A keynote discussion by Gov. Rick Snyder encouraged collaboration and communication among and outside of state university leadership.
Snyder's remarks were a part of the State Universities Summit, hosted by Grand Valley State University.
During a question-and-answer session, Synder notes technical and STEM-related careers are a state focus, but says the need for educational programming is - and should be - a united effort.
“Fundamentally, they’re all getting you prepared for some trade," he says. "So it’s striking the right balance of having these critical thinking skills that hopefully you can get in some fashion during your education.”
Snyder also addressed 2011 public education funding cuts and his intentions since to rectify those gaps.
“With respect to looking at the formula or not the formula, my goal is to get the funding restored in terms of what was part of that cut," he says. "Likely it would go through the formula because I believe in metrics. But I don’t view it as a stopping point – I do believe in investing in the work you’re doing.”
Snyder additionally noted his administration’s urban and rural funding efforts, including an emphasis on the latter through the recently-launched Rising Tide program.
That pilot begins with 10 Michigan communities and includes resources through state economic development and housing agencies.
Snyder’s ‘action items’ to university administrators included increasing available K-12 and public-private partnerships, as well as creating a more active and unified voice in the state legislature.
