MSU Board of Trustees strengthens governance with new commitments and protocols

New commitments and updated protocols adopted by the Michigan State University Board of Trustees will enhance university governance practices as trustees emphasize their dedication to the university community and its future direction. Also, the new governance commitments and protocols are designed to establish a transparent, ethical and accountable board that operates with the university’s best interests at heart.

Adopted in December 2023, the eight governance commitments highlight the board’s role in supporting MSU’s mission while ensuring its fiduciary responsibilities are met. The new commitments clarify the board’s role in providing oversight and guidance while maintaining a distinct boundary between its advisory function and the administrative duties of the president and other university leaders.

“These commitments reaffirm our dedication to holding the university’s best interests paramount while respecting the defined reporting structures of the administration,” Board Chair Dan Kelly said. “The board’s role is one of oversight, not management.”

“I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for their ongoing commitment to good governance practices,” said President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “They’ve invested significant effort into evaluating and strengthening their roles as trustees, and I appreciate the trusted partnership we’ve forged together in service to the university. Together, as one team, we will move our university forward and reach our greatest potential."

The commitments came after an extensive review process in collaboration with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, or AGB. During the review, trustees participated in workshops aimed at aligning their goals with best practices in shared governance.

“I want to commend the Michigan State University Board of Trustees and President Guskiewicz for putting in place their eight governance commitments and protocols on how best to implement them,” said Kevin Reilly, AGB consultant and former president of the University of Wisconsin System. “I was pleased to work with them to develop these ‘rules of the road’ for governance best practices to help the board come together after a period of deep, public division among board members.”

Among the most significant changes to the governance commitments and protocols are ensuring all board members are informed and maintaining clear communication lines.

“We talked with faculty, staff and student leadership to ensure that these new ways of operating would rebuild trust between the board and the university’s stakeholders,” Reilly added. “At a time when universities and their governing bodies are under intense public scrutiny, other institutions might find Michigan State University’s new approach instructive.”

 

New protocols

To ensure that the governance commitments are effectively implemented, the board has introduced detailed protocols covering a wide range of its activities. These protocols are designed to promote transparency, improve communication and strengthen collaboration both internally and externally. By establishing clear guidelines for internal communications, external engagements and event participation, the board aims to create a more accountable and efficient governance structure that supports the university’s mission and operations.

The board established updated protocols for engaging with academic governance representatives to help foster collaboration with faculty and students. Faculty and student liaisons are encouraged to work through the administration to resolve issues before engaging with trustees.

“I am pleased that faculty leadership had the opportunity to weigh in on the Board of Trustees’ revised conflict-of-interest policy, and I hope it will enact standards that reflect the principles we all strive to uphold,” said Angela Wilson, Faculty Senate president and John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at MSU.

Also, any engagements with student organizations by trustees are to be coordinated through the senior vice president for student life and engagement, ensuring alignment with university protocols.

In addition to creating these protocols, the board office established a process to streamline event participation invitations to trustees through formal request forms and developed clear guidelines for trustees’ external engagements. This ensures trustees are informed of broader university advocacy and advancement strategies, promoting a unified approach to external relations.

Lastly, these protocols stipulate trustees’ meetings with government officials or major donors must be coordinated with the university’s Government Relations office or University Advancement.