URC eNews: Empowering Michigan

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Recently, the University Research Corridor – an alliance of Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University – wrapped up a three-stop tour Health Threats Tour that focused on ways URC institutions work to understand and mitigate environmental impacts on human health.

The roundtable discussions followed the release of a new URC report, Tackling Environmental Health Threats, which examines the impact of a variety of risks to the health and vitality of Michigan communities posed by neglecting environmental threats.

Each discussion in the URC’s Health Threats Tour is intended to help bridge the gap between research and practice and provide an opportunity for new connections to be made between community leaders, university experts and state and local lawmakers. See below for recaps, resources & news from each event.

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At the Mackinac Policy Conference, business leaders from across the state spoke out about the need to expand investment in Michigan’s universities — especially the state’s top research universities – so businesses will be able to tap the highly educated college graduates and research they need to keep up with the growing demand for workers.

Business leaders agreed that one of the most important assets a state can have is universities that produce graduates who keep the economic engine running. The 2022 URC Economic Impact Report showed that the three URC universities grant nearly 12,000 degrees in high-tech areas annually, as well as nearly 13,000 degrees in high-demand areas such as business, computer science and engineering, and nearly 2,500 medical degrees.

The bottom line is: Now is the time to tap Michigan’s budget surplus and boost funding for higher education.

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Additional News:

Britany Affolter-Caine, executive director of Michigan’s University Research Corridor — an alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University —released the following statement today applauding the FY 2023 budget passed by the Michigan Legislature on Friday.

“The University Research Corridor applauds the Michigan Legislature’s investment in higher education as part of its fiscal year 2023 budget, specifically the net 3.7% increase in operations funding for Michigan’s universities and the supplemental investment in critical infrastructure and research at our universities deployed across the state. Altogether, this money is the largest investment in higher education in at least two decades and will positively impact our students, communities, and economy. It will help create more of the high-demand graduates that our business and industries need to thrive and the innovation they need to compete.

“We look forward to continuing the discussion on the $250M Postsecondary Scholarship Fund. Strong state investment in student financial aid can make an education at a world class research university possible for many more middle- and low-income students.”

Michigan's URC is one of the top academic research clusters in the nation. This report analyzes the impact of the URC on Michigan's economy. The URC contributed an annual economic impact of $20.6 billion in 2021 - reaching every single county in Michigan.

Read the URC's 2022 Economic Impact Report

Michigan's University Research Corridor (URC) is one of the nation's top academic research clusters and the leading engine for innovation in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. An alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, the URC is focused on increasing economic prosperity and connecting Michigan to the world.