Dear Spartans and friends,
There’s nothing quite like fall at Michigan State. Campus is buzzing again as more than 51,000 students join our world-class faculty, academic staff and support staff for another year of incredible Spartan experiences.
This week also reminded us of what it means to be part of a community that responds when challenges arise. A critical electrical connection at our central power plant failed Saturday, causing a brief campuswide power outage. It resulted, however, in ongoing impacts to our steam distribution system, which distributes cooling, heating and hot water to our campus buildings. Our teams have been working around the clock to restore full service. We’re providing daily email updates to the campus community and posting restoration progress and plans online.
I want to thank our campus community for bearing with us as we work to recover from this unprecedented utility outage. I hope Spartans join me in expressing gratitude to the dedicated Infrastructure Planning and Facilities personnel, emergency crews and the many others across campus and beyond who stepped up to respond and support our Spartan campus community.
Spartan Excellence
Michigan State continues to earn national recognition for the excellence and impact of our people and programs. Washington Monthly ranked MSU No. 45 overall and No. 26 among public institutions as one of the Best Colleges for Research. This reflects the quality of our faculty and the approximately $1 billion in research expenditures that drive our reputation and our local and global impact.
Most recently, U.S. News & World Report maintained MSU’s ranking among the top 30 public universities in the national universities category, now with seven undergraduate programs ranked in the top 25 in the nation. We remain the No. 1 public university for service learning, which I count among the most impactful experiential learning experiences we offer students.
Directed undergraduate research is another impactful form of experiential learning, and Michigan State has steadily increased student participation since we established our Office for Undergraduate Research in 2005. These opportunities can change students’ academic trajectory and even define the best of their college experience, and I’m grateful to the faculty members making them possible.
Speaking of rankings, congratulations to our MSU Women’s Soccer team, which was ranked No. 1 in the country in the United Soccer Coaches national poll until this week. I know you all join me in wishing them, and all our teams, continued success.
Upcoming Events
We’re also off to a fast start with events showcasing our focus on scholarly excellence, including a campuswide gathering Sept. 30 to mark the launch of a new year of student success initiatives.
And in one very busy day at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre on Sept. 29, we will celebrate the investiture of our newest endowed faculty members, followed by my annual State of the University address. Those events will be livestreamed and recorded for those who can’t attend in person.
That same evening in Pasant Theatre, A.G. Sulzberger, publisher and chairman of The New York Times, will deliver a presentation on “Lessons on Stewardship from America’s Paper of Record,” the second event in our Presidential Speaker Series. The 6 p.m. event and following reception are free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.
The newspaper is celebrating its 175th anniversary, and we’re also proud to host an outdoor exhibition of The Times’ photojournalism marking the milestone. The exhibition, “Bearing Witness,” will be on view on campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 29 and 30 at Benefactors Plaza.
Research in Action
Discovery is happening every day at Michigan State, and our investments in our faculty and research are helping accelerate that work.
As MSU salutes our world-class faculty and academic staff for their excellence and their place at the heart of our teaching, research and outreach missions, it’s also important to remember the special role research-intensive universities play in addressing society’s pressing problems and supporting the state’s economy.
This month I joined my fellow Research Universities for Michigan presidents in this Bridge Michigan opinion column detailing just a few of the impactful advances our discovery and innovation work has yielded for the benefit of society. I hope you take the time to read it and consider what you might do to help advocate for continued public support of university-based research.
I’m grateful to all who support Michigan State’s capacity to activate talent for Michigan and beyond, make life-changing discoveries and innovations, engage with our communities and maintain the university’s vital infrastructure.
Go Green!
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
(pronounced GUS-ka-wits)
President John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor
Department of Kinesiology