During their last regularly scheduled meeting of the year, Michigan State University trustees approved the contract for Pat Fitzgerald, officially welcoming the university’s 27th head football coach.
“The MSU Board of Trustees is committed to the success of our student athletes, on and off the field,” said Board Chair Kelly Tebay. “We are excited about the opportunity to move forward with renewed ambition for Spartan football and welcome continued growth and development in the coming seasons.”
The board also approved a contract amendment for celebrated men’s basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo.
Research presentation
During Friday’s meeting, the board heard a performance from Dmitri Berlinsky and the International Chamber Soloists, or ICS. They performed “Summer” from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” Berlinsky is a professor of violin at the MSU College of Music. He has performed with some of the world’s most acclaimed orchestras and given master classes all around the globe. Not long after starting at MSU in 2001, Berlinsky established the ICS. The group is comprised of string musicians who come from all over the world and have performed across the U.S. and traveled internationally for festivals.
Farm Bureau Pavilion addition
Michigan State University’s Farm Bureau Pavilion may soon be home to a new addition. The Board of Trustees authorized the university to begin planning for a second indoor arena to increase event capacity and add an enclosed space for exhibitors to warm up their animals prior to events in the main arena. The addition will increase the number, quality, size and scope of events that showcase Michigan agriculture and support the local economy.
Anaerobic digester expansion and renewable natural gas facility addition
The Board of Trustees approved the university to begin planning for building and operating a renewable natural gas facility west of the existing anaerobic digester to upgrade biogas into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas for sale and distribution. As part of the project, the anaerobic digester will be expanded to double its current capacity, enabling it to handle increased organic waste from the recently expanded dairy herd. The renewable natural gas facility will convert the biogas into renewable natural gas.
Douglas Gage recognized
During Friday’s meeting, the board expressed its deep appreciation to Vice President for Research and Innovation Douglas Gage for his contributions to MSU as he begins transitioning to retirement. Gage has worked at MSU since 1986.
Under Gage’s leadership, MSU’s research expenditures have grown nearly 31% since 2020, to $932 million in 2024. He also played a pivotal role in launching MSU’s Global Impact Initiative, a highly successful recruiting program that brought more than 140 new faculty members to the university.
Gage’s collaborative approach has been instrumental in initiatives such as the Corewell Health-MSU Alliance, the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization program, the USAID Grain Research and Innovation project, the University Autism Spectrum Disorder Project, and research integration with Henry Ford Health.
“Doug Gage is an accomplished scientist, a dedicated colleague and a key leader of Michigan State’s research and innovation enterprise,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “Under his leadership, the university has developed important internal and external collaborations and achieved record breaking research levels. Through his visionary planning and care, he leaves us in an excellent position to continue enhancing our impact on behalf of all those we serve.”
Establishment and adoption of the charter for the Advisory Committee for Responsible Investing
Trustees also approved the charter of the Advisory Committee for Responsible Investing, or ACRI. The measure follows the board’s approval of revisions to its investment policy in December 2024.
The ACRI will serve as the body responsible for receiving, reviewing and analyzing requests for investment changes based on nonfinancial reasons and for providing recommendations to the president. The committee will include representation from students, faculty, and staff.
Other agenda items
The board approved several other requests during the meeting, including:
- authorization of a Strategic Brand Management Agreement with Spartan Ventures.
- authorization to proceed with Farm Lane road and utility reconstruction;
- the sale and ground lease of university property to the MSU Research Foundation.
Friday’s meeting was the last meeting for Kelly Tebay serving as board chair.
“Serving as chair is an invaluable leadership experience,” said Tebay. “I am grateful to my fellow trustees, board secretary Stefan Fletcher, President Guskiewicz and so many others who have supported our work and contributed to the success of this great institution. I look forward to my continued service on the board and to supporting my colleagues as they take on new responsibilities in the coming year.”
Tebay remains in her position through Dec. 31. On Jan. 1, 2026, in accordance with Article 4 of the Board of Trustees bylaws, Trustees Brianna Scott and Renee Knake Jefferson will assume the roles of board chair and vice chair, respectively.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting is Feb. 6.
