Overview
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 Michigan State University’s land-grant mission by strengthening the alignment between student talent, employer demand, and statewide economic development.
Three keystone initiatives designed to prepare students for the future include developing talent for in-demand jobs across the state and equipping Spartans with skills of the future, connecting Spartans to great companies and careers in Michigan, and catalyzing innovation by leveraging MSU’s cutting-edge research and Intellectual Property to propel Michigan’s economy.
AI-Ready Spartans is focused on advancing digital competency and preparing students for the rapidly evolving AI-enabled economy by expanding access to practical, interdisciplinary AI learning opportunities that equip students with the knowledge, adaptability and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce.
MSU has awarded more than $500K to 18 AI Ready Spartans projects that will expand AI literacy, workforce readiness and teaching innovation. The faculty-led initiatives are now moving into the design and implementation phase. Read more on the AI-Ready Spartans page.
This initiative is led by Marcio Oliveira, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, and managed by Ulric Fuller, MSA, Project Manager.
By integrating AI competencies throughout the student experience, MSU is redefining what it means to earn a Michigan State degree by preparing graduates who are AI-ready and positioned to lead from day one. Read more on the AI Ready webpage.
New initiatives provide students from all majors with hands-on opportunities to engage with generative AI through coursework, collaborative projects and immersive learning experiences. These efforts are designed to strengthen problem-solving, communication, creativity and innovation while preparing students for AI-enabled roles through real-world practice and adaptable career skills.
By integrating AI learning opportunities across disciplines, MSU is helping students develop the capacity to navigate emerging technologies ethically, responsibly, and competitively. MSU is opening new pathways to advanced study and AI-connected careers, equipping graduates to lead the next generation of AI-driven innovation and workforce transformation.
Career-Connected Spartans is part of a broader MSU ecosystem that supports students throughout their entire undergraduate journey by integrating academic, co-curricular, and experiential learning. Leveraging technology, MSU expands access and opportunities, ensuring all Spartans pursue career pathways and can engage with meaningful career resources from orientation through graduation. Leveraging technology to increase opportunities for talent exploration and development, the Career-Connected Spartan initiative is partnering with several digital platforms.
This initiative is led by Amy Hertel, MSW, J.D., Senior Advisor to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives, and managed by Lynn Foucrier, Ph.D., MPH, Project Manager.
Students begin by exploring their interests through career-connected orientation, early career exploration and discovery, and career advising in the first few years of their undergraduate education.
A digital platform used is a for-credit, online program that equips college students with in-demand skills, real-world experience, and a pathway to a successful career.
Students then experience hands-on learning through internships, on-campus employment, research, service-learning, and other applied opportunities that build skills and confidence during their mid-degree years. Quality is driven by structured reflection and integration across curricular and co-curricular settings.
Digital platforms are used to build and track experiential learning.
An AI-enabled platform replaces passive learning with active discussions and oral assessments.
A platform designed to increase access to short-term, real-world experience, mentorship, and job readiness.
Students launch into careers or advanced education, supported by employer connections, networking, mentorship, and career preparation resources that help them transition after graduation using the Spartan Experience Record to articulate transferable skills.
A mobile-first student engagement & success software that helps schools increase student participation outside the classroom, track and assess experiential learning and empower all students to tell their unique stories with our modern co-curricular transcripts.
Learn more about the Spartan Experience Record.
Career-Connected Spartans prioritizes expanding and diversifying MSU’s network of engaged employers, strengthening partnerships that connect students to real-world experiences, and career pathways aligned with their interests, passions, and sense of career fit.
Embedded throughout the Career-Connected Spartan journey, career-focused initiatives are part of the common undergraduate experience, providing every student with equitable access to exploration, professional networks, mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities. By integrating career development across curricular and co-curricular experiences, students build the knowledge, skills, relationships, and confidence needed to succeed academically, engage more fully in their education, and transition successfully into careers or advanced education.
We welcome faculty and staff to engage in the Green and White initiatives as partners in this work by participating in pilots, developing educational courses, exploring AI-Ready Spartans and Career-Connected approaches in their work, or sharing perspectives and feedback to help shape and strengthen these efforts over time.
If you have questions regarding the Green and White Initiatives, please reach out to GreenandWhiteInitiative@msu.edu.