Advocacy

You can make a difference; your voice is important. We encourage involvement and engagement in the political process on and off campus. Our staff is always willing and available to assist you in finding opportunities for involvement. We provide information and resources to a diverse and vast constituency making contact with state and local legislators and public officials simple and easy.

A Virtual Guide for Communicating with Legislators

State Funding
State funding represents the most critical component of Wayne State's general operating budget. Of the university's budget, the majority is funded by state dollars through the annual higher education appropriations bill.

The university also receives funding for its graduate medical programs and cancer outreach programs from the Department of Community Health Budget and funding from the K-12 budget for the University School.

How the Appropriations Process Works
Development of each state fiscal year budget starts approximately one year in advance of the onset of the new fiscal year (Oct. 1).

1. Individual departments submit their budget plans to the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB)
2. Universities submit financial and program information to DMB for review.
3. Departmental representatives meet with DMB officials to review specific details of their budget recommendations.
4. DMB senior budget officials meet with the governor to discuss final budget recommendations.
5. The governor presents the State of the State address on the third Tuesday of January, where she releases her budget requests for the coming year.
6. No later than the second week in February, the DMB director presents the governor's budget to the Legislature before a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
7. DMB officials present individual overviews of the governor's budget to each appropriations subcommittee. Subcommittee hearings are held on the governor's budget recommendations; each university president provides testimony before the Senate and House higher education subcommittee.
8. Subcommittee recommendations are then "reported out" of committee to the full Appropriations Committee.
9. The Appropriations Committee approved bill is sent to the House/Senate floor, to be considered.
10. Once approved by the full House/Senate, the bill is transmitted to the opposite chamber for consideration.
11. After passing both chambers, the bill is enrolled and presented to the governor who has 14 days to approve or veto the entire bill or any distinct item.

For additional information on how the state appropriation process works, please review the House Fiscal Agency's Report: A Guide to the Legislative Appropriations Process.