MELANIE FOSTER, PROUD SPARTAN & EXPERIENCED LEADER

 

After graduating college, Melanie returned to the family business. Over the next 20 years Melanie grew Reinhold Landscape into one of the nation’s largest female-owned and –operated landscape companies. As a business owner, Foster gained invaluable experience in budgeting, project management, and staffing.

 

Melanie has been honored and humbled to serve on the MSU Board and give back to her alma mater. Michigan State is a top-ranked institution, and Melanie is devoted to working with her colleagues and the administration to maintain that standard. Foster is committed to maintaining MSU’s founding land-grant values as the University grows to meet all of today’s academic and research needs.

 

Melanie believes Michigan students should be MSU’s top priority. With Michigan tax dollars supporting MSU, Melanie believes enrollment numbers must overwhelmingly favor Michigan students. Melanie is very proud that over 80% of MSU undergraduates are in-state students, the highest percentage in the Big Ten. Foster will continue to be a strong advocate for in-state students first.

 

MSU is ranked in the top 50 best values in higher education because of its high-quality academic programs and cost. When a policy was proposed to mandate health insurance for all undergraduate students, which added a significant cost to tuition bills, Foster opposed it, and the policy was rescinded earlier this year.  Foster has also proudly supported increases in financial aid totaling 40% over the past three years. 

 

Melanie has worked with the administration to cut costs and spending without an impact on education. In her time on the board, she has supported the elimination of undersubscribed academic majors, the negotiation of union concessions, cost containment in healthcare benefits, and the reduction of over $123 million dollars from the general budget. She is opposed to the use of costly Project Labor Agreements. Melanie supports a fair and open bidding process for all campus construction projects to ensure the University gets quality work for the best price. 

 

In one term, Melanie Foster has proven she is a leader, decision maker, and dedicated to the greatness of MSU. To help Melanie reach voters across the state, you may donate to her campaign here.