University of Michigan Expands Free Tuition Program | Inside Higher Ed

University of Michigan Regents on Thursday voted to expand  a program that guarantees free tuition for students whose family income is $65,000 or less. 

The Go Blue Guarantee, which was implemented on the main campus in Ann Arbor in 2018, will now also be available to students attending the university’s campuses in Flint or Dearborn.

The union representing non-tenure track faculty on all three campuses applauded the vote and called it a “victory” for the groups, including the union, that advocated for the expansion of the program, but also criticized a new requirement of the program.

“But while this is a terrific step, we are disappointed in the 3.5 GPA requirement of high school graduates in order to receive this scholarship – a requirement not present in the Ann arbor Go Blue Guarantee, and one that will prevent students from underfunded high schools to attend these campuses,” Kirsten Herold, president of the Lecturers’ Employee Organization (AFT-MI 6244) said in a written statement. “We call on the Administration to rescind this requirement and continue making focused investments in Flint and Dearborn, to ensure the success of students and faculty alike.”