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MARQUETTE -- Michigan public universities say they need more funding.  Today, four of them took the issue up with the House of Higher Education Subcommittee.

They're struggling with funding cuts, but four public university presidents insisted their institutions are maintaining excellence.  They've done so, they say, by spending cautiously, but they're now worried the cuts may threaten the quality of the universities.

Today, the House Higher Education Subcommittee agreed.

"We now have to figure out how to fund our universities," said committee chair Joan Bauer.

Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State, and Western Michigan Universities all agree the best way to save the failing economy is to invest in higher education.

"We do expect higher education to be one of the main strategies to turn this state around," said NMU president Les Wong.  "The young talent that's graduating from the universities is the very talent that's going to turn the economy."

In addition to the threat of a 3.1 percent cut in state funding, public institutions are dealing with the recent retraction of the Michigan Promise Program.

"The great thing about the Michigan Promise was that the students got scholarship money up front to get into school, and then it rewarded them for staying in school and it also kept some of the best students in Michigan," said Michigan Tech president Glen Mroz.  "I think once you make a promise, you really ought to keep it."

That broken promise cost Northern Michigan students about one-and-a-half million dollars in financial aid.  The university fears the financial crisis will cost them bright students and a bright state future.

"If you want talent to stay in the state," said Wong, "to create wealth, to create businesses, as you're finding in other states that invest in students, you need to do things to help them complete their schooling."

But the committee says Michigan's general fund is depleted and unfortunately, the state has no choice. Once again, education will see big cuts.