State of Michigan Fiscal Year 2019 Budget
Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities (MICU) thanks Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature for supporting Michigan students in the state’s fiscal year 2019 budget that was signed into law on June 28, 2018. The Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG) was raised to $2,400, a $400 per student increase from last year and the highest MTG award amount since 2002. The per institution cap on the MTG was raised from $3.5 million to $4.2 million, allowing more students to be eligible at institutions.
As always, MICU will work with members on collecting information and assisting with reporting requirements. Reporting requirements within the budget include:
The department of treasury shall not award tuition grants to otherwise eligible students enrolled in an independent college or university that does not report, in a form and manner directed by and satisfactory to the department of treasury, by October 31 of each year, all of the following: (a) The number of students in the most recently completed academic year who in any academic year received a state tuition grant at the reporting institution and successfully completed a program or graduated. (b) The number of students in the most recently completed academic year who in any academic year received a state tuition grant at the reporting institution and took a remedial education class. (c) The number of students in the most recently completed academic year who in any academic year received a Pell grant at the reporting institution and successfully completed a program or graduated.
By February 1, 2019, each independent college and university participating in the tuition grant program shall report to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on higher education, the senate and house fiscal agencies, and the state budget director on its efforts to develop and implement sexual assault response training for the institution’s title IX coordinator, campus law enforcement personnel, campus public safety personnel, and any other campus personnel charged with responding to on-campus incidents, including information on sexual assault response.
By February 1, 2019, the Michigan Community College Association, the Michigan Association of State Universities, and the Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities, on behalf of their member colleges and universities, shall submit to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on higher education, the senate and house appropriations subcommittees on community colleges, the senate and house fiscal agencies, and the state budget director a comprehensive report detailing the number of academic program partnerships between public community colleges, public universities, and private colleges and universities, including, but not limited to, the following information: (a) The names of the baccalaureate degree programs of study offered by public and private universities on community college campuses. (b) The names of the articulation agreements for baccalaureate degree programs of study between public community colleges, public universities, and private colleges and universities. (c) The number of students enrolled and number of degrees awarded through articulation agreements, and the number of courses offered, number of students enrolled, and number of degrees awarded through on-campus programs named in subdivision (a) from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
Additionally, a requirement for reporting using the P-20 longitudinal data system (Center for Educational Performance and Information-CEPI) is in place. MICU is hosting a training on the student-level data reporting process on July 10.
Talent Pledge Scholarship Program
The Marshall Plan for Talent includes a new scholarship, the Talent Pledge Scholarship Program. The program provides assistance to low-income students between ages 16 and 45 to assist with the cost of obtaining an associate degree or certificate in a high-demand field. For students pursuing a one-year certificate, they may qualify for a $750 scholarship and $250 stipend. For students pursuing a two-year degree, they may qualify for a $500 scholarship and a $250 stipend. Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be enrolled full-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and meet income requirements. The program also provides grants for institutions to provide coaches to students who receive the Talent Pledge Scholarship. Further details about this program will be sent to aid administrators from Student Scholarships and Grants within the Michigan Department of Treasury.