MARQUETTE, Mich.—Gov. Rick Snyder’s executive budget proposal invests an additional 6.1 percent in higher education. The amount distributed to each institution would vary according to a modified version of the performance funding formula adopted in the 2014 budget. Northern Michigan University would receive a performance increase of 6.3 percent, or $2.6 million, on top of its operations funding of $41.7 million.

“We are very pleased with the governor's recommendation and his support of higher education,” said NMU President David Haynes. “One thing to remember is that this is the first inning of a nine-inning process. But it's a great start.”

Half of the new funding is proportional to each university’s fiscal year 2011 operations funding (partially restoring reductions made the following year). The other half was determined by the following metrics: weighted undergraduate completions in critical skills areas; research expenditures; six-year graduation rates; total completions; administrative costs as a percentage of core expenditures; and a new metric on the number of students receiving Pell Grants.

Universities will be required to limit any tuition increases to 3.2 percent or less in order to receive any new performance funding provided in the recommendation.

The executive budget proposal calls for the largest overall percentage increase in funding for Michigan’s public universities since fiscal year 2001. The Senate and House will follow with their own budget proposals. NMU is scheduled to give its annual testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education on Thursday, Feb. 20.