Modernization of General Education 

meeting the changing needs of our students for the evolving workforce

Office of the Provost > Priorities and Initiatives >

Modernization of General Education

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

On Dec. 17, 2024, President Kevin Guskiewicz announced the development of a Modern General Education Curriculum as one of his Presidential Initiatives. This project, led by the Office of the Provost, will be steered by faculty as stated in the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees.

Today’s students challenge us to offer an education that will best prepare them to meet current and future workforce needs. To that end, a committee of our world-class faculty and administrative units and  leaders will lead this development of a modern general education curriculum following a thorough review.

Discover more below. 

Provost's Charge

Modernization of General Education

Timeline

A black lantern hangs off the side of a building on MSU's campus foregrounded by white blossoming bunches of flowers.

The General Education Council (GEC)

GEC members will complete the Modern General Education project in three phases.

  • Phase 1 – Fall 2025 through Spring 2026: information-gathering, campus feedback, and research 
  • Phase 2 – Fall 2026: curriculum design 
  • Phase 3 – Spring 2027: campus feedback and academic governance review and approval  

Leadership for Modernization of General Education (MGE)

General Education Council (GEC) 

This project will be steered by faculty as stated in the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees: “The institution looks to the faculty for recommendations [...] on the development of new academic programs and modification or discontinuance of old...” (Article 8). The General Education Council members were nominated by the deans and by the University Council on Undergraduate Education (UCUE).

  • Natasha Jones, Co-Chair, College of Arts and Letters  
  • Jonathan Weaver, Co-Chair, College of Social Science  
  • Megan Donahue, College of Natural Science  
  • Euihark Lee, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources  
  • Marci Mechtel, College of Nursing  
  • Sara D. Miller, MSU Libraries  
  • Ken Prouty, College of Music    
  • Jennifer Schmidt, College of Education  
  • John Spink, Broad College of Business  
  • Alexandrea Thrubis Stanley, College of Communication Arts and Sciences   
  • Sarah Tomasik, College of Veterinary Medicine  
  • S. Patrick Walton, College of Engineering  
  • Matt Zierler, James Madison College  
  • Stephen Thomas, Office of Undergraduate Education 

GEC Ex-officio Members 

Permanent members of the GEC are the Provost, the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, the Director of AACC/Project Lead, and the Project Manager for AACC, all of whom are ex-officio; they have a voice but no vote.

The current administrators filling these roles are below.

  • Thomas Jeitschko, Interim Provost   
  • Mark Largent, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education   
  • Stacia Moroski-Rigney, Project Lead and Director, Office of Accreditation, Assessment, Curriculum, and Compliance (AACC) 
  • Elizabeth Elliott, AACC Project Manager   

Themed Committee (TC) Members

Faculty, staff, and students leading research work and making recommendations to the GEC.

AY 2025-26

  • Attend and participate in TC meetings 
  • Engage with shared resources, including any common reads  
  • Conduct research for themed committees  
  • Share research with themed committee  
  • As a committee, present research to GEC  
  • Communicate and engage regularly with TC chair(s) 
  • Serve as ambassadors of the work to your college(s)/unit(s) 
  • Contribute to Teams chats, agendas, meeting notes, tracking documents, and reports 
  • Serve as representatives of your college(s)/unit(s) 
  • Review shared materials asynchronously before meetings 

Spring 2027

  • Provide feedback on the draft design of the GEC 

Campus Community Groups (CCGs)

Subject matter experts, students, faculty, staff, and MSU community members engaged because of their positionality or role at the university.

AY 2025-26 

  • Attend and participate in invited CCG feedback sessions 
  • Engage with shared resources, including any common reads  
  • Share research and assessment results with GEC 
  • Communicate and engage regularly with GEC co-chairs 
  • Serve as ambassadors of the work to your college(s)/unit(s) 
  • Serve as representatives of your college(s)/unit(s) 
  • Review shared materials asynchronously before meetings 

Spring 2027

Provide feedback on the draft design of the GEC 

MGE Engagement

Lead and Inspire at MSU

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni will have many opportunities to contribute to the design of the Modern General Education Curriculum. Submit your comment, question, suggestion, or request for a conversation below.

Submission Form

Contact Us

Send an email to

A green 3D printed spartan helmet sits in between the metal feet of the Hannah statue on MSU's campus.

News & Updates

MSU president talks curriculum changes

Read more

MSU president outlines new student success, research initiatives at investiture ceremony

Read more

Announcement of General Education Council

Read more