Around the state

Michigan Promise scholarships: ?

The clock is ticking, and the fate of the Michigan Promise grant program, which offers up to $4,000 to in-state students for college, is still anyone's guess.

The higher education budget is among six budget bills on Gov. Jennifer Granholm's desk that are still unsigned, according to the Associated Press. Other bills cover general government expenses, human services, state police, community health, energy, and labor and economic growth.

The state is operating under an interim budget that expires Saturday, and Granholm said she will act on the bills by then to avoid another government shutdown.

She's expected to veto portions of some of the bills this week in a bid to get money to restore the Michigan Promise Grant scholarship program, lessen a cut in grants that local governments use for police and fire protection and ease a cut in Medicaid reimbursement rates for health care providers, the Associated Press reports.

Minors, booze and calling for help

The Michigan House has passed HB4876 - the bill that would offer immunity from prosecution on alcohol possession charges to underage drinkers who call for medical assistance for themselves or a friend.

The companion bill, SB902, will be considered by a Senate panel before moving to the full Senate for a final vote.

Under current state law, minors caught with alcohol in their possession for the first time face a fine with possible community service and/or possible substance abuse screening and treatment. For three or more offenses, jail time is possible.

Eastern Michigan University

Expansion plans and complaints

Not everyone is happy about EMU's planned $3.9 million indoor practice facility, which broke ground this month.

American Association of University Professors-EMU President Susan Moeller slammed the administration at the October board meeting, saying their priorities are "athletics first, academics later." Moeller likened the conditions at some academic buildings to those in a third world country.

Moeller called for more dollars for improved handicap access in some buildings, properly functioning elevators, better temperature regulation for classrooms and better supplies for students and faculty.

But the university says its priorities are in order and that many of the AAUP's concerns are already being addressed. For instance, plans to add an elevator and improve handicap access to Ford Hall, which was built in 1930, will begin this summer.

"We're planning to spend $178 million (on facilities) over the next three years, and 78 percent of that will be academic," EMU President Susan Martin said today.

The three-year also plan prioritizes safety and security, Martin said.

"It's an old campus and we do have some issues with access, but we have a number of projects underway that we're addressing," said John Donegan, assistant vice president for facilities. "The remarks brought up some examples, but we have in fact corrected a number of them."

Also this month, EMU revealed plans to ask the state for millions of dollars for future improvements in the next fiscal year, including $38 million for the renovation of Strong Hall in EMU's Science complex, a 1957 building that houses the geology and geography and the physics and astronomy departments. The school wants the project to begin in January 2010.

The school will also ask the state for an additional $80 million for a communication arts village that it hopes will revitalize the east side of campus. The Arts, Communications, Technology and Design (ACTd) Village would combine five academic units: art, communication, media and theater arts, music and dance, engineering technology and technology studies.

EMU received over $30 million funding from the state last school year to renovate its Pray-Harrold building after requesting it every year for a decade. Before then, EMU had not received state money for renovations since 1996. Martin said the school has borrowed $100 million for capital projects.

The EMU Board of Regents next meeting is Dec. 17.

University of Michigan

Fulbright scholars abound

U-M tied with Stanford University this year for the number of scholars and students awarded Fulbright Fellowships.

The prestigious Fulbright Program is funded by the U.S. State Department and aims to boost understanding between those from the U.S. and other countries. Every year, the program funds 1,500 U.S. students who teach English, train in the creative arts, conduct research or study in 140 countries worldwide. Twenty-eight students and scholars from U-M received the award this year.

Defense team picked for nursing student lawsuit

U-M has picked its defense team following a lawsuit filed by a former U-M nursing student who claims her due process rights were violated after being kicked out of the nursing school in 2007. AnnArbor.com will be following the story as it develops.