Eastern Michigan University highlights student opportunity, articulation agreements and workforce focus

Eastern Michigan University President Smith and student body president Jack Booth appeared before the House Appropriations Subcommittee to describe EMU’s role in creating workforce‑ready graduates and expanding access to higher education.

Booth, a rising senior and EMU student body president, described EMU as “a school of opportunity,” saying hands‑on programs and close faculty relationships helped him prepare for a career in banking law compliance. President Smith outlined institutional strengths: 80 percent of students are from Michigan, many students work while enrolled, EMU has the largest number of articulation agreements in the state (170) with community colleges, and the university is highly ranked for veteran friendliness.

Smith highlighted programmatic strengths—cybersecurity (strong employer demand), nursing, entrepreneurship and teacher preparation—and said EMU supports the subcommittee’s operational funding request and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. When Representative Rogers asked about federal grants frozen or clawed back, Smith confirmed the university had “lost few grants,” including a significant NIH outreach grant to the Asian community that required a 90‑day closeout; Smith said the institution would provide complete details after the hearing.

Ending: EMU asked for continued support for operations and infrastructure and committed to follow up with the committee on federal grant impacts.