sports | CMU’s baseball team begins as No. 2 seed at Mid-American Conference tournament in Ohio, 6
contract negotiations | Read about cmu, faculty association’s reaction to health care bill, contracts, 3
Central Michigan Life
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
[cm-life.com]
Senate approves 15-percent cut to college funding By Maria Amante Senior Reporter
The state Senate approved a 15-percent cut of public funding for state universities Tuesday, bringing the budget closer to balance but angering some educational authorities. CMU will receive about $68 million next year as part of the agreement which will be approved by the state House and signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, said
Kathy Wilbur, vice president of development and external relations. “We’re happy (the cut) is not worse,” Wilbur said. She said a more severe cut in state aid was possible. At one point, universities providing benefits to unmarried domestic partners were to receive an additional 5 percent cut in funding. The language remains in the bill as intended for implementation, but the penalty has been
removed. University funding from the state will now partially be taken from the state aid fund, which was renamed the education fund in the budget. K-12 education and community colleges are also funded from this account. Doug Pratt, director of public affairs for the Michigan Education Association, said this shift will result in budgetary constraints at all three levels of education, and the budget agree-
ment will deflate the surplus in the School Aid Fund. “It’s going to mean fewer resources driven to students, fewer resources and staff, it is a systematic disinvestment in education,” Pratt said. Pratt said the investment in education is crucial to attracting businesses to the state as opposed to lower taxes. Wilbur said the education fund is a better place to be and more “rich and robust”
than the general fund. “The challenge with it is it sets up a more antagonistic relationship between higher education and K-12 and the community colleges, and we hardly need more antagonism; they are our natural partners.” Wilbur said she does not know what next year’s state funding will look like, but the current budget set up boilerplate language which would allow for a formula that may include per-
pupil funding, something she and University President George Ross strongly advocate. “Obviously, what we will advocate for is that there will be no cuts like this in the future, and we’ll recover from (this),” Wilbur said. “It’s very dependent on how the state revenues will look (next year).” State Rep. Kevin Cotter, RMount Pleasant, said the budget A budget | 2
financial aid
Federal policy changes standards Students must graduate within 150% of major’s minimum credit hours By Jordan Spence Staff Reporter
photos by erica kearns/photo editor
CMU police officer Laura Rico and Commerce Township resident Mary Kae Carlesimo discuss Safe Rides, a free taxi service offered to students on campus, at the information fair during Tuesday’s Freshman Academic Orientation that was held in the Bovee University Center. Carlesimo is sending her first child away to school. “I’m excited, I can’t wait,” Carlesimo said. “She’s going to do great.”
Central sightseeing Students, parents pleased by fall orientation process By Andrew Dooley | Staff Reporter
F
all orientation filled CMU’s main campus Tuesday with recent high school graduates just beginning to find their place in Mount Pleasant. Samantha Johnson, a senior at Homer High School in Homer, said she visited several colleges but felt an immediate connection with CMU the first time she came. “Orientation today just really confirmed everything I like about CMU,” she said. “Walking on campus feels right right now.” Jackie Wayne, a senior at Garber
cm-life.com Check out a video of students, parents and staff exploring campus at Freshman Academic Orientation after it is posted tonight
High School in Essexville, said she had an extremely positive experience at orientation. She said her favorite part was the new friends she made over the course of the day. Wayne is planning to study education, and was especially impressed by the new Educational and Human Services Building. A fall | 2
Parents wait for their children to return from Freshman Academic Orientation Tuesday outside of the CMU Bookstore located inside of the Bovee University Center. The incoming freshmen arrived on campus around 9:15 a.m to start check-in, and attended activities such as academic advising and an information fair.
Students who filed for financial aid will find some significant eligibility changes in effect come fall semester. The ‘Satisfactory Progress Policy’ changes include credit hours taken to complete a degree, a required GPA level and a required percentage of attempted credits completed. “This concerns students who are taking a timely manner to finish their degree,” said Diane Fleming, associate director of client services for the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. “Many schools had students who were attending with no progress toward their degree.” Fleming said that the federal law was enacted to prevent “professional students” from taking advantage of the system. Students will now have to complete their degree requirements within 150 percent of the minimum credit hours required to complete their entire program of study to remain eligible for financial aid. If students meet their credit limit without completing their degree, they will be denied federal financial aid and state aid at the student level. Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and graduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0. All students must complete 67 percent of all credits attempted each semester. The changes will apply to federal grants, federal workstudy, federal loans, the Federal Perkins Loan, CMU grants and Michigan’s Tuition Incentive Program. Students who do not meet A aid | 2
Protest planned for potential closing of Oasis school Thursday gathering to meet at MPPS’ Central Office By Michael Barone Staff Reporter
Residents will tell Mount Pleasant Public Schools how they feel about potentially shutting down Oasis Alterna-
tive High School to balance a slashed budget Thursday at noon. Shawn Ostwald, a Mount Pleasant resident and 1996 alumna of Oasis, 3350 S. Isabella Road, was upset when she learned of the recent proposal. “This school has saved thousands of children and it has made such an impact on our community,” she said. “It would be a real shame to
see it go.” When she heard about the possible closing of her alma mater, she decided to make a statement of her own. Shawn, along with about 60 other Oasis graduates, parents and teachers, will protest at MPPS’ Central Office at 720 Kinney St. to show the district how important they think the school is to the Mount Pleasant community. No official decision has
been made yet on which of the proposals will pass. Interim District Superintendent Tammy Holder said she recognizes the importance of Oasis, which is why she is asking for input from the community before making any decisions. “All Michigan schools are facing some tough choices when it comes to allocating funds,” she said. “Budgets for education are being cut at the state level. We just want to do
what is best for all of our students.” There will be another board meeting Thursday to further discuss the budget. Former Oasis teacher and counselor Laura Gourlay plans to be there. Gourlay, who spent 25 years at Oasis, said she understands the difficult task the Board of Education faces in cutting spending. “It’s not the district’s fault,”
91 Years of Serving as Central Michigan University’s Independent Voice
she said. “Budget cuts are happening everywhere. They are trying to make the decision they feel can benefit the most people.” According to the district’s website, there is just over $1 million in possible budget reductions. Other proposals include slashing budgets in transportation, athletics and substitute teachers. news@cm-life.com