Tech fiscally sound, enrollment climbing

The Daily Mining Gazette - Published: Saturday, May 05, 2007

CAPTION: Daily Mining Gazette/Dan Schneider

Michigan Tech Fund Chair George Butvilas (from left), Michigan Tech University Vice President for Government Relations Dale Tahtinen, Board of Control chair Kathryn Clark, Tech President Glenn Mroz, and Tech Chief Financial Officer Dan Greenlee listen to a presentation by Graduate Student Council President David Tobias (not shown) at Friday’s meeting of the Board of Control.

By Dan Schneider, DMG Writer

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech University is experiencing a period of economic stability and growing student numbers.

Tech’s board of control heard those two messages at its meeting Friday.

Tech Chief Financial Officer Daniel Greenlee delivered the first, presenting the board with revised projections for the 2007 fiscal year, which ends June 30.

The new numbers anticipate Tech’s Current Fund will be about $1.2 million in the black at the end of the fiscal year, up from the earlier projection of a $75,000 net income. The Current Fund is Tech’s overall fund, made up of its general fund, designated fund, auxiliary funds, retirement and insurance fund and expendable restricted funds. The increases come despite higher expense projections across the board and slight decline in tuition and fees.

Increased research grants and contracts account for much of the increase. Greenlee said the university is now projecting grant and contract totals of just under $42 million for the fiscal year, well above the approximately $33 million originally projected.

Research grants and contracts make up about 20 percent of the university’s anticipated revenue under the new projections.

Greenlee said funding from tuition and fees, grants and contracts and auxiliary activities (dormitories, the Student Development Complex, university bookstore, etc.) remain stable while state appropriations are uncertain.

Tech is also enjoying growth in student enrollment, according to Tech Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Les Cook.

Cook’s presentation to the Board of Control showed a 41-student increase from spring 2006 to spring 2007. Spring undergraduate enrollment was 5,358 this year. Graduate enrollment was 821, though that is a loss of one student compared to 2006.

Applications are also up for fall 2007, with 19 percent more applicants having paid deposits for next school year. Cook said numbers of deposit-paid applicants are more reliable than applicant totals, since these students have made a financial commitment to attend the school.

Applications were up especially among international students.

Cook said it is notable that student numbers are up in Tech’s engineering program.

“We’re bucking a national trend because (our) engineering numbers are up and engineering ... is supposed to be down,” Cook said.

Computer fields are another area where student numbers are growing at Tech, according to Provost Dr. Dave Reed.

“Where we’re getting a lot of growth over the last few years is in computer networking systems administration,” Reed said.

He also mentioned psychology, computer engineering and physics among programs attracting more students.

On another positive note, Cook presented career placement figures for 2006 Tech graduates. They show 77 percent of students employed within their field of study, 17 percent in graduate school and 3 percent pursuing military careers for a total of 97 percent of students employed after graduation.

Dan Schneider can be reached at dschneider@mininggazette.com