Grand Valley President Philomena V. Mantella urged lawmakers in Lansing to consider growth and return on taxpayer investment performance as they consider how the state funds higher education.
"Where is the consideration in the current funding model in terms of growth, in terms of relevance, in terms of return on investment performance within the way in which we look at a funding state?” Mantella asked members of the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges during testimony on May 21 . Mantella and other university presidents from around the state offered their insights in advance of the state legislature finalizing the amount of state support higher education institutions will receive in the next fiscal year.
“I would agree with our colleagues, that we have more to do in terms of funding this whole sector, but I would also argue that growth and the sort of base condition has to be a part of the consideration going forward as we look at increments to universities.”
Mantella’s testimony focused on four dimensions of Grand Valley’s success story: Growth, value, relevance and return on investment.
As other Michigan regional public universities have seen enrollment decline by an average of 24% over the past 20 years amid smaller graduating classes at Michigan high schools, Mantella said GVSU has “bucked the trend,” growing enrollment by 5% over the past 20 years.
She noted a recent Upjohn Institute study showing GVSU leading the state and the nation in terms of graduates produced per $100,000.
She also highlighted GVSU’s commitment to remaining among Michigan’s lowest-cost options for a four-year degree.
Thanks to lower costs, scholarships and supporters, 44% of GVSU graduates leave GVSU with no debt. For those who do take on debt, they graduate from Grand Valley with almost 37% less debt than the national average.
“So we do believe, at a price point in the lowest quarter – well below the average – and value in terms of highly relevant degrees, embedded with experience, we have a great equation for our families and for our state and for our businesses,” she said.
With 86% of GVSU graduates choosing to live in Michigan after graduation, Mantella also noted the university’s success in listening to employers about their needs and adapting curriculum and offerings to be responsive to workforce demands.
The university has demonstrated its commitment to the state with investments in high-demand health, engineering and computing programs, a promise to embed co-op internships or undergraduate research into every program, and the launch of GVSU Omni, providing learning opportunities across the state.
“We're really focused on the relevance in our state and being sure we're an economic engine, as well as a good learning option for our students and families,” Mantella said.
