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“I have enough money from state appropriations to take care of debt retirement and financial aid. Everything else is on tuition dollars,” Haas said.

“In Michigan this fiscal year, we will dedicate 76 percent more general fund dollars to our prisons than we will to our public universities,” Domino’s President and CEO J. Patrick Doyle told a Business Leaders for Michigan summit on higher education at the Lansing Center. “In North Carolina, they will spend almost twice as much on universities as they will on prisons.”

According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers, Michigan had the third-highest decline in state support for higher education between 2005 and 2010. In the current budget year, university funding was slashed by 15 percent. That pushed up Michigan colleges’ tuition and fees, resulting in an average cost of $38,215 for a four-year degree versus $18,877 in North Carolina, Doyle said. As a result, fewer Michigan residents get degrees.

But declining state funds also have forced Grand Valley State to raise tuition.

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Doyle said he’d like to see universities increase research and development efforts and partner with businesses more often. He’d also like to see Michigan follow North Dakota’s example. It increased revenue by attracting more out-of-state students who pay higher tuition without decreasing access for in-state students.

“The decline in state support for our public universities over the last decade has shifted the cost of earning a college degree from the state to students and their families,” he said. “To help make college more affordable for hundreds of thousands of Michigan young people, we need a long-term commitment from the state to make higher education a … priority.”

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan needs to invest more in higher education to better compete with states like North Carolina, where a four-year education costs $20,000 less, the head of Domino’s Pizza said Monday.

Doyle said the two states are similar in population, personal income, joblessness, the size of their state budgets and the number of people they have in prison or college. But while Michigan spends $1.1 billion annually on higher education, North Carolina spends $2.5 billion.

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Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas said his university is getting $2,365 per student in state funding this year, while the University of North Carolina system gets $11,000 per student. He supports asking universities to be accountable for making sure students are getting a good value, and said his Allendale-based university has cut the cost for obtaining a degree by 14 percent.

Most of Michigan’s 15 public universities expect to see an increase in state funding of around 1.5 percent to 3 percent in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1, but still will be able to count on state payments for only about a third of their operating budgets, compared to close to 80 percent in the 1960s.

Haas said he’d reduce tuition at his school if the state increased its support and he could count on the funding remaining stable.

But, he said, the main goal must be to better support universities with state dollars.

“Our state cannot afford to continue to continue its recent trend of declining investment in the talent pool of tomorrow,” Doyle said. “Michigan faces a very real shortage (by 2025) of nearly 1 million workers with a two-year degree or better, so we need to think about educating and developing our workforce.”

Asked if the tuition increase has left some students unable to afford college, he replied: “Absolutely.”

Photo: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin / Courtesy of BLK DNM

—Matthew Schneier

BLK DNM’s cross-platform plan for world domination continues. Johan Lindeberg’s men’s and women’s label, which puts out a printed gazette and a series of videos in addition to clothes and accessories—and, during fashion week, opened the doors of its first store—recently launched its own blog, BLKDNMcloseup.com. The journal offers a look behind the scenes at the line’s process, and also brings in collaborators to spread their chosen messages. Today, the first in a series of mini-shoots created especially for BLK DNM Closeup by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. The point, explained the label’s Max Vallot, is to harness the power of social media to help effect change. The first installment, published today, spotlights Christy Turlington Burns (wearing Coat 6 by BLK DNM) and her organization, Every Mother Counts, dedicated to fighting preventable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth. “Strong and independent women have always been an inspiration for Johan,” Vallot explained.

$119.00

Sized 5-12 and in three widths Narrow, Medium and Wide.

Wear with a plaid button front shirt and a pair of skinny jeans.

Light brown suede so not everything in your wardrobe is black and studded.

I love these Nine West boots, and so will most women. Here at Us, every time we bring Nine West shoes on a fashion photo shoot, a lot of our celebrity/real-life models are so relieved that we don’t squeeze them into vertigo-inducing Louboutins or narrow Chanel pumps. They can also run straight to from the shoot and get these because Nine West is so accessible.

These ankle boots are very regal and I really like the ruching detail and the 4″ heel, which is high, but somehow they design them so you can walk  and the price of $119 is perfect!

PRODUCT DETAILS

A snappy clutch or great looking tote and you’re ready to go.

Joyrides

-Suede
– Man-Made Sole
– 4″ heel
– High Shaft Heel

Purchase information: Buy it here.

Ever since Sarah Jessica Parker hit the pavement for the Sex And the City film sequel, people have slowly been losing their minds over all of her Carrie Bradshaw couture costumes. We have no idea what’s going on with the plot, but we love the way she looks. Always. Every detail — from head to toe.

But the reality is that most of the costumes are real clothing with really high price tags, which are deliriously outrageous. Luckily, on a midnight online surf,Cheap Ed hardy scarves, i found this shirt on the Forever 21 site that resembles one of SJP’s many looks that I found so sweet, modern and fresh. And, bottom line: It’s only $14.80!

You can pair this shirt like Patricia Field styled Parker — with a light-wash cropped jean and lilac studded high heels for sexy country or a pencil skirt or leggings to be a bit more refined. I also love that if you like the look but not this exact color, there are choices in red, fuschia, green and yellow.

PRODUCT DETAILS
The Laura Plaid shirt is a cute and casual button-down featuring two chest pockets and short sleeves with smocked detail.

- Available in small, medium and large
- 24″ approximate length from shoulder to hem
- 100% cotton
- Imported

Buy it here.