Announcing the 2025 MASU State Higher Education Public Policy Agenda

For the past decade the Michigan Association of State Universities has biennially released its Michigan Higher Education Public Policy Agenda. The just-released fifth edition, issued in tandem with the start of the state’s 103^rd legislative session, represents a comprehensive set of higher education policy priorities for strengthening our public universities’ ability to serve Michigan and the greater public interest. The policy agenda can serve as an informative resource to lawmakers and legislative staff, campus leaders, and other stakeholders in the higher education space, as well as a primer for Michigan’s approach to higher education governance. It provides context on the current robust state of play with respect to the value and public return on investment of earning a college degree, to individuals, communities, and the state collectively.

The recommendations in the policy agenda represent a guiding framework within which the state’s public universities can successfully fulfill their missions while ensuring public accountability, academic quality, fiscal sustainability, and strong contributions to state workforce and economic development goals. The policy agenda is tailored to Michigan and its unique policy-setting context and is reflective of issues that have been discussed in the state’s public policy domain in recent years. These same issues are commonly deliberated in state legislatures throughout the U.S. The agenda is updated as warranted by evolving state needs and opportunities. 

Policymakers should consider public universities integral partners in the development of higher education-related state policy. Furthermore, given the intellectual and analytical resources they house, these institutions will continue to serve as indispensable resources in informing the development and reform of other state policies and programs across the state’s public policy spectrum.

As stewards of the public trust, the leaders of the state universities of Michigan, along with the staff here at MASU, look forward to executing this policy agenda and in the process, ensuring that these vital assets are fully delivering on their noble missions in advancing education, research, and outreach.

Daniel Hurley is the CEO of the Michigan Association of State Universities