2008 Woodie Awards
Medical fools
CMU needs to keep focus on improving before others win the race
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Editorial
- Page 1 of 1
Western Michigan University is exploring adding a medical school to its campus - an idea CMU Trustee Sam Kottamasu expressed as a possibility for this university about six months ago.
And while officials at Western claim the funding for such a venture is hard to come by, the fact that they are looking into it means CMU should increase its own efforts to make a new medical school happen.
Michigan's current economic climate isn't exactly welcoming to high-cost ventures for state institutions like adding new facilities or new curricula.
But it also is this climate that makes maintaining diversity and competitiveness in this university of the utmost importance.
If its chief in-state rival adds a medical school, CMU is going to need to find new ways to keep students coming to Mount Pleasant instead of going to Kalamazoo, East Lansing or Ypsilanti.
While neither CMU nor Western may be able to afford to create a medical school now, CMU officials would be remiss not to do everything they can to explore the possibility. Cost might be an issue, but if a medical school is a possibility, CMU should capitalize.
Competition between in-state universities is more than football rivalries. The attempts of Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan to segregate their state funding from the other 12 state universities is a perfect example of what can happen if CMU slips into complacency.
The competition is real. Segregated funding could have disastrous effects on Michigan's other universities - but in times of economic struggle, those universities are looking out for No. 1.
Of course, University President Michael Rao has said keeping Michigan universities united is an important goal, especially when working on the Lansing front to convince legislators to allocate more money.
It's one thing to be united on such issues that affect all universities - but that doesn't mean CMU should neglect keeping ahead of the curve when it comes to attracting students.
And while officials at Western claim the funding for such a venture is hard to come by, the fact that they are looking into it means CMU should increase its own efforts to make a new medical school happen.
Michigan's current economic climate isn't exactly welcoming to high-cost ventures for state institutions like adding new facilities or new curricula.
But it also is this climate that makes maintaining diversity and competitiveness in this university of the utmost importance.
If its chief in-state rival adds a medical school, CMU is going to need to find new ways to keep students coming to Mount Pleasant instead of going to Kalamazoo, East Lansing or Ypsilanti.
While neither CMU nor Western may be able to afford to create a medical school now, CMU officials would be remiss not to do everything they can to explore the possibility. Cost might be an issue, but if a medical school is a possibility, CMU should capitalize.
Competition between in-state universities is more than football rivalries. The attempts of Wayne State, Michigan State and the University of Michigan to segregate their state funding from the other 12 state universities is a perfect example of what can happen if CMU slips into complacency.
The competition is real. Segregated funding could have disastrous effects on Michigan's other universities - but in times of economic struggle, those universities are looking out for No. 1.
Of course, University President Michael Rao has said keeping Michigan universities united is an important goal, especially when working on the Lansing front to convince legislators to allocate more money.
It's one thing to be united on such issues that affect all universities - but that doesn't mean CMU should neglect keeping ahead of the curve when it comes to attracting students.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Nicole
posted 10/17/07 @ 10:54 AM EST
Instead of trying to immitate a competing program, CMU needs to focus on improving other programs in which there is high demand. This will allow them to individualize themselves instead of being just one of the herd. (Continued…)
Rick
posted 10/17/07 @ 12:22 PM EST
I agree with Nicole. Central needs a nursing school. This not only provides the University with under classmen, but also graduate education. Nurse practitioners is a growing field in nursing and demand is up for them since they can practice on their own whereas a PA cannot. (Continued…)
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