Submitted by: Ned Staebler, Vice President for Economic Development, 1 FEDERAL AFFAIRS Homeland Security Subcommittee Hearing Wayne State University was the site of a Congressional field hearing regarding U.S. northern border security issues. The hearing, conducted by the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, was attended by Subcommittee Chairman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Subcommittee member Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-MI). This hearing was preceded by a desktop demonstration of a possible terrorist scenario beginning at Wayne State University, and was attended by close to 100 individuals. President Gilmour greeted and welcomed Chairman Bilirakis and Congressman Clarke to Wayne State, and gave brief remarks to the law enforcement and homeland security officials participating in the tabletop presentation. The hearing was widely regarded as a success. Panelists included federal and local officials. Action Alerts/ Issue Advocacy Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Spending Bill Wayne State University signed on to a letter from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) urging Congress to retain the National Institutes of Health (NIH) salary cap at the current Executive Level I (October 2011) in the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill. This would allow institutions of higher education to continue to attract and retain the best investigators for research. Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the Supercommittee ) Wayne State University joined 133 Presidents and Chancellors, representing institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, joined the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and the Association of American Universities (AAU) in a letter sent to the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. The letter urges the committee to reach a balanced agreement that reduces budget deficits, reins in the nation s debt, and creates economic and job growth. Federal Depository Library Wayne State University s librarian, along with the librarians of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, sent letters to Michigan s Senators regarding an issue with the libraries of the State of Michigan. The Government Printing Office (GPO) did not support a proposal that the State Library of Michigan worked out to move the federal depository library function to the University of Minnesota. The state library can no longer service it and no other libraries in the state are willing to take on this responsibility. There are already several other regional arrangements around the country for providing such services and they all seem to be working fine. Minnesota already does this for South Dakota and is quite willing to take on the responsibility for Michigan. GPO is, however, among other things, refusing to allow the U.S. Senate to work this out, wanting the issue to be handled by the Joint Committee on Printing, and raising other
Submitted by: Ned Staebler, Vice President for Economic Development, 2 issues to block the deal. Other library associations have spoken out strongly against this issue as well. A letter was sent to our Senators, asking them to intervene with GPO and attempt to move this agreement forward. McNair Programs Wayne State University joined in a letter of support to the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee expressing Wayne State University s deep concern about the future funding of the Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program one of the Federal TRIO Programs. The McNair Program, which was named in honor of the astronaut who perished in the Challenger explosion, was created to promote doctoral degree attainment among low-income, first-generation students and students of color. STATE AFFAIRS President Gilmour Meetings in Lansing On November 3, President Gilmour met with Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, Senator Roger Kahn and Representative Eileen Kowall. Discussions included the legislation that would allow community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees; capital outlay and the Biomedical Research Building; and funding for the School of Medicine s Joe Young psychiatric initiative (see below). Biomedical Research Building We have been meeting with members of the legislature to apprise them of the reasons behind our plans to scale back the Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research Building. We are letting them know that, because of to the lower state contribution and Henry Ford s reduced participation, we needed to scale back the scope of the project. Performance Funding We continue our discussions with the Presidents Council as well as our URC peers on the possibility of a performance-based funding formula. We are identifying potential metrics that we believe are appropriate to the success of our students and the state of Michigan. We are researching what has and has not been effective in other states and are working in a manner to be prepared for any new developments from the administration and legislature. Community College Baccalaureate Legislation At this time, there has been no significant legislative movement on this legislation. It still sits in the Senate Education Committee. Since the last report, a group of community college presidents and university presidents have met to discuss the issue further with no noteworthy resolutions. State relations officials with the universities continue to talk with members of the Senate and the administration on the matter.
Submitted by: Ned Staebler, Vice President for Economic Development, 3 Joe Young Psychiatric Funding The Department of Community Health s budget for the current fiscal year did not include funding for the School of Medicine s Joe Young Psychiatric program. We have been seeking to restore it since the Governor s budget was presented earlier this year. On November 9, the Senate inserted funding into a supplemental appropriations bill (HB 5014) to restore funding to the Joe Young initiative. On November 10, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 28-8. The legislation will now need to be approved by the House, since changes were made to the bill in the Senate. House leadership has indicated that they do not like the additional spending in the Senate version. Negative Supplemental At this time, there has been no movement on the negative supplemental appropriations bill (HB 4980) introduced by Rep. Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck) in late September. As you will recall, the bill cuts funding for Michigan State ($18 million) and Wayne State ($12.8 million) because the sponsor believes that the two institutions violated the terms of the tuition restraint language in the Higher Education budget. University Governance Legislation At this time, there has been no legislative movement on Rep. Bob Genetski s (R-Saugatuck) legislation that would create a commission to study governance at the state s 15 public universities. It appears that for the time being, there is not a lot of legislative support for the effort (HB 5000). State relations officials with the universities continue to discuss the issue with members of the legislature. Legislative Calendar The legislature is scheduled to be on Thanksgiving break for the third and fourth weeks of November. When they return, they are scheduled to be in session for three weeks and then break for the year. COMMUNITY RELATIONS Combined Charitable Contributions Campaign The Combined Charitable Contributions Campaign started October 10, 2011 and will run through November 18, 2011. Dean Jerry Herron, WSU Irvin D. Reid Honors College, is this year s Campaign chair. As of November 7, we have raised $64,000 towards the $100,000 goal. The charitable organizations participating in the campaign are the Black United Fund and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Both organizations provide numerous community service programs through a large network of volunteers and donors. These programs
Submitted by: Ned Staebler, Vice President for Economic Development, 4 include drug abuse counseling and education, job training and placement, services for the elderly and for victims of domestic violence, recreational activities for children, small business support and services, basic needs assistance, and many other community outreach initiatives. Eligible employees can donate online easily through Pipeline. For those that do not wish to give online, pledge forms are available. Seventy-five departments have department captains who champion the Campaign in their areas and encourage their colleagues to donate and answer questions they have about the campaign Michigan Diversity Council s Signature Event Diversity Recruiting Symposium On Wednesday, October 26, the Michigan Diversity Council, in partnership with Wayne State University, hosted a symposium on diversity recruiting. More than 115 attended the event and represented a variety of individuals from the corporate, non-profit, and higher education areas. Stephen Pemberton, former chief diversity officer and vice president of Diversity and Inclusion at Monster.com and currently divisional vice president and chief diversity officer at Walgreens, provided a well-received keynote speech on the importance of diversity in recruiting and in the workforce. A panel of experts, which included Gayle Hamilton, associate director of the Labor Studies Center at Wayne State, provided insight on how to work to achieve a diverse pool when recruiting and hiring. Mercedes Benz Financial Services, a major sponsor for the event, showcased their SmartCar in front of the Law School, which drew much attention. Detroit Councilman Andre Spivey s M.O.O.V.E. Youth Fitness Event On Friday, November 4, 2011, Detroit Councilman Andre Spivey hosted the inaugural Minors Overcoming Obesity with Veggies and Exercise (M.O.O.V.E) event in Gym 111 at the Matthaei Athletic Complex. Sixteen schools buses brought more than 700 fifth grade students from Detroit public and charter schools to participate in the event. WSU men s basketball Coach David Greer welcomed the students and chaperones to the WSU campus and athletic complex. The WSU women s basketball team made a surprise appearance, which elated the students who had the chance to give high fives to the athletes. The WSU mascot, W, also attended along with his pal Paws, the Detroit Tigers mascot. A nutritionist talked to the students about the importance of eating healthy. Pete Thomas, the second season winner of NBC s TV show, The Biggest Loser, and Michigan native, addressed the young audience on the importance of physical activity. Finally, a fitness instructor led the students in physical activity. Students left the event with smiles on their faces and many commented that they intend on going to WSU when they grow up. Councilman Spivey was very pleased with the event and stated that he is interested in hosting another M.O.O.V.E. event on campus in the spring to check on the participants progress on achieving healthy lifestyles. This successful community event was a collaborative endeavor with Special Events and Services, WSU Athletics and the Matthaei Facility, WSU Public Safety and Media Services.
Submitted by: Ned Staebler, Vice President for Economic Development, 5 Wayne Cares Winter Warmth Collection Drive Starting November 16 and running through December 12, Wayne Cares will collect warm items (hats, gloves, scarves, jackets, boots, socks, etc.) at fifteen campus locations to donate to individuals and families in need of assistance this winter season. Wayne Cares has partnered with the DO Foundation and Tri-County Outreach to assist in the distribution of the donated items to the community. The Mission of the DO Foundation is to connect directly with the homeless for a personal account of their immediate needs, and to generate community support in conjunction with implementing cost-effective programs to aid and assist them with meeting those needs. Tri-County Outreach is dedicated to solving a variety of problems in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Feeding and clothing the homeless/underprivileged is their current focus with a long term goal of opening transitional housing for women and children. Wayne Cares is a university outreach initiative that brings together the university community for the purpose of charitable giving. Its primary goal is to help university units work together and collaborate with each other for the good of the community. Housing and Residential Life, Business Services (Receiving and Distribution), and Marketing and Communications are collaborating with the Office of Government and Community Affairs on this project.