The approved budget totals $3.2 billion.
Among MSU’s added investments, nearly $8 million in new spending is being allocated to provide more resources to student success initiatives, including student health and wellness, a new multicultural center and more supports for the institution’s anticipated growth in enrollment.
In addition to the increased investment in student success, MSU also is spending more than $208 million in student financial aid — an increase of nearly $11.9 million over last year — to ensure access to a world-class education while lowering student debt. For most lower-income students and families, the additional aid offsets the 3% increase in undergraduate tuition for the next academic year that trustees approved in June 2021. Students from households with an annual income of less than $75,000 will see no out-of-pocket increase in tuition spending.
“College affordability is on the minds of many students and families across the country right now,” said MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. “As costs continue to rise from years of declining state funding, MSU is taking a measured approach to ensuring continued investments in student success resources while also working to ensure access to a world-class, affordable Michigan State degree.”
The approved budget also includes a separate 3% tuition adjustment for most resident and non-resident graduate students for the next academic year.
Following the approval of the university’s budget, trustees approved resolutions to plan for two new academic spaces on campus — both of which align with the institution’s efforts to further its research excellence.
The first resolution supports the planning for an Engineering and Digital Innovation Building to accommodate current and planned growth in student enrollment in digital learning, and growth and development of research in advanced materials and manufacturing, ultrafast sciences, quantum computing and semiconductors. Trustees also authorized the university to plan for a new laboratory research space to accommodate growth in plant and environmental sciences.
Trustees also approved several amendments to the university’s emeritum policy to ensure awarding of the title is a more thorough process requiring recommendation and approval. Updates also enhance the policy’s current process for revoking emeritum status when inappropriate behavior is substantially inconsistent with expected behavior. Additionally, the amendments change the term emeritus to emeritum and permit faculty and academic staff, administrators and executive managers to use emerita, emeritus or emeritum in describing their designation, more gender-neutral options.
During the meeting, trustees also received a research presentation from MSU Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology Kurt Zinn, whose research utilizes MSU’s newly opened Facility for Rare Isotope Beams to identify new radioisotopes to diagnose and treat cancer.
Before concluding the meeting, the Board also took the following actions:
• Approved the appointments of Jerlando F. L. Jackson as dean of the College of Education; Dylan Miner as dean of the Residential College in the Arts and humanities; Teresa Miller as interim dean of libraries; and Adam Nightingale as head ice hockey coach.
• Authorized the university to proceed with phase II of its Football Complex renovation and addition. The second phase includes a student-athlete wellness space, a new south entry lobby, locker room and equipment room expansion, and improvements to strength and conditioning spaces and team meeting rooms. The project costs are funded from gifts to the Athletics Department.
The Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Friday, Sept. 9.