Comments on: Mary Sue Coleman

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:32:23 +0000

All fine ambitions, but incredibly lacking in the details. Why not add that we should strive for world peace as well?

By: patrick

patrick — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:49:13 +0000

What is more important than education? Can you come up with an example of a state or country with a high standard of living and that is globally competitive without a strong education system?

With respect to lip service, UoM has done quite a bit to support entrepreneurialism.

http://www.techtransfer.umich.edu/
http://www.ur.umich.edu/0809/Jun08_09/07.php
http://bec.umich.edu/index

By: Damian Farrell

Damian Farrell — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:23:14 +0000

Run it like a business
Face it…we are no longer the center of manufacturing
Focus on making our cities lively , attractive and fun places to be…1000 nights!!! see the Michigan Municipal league for what that means!!!

By: Henry Johnson

Henry Johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:57:22 +0000

I agree with President's Coleman's assessment but not her order of prioritization. I believe education, and specifically, our K-12 system needs the most attention immediately. Home grown entrepreneurs are leaving the state and external entrepreneurs are avoiding Michigan because the foundation of our higher education system—k thur 12, is so poor in terms of outcomes. Maybe the U of M could “take charge” of the poorest performing k-12 systems and turn them around with innovation and competent teachers. Particular attention must be given to our urban school districts which experience the greatest levels of failure. It is time for our institutions of higher education to cease defining the problem and begin to direct some of their resources—professional and financial– towards addressing the problems which plague our k-12 systems. To do otherwise is to contribute to the perpetuation of an already abysmal situation.
Many members of the Michigan legislature can't seem to see beyond the next election cycle, but you can. You have the resources, the expertise and the imperative to make a difference. It is time that more of our institutions across society step up, be counted, and help prepare our children for the future they will inherit, whether they deserve it or not. By doing so you will help determine the quality of their lives as well as the overall quality of life in the state of Michigan.

By: NSTOY

NSTOY — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:19:43 +0000

Michiganderthal, before making a comment about compensation of teachers, I invite you to spend some significant time as a substitute teacher in a classroom, knowing that that is a fractional representation of the work we do. Then compare our compensation to comparably-educated individuals in engineering and banking. I don't think that starting with a bachelors in the mid 30K range is near the top. I am a former nationally-recognized teacher who in his 6th year is starting to consider a different profession because the compensation does not match up with the stress I deal with and the declining work conditions in the past 5 years.

By: UM staff

UM staff — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:38:17 +0000

I totally agree with Dr. Coleman's comments about re-awakening the Michigan entreprenurial spirit. For the UofM, a good step in that direction would be to remove the internal barriers faced by UofM staff who want to start a venture (UM faculty do not face this problem). Some of it is changing the mindset of the UofM middle-managers who might not be well-informed about the available options for their staff members starting commercial ventures while still being UofM employees (those options do exist).

By: Michiganderthal

Michiganderthal — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:26:52 +0000

Pretty self serving: education is key to a good life and a good job.

Making sure our teachers are well compensated? They are way up near the top of the pay and benefits game these days.

What about supporting entrepreneurialism with something besides lip service.