Dear Spartans and friends,
Summer is upon Michigan’s pleasant peninsulas, and I hope you have plans to take full advantage of what our amazing state has to offer. For more than 100,000 attendees of youth programs, athletic events, professional conferences and new student orientations this summer, our own lovely campus offers an exciting destination.
From hosting the Top 50 Junior Tour at Forest Akers Golf Courses to the Michigan Bar Exam held in July at Breslin Center, MSU’s hospitality represents another vital service to our community and state. I got a kick out of visiting with some of the thousands of curious and engaged K-12 students — and potential future Spartans — participating in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals here last month.
University leaders are also on the move, engaging with communities our students and partners call home. Following our busy Spartan Bus Tour to Detroit, I joined Michigan business, education, state and community leaders at the annual Mackinac Policy Conference. There, I hosted an engaging panel discussion focused on the importance of university-based research and the federal support that underpins so much of the nation’s innovation ecosystem.
This month, the Board of Trustees’ annual planning retreat took us to another popular seasonal destination, Traverse City, to learn more about Michigan State partnerships and service there. Among our most compelling visits was with our rural street medicine partnership, which is expanding next month to Cadillac and, after Labor Day, to Kalkaska and Mancelona.
I was also pleased to meet some of the area’s vibrant innovators and entrepreneurs while visiting the 20Fathoms business incubator in Traverse City. As it supports northern Michigan’s startup ecosystem, I’m proud of the support extended to 20Fathoms from the MSU Research Foundation and the MSU Federal Credit Union.
We also heard a research presentation to the board from Joan Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research and director of the MSU Water Alliance. Dr. Rose, a globally recognized water quality expert, outlined our work helping protect health and precious water resources around Michigan through testing and other research programs.
Last week, I thoroughly enjoyed presenting a university update to the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids. Our Secchia Center downtown — celebrating its 15th anniversary — houses our College of Human Medicine, and the university’s nearby Grand Rapids Innovation Park hosts a thriving medical research and business complex in partnership with the community.
In all these places, meeting Spartans where they live is always a highlight. I’m grateful to our alums and friends for your encouragement, support and MSU pride.
Budget and MSU impacts
Our eventful board business meeting in Traverse City included approval of MSU’s annual budget, including setting tuition rates.
While we face financial and planning challenges that need to be acknowledged, including broad uncertainty over federal research funding and policies impacting international students and scholars, as well as potential changes in crucial state appropriations support, we have been working on strategic budget reductions needed for our own spending. I outlined this situation earlier in a message to our faculty and staff members. Such adjustments will ensure Michigan State has the flexibility to navigate our uncertainties, challenges and opportunities as we prepare to enter a new academic year.
We’re working very hard to represent the university, its importance and its impact in conversations with state and federal lawmakers. And we’re raising the profile of our educational, research and outreach missions, as we did with the panel event on Mackinac Island. One way is through our Research for You campaign, and you might also enjoy learning about our impact through MSU research from A to Z.
Our priority is maintaining the accessibility of an MSU degree, together with continuing the vital discovery and service that both inform our educational programs and yield life-changing knowledge and innovations that benefit all. I want to thank those who have actively advocated for our proudly public university, and — with close to 300,000 alums in Michigan alone — I believe Spartan voices can make a difference. A great way to learn about these issues and register your feelings is by becoming a Spartan Advocate.
University milestones
We observed some notable and touching milestones this month, including the 100th anniversary of the MSU Union, a cornerstone of many students’ and alums’ college experiences. And we celebrated a spirited fifth anniversary of our Juneteenth celebrations, too, and thanks to all who made both occasions so joyful.
Some of our milestones were simply poignant. We mourned the passing of Dolores D. Wharton, who, as first lady under the presidency of her late husband, Clifton, did so much to elevate the university from 1970-78, particularly in the arts. Her determination and impact will never be forgotten.
And we celebrated the notable career and recent retirement of a prominent name from our past and present, Professor Lee June, after an amazing 52 years of scholarship and service to our Spartan community. Congratulations, Dr. June, and thank you for your dedication to the university, particularly to our students.
I’ll be continuing my travels and advocacy on behalf of Michigan State this summer and, like our world-class faculty and dedicated staff, readying for the start of a new academic year in just a couple of months. There’s much to do, and my thanks go out to everyone preparing to welcome new and returning students. Go Green!
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
President
Professor, Department of Kinesiology