September 2024 roundup
Photo: Derrick Turner/MSU
Board of Trustees held it's board meeting Sept. 6, 2024.
MSU Board of Trustees green-lights planning study for new campus, community development project
The Board of Trustees authorized the administration to begin a planning study to construct a new community-oriented, public-private partnership venue at the corner of Harrison and Trowbridge roads. Aligned with the university’s Campus Facility and Land Use Plan and outreach and engagement efforts with surrounding communities, the project encompasses constructing a new hotel and retail space and athletics arena on 14 acres of vacant land on the west side of campus along Harrison Road.
Contact: Mark Bullion, University Communications: media@msu.edu or 517-353-7077
Trustees approve construction of new Plant and Environmental Sciences Building
The board voted to authorize construction of a new Plant and Environmental Sciences Building. This 200,000-square-foot facility, located at the corner of Farm Lane and Wilson Road, will provide critical laboratory space for approximately 40 principal investigators and their teams, advancing MSU’s leadership in food security and climate adaptation.
Contact: Mark Bullion, University Communications: media@msu.edu or 517-353-7077
Presentation by John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor Barbara Schneider
John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor Barbara Schneider in the College of Education and the Department of Sociology delivered a research presentation to the Board of Trustees called “Advancing Society’s Obligation for Science Learning with ‘Culturally Responsive Science Learning’: An Evidence-Based Approach in the Rural South.” Schneider’s research focuses on the barriers students face learning about science while living in the South and how partnering with two historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, is helping to remove those barriers and improve the learning environments of students in STEM programming.
Contact: Mark Bullion, University Communications: media@msu.edu or 517-353-7077
MSU Board of Trustees updates campus ordinances, revises BOT Policy 302
The Michigan State University Board of Trustees has approved updates to several campus ordinances to clarify language and ensure compliance with existing federal and state laws. The changes are designed to enhance clarity without altering enforcement procedures. The board also voted to revise Policy 302, originally established in 1969, to clarify the scope, title, and roles of key personnel in managing university records. The policy now adheres to the board’s approved template. These updates are part of the board's governance work, revising its bylaws and policies and reviewing the university's ordinances since September 2023.
Contact: Mark Bullion, University Communications: media@msu.edu or 517-353-7077
Trustees’ vote enables MSU administration to negotiate long-term land lease with MSU Research Foundation
The board authorized MSU administration to enter into a long-term ground lease and development agreement with the MSU Research Foundation for approximately 5 acres within the Crescent Road redevelopment area. The MSU Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on entrepreneurship and driving the MSU innovation ecosystem, looks to develop a new headquarters facility that would also serve as a multi-tenant innovation center to house startup companies and corporations that work closely with the university on bringing new technologies to market.
Contact: Doug Snitgen, dsnitgen@msufoundation.org or 517-256-6403
MSU expands Child Development Laboratory to Lansing
The board approved a long-term lease in the city of Lansing that establishes a third Child Development Lab through the university. MSU’s Child Development Labs in East Lansing and Haslett provide quality child care and preschool programs for children from birth to kindergarten, while also providing opportunities to train future teachers and for faculty to conduct their research. The new Lansing site will expand MSU’s presence and partnership in the city, providing expanded access to the broader community.
Contact: Mark Bullion, University Communications: media@msu.edu or 517-353-7077
Anthony Hall roofing and insulation to be upgraded to address safety concerns
The Board of Trustees has given the green light for the roofing and flashings on Anthony Hall to be replaced. The building’s original construction included no insulation beneath the pitched roof, causing annual ice damming that damages the exterior and poses a significant safety risk to pedestrians due to falling ice. This move takes steps to address these issues, with planning costs estimated at $560,000. These funds will cover design consultants and cost estimation, representing approximately 7% of the preplanning budget.
Contact: Erica Venton, ipf.communications@msu.edu, 517-897-7567
Faculty appointments with tenure
- Nadia Abuelezam, associate professor, Department of Family Medicine, effective Oct. 1, 2024.
- Pavel Nadolsky, professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, effective Jan. 1, 2025.
- Jacqueline Goodway, professor, Department of Kinesiology, Jan. 2, 2025.
Other appointments
- Rebecca DeVooght, vice president for Government Relations, Government Relations, Executive Management, effective Aug. 12, 2024.
Other personal actions
- Robyn Fralick, Women’s Basketball head coach, Intercollegiate Athletics, amendment to contract, effective July 1, 2024.
- Eric Hegg, professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and associate dean, College of Natural Science, for a change in title to dean, College of Natural Science, effective Sept. 1, 2024.
- Ioannis Papapolymerou, MSU Research Foundation Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and director of the MSU Space Electronics Initiative, for an additional title of interim dean, College of Engineering, effective Oct. 1, 2024.