Haas testifies before state House subcommittee

Grand Valley State University President Thomas J. Haas kicked off testimony before the state House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education when members met on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids Campus on March 9.

"With due respect, the State's flawed policy of ignoring changes in enrollment is deeply unfair to our students and our taxpayers," Haas said. "We need a reliable partner in our State. Some may ask why taxpayer dollars to support higher education. A highly educated workforce benefits all in a community. Incomes and opportunities for every worker increase in states with high percentages of college graduates. Higher Education is a public good, deserving of investment and your enthusiastic support."

Haas continued: "I believe a state budget must be strategic and fund its priorities and what is valued, especially in hard economic times. I hope that this Committee asks how do we leverage our intellectual capacity found in our public institutions of higher education to shape a more prosperous Michigan and what is our strategy in funding MI-15.  There is much wisdom in a recent comment I heard, 'the way through hard times is not by abandoning our priorities and values, but by protecting them.' Or as a good Coastie or Laker knows…never cut your engines with storms around!"