Citing Michigan’s state budget, Grand Valley State University administrators are voicing what they feel is a greater need for increased funding allocations.
During a Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting Friday, administrators stated last year, the University received $334 million in financial aid and employment to support students. President Philomena Mantella expressed disappointment over the 3% funding increase allocated to GVSU in the most recent state budget passed earlier this month. Mantella and University administrators called for increased funding to support students amid rising tuition rates and planned renovations.
“In the fiscal year 2024, Michigan supported four-year public universities at an average of $7,300 per student, well below the national average of $10,820,” Mantella said. “Things are worse for us, as we are consistently more than $2,000 per student below the state average.”
The day before the BOT meeting, MLive published an interview with GVSU Communications Officer and Secretary Stacie Behler, who criticized the 3% one-time funding increase as a “broken” system.
Mantella shared in her report that 44% of students carry zero debt. Those that are carrying debt average $24,000. Mantella also stated there has been a continued decline in federal student loan and parent loan borrowing. Average net tuition has remained steady, with students needing to cover just over $7,000 annually.
During the meeting’s public comment section, Professor of Mathematics Matt Boelkins also expressed concern over rising tuition rates and allocation of funding.
“From 2008 to 2025, 17 years, annual tuition went from $8,200 to $15,900, almost exactly doubling, (and) averaging about 4% more per year,” Boelkins said. “Anything that increases at 4% per year will double in 17 years. In two of the past three years, GVSU students have experienced tuition increases of nearly 5%. We can’t keep doing this to our students.”
Boelkins requested BOT commit themselves to three things regarding annual tuition and budget. First, he asked administrators increase tuition by no more than 3% per year for at least the next decade. Then, he criticized raises given to administrators. According to Boelkins, in 2024, several vice presidents received 6-8% raises, none less than 4%. In 2023, he said every vice president received a raise between 4.5-5%. Since 2022, many of the 30 highest-paid administrators received at least one raise of more than 10%, some even above 20%, with nearly all annual raises being around 4%, despite maintaining the same roles.
“Stop giving the highest-paid administrators the highest percentage raises, ones that are frequently higher than tuition increases,” Boelkins said.
Boelkins highlighted a large wage gap, asking for increases in pay for low-level employees.
“(Increase) compensation for our lowest paid faculty, adjuncts, visitors and affiliates, who do the revenue-generating work of teaching half of all student credit hours,” Boelkins said.
BOT’s Finance and Audit Committee shared capital outlay budget requests and a five-year plan for renovations to the Haas Center for Performing Arts’ Louis Armstrong Theater, Lubbers Student Services Center, softball/baseball training and locker room facility upgrades. These plans were approved, alongside accepting cash gifts of $14,137,858.17 as endowment, as shared in the Institutional Advancement Report.
