MIHELP — Michigan Higher Education Land Policy Consortium

ABOUT MIHELP

The Michigan Higher Education Land Policy Consortium (MIHELP) was created in 2005 by Dr. Soji Adelaja, the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy and Director of the Land Policy Institute, Michigan State University, and William Rustem, President, Public Sector Consultants, with the generous support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

MIHELP is a public-private, multi-university, inter-disciplinary partnership designed to address the fundamental research and outreach void in urban and metropolitan issues in the state of Michigan. The creation of MIHELP is one of the key goals of the Land Policy Institute at MSU. 

Headquartered at MSU’s Land Policy Institute, MIHELP has the unique ability to marshal the resources of its component institutions, Michigan State University, Wayne State University and Grand Valley State University, in concert with Public Sector Consultants, to execute an ambitious research and outreach agenda utilizing the talents and resources of over 200 academics. The MIHELP leadership team includes Dr. Soji Adelaja (Director), William Rustem, Robin Boyle (Wayne State University), Dr. Rich Jelier (Grand Valley State University), Dr. Rex LaMore (Michigan State University) and Dr. John Warbach (MIHELP Coordinator, Michigan State University). Already numerous studies related to metropolitan issues are underway, or have been completed, by member institutions in the MIHELP Consortium.

As a statewide initiative, MIHELP takes full advantage of the key metropolitan regions that its component institutions represent–Lansing, Detroit, and Grand Rapids, by soliciting local stakeholders and policy makers to understand the issues facing urban and metropolitan areas today.

By fostering institutional collaboration among universities in concert with the private sector; defining an urban and metropolitan research agenda; disseminating research findings; promoting scholarship; facilitating seminars, symposiums and research activities; and educating policy makers and stakeholders; MIHELP is contributing to make Michigan’s urban and metropolitan areas vibrant and successful communities.