Michigan Tech Campus Forum
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
One of the great things about Michigan Tech is the accessability of faculty and administrators. This goes all the way to the top at the university. President Mroz is very approachable and enjoys speaking with students, staff, and faculty. Today he held another of his informative Campus Forums to keep us posted on the state of the university.
The overall news is very positive. Enrollment is strong, and employment opportunities for Tech graduates continue to be good. Despite lower state funding and a poorly performing stock market, Tech ended the year in the black. The shortfall in state funding is being made up with an increase in the research grant money that flows through the faculty and an increase in tuition. Graduate tuition will increase by only 5% for the 2009-2010 school year, less than the undergraduate tuition.
As part of their accreditation with the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission, Michigan Tech participates in Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP). AQIP is a voluntary program that enables Michigan Tech to maintain its accreditation while embracing a culture of continuous improvement. Michigan Tech has also adopted the Lean philosophy of ensuring all activites in the value chain contribute to the organization’s value.
Next year, there will be a brand new Art Gallery on the ground floor of the the Rosza Center, and a coffee cafe inside the Library. The waterfront master plan is complete and will begin to move forward in the coming year. Waterfront access for students will be improved, and a corridor will be developed that will extend from the waterfront, through the academic area, to the forested recreation area.
President Mroz pointed out that our university has 4 choices: decline, maintain, improve, or transform. We have chosen to transform. Change is difficult, but will create a better life for us and a richer environment for our students.