In its final board meeting of the calendar year, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees authorized the university to proceed with the next phase of the T.B. Simon Power Plant Modernization Project.
During this phase, the university will improve the plant’s natural gas infrastructure to complement the reciprocating internal combustion engines currently under construction. Installing separate electric- and steam-production equipment will result in higher overall plant efficiencies, reducing fuel expenses and carbon dioxide emissions. The project cost is $17.7 million.
Trustees and President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., also recognized 29 students with the Board of Trustees Award for achieving a 4.0 grade point average at the close of their last semester.
“I am incredibly proud of these students,” said Stanley. “Achieving a 4.0 GPA takes grit and determination, particularly when facing the challenges of a pandemic. They are excellent exemplars of the Spartan spirit.”
In addition, trustees approved the first-ever Presidential Performance Evaluation Policy, formalizing a process to conduct annual evaluations of the university president’s performance based on established goals. The policy includes standard procedures in accordance with best practices recommended by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
“As a board, we have been focusing a great deal on improving the university’s governance procedures with an eye toward accountability; this is an important step in that effort,” said Dianne Byrum, chairperson of the Board of Trustees. “Having a formal review process, which includes input from the entire MSU community, is vital for the integrity of the Office of the President.”
Also during the meeting, several trustees and the president recognized the contributions of trustees Joel Ferguson and Brian Mosallam. Their terms as trustees end Jan. 1, 2021.
Other board activity included:
- Approval of Kendra Cheruvelil as interim dean of Lyman Briggs College and Mary Finn as dean of the College of Social Science.
- A presentation by Emilio Moran, Hannah Distinguished Professor in geography environmental spatial sciences, about addressing food, water and energy challenges in the Amazon Basin.
- Authorization to enter into a long-term affiliation and form a new non-profit corporation with the Henry Ford Health System.