August 29, 2024
Dear MSU Faculty and Academic Staff,
Welcome to the 2024-25 academic year! I hope you enjoyed a restful summer and are as excited as I am about the start of fall semester. It is a time of momentum at Michigan State University, with the arrival of President Guskiewicz last spring. I look forward to working alongside him and each of you to advance academic excellence and student success here at MSU.
As we begin the new academic year, I would like to share a few items to support a successful year ahead and help foster shared understanding across our academic community.
The Important University Policies for Faculty and Academic Staff document includes information regarding university policies related to teaching, research, and employment at MSU. It is a helpful document pertaining to the ongoing work of faculty and academic staff and a useful resource to reference throughout the full academic year.
As noted in my Aug. 5 email, MSU is home to a diverse and multicultural community of students, faculty, and staff which we value and actively support to observe days set aside by their chosen religious faith, as reflected in our Religious Observance Policy. Please make every effort to avoid scheduling exams and presentations during the major religious holidays. There are several options for accommodations outlined in the policy. Please become familiar with these accommodations so you can support our students observing these major holidays.
Last year, the University Committee on Faculty Affairs (UCFA) issued a statement on professional integrity and at the same time proposed updates to the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities (FRR) policy to promote respectful, safe, and equitable learning and working environments. The proposed revisions to the FRR policy were drafted by the personnel subcommittee of the UCFA, endorsed by the UCFA and Faculty Senate, and approved by the MSU Board of Trustees in June of 2024. The revisions broaden MSU’s commitment to create and maintain an environment where all can thrive and reach their fullest potential through civility and respect, while protecting academic freedom and freedom of speech. The UCFA also introduced a Michigan State University Statement of Professional Integrity to foster a respectful and inclusive campus environment that has been endorsed by the Office of the Provost and is now included in the Faculty Handbook. Many thanks to the UCF for all of their work to strengthen the language and expectations around faculty professionalism.
Throughout the semester, MSU IT provides no-cost training for all MSU students, faculty, and staff on collaborative tools like Zoom, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft apps like Teams, OneNote, OneDrive, and Forms. Live virtual-led training courses and on-demand course recordings are available, in addition to weekly office hours, for those who have questions or need help. Visit SpartansLearn for details, course dates, and registration; additional learning opportunities from MSU IT about educational technology are also available – find out more here.
For educator development focused on pedagogical practices, explore opportunities offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation, and visit #iteachmsu Commons to share ideas, connect with educators, and discover even more resources created for educators, by educators. Finally, for other professional development opportunities to support you and your career at MSU, learn more about the programs and events provided by the Office of Faculty and Academic Staff Development.
As part of our commitment to provide as safe and secure a learning environment as possible for our students, the Office of the Provost has worked with the Office for Resource and Support Coordination (ORSC) on sample language you can add to your syllabus, reference as questions arise, and proactively offer in class. The ORSC website also provides additional Campus Support Resources, including Guidance for Educators.
A series of Civil Discourse FAQs for Faculty has been assembled to provide general guidance to faculty about academic freedom, emphasize the importance of campus safety, and disseminate the content of important policies, expectations, and supportive resources related to civil discourse. In alignment with our shared priorities and institutional values, a core set of operating principles has helped guide our decision-making in response to protest activity. Areas addressed in the FAQs include Freedom of Expression, Academic Freedom, Free Speech; Classroom Tips; Communications and Social Media; Support and Resources; and Protests and Encampments.
Please note that classes will not be cancelled on election day or the following day. Employees are encouraged to take care of themselves and may use available personal observance or personal time if they so choose.
As President Guskiewicz shared in his Aug. 1 message, Update on spaces at Berkey Hall, MSU Union, and as I noted in my Aug. 5 email, “for the coming 2024-25 academic year, most classes will not convene on Feb. 13 as our campus continues to heal, reflect and remember. (Some classes, primarily for graduate and professional students, may still be in session.) The university will remain open to support students and our community, although employees may choose to use one of their paid day-off options.”
Faculty and academic staff are expected to not hold classes or exams or have assignments due on Feb. 13, 2025, with some exceptions for graduate and professional programs that may need to meet for certification and graduation requirements. Additionally, while classes will meet on Feb. 14, assignments and exams shall not be due on this day. Assignments and exams may be scheduled on Feb. 15 and continuing through the remainder of the semester.
Additional information regarding classes that still need to meet on Feb. 13 will be shared with students in those classes well ahead of Feb. 13.
Thank you for taking this information into account as you plan for the academic year.
The Office of the Vice Provost of Enrollment Services and Academic Strategic Planning, led by Dr. Dave Weatherspoon, continues to make progress on introducing Spartan One-Stop to our campus community.
Combining services in the Office of the Registrar, Office of Financial Aid, and Student Accounts, Spartan One-Stop will simplify the MSU student experience through integrated services, helping to ensure that the journey of every student is marked by convenience and individualized support.
This summer marked the soft launch of email services, with support emails for the Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts now redirecting to the One-Stop team. Coming this fall 2024, full virtual support will be available with the addition of phone support. The team continues to make outstanding progress and is poised to welcome students into the physical space being renovated in the Hannah Administration Building in late spring 2025. The opening of this space will mark an important step in our continued commitment to student success and reducing the administrative barriers students may face throughout their academic experience.
The good work of our great university is an ongoing and collaborative effort, with each of you contributing to our success. I am grateful for all you do to advance Michigan State University’s mission and aspirations. Your commitments to student success and academic excellence are seen, appreciated, and central to propelling MSU forward and upward to reach new and ever-greater heights.
Wishing you all the best in the coming year,
Thomas D. Jeitschko, Ph.D. (he/him)
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of Economics