Higher Education in MichiganLooking Back, Looking Forward

Fifth Anniversary of Michigan’s Cherry Commission

Michigan Union, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

December 10-11, 2009

What to Look (and Listen) For?

Urban legends and cultural myths

Promises kept, promises endangered

New opportunities, new ideas

Urban Legend

MO

A Shout Out to Grandparents

The Broken Culture“Attitude may make Michigan the new

Mississippi” “Parents’ low expectations frustrate

lawmakers”, “Michigan parents still fail their children”“We must change bad attitudes”

Detroit News and Detroit Free Press Headlines May 1, 2005 through March 20, 2008

The Broken Culture Myth

How important do you think having a good education yourself is for getting ahead in life?

27% “Essential”51% “Very Important”20% “Fairly Important”

EPIC-MRA, Your Child Survey, March 2005 Question 14

Promises Kept

19 RecommendationsWhose Responsibility to Implement?What has happened?

Recommendations

Higher Graduation Standards (Rec. 2)New High School Assessment (Rec. 4)New Programs in Entrepreneurship (Rec. 5)Align Teaching (Rec. 7)Community Compacts (Rec. 8)Expanded Institutional Access (Rec. 10)Target Adult Learners (Rec. 14)Commercialize More Research (Rec. 17)

Areas of Some Progress

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 200650%

55%

60%

65%

70%

Trends in College Going Rates

Michigan United States 7 Great Lakes States Top 5 States (MA,CT,NH,VT,CO)

Promises Endangered

99-0

0

00-0

1

01-0

2

02-0

3

03-0

4

04-0

5

05-0

6

06-0

7

07-0

8

08-0

9

$0

$1,000

$2,000

$3,000

$4,000

$5,000

$6,000

$7,000

$8,000

$9,000

$10,000

Trends in Average Tuition & Fees at Public Institutions

Michigan Public 4-Yr Michigan Public 2-Yr 7 Great Lakes Public 4-Yr 7 Great Lakes Public 2-Yr

Academic Year

Tuiti

on a

nd F

ees

Less than High School, No Diploma

High School Diploma, or

GED

Some College, No Degree

Associate's Degree

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate or Professional

Degree

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

10

31

24

9

17

10

13

29

20

8

19

1111

31

19

9

19

119

26

18

8

23

15

Highest Educational Attainment for Individuals Ages 25 to 64: Percent of Population in 2007

Michigan United States 7 Great Lakes States Top 5 States (MA,CT,NH,VT,CO)

New Opportunities, New IdeasDegree completion, especially for young

adultsCommunity efforts to support educational

achievementSense of urgency and a new focus on talentMore…and…better ideas