State Budget Director John Nixon, CPA, said Thursday that Michigan State University and Wayne State University are in “technical compliance” with Michigan ’s new tuition restraint rules passed as a portion of the 2011-2012 fiscal year budget. Under the rules, Michigan ’s 15 public universities would have their budgets cut 22 percent (instead of 15 percent) if they failed to keep tuition increases under 7.1 percent.
Despite the Administration’s determination that the two institutions are in compliance with the rules, many lawmakers have indicated the spirit of the regulations were not followed and some have even alluded to potential repercussions. House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee Chair Representation Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck) held a hearing on the matter last week in regards to MSU and is currently planning a similar hearing in regards to Wayne State next week.