Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. joins MSU Today to elaborate on topics he covers in his September 2022 Spartan Community Letter.

Show Notes

A new semester and academic year are well underway as MSU welcomed more than 9,800 incoming students to campus, our largest and one of our most diverse incoming groups ever.

“We also had 1,400 transfer students coming in, which is also the largest. There are a lot of new individuals coming to the campus and I know people have reached out and made sure they felt welcome and they're hitting their stride. We're already actually a quarter of the way through the semester. They're already getting exposed to what college life is like. I think they're enjoying themselves at Michigan State University from every account that I can see.

“One of the things I've enjoyed the most is the chance to speak individually with students and their parents and talk to them about what made them choose MSU. I hear a lot about the breadth of the programs we offer that few places can match and our beautiful campus itself, which I think has been looking spectacular these past few days. All of that has created an environment where people want to come and learn. That explains our record application numbers and explains the continued growth we're having. I think that's a great thing because I think the world needs more Spartans. I'm glad we're admitting more to come.”

Stanley talks about meeting the 2022 inductees into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame and about honoring the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel on the institute's 30th anniversary. Forty MSU programs ranked in the Top 25 of the latest U.S. News and World Report.

“That's our highest score in seven years. We're very pleased about that, and I think that reflects the progress we've been making. Peer reputation was really one of the categories that raised us up. Our peers are recognizing the exciting things we're doing at MSU. We need to keep those 40 there, and we need to add more because I think we have the capacity for our scope and scale to have outstanding programs in multiple disciplines. We're going to continue to push that. My congratulations to the 40 who are there. And to those who are just below, let us know what you need so we can push you up and get you in that territory of the top 25 as well.”

Stanley reflects on the addition of 40 new electric vehicles to the university fleet and about MSU’s work in our mobility future, which was highlighted at the recent Detroit Auto Show. He urges Spartans to get their flu shots and COVID boosters and to make plans on how they’ll vote in the November 8 election. Stanley addresses his contract talks with the Board of Trustees.

“There's been a lot of uncertainty and concern about contract negotiations and discussions between the board and me. But I just want to make it very clear that I greatly appreciate all the expressions of support I've had from so many different people and groups on campus. I'm grateful for that. I can't tell you how much it means to me. But I'm also very proud of what we've accomplished together, particularly including advancing my overarching priority of building a university that is safe, welcoming, and supportive of all its people.”

MSU Today airs Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 5 a.m. on WKAR News/Talk and Sundays at 8 p.m. on 760 WJR. Find “MSU Today with Russ White” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

What is MSU Today with Russ White?

MSU Today is a lively look at Michigan State University-related people, places, events and attitudes put into focus by Russ White. The show airs Saturdays at 5 P.M. and Sundays at 5 A.M. on 102.3 FM and AM 870 WKAR, and 8 P.M. on AM 760 WJR.