WMU News

Senate subcommittee supports funding boost for WMU

May 19, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- The Michigan Senate Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee has proposed a funding plan that would result in a 7 percent increase in state appropriations for Western Michigan University for the 1999-2000 fiscal year.

According to reports from Lansing today, the subcommittee is proposing a 5 percent increase in the University's base funding level plus an additional 2 percent for infrastructure, technology, equipment and maintenance. This recommendation represents an increase from the Michigan House's 3.5 percent proposed increase.

"We are extremely grateful to members of the Higher Education Subcommittee. Their plan is good policy for our state universities," said WMU President Elson S. Floyd in response to the news. "This could not have happened without the leadership of subcommittee chair Senator John Schwartz and the dedication of our local legislative delegation, headed by House Speaker Chuck Perricone. If this proposal is supported by the full Senate and the House over the next few weeks, our students and faculty will benefit greatly, as will all of Michigan."

The next step in the funding process will be for the Senate to approve the subcommittee's proposals, which could happen as early as this week. Then, representatives of both the House and the Senate will meet to reconcile the differences between the two chambers' funding recommendations.

Both houses of the Legislature held higher education appropriations hearings in late winter and spring. President Floyd testified in Lansing Feb. 24 before the House subcommittee. On April 9, the Senate subcommittee met in Battle Creek at WMU's School of Aviation Sciences facilities and President Floyd testified again, along with the presidents of the University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, the University of Michigan/Flint and Eastern Michigan University.

Media contact: Matt Kurz, 616 387-8400, matt.kurz@wmich.edu


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