Colleges in Michigan

The tradition of public colleges in Michigan began in 1817, twenty years before it became a state with the founding of the University of Michigan in Detroit. It was later moved to the city of Ann Arbor. Today, there are 93 Michigan colleges and universities that exist under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of higher education. This expansive list includes 31 colleges that offer Associate's degrees, seventeen baccalaureate Michigan schools and 19 universities for completing graduate work. Eleven schools in Michigan are considered to be baccalaureate/associate's institutions. Additionally, there are eight research universities and two tribal colleges.

The Michigan Constitution grants constitutional autonomy to the state's public universities in accordance with Article VIII, Section III. This gives the universities the power to supervise and control each respective institute. It enables Michigan colleges to govern in a way that recognizes the benefits of experts to make decisions. This autonomy has existed since 1850 when it was granted to the University of Michigan. This action was taken after delegates to the constitutional convention of 1850 brought up the fact that the University of Michigan had been showing a poor enrollment and slow growth since 1837.

In the decades that followed, universities that were created continued to be given constitutional autonomy. It was felt to be the best method of governance for the institutes of higher learning. Michigan has continued to be successful in maintaining institutional autonomy while states surrounding it have organized higher education institutions into centralized bureaucratic systems or with control by state boards of education. In this regard, higher education in Michigan maintains a unique status.

Proponents of autonomy maintain that the lack of too much state level bureaucracy allows the universities in the state to operate more efficiently and expeditiously. The same proponents note that autonomy is more efficient for recruiting and keeping top university administrators.

Even with constitutional autonomy, the state legislature works with the universities directly. They help determine appropriate levels of public funding, help establish needs and merit-based scholarships and ensure accountability for appropriations.

The most popular colleges in Michigan include the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It ranks third in all public colleges in the nation and eleventh world-wide according to Newsweek magazine. Kalamazoo College in the city of Kalamazoo ranks high in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges in National Liberal Arts Colleges. Other top colleges in the state include Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Hope College in Holland, and Michigan State University in East-Lansing.

Economy

Manufacturing has long been important to the economy of the state of Michigan. The element of manufacturing grew rapidly, and by the turn of the 20th century around 25 percent of all job-holders in the state were factory workers. The advent of the auto industry in the early 20th century transformed the state into a world-class and widely acclaimed manufacturing area. By the latter part of the century, the total value in shipments was an astounding $218 billion.

Vehicles and related equipment dominate Michigan's economy and makes up over a quarter of the manufacturing payroll in the state. Not surprisingly, the state's major industrial area is the Detroit metropolitan area. The area includes a heavy concentration of plants of vehicles and related goods in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. Additionally, this area contains major steel, pharmaceutical and chemical industries among others.

Major industrial cities in Michigan are large and dynamic economically. These cities include Flint, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Savignaw and Kalamazoo.

Due to General Motors(GM), Ford and Chrysler having headquarters in Detroit, Michigan contains three of the largest industrial corporations in the United States. At the beginning of the 21st century, General Motors was the world's leading manufacturer.

Other products and services that provide employment for residents include information technology, aerospace products, food products, copper and iron ore mining, furniture and military equipment. The state is also the third leading grower of Christmas trees with over 60,520 of land dedicated to the farming of the trees. Domino's and Little Caesars Pizza chains were founded in Michigan. Headquarters for both provide many jobs for those with business degrees, humanities degrees, food science degrees and more.

Michigan ranked fourth in the nation for high-tech employment in 2002 with a total of 568,00 workers. This trend is expected to continue because of the technology that new auto designs constantly incorporate. The state consistently ranks high in research and development expenditures in the nation. This research and development expenditure includes the automotive industry. It makes up a higher percentage of the overall state gross domestic product than any other of the 50 states.

Michigan also provides a good source of engineering jobs. Additionally, in 2004, it was second in the nation for new corporate facilities and expansions.

The University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan State University all house leading research centers. They make important partners for the economy in Michigan. These universities attract more than $1.5 billion in grants for research and development each year. An important research center to the state is the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory located at Michigan State University.

The well-educated and highly skilled workforce of this state is attractive to large and successful companies. The fact that it ranks third in the nation for engineering graduates will ensure that this trend continues. In 2010, Michigan was the nation's leader in new job creations.