In the news

Rochelle Riley: Pushed out on her own at 18

Katrina McQueen, an 18-year-old junior at Detroit Central High School who takes a pre-law class at Wayne State University , was sent to live with her 67 year old grandmother three years ago. You might think she has a year to get her life together and complete preparations for college or to find a job. But she has just one month because she's about to "age out" of Michigan 's foster care system. She will be too old to receive any benefits - along with over 400 other children in the system.

Column: Ballot proposals would force debate lawmakers should be having

The K-16 proposal would guarantee annual, inflation-adjusted funding for local schools, community colleges and universities. Lawmakers can approve the proposal once the signatures are filed with the Secretary of State, or reject it and the voters will decide the matter in November. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is spearheading the opposition to the proposal, which is perceived to be punishing to small businesses.

Higher ed funding a conundrum

Western Michigan University\'s graduation rates are good. But, according to state Budget Director Mary Lannoye, it falls down on affordability, financial aid to low-income students and the number of students who are graduating with math, science and education degrees. Based on those factors, WMU would get the lowest increase from the state out of the 12 universities that are considered ``non-flagship\'\' -- in other words, not the University of Michigan, Michigan State University or Wayne State University -- in Gov. Jennifer Granholm\'s proposed 2007 budget.

Weigh Ritalin risks, doctors say

The Food and Drug Administration is studying 25 sudden deaths of people taking Ritalin. David Rosenberg, professor of child psychiatry and psychology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and Children's Hospital, called the drugs some of the safest in medicine. Still he's happy the news will call attention to the need for a precise diagnosis and proper evaluation of a person before drugs are prescribed. "Not every child who is hyperactive or who is bored in class" has an attention deficit problem he said.

Task force hears about university's financial needs

A hearing on higher education, facilitated by four state representatives, was held by the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan Task Force last Friday. Gov. Granholm had just presented her proposed budget increases for higher ed. - granting 2 percent increases to the state's three research universities - U of M, Michigan State and Wayne State . "I've never been a fan of formulas, especially after what happened last year involving Northern and Wayne State , " said Democrat Rich Brown. "The one positive thing is that this formula is being applied using new money. In other words, we're not saying we want to give more money to this university and take it away from this university."

Granholm budget increases school aid

The plan would give straight 2 percent increases to the state's three main research universities: the U of M, Wayne State and Michigan State . All community colleges would also get 2 percent increases. There is no tuition cap on the proposal, but Granholm said she hoped the universities would practice restraint. Mike Boulus of the President's Council, which represents Michigan 's 15 public universities, said reactions to the governor's plan are mixed. "Thirty million dollars is nice, but we've lost $300 million over the past five years," he said. "We're hoping we can build on the 2 percent."

Keeping it civil -- Corvino, Stanton bring marriage debate to Michigan campuses

One is a passionate pro-gay family activist and an atheist. The other works for a self-styled Christian organization that works to limit legal protections for LGBT-headed families. Both men feel that their cause is moral, right, and just. But far from being enemies glaring at each other across the chasm of America \'s cultural divide, Wayne State University professor and BTL columnist John Corvino and Glenn Stanton, the senior analyst for marriage and sexuality for Focus on the Family, are sharing a table at forums around the country. Beginning on Monday, Feb. 13 at Wayne State University , Corvino and Stanton will bring \"Same-Sex Marriage: A Civil Debate\" to Michigan campuses.

Advanced fuel technology focus of new UD-Mercy center

Officials from the University of Detroit Mercy , the state Department of Transportation, NextEnergy, the Engineering Society of Detroit and federal officials will gather today at the University of Detroit Mercy to dedicate the University Transportation Center . The center, made possible by a $2 million federal grant, aims to advance technology and expertise in transportation. The center\'s three initial areas of focus are alternative energy, more efficient use of transportation infrastructure and the understanding of transportation supply chains. UD Mercy\'s university partners in the effort include Wayne State University , Grand Valley State University , Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo .

UDM grant is to fund transport study center

The University of Detroit Mercy received a $2-million grant to create a University Transportation Center that will collaborate with several other regional academic institutions to study advanced technologies in the alternative energy arena. The program will focus on developing research in bio-fuels, fuel cells and hybrid technology, as well as supply chain management and studies of inter-modal transportation. The U.S. Department of Transportation will award the money over a four-year period to a consortium including UDM (the lead partner), Grand Valley State and Wayne State in Michigan and the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University in Ohio .

Granholm's budget: more cash for schools but not for communities

Public schools will have more money, local governments won't and hospitals will pay more under Gov. Jennifer Granholm's proposed 2006-07 budget released today. School districts would receive $200 per pupil more than this year. The budget also included more money for pre-school and after school programs for public schools. The state's 15 public universities will see an average increase of 2 percent in state aid, their first increase in several years.

Granholm gambles on budget -- $43B proposal relies on closing tax loopholes, hiking fees to increase aid to schools, colleges

Public schools, research universities, home health care workers, mass transit riders and the working poor who have no health insurance are the winners in state spending plans for next year laid out by Gov. Jennifer Granholm Thursday. State universities would get a 2 percent increase to $1.4 billion. The three research universities -- Michigan , Michigan State and Wayne State -- would get the full raise. The other dozen state universities would get a 1 percent hike and the other 1 percent would be linked to performance, outreach to low-income students and keeping tuition affordable. Republican lawmakers lauded the overall higher education increase but slammed the plan to cut in half and eventually eliminate private college financial aid to 40,000 students. \"I don\'t believe it\'s appropriate to decimate tuition grant money,\" said Sen. Mike Goschka, R-Brant.