Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., updated the Board of Trustees on the university’s plans for the fall 2021 semester at its April meeting.
“We are planning for a more typical campus experience, with nearly all undergraduate classes offered in person,” Stanley said. “It also will be great to see the return of more in-person student activities. More than 800 student organizations have registered for the year so far, and those activities will continue to enrich the campus experience.
“In the fall, first-year students will be back living on campus, with as many others as we can safely accommodate. We’re pleased with the demand we’ve seen for on-campus housing. It’s clear students value, and miss, campus living.”
Next on the agenda, the trustees heard a presentation from Sneha Banerjee, an electrical engineering graduate student in the College of Engineering. Her research, Tunneling Electrical Contacts, is about the challenges the electronics industry faces as gadgets become smaller, lighter, faster and cheaper.
“The research presented at the Board of Trustees meetings is always fascinating, but I find our student researchers to be especially inspiring,” said Stanley. “MSU is a national leader in undergraduate research opportunities, helping students apply their new knowledge and prepare for graduation and beyond.”
In addition, trustees recognized more than 140 students with spring 2021 Board of Trustees Awards. The award is given to graduating seniors with the highest scholastic average, a 4.0 GPA.
Other board activity included:
- Approval of Lisa Frace as senior vice president and chief financial officer beginning May 10.
- Approval of Christopher P. Long, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, to take on the additional title of dean of the Honors College beginning July 1.
- Approval of naming the College of Engineering Student Activities Center the William A. Demmer Engineering Center.
The next board meeting will be on June 18.