Updates & Invitation to Participate

Jan. 13, 2022

Dear Office of the Provost Employees,  

I write with an update on academic strategic planning implementation efforts and to invite your participation as we move into the spring semester. The message below recaps some of our accomplishments and provides a preview of our next steps, along with how we plan to engage broadly across the breadth and depth of the Office of the Provost and its many offices and functions.  

What we’ve done and where we’re going:  

In Fall 2021, we focused on Phase One of our roadmap. We conducted a summit with Deans and another with Assistant and Associate Provosts and Assistant and Associate Deans. We also finished an environmental and landscape analysis. Subcommittees of the Academic Strategic Planning Implementation Team synthesized patterns from both summits into Interest Areas that align with the six core themes from the University’s Strategic Plan. Interest Areas were our first step in getting specific about the actions and initiatives we will take to implement the strategic plan. So far, the current list of Interest Areas consists of the following:  

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion   

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Advancing Social Justice   
• Promoting Inclusion: A Through-line Connecting SP Pillars  
• Intentionally Shifting the Spartan Culture  

Sustainable Health   

• Wellness & Wellbeing   

Stewardship & Sustainability   

• Funding Arts Strategy  

Innovation for Global Impact   

• Funding Research Ethics  
• Global Education & Innovation  
• Invest in Research 

Student Success  

• Student Success  
• Generating Knowledge from Student Engagement   
• Communicating the 2030 Vision for Student Success   

Staff & Faculty Success  

• Reimagining Faculty & Academic Staff Evaluation  
• Employee Development & Support 

Now, we’re focusing on  

Adding to our Interest Areas by engaging with you and including your ideas as we work through the academic strategic plan implementation process. 

 

We want to hear from you: 

Please fill out the Idea Submission Form, which is open to all employees in the Office of the Provost. I understand that strategic plans are in place for your unit or college, and I do not want this invitation to interrupt or change your current trajectories at a local level. Instead, my ask is focused on gaining feedback and innovative, transformative ideas based on your personal interests.  

As you read through the University’s Strategic Plan, what stands out to you the most? Of the six themes, and the objectives associated with each, do you have actionable ideas that come to mind? Or is there an area you are passionate about? How can we, as part of the Office of the Provost, implement your ideas to help us reach the goals of our strategic plan?  

If you have an answer to any of the above questions, we want to hear from you. We’re looking for ideas that include at least one of the following and are: 

• Campus-wide 
• High impact 
• Foundational 
• Inclusive of outreach, engagement, and extension efforts 
• In pursuit of bold new opportunities 
• A revamp of existing projects/processes 
• Inclusive of multiple units, colleges or departments  

Your ideas will help shape the vision of MSU. If you are interested, please fill out the following Idea Submission Form. 

You can complete the form as an individual or on behalf of a group that shares an idea. Multiple submissions are welcome with one idea per form. Please complete the Idea Submission Form by February 2 at 11:59 p.m. 

As you work through the form, you’ll notice that we are requesting only ideas that align with the six core themes of the University’s Strategic Plan. You will be asked to select an objective that aligns closest with your idea. This will help us understand, immediately, how the submitted ideas align with our goals.  

Your feedback will play a role in how we move forward:  

The aim of the Idea Submission Form is to identify interests in the Office of the Provost. We will take the findings from this form to organize similar ideas and connect individuals with one another to develop working groups at our next virtual summit.  

For those of you interested, please save the dates for February 22 and April 12.  

The February 22 summit: 

This summit will have both informational and interactive sessions. The informational session will provide the group with an update on progress made thus far. In the interactive sessions, those who have similar ideas can elaborate their ideas and discuss potential next steps for proposal development. From these interactions, working groups can be formed to help with the development of the proposal. More details on the time of this summit will be forthcoming.  

We will ask all working groups to follow the mandatory framework, Framework for Thematic Proposal Pitches. Proposals will be due April 4. 

The April 12 summit: 

This summit will be more informational. During this time, we will report which proposals have been submitted for review and processing.  

By the end of the spring semester, proposals will be reviewed according to the mandatory framework by the Office of the Provost’s proposal submission committee. The Provost will take into consideration each proposal, along with the committee's recommendation. From here, final decisions will be made regarding which proposals will be considered for Phase Three. More details on the time of this summit will be forthcoming. 

In conclusion: 

As a reminder, we are eager to learn your thoughts and want you to engage in this important process. However, you are not required to participate in these efforts or attend our summits. Our hope is that through this transparent process, we gain further momentum across the Office of the Provost in how we move MSU into the future. 

Please consider joining us in these conversations and submitting an idea. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to academicstrategicplan@msu.edu. 

Dave Weatherspoon, Ph.D. 
Associate Provost of Enrollment and Academic Strategic Planning 
Professor of Agricultural, Food & Resource Economics 
Michigan State University