderate a question-and-answer session;

• Roger Gilbert, principal of Mary McGuire Elementary in Mount Pleasant, who will discuss public school involvement; and

• Ben Ramirez, CMU history professor, who will explain the engagement between the community and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

“We certainly hope and anticipate a substantial attendance by representatives of the community and we are developing a marketing plan to make sure people in mid-Michigan and beyond are aware of the festival,” McDonald-Tiknis said.

Sixty-three employees decided to take early retirement, with Facilities Management and Health Services taking the brunt of cuts.

Although the bumping process is complete, Rich Morrison, public relations and marketing senior officer, said the university has no definite dollar amount the process has saved the university.

“There are so many variables; we don’t have the final numbers for next year’s budget yet. George Ross (Finance and Administrative Services vice president) is still working different models, and until the final budget is put together, it may not be possible to get exact figures,” Morrison said.

One employee who took the retirement incentive is Bob DeBruin, academic administration assistant vice president, who has been an employee at CMU for nearly 32 years. He began as an assistant professor in the math department, teaching statistics.

Later, he became the first statistical consultant for faculty and staff. He entered the administrative arena as assistant vice provost for planning, then moved on to assistant vice president, then to his current position as vic e provost for academic administration.

“I taught full time for seven years in the math department, and then moved into administrative roles,” DeBruin said. “I really enjoyed the classroom, working as a statistical consultant — working with faculty working on doctorates and graduate students working on projects.”

Being directly involved in the construction of the Music Building, the Charles V. Park Library and the Health Professions Building were some of DeBruin’s highlights.

“I’ve worked with a lot of good people at the university, and that’s really the highlight,” he said.

DeBruin has helped the provost with budget and personnel issues for the last 10 years, however, “There are a lot of other good people here to fill the gap,” he said.

Retirement plans include travel, volunteer work and genealogy. DeBruin has family in Grand Rapids, Kentucky and California, and said he’s looking forward to spending time with grandchildren.

“CMU has been a good place, and I’ve enjoyed it. I’m gonna miss the people, but we’ll be staying in Mount Pleasant, so we’ll still be able to see those people,” he said.

Another person retiring is Earl Morrow, director of facilities operations for Facilities Management, who has been involved at CMU for 18 years.

Getting the woodchip boiler online and recovering from 1986 flood were two of the highlights during Morrow’s tenure.

Morrow and Mel Remus, Facilities Management plant engineering and planning director, both are retiring, and both will take years of experience with them.

“They’ll be bringing in new blood,” Morrow said. “I’ve enjoyed working here, and have enjoyed working with the people. You don’t work someplace 18 years and leave and not miss it.”

Morrow said he plans to enjoy retirement, spend time with his granddaughters, do volunteer work and travel.

“We’ve already moved to Grand Rapids, so I’ll be relocating there,” he said.

Morrison said he believes the bumping process was very successful.

“I don’t know of anyone who was not able to be accommodated in some fashion. That is so incredibly complicated because of the way contractual agreements read,” he said.

University President Michael Rao will speak with all who retired individually, thanking them for their years of service.

Morrison said credit is due to the employees in the human resources department.

“The packages and programs they’ve put together for everyone are really remarkable,” he said.

The Board of Trustees will finalize CMU’s budget at its July 10 meeting.

The complete early retirement incentive list

• David Alsager, University Recreation coordinator of open recreation programs
• Donna Anderson, President’s Office executive secretary
• Diane Backus, University Health Services nurses aid
• Sharon Balogh, University Health Services nursing supervisor
• Wayne Barrett, Facilities Management custodian
• Joan Bateman, Athletics secretary
• Connie Behm, Public Broadcasting donor club coordinator
• Linda Bettisworth, Development and Alumni Relations prospect research coordinator
• Charlene Blizzard, Dining Services food service worker
• Jean Blubaugh, Printing Services senior specialist clerk
• Carol Brannan, Libraries monographs coordinator
• Chuck Carlson, Extended Learning coordinator/academic adviser
• Sharren Cook, Central Mailroom specialist
• Robert DeBruin, Academic Administration assistant vice president
• Fred DuBois, Facilities Management custodian
• William Fitzgerald, Facilities Management custodian
• Laraine Forquer, Printing Services bindery and mailing operator
• Judy Geroux, Special Olympics director of business operations
• Laura Gonzales, Education and Human Services assistant to the dean
• Duane Goupell, Center for Learning Assessment director of operations
• Patricia Grace, Facilities Management custodian
• Mary Jo Hoffman, Registrar’s Office specialist clerk
• Sandra Hovey, Facilities Managment custodian
• Thomas Hunt, Public Broadcasting director of public radio
• Kathleen Hutchins, CMU Police parking bureau specialist
• Patricia Jenerou, Facilities Management custodian
• Carole Kahkonen, Dining Services head cook
• Barb Kowallic, Bovee University Center executive secretary
• Mary Lou Kriesche, Scholarships and Financial Aid senior specialist clerk
• Lois Kromer, International Education assistant director of international admissions
• Shirley Lilly, Dining Services senior salad maker
• Teresa Lorenz, Facilities Management custodian
• Etta MacDonagh-Dumler, Human Resources director of compensation and benefits
• Elaine MacDonald, Facilities Management custodian
• Ethel (Mae) Martinez, Dining Services head cook
• William E. Miller, Facilities Management supervisor of architect trades
• Bernyce Moran, Libraries circulation specialist
• Earl Morrow, Facilities Management director of facilities operations
• Charles Norisez, Physics electronics technician
• Alvin Norman, University Stores warehouse worker
• Duane Peacock, Facilities Management journeyman electrician
• Irene V. Pina, Dining Services sack lunch program coordinator
• Sally Pomerantz, Payable Accounting specialist clerk
• Marge Preston, Career Services career resource center coordinator
• Charlene Priest, Facilities Management custodian
• William Pung, Facilities Management journeyman building maintenance worker
• Mel Remus, Facilities Management director of plant engineering and planning
• Bonnie Richards, Dining Services food service worker
• Maureen Rondy, Academic Advising academic adviser
• Robert Rulong, Public Broadcasting director of external relations
• Eileen Schaar, Physician Assistant Programs executive secretary
• Julie Shaw, CMU Police parking bureau specialist
• Sharon Shaw, CMU Police office manager
• Timothy Snellenberger, Information Technology computer operations associate director
• Cristy Sprague, Facilities Management journeyman building maintenance worker
• Christian Streitmatter, Chemistry electronics technician
• Judith Travis, Facilities Management custodian
• Theresa Turner, Health Services chief medical technician
• John Tyler, Facilities Management trades helper/maintenance mechanic
• Gerald Watson, Information Technology audio visual technician
• Sharon Wentworth, Dining Services sack lunch program coordinator
• Bea Windgaston, Residence Life administrative services coordinator
• Sharon Wohlscheid, Registrar’s Office senior specialist clerk

CMU officially announced the 60 staff affected by layoffs, and Health Services
took the brunt of eliminations and reductions with 19.

Jeanine Ahearn, Health Advocacy Services prevention educator, was notified
June 3 that her position was being eliminated.

“I’m not sure what they’ll do now,” she said. “I
taught alcohol disciplinary classes for students who were referred from Student
Life, did walk-in referrals, the Health Fair and spoke to classes. That position
is now completely eliminated.”

Ahearn has worked for Health Advocacy Services for seven and a half years,
and said it is sad to see all the hard work to get the program going overlooked
to eliminate the position.

“A lot of universities are being hit, and in a perfect world they could
think of another area to cut, because I think what I did was very important
and is important on college campuses,” she said. “I don’t know
what else the university could have done, but we were hit really hard.”

Fifty-four positions were eliminated in all, including 15 which were vacant.
Eleven of the individuals in eliminated positions will bump into other university
positions, while 27 positions, including three that were vacated through the
Retirement Incentive Program, were reduced to less than full time. Thirteen
individuals were formally laid off because their positions were eliminated,
said Mike Silverthorn, Public Relations and Marketing executive director of
news services.

“Everyone understands that the university is facing a budget challenge.
However, it is always difficult to find out your job is being eliminated or
reduced,” he said. “I’m sure it’s difficult for many people.”

Additional layoffs may result following the completion of the bumping process,
he said. In some cases, an employee’s position was eliminated or reduced
at the employee’s request or after the employee voluntarily chose to participate
in the Retirement Incentive Program prior to the notification of elimination
or reduction, Silverthorn said. In other cases, an eligible employee chose
to accept the retirement incentive after being notified.

Silverthorn said a total amount of savings from the eliminations and reductions
is not yet available.

“There is a seven-day lapse with the retirement incentive, where employees
have seven days to change their mind, and the bumping process is still underway,
so we’re not to the final point yet,” he said.

Tom Davis, executive assistant to the president for external relations –
one of the positions eliminated – said CMU is in a difficult situation.

“I was on the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group, and I was a member
of that group going line by line and cost center by cost center on the budget,”
he said.

Davis said CMU and all universities across the state are dealing with budget
problems.

“I think (the decision) is going to leave people in the president’s
division who were already busy, even busier. Certainly the President’s
Office is going to go on, and go on focused on the president’s priorities;
it is just going to mean they are going to have more work to do,” he said.

Davis said dealing with budgets and making cuts never is a fun experience.

“I’m not focusing on the difficultness of not having the job; rather,
I’m focusing on the opportunities that lie ahead,” he said.

Lisa Tiger, Native American programs director, had her position reduced to
less than full time and said any type of budget reduction isn’t easy.

“I think we’re in a tough time. However, in terms of Native American
Programs, my commitment to Native American people and the work, that’s
not going to change,” she said. “From everything that I’ve heard,
we’re still having the Powwow, and we’re still having Native American
Month.

“I’ll still be there for the students and what they’ll need.”

Todd Williamson’s position as Native American Programs associate director
was one of the positions eliminated, and Tiger said he’ll be missed.

“Losing a position is never a good thing, and obviously the work Todd
(Williamson) did was extremely valuable and helped the office grow,” she
said.

Tiger said the experience of figuring out how to make everything work will
be interesting.

“We need to find out how to do as much as possible with reduced resources,”
she said.

The university’s $21.5-million budget challenge is a result of a proposed
$9-million reduction in state appropriations and increased costs for employee
salaries, health care insurance, utilities and other needs. In response to
the mid-year reduction in CMU’s 2003-04 state appropriation, the university
made reductions of $3.6 million earlier this year.

The application deadline for the Retirement Incentive Program was June 13,
and, to date, 63 people have taken advantage of the program.

“We continue to hammer the message in Lansing of differential cuts,”
Silverthorn said. “We’re hearing good things from the Senate.”

While CMU has decided to cut the CLAS Testing Center, portions of Health Advocacy
Services and layoff 60 staff members, other universities are finding more creative
ways to save money.

University of Toledo

The University of Toledo decided to eliminate four administrative positions,
saving the university $620,000. The positions eliminated include: executive
director of governmental relations, the assistant to the president for community
relations, the vice president for enrollment services and the vice president
for educational and information technology, said Rebecca Magard, media relations
coordinator.

“This is only one of the things we’re doing. It’s an effort
to streamline the executive staff and upper-level administration,” she
said. “We’re also looking at eliminating 28 positions in the professional
staff and communication workers. Out of those, 16 have people in the positions
and the rest are unfilled.

“We’re still in negotiations with the union; nothing is final.”

The two vice president positions will be eliminated effective Dec. 31, and
the other two will be phased out by the end of the summer, Magard said.

A decision on tuition has not been made; however, Magard said she thinks the
governor will set a tuition cap at 6 percent.

“What we raise our tuition depends on what the state comes down to,”
she said.

Michigan State University

Michigan State University Trustees voted Thursday to increase tuition 9.9
percent, and room and board by 6 percent, said Terry Denbow, university relations
vice president.

“We decided there was a $60 million problem. We addressed it two ways
— with internal cuts and reductions and by the raising tuition and room
and board,” he said. “I try to tell people that the combined cost
increase of tuition and room and board is 8.1 percent.”

A list of internal cuts including program elimination addressed $31 million,
he said. MSU had a tuition guarantee policy for nearly seven years — ensuring
families that tuition would not be raised more than 2.8 percent.

“If we had raised tuition at the average of other Michigan publics, students
will be paying $1,000 more than they are paying now,” he said. “If
we did it compared to other Big Ten (schools), students would be paying $1,400
more.”

Denbow said MSU also increased financial aid 10 percent.

“We took some money out of a fund for infrastructure, and we also have
a new federal insured student loan program — if students and families
pay on time, after three years the loan becomes interest free,” he said.
“If you increase tuition, you have to increase financial aid. Access has
to be ensured, as well as quality.”

Denbow said MSU is always looking at ways to increase efficiency.

“The student body has been very, very understanding and so have the unions
on campus,” he said.

Western Michigan University

Cheryl Roland, director of news and communication, said Western Michigan University
is looking at several options for saving money.

“We decided on a hiring freeze in late February or early March. For different
areas, exceptions have been made,” she said. “Each area of university
has been asked to reduce expenditures by varying percentages. Many of the things
addressed for next year are still to be implemented.”

A senior level staff group that has been working on strategic planning, and
although an increase in tuition is still an option, the WMU Board of Trustees
does not meet until the middle of July, Roland said.

Anticipated cuts to higher education appropriations and increased costs amount
to roughly $21.5 million — and after $14 million in reductions, the university
is still left with $7.5 million to cover.

The most logical solution is an increase in tuition, which currently is $133.05
per credit hour for undergraduate students. A 10-percent increase in tuition
would raise the price of a credit hour to $146.30 — generating approximately
$3 million. A 20-percent increase would generate more than $6 million.

Mike Silverthorn, executive director of News Services for Public Relations
and Marketing, said tuition and other options could help offset the $7.5 million.

“Everything is speculation now; there hasn’t been a lot of talk
yet about tuition. As we get closer to the board meeting, maybe there will
be some numbers,” he said.

A tuition increase would add to a 7.2-percent increase in room and board rates,
which the Board of Trustees approved at its April 24 meeting. Michigan State
University also is expected to increase tuition by 10 percent, according to
the Lansing State Journal.

The House of Representatives approved the higher education appropriations
bill in May. This bill calls for CMU to receive less of an appropriation reduction
than the Governor’s proposed executive budget. CMU’s cut would equal
5.74 percent, which would save the university approximately $864,000 from the
executive budget recommendation of 6.74 percent.

As part of the reduction proposal from the Senior Staff Budget Advisory Group,
formal layoff notices will be distributed today, with a little more than one
week before the June 13 early retirement incentive deadline.

“We are in the process of notifying people who are affected by the layoffs,”
Rao said. “(The early retirement incentive) isn’t finalized until
the 13th, so it’s a moving target until then.”

A press release issued Tuesday stated 57 employees received informal notices
of layoffs and an additional 12 employees will be affected by the university’s
bumping process. Of the 69 employees affected, 15 will move into comparable
vacant positions, 26 will be reduced to less than full time or be at a lower
pay level, 19 will be formally laid off and nine will have employment changes
delayed until July 2004.

In his Presidential Update #32, Rao said there will be concerns and issues
on the part of individuals or advocacy groups.

“This is quite natural, since there legitimately may be a reason not
to make almost any reduction. I request your support in ensuring that any discussion
of these reductions be based in fact, civil and not hurtful to those affected
or CMU,” he said on his Web site, www.cmich.edu/president/update32.html.
“It will be important that the university community move forward into
the coming academic year, particularly in light of the involvement of BRAC,
the senior staff budget advisory group, the involvement of the university community
in forums, and in consideration of the closed manner in which personnel reductions
must be decided in order to protect individuals affected.”

The Board of Trustees is expected to present a balanced budget at its July
10 meeting.

Mount Pleasant firefighters and Mount Pleasant Police were dispatched at 12:41
a.m. Monday to 505 S. Bradley St. to respond to a house fire.

The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes. However, one male subject,
Wedyke, 44, was found dead. The investigation is pending an autopsy report.
Cause and origin of the fire also is pending formal reports from the investigation
team and autopsy report.

Friday afternoon Michigan State Police officers responded to a fatal car crash
on W. River Road, west of Wyman Road. Officers arrived on the scene and found
a black 2002 Chevy Blazer which had struck a tree.

The Blazer was traveling east on W. River Road when it lost control, ran off
the roadway, rolled and collided with a tree on the north side of the road.

The driver, Kelli Baldwin, 16, of Remus, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger, Nicole English, 17, of Remus, was pinned in the vehicle and Wheatland
Township firefighters rescued her. She was treated by MMR personnel for broken
legs, and was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital, where she is listed in
good condition.

Human Resources Senior Officer Maxine Kent said the numbers have not significantly
changed since last Monday.

About 60 staff members received informal notices from their supervisors May
21 concerning the possibility of layoffs. Of those 60 positions, 33 are facing
elimination and 27 are being reduced to part-time, Kent said.

Several union contracts allow employees with long-term service to “bump”
into a vacancy or displace the least-senior employee in the same classification,
Kent said. A person who has been bumped may then move to a lower pay level,
and the process continues until the employee with the least amount of service
at CMU and in the lowest pay level is laid off.

The “bumping” process only affects union employees. Only two non-union
groups exist at CMU: professional and administrative employees — totaling
686 positions — and 37 senior officers.

June 9 is the tentative date for announcing formal layoff notices, and until
that time, no one in CMU’s Public Relations and Marketing Office can comment
on the specifics of which departments have received notices or how much funding
those layoffs will secure for the university, said Rich Morrison, Public Relations
and Marketing senior officer.

The early retirement incentive program has a deadline of June 13, and could
impact the amount of layoffs, Kent said.

CMU is facing an estimated $9 million cut to higher education appropriations,
per Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s recommendation. Coupled with an estimated
$15 million of increased expenses in salaries, benefits and utilities, and
the $3.6 million CMU cut earlier this year, a difference of $21.5 million exists
between the revised budget for the current fiscal year and the initial budget
proposal.

Morrison said members of the Public Relations and Marketing staff attended
training sessions Human Resources provided for supervisors and people who may
be affected.

“They said there was a lot of good, concrete, very useful information.
This was a mandatory meeting for supervisors, and they came back and said was
really great,” he said.

On July 10, the Board of Trustees is expected to approve the 2003-04 budget.

On May 12, the Mount Pleasant Police Department was advised of a possible
criminal sexual conduct originating from Internet communication. Two juvenile
females from the Isabella County area were involved.

Prior to this date, Youth Services Unit officers, the mothers and school staff
met with one of the juveniles who had concern about the computer activity.
Attempts were made to educate and hinder these types of encounters, but on
May 12 it was learned that physical contact was made. Allegations of kissing,
fondling and touching of the vaginal area were stated.

YSU officers, Mount Pleasant Police and Isabella County Sheriff’s were
able to collectively interview the alleged victims and alleged suspect, and
then arrested Courser.

The Isabella Prosecutor’s Office charged Courser with two counts of first
degree criminal sexual conduct — punishable by up to life in prison for
each count — and two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct —
punishable by up to 15 years for each count.

First degree criminal sexual conduct involves penetration, and second degree
criminal sexual conduct involves unwanted contact.

Mount Pleasant Police Sgt. Doug Lalone said the parents of the victims played
a large part in the investigation.

“(I am) pleased that the parents of the victims were able to make themselves
aware of a potential situation and bring it forward to school officials and
the police,” he said.

Helpful tips for parents include: keeping computers in an area where they
can be monitored and speaking with children about the dangers of speaking with
individuals they don’t know.

For more information, contact Officer Charles Morrison at 779-5145.

Of those 60 positions, 33 are facing elimination and 27 are being reduced
to part-time, said Maxine Kent, Human Resources associate vice president.

“The decision to eliminate positions is never easy,” said University
President Michael Rao. “There’s nothing more difficult or painful
than laying off employees and colleagues. CMU has planned a number of transition
services to assist individuals whose positions are eliminated.”

Rao said the university will limit the layoffs limited to staff members.

“I’ve made a commitment, and have since I’ve arrived, to slowly
and steadily increase the number of regular faculty positions to keep up with
the growth the university experienced in the 1990s,” he said. “I’m
not going to counteract that now. I expect in the fall there will be 100 more
faculty than when I arrived.”

Departments where the eliminations or reductions would take place are unknown
at this time, said Mike Silverthorn, Public Relations and Marketing executive
director of news services.

“We have to start the process, and there is a sequence for everything
to happen. Depending on the informal notices given there may be retirements,
some people may take advantage of the incentive program and the bumping process
also begins,” he said. “We can’t say which positions will be
eliminated until we get to the formal stage.”

The “bumping” process only affects union employees. Only two non-union
groups exist at CMU: professional and administrative employees — totaling
686 positions — and 37 senior officers.

Several union contracts allow employees with long-term service to “bump”
into a vacancy or displace the least-senior employee in the same classification,
Kent said. A person who has been bumped may then move to a lower pay level,
and the process continues until the employee with the least amount of service
at CMU and in the lowest pay level is laid off.

June 9 is the tentative date for announcing formal layoff notices, giving
people at least 30 days notice, Kent said.

CMU is facing an estimated $9 million cut to higher education appropriations,
per Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s recommendation. Coupled with an estimated
$15 million of increased expenses in salaries, benefits and utilities, and
the $3.6 million CMU cut earlier this year, a difference of $21.5 million exists
between the revised budget for the current fiscal year and the initial budget
proposal.

A dollar amount of how much the layoffs and reductions would save is not known,
Silverthorn said. The early retirement incentive program has a deadline of
June 13, and could be impactful in terms of reducing the amount of layoffs.

Kent said the early retirement incentive plan will have the biggest impact
on the number of layoffs.

“The first thing is determining the number of vacancies and plug that
into the equation. We have to then talk to the people being reduced from full
time, and see if they want to accept the reduction or go through layoff process,”
she said. “We’ll give them some time to think about it. It’s
never very easy, but the process could take anywhere from three to seven days.”

As of Monday, 38 people have taken advantage of the early incentives program,
Kent said.

On July 10, the Board of Trustees is expected to approve the 2003-04 budget.

If the Michigan Senate and House agree that differential cuts to higher education
appropriations are important, CMU may receive a lesser blow than anticipated.

Mike Silverthorn, Public Relations and Marketing executive director of news
services, said the House subcommittee on higher education appropriations submitted
an alteration Wednesday to Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed cuts to public
universities.

The House proposal would create a range in cuts to Michigan universities from
5.45 to 6.75 percent.

If the Michigan Senate and House agree that differential cuts to higher education
appropriations are important, CMU may receive a lesser blow than anticipated.

Mike Silverthorn, Public Relations and Marketing executive director of news
services, said the House subcommittee on higher education appropriations submitted
an alteration Wednesday to Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed cuts to public
universities.

The House proposal would create a range in cuts to Michigan universities from
5.45 to 6.75 percent.

“Anything that is receptive to enrollment trends and past funding inequities
is a step in the right direction,” Silverthorn said.

The House recommendation gives CMU a 5.74-percent cut, saving CMU $864,000
from Granholm’s recommendation of 6.4 percent.

Other Michigan universities also would see reductions in their higher education
cuts, under the House recommendation. Oakland University would see a 5.75-percent
cut, Western Michigan would see a 5.95-percent cut, while Grand Valley State
and Saginaw Valley State would see a cut of 5.45 percent.

Rep. Sandy Caul, R-Mount Pleasant, said in a press release the changes are
to alleviate some of the problems universities are facing.

“The 1-percent change we approve in subcommittee isn’t going to
save the world, but it does soften the blow,” she said.

Kathy Wilbur, governmental relations vice president, said the Senate will
have its last budget hearing May 30.

“There will be a meeting the following week to announce their budget,
then it will probably take a week to go to the full appropriations meeting,”
she said. “It will probably be mid-June before the bill goes to conference
committee, and (the House and Senate members) will sit down and go through
their differences.”

The full House approved the higher education budget by a vote of 68-38 Tuesday,
Wilbur said. The proposal will now go through the Senate.