Priorities and Initiatives

MSU recently established the 1855 Professorships as a reimagining of the university’s foundational land-grant mission. The nineteenth-century land-grant vision of higher education inspired universities to both elevate the pursuit of practical knowledge and widen educational access to include working-class students. Now, the first cohort of cross-disciplinary 1855 Professors at MSU will engage in critical public outreach in the areas of minority politics, urban journalism, and the intersections of law and democracy.

The landscape of higher education has shifted dramatically, driven by rapid technological change, evolving workforce expectations, and a growing imperative to define the distinctive value of an MSU degree. This initiative aims to create a set of holistic, integrated learning goals that embody MSU’s identity as a global land-grant institution.

MSU is transforming its general education curriculum to better prepare students for the evolving workforce, emphasizing vertical learning, experiential education, and undergraduate research.

Informed by The Green and White Council advisory insights, the Green and White Initiatives were developed as a faculty- and staff-led effort. The Green and White Initiatives advance MSU’s land-grant mission by strengthening the alignment between student talent, employer demand, and statewide economic development.

The faculty of MSU possesses great underlying strengths, which are recognized at every level – internationally and nationally, locally and internally. Such honorifics elevate the stature of the university’s intellectual work to national and global prominence and foster a community of scholars with high standards and aspirations. These awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments, achievements, and contributions of our exceptional researchers, educators, and community members and bring great pride to the institution.

The Provost’s Spiral of Collective Excellence Award recognizes a group or team within a college or Major Administrative Unit (MAU) for their collective contributions and excellence that advance academic excellence and student success.

The dean or leader of an MAU may nominate a group or team by explaining the nature of its collective excellence in relation to the objectives of the unit’s strategic plan. Examples of collective excellence may be in one or more the following areas: advising, teaching, research, outreach and engagement, service, inclusive excellence, or other areas of importance to the unit, but are not limited to these areas. Each MAU may put forth one nomination per year.