University of Michigan responds to report charging it strayed from mission
The University of Michigan has responded to new report accusing the state's flagship institution of straying from its public mission - along with other top public universities around the country - by favoring "children of the elite" over low-income and minority students.
The report, "Opportunity Adrift," released Jan. 12 by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group Education Trust, gave the University of Michigan some of the lowest overall marks out of 50 public flagship research institutions studied.
Instead of the traditional markers of prestige - like the academic status of the incoming freshmen class - the report focused on how well the nation's best public research institutions reflect the student populations of their states. It used data from 2004-2005 and compared it to data from 2007-2008 to measure progress.
In a University Record report, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Lester Monts said U-M will combat the idea that it is out of reach to low-income and minority students. He also highlighted strides U-M has made in that area.
"If you are a Michigan resident and you are admitted, the U-M will meet your full demonstrated financial need," Monts is quoted in the University Record as saying.
The University Record noted:
- 78 percent of all U-M students receive some form of financial aid. This year, U-M awarded $118 million in institutional financial aid.
- A Jack Kent Cooke Foundation partnership helps U-M engage high-achieving middle- to low-income students from Michigan’s 31 tribal and community colleges. Over the last two years, teams consisting of people from admissions, financial aid, and the schools and colleges visited each of these colleges.
- The U-M Center for Educational Outreach and Academic Success also is working to engage students at earlier ages through partnerships between U-M, K-12 schools and community-based educational organizations.
- The 73.4 percent graduation rate for underrepresented minority students - black, Hispanic and Native Americans - is the highest in Michigan and the fifth best among the nation's 50 flagship schools, according to "Opportunity Adrift." U-M's six-year graduation rate for all undergraduates entering in 2002 was 88 percent, according to College Results Online, the nonprofit's database that tracks graduation rates at public universities around the country.
U-M doesn't track graduation rates by Pell grant recipients. But it will be required to do so beginning in the summer of 2010 under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, which requires all public universities to disclose graduation rates of low-income students.
Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
treetowncartel
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 1:13 p.m.
MJC, how many kids from Flint Southwestern were accepted? Your comment seems to only add to the isolationism of the people in Ann arbor thinking it is their University.I'm sure an equal number of students comparable to Huron were accepted from Long Island Prepatory Academy, Beijing High and Seoul Learning Academy. And before my comment is judged by the mediators that is not meant to be offensive but just a quick reference about out of state students. My point is that not enough kids from around the state are offered slots at U of M Instead, they go to people out of state and out of country. I went to Huron and U of M too and I know other kids from Huron who graduated with me were accepted. Riddle me this? Is that same ratio given out to the graduating class from the high schools in Ithaca, Caro, Baldwin etc...? I think a fair thing to do is that if you went to a public high school in Michigan and graduated in the top 10% of your class you should automatically be able to attend any of the public universities in Michigan.
MjC
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 10:15 a.m.
Treetown cartel writes "The U of M should be more inclusive of local kids from all over the state. Instead, the people of this state are supporting a university with an agenda that is not doing anything to assist the states economic woes." Two of my kids were accepted to the UofM, along with over 100 of their classmates from Huron High School (in both 2003 and 2008)... is that acceptance rate from just one local high school not inclusive enough? And to say that the UM doesn't do anything to assist with the economic woes of the state when it recently became its second largest employer doesn't make sense. Every large insititution has its flaws, but the UM is out there making a difference in this economy of ours... providing a top-notch education to thousands of our children and employing hundreds of Michiganders who might otherwise be jobless. We should be proud to support all of our public universities and we should demand that the State restore educational funding to all our schools.
Jens Zorn
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 9:51 a.m.
It is easy come away from the "Opportunity Adrift" document with the impression that "Flagship University" and "Community College" are the only alternatives. This is certainly not the case. "Opportunity Adrift" ignores the possibilities with, and achievements by public universities that are not on the "50 Flagship" list. Eastern Michigan, Grand Valley State, Toledo, and Western Michigan are among the many excellent universities that have a tradition of teaching well, a tradition perhaps easier to maintain because they are not dominated by a research enterprise. We need to use all our educational resources overcome the difficulties faced by those who seek higher education.
treetowncartel
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 7:40 a.m.
I think the key thing to look are the words "if you are admitted." The comments in the prior article on this issue about kids from Michigan not capable of performing was very disheartening. The U of M should be more inclusive of local kids from all over the state. Instead, the people of this state are supporting a university with an agenda that is not doing anything to assist the states economic woes. Sure, the local area benfits from what take place, but they could be sending grads back to the rest of the state with the golden goose degree to give back to their communities.
st.julian
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 9:30 p.m.
Just because it's nonprofit does not make the Education Trust an objective arbitor of public mission. Who are the ovices bheind the Educaiton Trust? Are they objective and noteworthy?