Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees today authorized a $10.3 million project to update the infrastructure and functionality of the Eppley Center in the university’s Business College Complex.
The 58-year-old building will be reconfigured to bring undergraduate advising and other student academic support services, as well as computer labs, into one location — a move made possible by the recent completion of the Edward J. Minskoff Pavilion.
Because the building’s original mechanical systems are inefficient or inoperable, the center will receive safety and energy efficiency improvements including LED light fixtures, fire alarm and suppression systems and heating and cooling systems.
"It is vitally important that the critical support services our students need are as accessible as possible,” said Broad College of Business Dean Sanjay Gupta. “We've made a commitment to align our facilities to promote student success, and this investment will deliver on that for years to come.”
Trustees and other leaders also recognized 17 students with academic achievement awards for earning 4.0 GPAs at the close of their last semester at MSU. Also honored were the university’s 20th Rhodes Scholar and 18th Marshall Scholar.
Rhodes Scholar Anna Esenther is a 2019 Honors College graduate with degrees in economics, psychology, history, education and statistics. She will study economics at the University of Oxford and hopes to leverage her selection to amplify the voices of teachers and underrepresented populations in economics.
Marshall Scholar Emily Steffke is an Honors College senior majoring in neuroscience in the College of Natural Science and English in the College of Arts and Letters. She is an undergraduate researcher at MSU’s Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering.
“It is such a pleasure to acknowledge and congratulate such an impressive group of scholars,” MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., said. “Their accomplishments reflect so well on the university and illustrate the caliber of our programs and students.”
President Stanley and several trustees also welcomed new trustee, Renee Knake, who was appointed earlier this month by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
“Ms. Knake’s experience in higher education, ethics and diversity issues will be great assets in supporting our efforts to build a safer, more respectful and more welcoming campus while striving to enhance student success and improve our community,” Stanley said.
Other board activity included:
- A presentation by Assistant Professor Ashley Shade from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics on microbiome resilience.
- Approval of appointees to the College of Law Board of Trustees. While the College of Law continues on the path of full integration with the university, its board of trustees will remain in place until Aug. 15, 2020.
- Approval to establish the Selma and Stanley Hollander Quality, Excellence, and Opportunity Endowment Fund in the College of Music.
The next board meeting will be Feb. 14, 2020.