CAL-RCAH Integration Project

• Justus Nieland, Professor and Chairperson, Film and Media Studies, Literary Studies, CAL
• Kara Yermak, Assistant Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs, Office of the Provost
• Marissa King, Director, Advising, CAL (formerly RCAH)
• Ryan Thelen, Budget and Human Resources Officer, Office of the Provost
• Stacia Moroski-Rigney, Assistant Provost for the Office of Accreditation, Assessment, Curriculum, and Compliance, Office of the Provost
• Deborah Hafke, Assistant Director, Human Resources
• Terese Guinsatao Monberg, Associate Dean and Associate Professor, RCAH
• Glenn Chambers, Interim Dean, RCAH
• Thomas Stubblefield, Dean, College of Arts and Letters
• Amy Hertel, Senior Advisor to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost

To align curricular offerings, general education contributions, and academic governance structures. The group will recommend a unified academic framework that preserves RCAH’s distinctive pedagogy and interdisciplinary strengths, while ensuring coherence and collaboration within CAL’s broader academic ecosystem. Equally important, the working group will recommend strategies to make RCHA courses more accessible to students in CAL. The working group will strive for academic excellence across the arts and humanities as part of this work.

• Stacia Moroski-Rigney (Chair), Assistant Provost - Office of Accreditation, Assessment, Curriculum, and Compliance
• Leann Dalimonte (Associate Chair), Academic Operations Director and Management Analyst - CAL
• John Aerni-Flessner, Associate Professor - RCAH
• Kristen Mapes, Interim Director of Digital Humanities - CAL
• Adrianna High, Data Resource Analyst - Institutional Research
   

To develop a financial integration plan that supports the long-term sustainability of the merged college. The group will address budget alignment, endowment stewardship, fundraising strategies, and research infrastructure to ensure robust support for faculty, students, and programs. The merger should also yield cost savings over time rather than incur costs. The merger should result in increased sharing of resources between units.

• Ryan Thelen (Chair), Budget and Human Resources Officer - Office of the Provost
• Ken Desloover (Associate Chair), Chief of Staff - CAL
• Eric Aronoff, Professor - RCAH
• Sarah Blom, Senior Executive Director - University Advancement
• Vanessa Carrion Yaguana, Data Scientist - Institutional Research
• Carly Ensign, Director of Finance - CAL
• Jennifer Jimenez, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications - CAL
• Andrew Midgley, Fiscal and Human Resources Officer - RCAH
   

To assess and align faculty and staff appointments, workload expectations, and human resources policies across RCAH and CAL. The group will recommend sustainable staffing models and equitable HR practices that support the merged college’s mission and operational needs, while ensuring transparency and consistency in service delivery.

• Deb Hafke (Chair), Interim Director - HR Administrative Systems
• Melissa Staub (Associate Chair), Director of Human Resources - CAL
• Jacob Lathrop, Assistant Director - Human Resources
• Andrew Midgley, Fiscal and Human Resources Officer - RCAH
• Jennie Schaeffer, Director - Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
   

To evaluate and harmonize reappointment, promotion, and tenure policies and procedures between RCAH and CAL. The group will ensure that the merged framework upholds academic excellence, equity, and clarity in evaluation standards, while preserving the unique strengths and values of both units.

• Kara Yermak (Chair), Assistant Provost - Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
• Ruth Nicole Brown (Associate Chair), Chairperson and Professor - CAL
• Stephen Di Benedetto, Professor - CAL
• Estrella Torrez, Professor - RCAH
• Kate Birdsall, Director - Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
• Teresa Cuellar, Secretary for Academic Governance
• Stephanie Vasko, Senior Research and Innovation Consultant - CAL
• Delia Fernandez-Jones, Associate Dean - CAL
   

To design a cohesive and supportive student experience that integrates advising, co-curricular programming, and the residential model. The group will propose structures that maintain the strengths of RCAH’s living-learning community while enhancing access to broader CAL resources and student support services.

• Marissa King (Chair), Director of Advising - CAL
• Allison Fox (Associate Chair), Director of Career Development - RCAH
• Katie Crombe, Strategic Recruitment Coordinator - RCAH
• Helena Gardner, Director of REHS
• Ellen Moll, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies - CAL
   

What is happening?
Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees approved the administrative integration of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) with the College of Arts and Letters (CAL). Beginning July 2026, RCAH will become part of CAL while continuing to preserve its distinctive mission and community. 

Why is this happening?
RCAH has always been intentionally small, but that scale makes it harder to sustain as a standalone college. Integrating with CAL will help to ensure RCAH’s unique mission is protected and supported long-term. By integrating RCAH and CAL, MSU can ensure that RCAH’s distinctive strengths are preserved and expanded within a larger administrative structure. This integration represents a path toward strengthening both RCAH and CAL by leveraging shared goals, resources, and offerings. 

Will RCAH’s identity be retained?
Yes. RCAH’s mission, ethos, and residential model will remain critical features of its identity—now supported by CAL’s broader resources and structures.

What does this mean for students?

• Current RCAH students will continue their programs without disruption through to their conclusion. All students will have access to courses, advisors, and community supports as the integration is underway.
• Future students will benefit from expanded opportunities: access to CAL’s robust curriculum, faculty, and resources while accessing the unique living-learning experience of RCAH.
• Student voice matters. A student advisory committee consisting of students from both CAL and RCAH will help inform this work from a student perspective.

What does this mean for faculty and staff in RCAH?
The integration provides opportunities for closer collaboration with CAL colleagues, new interdisciplinary opportunities and pedagogical possibilities, and more substantial administrative support. 

What does this mean for donors and alumni?
All gifts, endowments, and commitments to RCAH remain intact. Donors and alumni can be confident their contributions will continue to support RCAH’s mission and programs, now with greater visibility and stability inside CAL. The integration strengthens, rather than diminishes, the legacy of RCAH. 

How was the decision made?
The integration was the result of months of consultation with faculty, staff, and students from both RCAH and CAL, as well as review by multiple governance committees. A Working Committee was initially charged by the Interim Provost at the time to explore the potential benefits and challenges of administratively integrating RCAH with CAL. This included evaluating how such an integration might: (1) strengthen and/or challenge the arts and humanities at MSU; (2) support students, staff, and faculty; and (3) position MSU to meet the evolving needs of higher education. The Working Committee at that time produced a preliminary report that was shared with governance committees in April for further input. Governance feedback was incorporated into a final report from the Working Committee to the Interim Provost in May 2025, and the Board of Trustees approved the integration in June 2025. 

What are the guiding principles?
The integration will be guided by the following important principles:

• Transparent communication
• Collaborative community building
• Compassionate support for students, faculty, and staff
• Shared governance
• Preserving RCAH’s identity
• Strategic stewardship
• Land-grant alignment 

What are the next steps?
Between now and July 2026, the Steering Committee and five Working Groups will lead the integration process. They will: 

• Develop a timeline for all the actions, questions, and decisions that need to be made as part of this process.
• Provide regular updates on the Provost’s integration website and be available for engagement upon request.
• Engage in periodic chair and all college meetings in both RCAH and CAL.

Where can I find updates or ask questions?
Updates, meeting summaries, FAQs, and feedback opportunities will be available on this website page.

What is happening?
RCAH is joining the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) on July 1, 2026. RCAH will no longer be a separate college but will operate as a school within CAL while keeping its unique identity. 

Will RCAH still exist?
Yes. RCAH’s mission and residential model will remain. It will transition from a college to a school. The goal of this integration is to strengthen RCAH by leveraging shared goals, resources, and offerings. What does this mean for me right now? 

• You may continue to work closely with RCAH professors, advisors, and community partners. Snyder-Phillips Halls will continue to be the home for RCAH.
• Currently enrolled students may graduate with a degree from RCAH provided you remain enrolled in RCAH.
• You’ll gain access to CAL’s wider set of courses, programs, and resources. 

Will the RCAH community go away?
No. The residential aspect of RCAH will be preserved. RCAH’s residential model and community-based approach will continue, even as it becomes a school within CAL. 

What if I have concerns?
Student voices matter. You may submit your questions or concerns to any of the email addresses provided on this page under Contact Us. Also, a student advisory committee consisting of students from both CAL and RCAH will help inform this work from a student perspective. You may contact a student representative on the student advisory committee who will have regular meetings with the co-chairs of the Steering Committee.

Who will lead the School of Residential Community Engaged Arts & Humanities?

Following an inclusive search process rooted in community engagement, Dr. Scot Yoder has been appointed Director of the School of the Residential Community Engaged Arts and Humanities, effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Yoder is currently collaborating with CAL leadership and Interim Dean Chambers to ensure that our unique culture and academic priorities remain central as we approach the formal integration date of July 1, 2026.

How is CAL leadership engaged with the RCAH community during this process? 

To ensure that integration is a collaborative dialogue rather than a distant administrative process, Dean Stubblefield and Chief of Staff Ken Desloover are spending dedicated time each week in Snyder-Phillips. This physical presence is intended to foster informal conversation, accessibility, and a deeper understanding of our day-to-day environment. 

What will happen to the RCAH curriculum and the Arts & Humanities B.A.?  

The CAL Curriculum Committee has formally approved the inclusion of the Arts & Humanities B.A. and the Design Justice minor within the College of Arts and Letters. This ensures that these vital academic pathways are fully recognized and supported within the larger University ecosystem.

Are there changes to the language and cultural studies requirements?  

We are committed to a thoughtful, phased transition that respects the path of current and incoming students:

• For Fall 2026: A "bridge year" is in place. Students entering Fall 2026 will follow the current RCAH language and cultural studies requirements.
• For Fall 2027 and beyond: Requirements will begin to align more closely with CAL standards. Our goal is to maintain the rigor of cultural inquiry while streamlining the degree path for future cohorts.

How have students been engaged during this process?

The leadership of both colleges has engaged student advisors throughout the integration process. Interim Dean Chambers invited RCAH students to serve as consultants from an RCAH perspective. Currently, three students (freshman, sophomore, and junior) are represented. Since assuming the role of Director of the School of the Residential Community Engaged Arts and Humanities, Dr. Yoder has connected with the RCAH Council and has been meeting with that body. Similarly, Dean Stubblefield has a student advisory committee he has engaged from a CAL perspective. 

How are staff roles being handled during this transition?

Staff are the backbone of our community’s operations. Throughout December and January, leadership held individual "listening and introduction" sessions with all RCAH staff members. These conversations focused on team culture and mutual expectations. As of January 2026, all staff supervisor assignments have been confirmed, and teams are now meeting to discuss how best to support our shared mission in the coming academic year.