ANN ARBOR—Universities across the state and nation are setting their annual budgets and tuition rates. The University of Michigan has several experts on higher education policy, the cost of education, access to higher education and related issues.

U-M’s School of Education is home to the Center for the Study of Postsecondary Education, which has consistently been ranked No. 1 in the nation and is considered the premier preparation program for higher education. The program celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2007. Experts in the center include:

Edward St. John, Algo D. Henderson Professor of Education, focuses on the impact of public finance and educational policies on education opportunity in both K-12 and higher education. For example, a recent study offered a systematic analysis of the association between state finance strategies and college access outcomes. He can be reached at (734) 647-2013 or edstjohn@umich.edu.

For more on St. John, visit: http://www.soe.umich.edu/faculty/stjohn

Stephen DesJardins, senior adviser to the dean and associate professor of education, teaches courses related to public policy in higher education, economics and finances in postsecondary education, statistical methods and institutional research and policy analysis. His research includes strategic enrollment management issues, student departure from college and the economics of higher education. He can be reached at (734) 647-1984 or sdesj@umich.edu.

For more info on DesJardins: http://www.soe.umich.edu/faculty/desjardins

Deborah Faye Carter, the new director of the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, earned her doctorate from the program in 1997. Her research interests focus on access and equity, and economic status issues in higher education