The Board of Regents approved a budget of $59 million in student aid for the 2018-19 academic year during its meeting over future actions for the university, among other decisions.
The Board of Regents approved the package consisting of scholarships, awards and grants, during its regular meeting, Oct. 20. This is an increase from last year’s budget for the same purpose, which was a little over $57 million.
The decision was made based on the increase in first-year student enrollment and an increase in honors college enrollment. They also look at the likelihood of students returning for the next year and the previous scholarships they’ve gotten.
Along with the financial aid decision, the Regents also decided JoAnn Chávez, an executive for DTE Energy, would be the commencement speaker for students graduating Dec. 16. During the ceremony, she will be presented with a doctorate of commerce degree.
Chávez oversees DTE’s tax compliance and policy, as well as corporate security. She’s spent years helping support women and Hispanic community members with her membership to various initiatives, including Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Chair and University of Michigan School of Education Dean’s Advisory Council.
The Regents also approved the renovation of EMU’s Sill Hall, a $40 million cost that will modernize classrooms and expand to support the engineering program. Sill Hall is the home to the College of Technology, containing labs for various classes in the field, all of which will be overhauled in the renovation.
The renovation will be the first major change since the building’s construction in 1965.
