In the news

In June, Detroit to shut down 34 schools

More than 10,000 students will be uprooted when 34 Detroit public schools shut their doors this June. In the next five years, the Detroit Public Schools must cut more than $560 million in expenses. In the next three years, the district predicts enrollment will drop by about 40,000 students from 140,000 and another 60 to 75 schools will have to close. Kurt Metzger, a research director at WSU\'s Center for Urban Studies, said the city and the district need to work together to stop the population and school enrollment decline. \"They should be tracking what neighborhoods have really been hit and where people are leaving,\" he said.

Colleges facing another reduction: Gov. Granholm proposes midyear cut of $30 million

Universities and colleges that have experienced tens of millions of dollars in state funding reductions may face more losses this year. A proposed spending plan announced Thursday included a midyear cut of $30 million in funding for the state\'s 15 public universities and 28 community colleges. A recent plan to offset the $30 million cut is to issue bonds. Harvey Hollins, WSU vice president for government and community affairs, said schools are not better off if the bond money is reserved. \"If we cannot use bonds for general operations, taking a cut this time in the fiscal cycle is very painful,\" he said.

Michigan's 2004 rankings performance: Researchers, Companies continue to engineer growth

WSU offers an engineering program with ties to auto companies that dominate the southeastern region of Detroit. In a partnership with Troy-based Delphi Corp., Wayne State unveiled a new, 4,000-square-foot clean room in 2003 for MEMS R&D. The clean room is part of Wayne State's Smart Sensors Lab, which is developing technologies for medical applications as well as automotive. Industry-linked projects like some under way at U-M, Wayne State and the state's university spinouts are likely to lead to patents and coordinated development of products.

Granholm wants limit on tuition increases

This Sault Ste. Marie newspaper ran an AP story about Gov. Granholm's spending proposal for Michigan's 15 public universities. The governor has proposed the sale of $100 million in state bonds to cover maintenance and new construction at universities in the current and upcoming fiscal years. The additional money would offset a $30 million cut in higher education called for in the governor's executive order to help resolve a state budget shortfall. Representatives of Wayne State University and Central Michigan University note that universities have eliminated maintenance projects not immediately necessary in the past three years. "Unless we can use those bond funds for general operations, this is going to hurt us in a major way," said Harvey Hollins, vice president for government affairs at WSU.

Granholm wants limit on tuition increases

Harvey Hollins, vice president of government affairs, is quoted in a story about the governor's call to limit tuition increases in the upcoming school year. Gov. Granholm initiated a $30 million cut to higher education and proposes selling $100 million in state bonds for maintenance projects and new construction at the state's universities and community colleges. "Unless we can use those bond funds for general operations, this is going to hurt us in a major way," Hollins said.

Humbled Nowinski receives honor

Dave Nowinski, a 1984 graduate of Wayne State, was inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his six-time All-American performances on the swimming team. Nowinski left Wayne State with school records in the 500 free, 1000 free and 1650 free. The records stood for 20 years. Nowinski was also the first Wayne State swimmer to break the 10-minute mark in the 1000 free. Current Wayne State swimming coach Sean Peters is mentioned as one of the attendees of the induction ceremony.

Bonds deserve serious debate, not partisan sniping

This editorial about $2 billion bond proposal made by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to create jobs in Michigan mentioned Wayne State\'s efforts in life science research through TechTown. ...Some of the Republicans gibing at Granholm have themselves pushed for more support of life sciences and technology research, which encompasses major projects from the Next Energy program at Wayne State University to the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids.

SUPER BOWL XL: Majority surveyed have no impression of Detroit

A recent survey shows that there are a lot of people across the country who don\'t know much about Detroit. As next year's Super Bowl host, Detroit is hoping to improve its image and change people's misconceptions about the city. Kurt Metzger, research director at Wayne State University\'s Center for Urban Studies, was quoted on the subject. Metzger was asked if one week of national attention can repair the city\'s reputation? He answered, \"No, what it is going to do is it really needs to motivate or energize this region to start thinking of itself in a positive light.\"

Detroit announces 40 school closures

Detroit Public Schools officials are expected to announce today the names of up to 40 of the district\'s 252 schools that will be shut down by June, a number experts believe is the most by a district in a single year nationwide. Kurt Metzger, research director of the Center for Urban Studies at WSU said that if district officials would have responded to the loss of students with closures earlier, they would have more time to come up with a strategy of the best schools to close. Detroit administrators haven\'t had time to strategize. Just a week before they plan to announce the closures, they were putting together the deficit reduction plan.

WSU Baseball Squad Picked Fourth in GLIAC Poll

WSU\'s baseball team placed fourth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate athletic Conference re-season coaches\' poll. The coaches chose Grand Valley State, the defending GLIAC champion, to win the league\'s 2005 championship. A season removed from its highest GLIAC finish since 1999, the Wayne State baseball team\'s expectations are set higher than ever with seven returning players at key positions and three pitchers from the starting rotation back this spring.

Michigan Governor Proposes Offering $4,000 Reward to Students Who Complete 2 Years of College

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan has proposed replacing the state\'s merit-based program of college scholarships with a pledge to automatically give students $4,000 each if they complete two years of postsecondary education or apprenticeship training. In a State of the State address delivered on Tuesday evening, Governor Granholm, a Democrat, also announced a plan to issue $2-billion in state bonds over 10 years to finance research intended to spur economic development.