139
Final Report of
THE LT. GOVERNOR’S COMMISSION
ON HIGHER EDUCATION &
ECONOMIC GROWTH
December 2004
Prepared for
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
140
Acknowledgements
The commission thanks its benefactors, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Manulife,
whose generous financial contributions allowed the commission to accomplish its task. The Council of Michigan
Foundations was also instrumental in providing financial assistance to the commission.
The commission also acknowledges the time and effort of those people who served on the work groups. Their
participation informed the commission in critical areas and contributed a breadth and depth of expertise
without which this report could not meet the governor’s charge.
A number of institutions deserve acknowledgement and thanks for contributing key resources that facilitated
the commission’s work. Public hearings were the most vital component of its fact-finding efforts, and several
institutions—Lansing Community College, Northern Michigan University, Northwestern Michigan College,
Saginaw Valley State University, and Wayne State University—generously provided facilities and other enabling
resources. The Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, the Ingham Intermediate School District,
Lawrence Technological University, Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University, and the
University of Michigan all opened their real and virtual facilities to the commission and work groups for
meetings.
Finally, the commission is grateful for the tireless work of John Austin, who served as policy director for the
commission. Senior policy adviser John Burkhardt, PhD, director of the University of Michigan Center for
the Study of Higher and Post-Secondary Education (CSHPSE), worked with a team of researchers to support
the commission’s work: Britany Affolter-Caine, Nathan Daun-Barnett, Mark Garrett, Laurel Park, and Tom
Perorazio from the University of Michigan’s CSHPSE; and William Edwards from Michigan State University’s
Education Policy Center.