A bill is working through the state legislature that would establish a panel charged with restructuring the state's higher education system. Under Michigan's constitution its 12 public universities all operate autonomously, according to the Free Press.
University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman said at an event that the state's schools are already accountable and have cemented themselves as some of the top higher education institutions in the nation. They've also responded responsibly to the financial troubles the state has faced, she said.
"We are market driven," Coleman said. "If we are offering a degree that nobody wants, we drop it."
The Free Press reports the committee would be made up of 11 members, appointed by the governor, the Senate majority leader and the speaker of the House. The bill is currently under review in a legislative committee.
