Letter from Dean Duncan to undergraduate
admitted students

Robert B. Duncan

Dear Broad School student,

At its July 21 meeting, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees approved a fee of $200 per semester for admitted undergraduates (juniors and seniors) who attend the Eli Broad College of Business, which will go into effect fall 2005. Many of our peer institutions (Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Minnesota, Purdue University and Ohio State University) have similar fees, while others, such as Pennsylvania State University, have premium business school tuition.

This excellence enhancement fee will be used to support undergraduate education at the Broad School in several different ways. Plans currently include:

• Providing opportunities for Broad School students to develop their writing skills through a new Business Communications Center (to be opened during this academic year);
• Increasing faculty size in the near future resulting in more faculty teaching in the undergraduate program;
• Supporting the information technology infrastructure at the Broad School, ensuring a cutting-edge IT environment;
• Allowing more undergraduate accessibility to Broad School labs - including the Financial Analysis Lab, the Information Technology Lab, the Team Effectiveness Teaching Lab and the IBM On-Demand Supply Chain Lab - by hiring more graduate assistants to staff the labs;
• Expanding services available through the Lear Corporation Career Services Center, Multicultural Business Programs and Undergraduate Academic Services;
• Adding to Study Abroad opportunities available to our students.

The Broad School has a history of excellence. For example, in its most recent annual rankings survey, U.S. News & World Report ranked our undergraduate program 22nd in the world. Implementing this new fee will provide the college with the financial resources to enhance the experience of our students, and it will help maintain our competitive position as a leader in business education.

We recognize that this fee may impose an additional financial hardship on some students who already have significant financial needs. To help address this, a portion of funds raised will be allocated for scholarship money and will be distributed based on financial need. The Office of Financial Aid will use its records to determine grant recipients and will automatically notify students of their revised student aid eligibility.

Providing the very best education for our students is - and will always be - our ultimate purpose. Thank you for your continued support of the Broad School.

Sincerely,

Robert B. Duncan
The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Dean

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