GVSU issues second annual accountability report

ALLENDALE, Mich. — In its second annual review of academic and fiscal performance, Grand Valley State University has again demonstrated its ability to educate successful students, despite a continued shift of the financial burden of education from the state to students.

Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas created the report in 2007 to show that Grand Valley is a good steward of its resources.

“Higher education is a public good and not a private commodity. The state of Michigan and its taxpayers invest in institutions of higher learning and expect accountability for that investment,” said Haas. “Grand Valley State University serves a highly motivated student body with superior faculty. The result is a university moving the state in a positive direction by impacting its economy, environment, and social climate”.
 
The report also shows that eroding support from the state for its public universities is clear, and Michigan is at the very bottom when it comes to recent investment in higher education. A copy of the full report can be downloaded here in PDF format. Some highlights of the report include:

Measures of Student Success:
The profile of incoming freshman is outstanding. They had the second highest average GPA in the state with 97 percent at 3.0 or higher. Their ACT scores are the fourth highest in the state. Ten of the 12 programs that have graduates sit for licensure exams show a 92-100 percent pass rate. The remaining two show a pass rate in the top six. The latest survey shows 98 percent of Grand Valley graduates are employed or in graduate school. Of those employed, 88 percent work in Michigan.

Access and Affordability Measures:
Grand Valley has balanced access and affordability with quality. Enrollment at Grand Valley has increased nearly 50 percent in 10 years, while tuition increases are in the bottom half of all the state's public universities. Grand Valley serves the state — 96 percent of its students are Michigan residents. Financial aid continues to increase; $171 million is available to assist students earn their degrees. This brings the average net cost of attending Grand Valley down by $2,400.  Among the state's 15 public universities, Grand Valley enrolls the second largest number of Michigan resident undergraduates, and is second lowest in cost per awarded degree.

Diversity:
Grand Valley actively pursues and nurtures diversity among its community, believing that diversity is an intellectual asset. A diverse university community is integral to the overall success of the institution and its graduates. Minority enrollment figures show Grand Valley in the upper half of the state's public universities.

Partnership with the State:
Students at Grand Valley receive the lowest per student appropriation of all students attending Michigan's public universities. The financial challenges are clear when data shows the state of Michigan is in last place when it comes to increases in funding higher education during the last five years. The report notes that 80 percent of university revenues come from students and private funds while 20 percent come from the state. Grand Valley is second-lowest in receipt of state-funded classroom space. Despite the challenges, Grand Valley has quantifiable benchmarks of ingenuity and responsible use of resources.

Efficiency Measures:
Grand Valley is a responsible steward of the resources it manages and shows operational efficiency. It's the sixth-largest state university and serves its students with the fourth smallest faculty. Grand Valley is a regional leader and national model for sustainability. Its climate and policies are a model for students as well. Ridership on the bus, provided free by the university, has increased by 1.5 million since 2004, saves students more than $15 million each year.

Public/Private Partnership:
Grand Valley's current vitality is built upon a history of public vision and personal generosity. The extraordinary beauty and efficiency of campus facilities and the vibrancy and success of academic programs are in large part due to these partnerships. Careful management of endowments and scholarships bring tangible results to the university and its students.

Economic Development:
Grand Valley has a significant and continuing impact on Michigan's financial health. Its 26,000-member community pumps nearly $560 million into the area economy. Thousands of students work and learn in businesses around the state through internships that save area employers millions of dollars every year. There are more than 60,000 graduates of Grand Valley with the majority living and working in Michigan. The university spent nearly $92 million on new and remodeled facilities and created 2,300 trade and construction jobs during these 2008 projects.