Western Michigan University President John Dunn sat down on Tuesday with WMUK’s Gordon Evans and Ursula Zerilli of Mlive/Kalamazoo Gazette. Some highlights of the interview.
Malaysia
Dunn just returned from a ten day visit to Malaysia. While there he signed four new agreements with private universities. Dunn says the names of the schools will be released soon.
He also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Western’s partnership with Sunway University. That has included an exchange program bringing students to Kalamazoo.
Dunn says Western has developed a strong reputation for international studies and exchange programs. He says that could open up future opportunities.
Men’s track and field
The board of trustees announced earlier this month that the university will not be bringing men’s track and field. Indoor and outdoor track, cross county and synchronized skating were eliminated in a cost-cutting move in 2004. Dunn says the door isn’t closed on bringing back the sports at some point. But he says it should not be done “on the cheap.”
Dunn says he agrees with the board of trustees’ report that the university does not have the resources to reinstate track and field right now.
Dunn says gender equity would be a factor in bringing back track and field. He says it’s complicated by the fact that indoor and outdoor track and cross country are counted as three separate sports. Dunn says another sport could be started for women, such as sand volleyball.
Remedial Education
Dunn says he believes in offering some remedial education at the university level. The number of students taking remedial classes and their success rate has recently drawn scrutiny. But Dunn says he doesn’t want to “shy away” from a student who is willing to work to get a degree and has been admitted to the university.
Dunn says there may be some “finger pointing” at different levels about educational quality.
Dunn says he disputes some figures showing that students are not likely to eventually earn a degree (Bridge, Center for Michigan). Dunn says graduation rates in general can be misleading, because for instance they don’t take into account a student who starts at one school, transfers and completes their degree at another.
Medical School
Dunn says he’s confident that a cap on residencies for future doctors will eventually be raised. A recent report in Bridge Magazine raised questions about whether new medical school graduates in Michigan will be able to find residency slots in the state. Western Michigan University is scheduled to open its medical school in 2014. Dunn says he thinks there will be progress by the time Western’s first class graduates in 2018. But he says the partnership with Bronson and Borgess will help make slots available for future graduates of Western’s medical schools.
Dunn says there will be plenty of qualified students for a new medical school. He says there are currently highly qualified students who are getting turned away because of a lack of openings at medical schools.
State Budget
Dunn says Western Michigan University took a huge cut last year, and the increase this year doesn’t make up for it. But Western’s President gives credit to Governor Snyder for sticking to his word and providing a modest increase after many years of cuts.
Dunn says he doesn’t know what the tuition increase will be for next year. He says the state’s formula that offers an incentive for holding down tuition increases is very complicated. Dunn says depending on what other universities do, it may not offer much incentive for staying below the target of a 4% increase in tuition.
Dunn says the state budget lacks a reward for state universities which have held down costs and tuition increases in the past.