U‑M Dearborn emphasizes practice‑based learning, transfer pathways and affordability
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Summary
Chancellor Domenico Grosso told the subcommittee U‑M Dearborn focuses on practice‑based learning, transfers from community colleges, Pell‑eligible students and use of state appropriations largely for student financial aid.
Domenico Grosso, chancellor of the University of Michigan Dearborn, told the appropriations subcommittee that the campus emphasizes practice‑based learning, transfer pathways and affordability, and urged continued state support for appropriations that fund financial aid and infrastructure.
Grosso said Dearborn was founded with industry support and continues to partner closely with employers to adapt programming and provide practice‑based projects across STEM and the humanities. “Half of our classes are now designated as practice‑based learning,” he told the committee, describing projects that connect students to local companies and community partners.
Grosso highlighted transfer and dual‑enrollment partnerships, including a Learn Forward arrangement with Henry Ford College that guarantees admission for students who meet GPA thresholds; he said 43 percent of the campus’s total student body are transfer students and 50 percent are Pell‑eligible. He reported a $32 million state appropriation that comprises roughly 18 percent of Dearborn’s operating budget and said about 95 percent of that appropriation is used for financial aid to students.
Representative Rogers asked if Dearborn had experienced federal grant freezes or clawbacks; Grosso said the campus had “just some” small impacts and agreed to follow up with specifics through the chair.
Ending: Grosso asked continued legislative support for state appropriations to maintain affordability and facilities, and offered to provide requested federal grant details to the subcommittee.