Dear Spartans and friends,
There’s nothing quite like the energy of a new academic year at Michigan State. Across campus, classrooms and residence halls are coming to life, faculty and staff are preparing to welcome our students and thousands of new and returning Spartans are moving forward on a journey that will shape their futures.
This fall, we look forward to welcoming a student body of more than 50,000, with most classes beginning Aug. 31. It’s an exciting time at MSU and an opportunity to begin the year with a renewed sense of purpose, possibility and pride in all that we accomplish together.
A new academic year
Some 17,000 students are now moving into university residence halls and apartments. Our Welcome to State activities will help new and returning Spartans make connections, find community and start the year strong. From the New Student Kickoff at Breslin Center today to Sparty Gras, Fall Fest, Sparticipation and more, I’m looking forward to being out on campus and experiencing that unmistakable Spartan energy alongside our students.
They’ll also return to a campus with an exciting new resource dedicated to their health and well-being. The new Student Recreation and Wellness Center is now open, creating more opportunities for students and our campus community to connect, recharge and thrive. We recorded my tour of the center this summer as I checked out some of its fantastic features and well-being options. We’ll celebrate this important addition to campus with a formal grand opening later this fall.
And our investment in student success continues. In January 2027, we will open the new Spartan Success Center in the Hannah Administration Building, across from Spartan One Stop. Home to the First-Generation Student Success Center and Transfer Student Success Center, this welcoming hub will make it easier for students to navigate challenges, connect with resources and find the support they need — from their first days at MSU through graduation.
The start of a new year also reminds us of the responsibility we share to create a community where every Spartan has the opportunity to belong, contribute and succeed. Universities like MSU should be places where people encounter new ideas, engage thoughtfully across differences and learn from one another. In a time when division can feel increasingly common, I believe higher education has an important role to play in showing what constructive dialogue and civil discourse can make possible. I share more about that responsibility in this video.
A campus that never stops moving
While the academic year brings a special kind of energy, MSU’s impact doesn’t pause during the summer. These past months, we welcomed some 16,700 participants through 124 youth and precollege programs spanning everything from sports and music to science and physics. Our campus also hosted families, educators and visitors from across Michigan and beyond.
From 23 MSU, local high school and community college graduation ceremonies last spring to the State Bar exam, Special Olympics events, Green and White Days for prospective Spartans and their families, and hundreds of visiting scholars, Michigan State continues to be a place where people gather, learn, celebrate and discover year-round.
Opening doors to an MSU education
As we welcome another class of Spartans, I’m especially proud of the work underway to make an MSU education more accessible and more valuable.
Over the past decade, MSU has held tuition increases to the lowest cumulative rate among Michigan’s public universities while growing university-funded financial aid by an average of 7% in recent years. At the same time, we continue to recognize exceptional achievement through highly competitive, full-ride programs including our Alumni Distinguished, University Distinguished and Williams scholarships.
Access is only part of the equation. We must also ensure that an MSU education prepares our graduates to lead, adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing world. MSU is already ranked among the top 10 public universities for graduate employability, and we are continuing to build on that strength.
Through efforts such as our Green and White Council of Michigan executives, we are creating stronger connections between the university and the employers shaping our state and economy. And our world-class faculty and academic leaders are advancing work to modernize our university-wide general education curriculum so that every Spartan graduate is prepared not simply for a first job, but for a lifetime of learning and contribution.
The power of Spartan generosity
That spirit of possibility is fueled in extraordinary ways by Spartans who believe in this university and its future.
More than 63,600 donors contributed a record-breaking $736 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30. That remarkable generosity has brought our Uncommon Will, Far Better World campaign to $1.94 billion toward our $4 billion goal.
Behind those numbers are countless opportunities: students able to pursue an MSU education, faculty empowered to push the boundaries of discovery and programs equipped to make an even greater difference in Michigan and around the world.
To every Spartan who has invested in that work, thank you. Your trust, generosity and belief in Michigan State are helping us build the far better future we know is possible.
A new chapter for Spartan Athletics
This semester also begins a new chapter for Spartan Athletics as we welcome our new director of athletics, Dan Bartholomae. With Dan, I’m confident we’re entering this new era of intercollegiate athletics with a bold, energized and visionary leader who understands the importance of building trusted relationships not only with our coaches and student-athletes, but with everyone in our Spartan family.
There is much to look forward to as we begin this year.
New students are discovering what it means to be a Spartan. Returning students are taking their next steps toward their goals. Faculty and staff are preparing to teach, discover, serve and lead. And across this university, we are creating new opportunities for students and strengthening MSU’s ability to make a difference in Michigan and around the world.
That’s the promise of a new academic year: a fresh opportunity to learn, to connect, to contribute and to move Michigan State forward together.
Go Green!
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
(pronounced GUS-ka-wits)
President
John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor
Department of Kinesiology