Happy birthday, Michigan!

MSU’s relationship with the state doesn’t stop at the tip of the mitten, either. In fact, MSU has three AgBioResearch centers beyond the Mackinac Bridge in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center was established in 1899 at Chatham, Michigan, to conduct “experiments pertaining to agriculture and horticulture . . . beneficial to the agricultural interests of the upper peninsula.”

The Apple Developer Academy in Detroit is a partnership between Apple and Michigan State University that is supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation. The 10-month program teaches critical business and app development skills and prepares students for careers in the growing app economy. In June 2023, the academy celebrated its second graduating cohort, with plenty more graduating classes to come. Photograph by Derrick L. Turner.

When the state of Michigan needs sustainability solutions, it knows it has a resource in MSU. The Au Sable River, situated in Michigan’s northern lower peninsula, is a Blue Ribbon trout stream. To ensure the sustainability of the river’s fishery, researchers from MSU are working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Photograph courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

MSU’s impact in Michigan extends far beyond its East Lansing campus. In 2023, the university’s endowment fund became the majority investor in the historic Fisher Building in Detroit. The university anticipates supporting an array of educational, administrative and community-facing functions within the building, while the MSU Research Foundation plans to open a startup incubator. Photograph by Nadir Ali, courtesy of the Platform.

When it comes to apples, MSU researchers are helping Michigan growers identify the best apple varieties for hard apple cider. Photograph by Nick Schrader.

Pedro Bautista is a blueberry and chestnut farmer in West Michigan. His farm hosts numerous training sessions for La Cosecha, an MSU program that plays a vital role in Michigan’s economy. La Cosecha is a three-year educational program for beginning Latino/a farmers and ranchers offered in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Telamon Corporation. Photograph by Nick Schrader.

As a land-grant university, MSU’s mission is to advance knowledge and transform lives – and the university is proud to call Michigan home while living up to that mission. While the state of Michigan might be 18 years older, we like to think we’ve been a big part of the state’s history. The MSU community is excited about helping shape the future of Michigan, too. Photograph by Garret Morgan.

The university is building on its leadership and history in cancer care by expanding accessible precision treatment in Michigan inside the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building that’s part of the MSU Grand Rapids Innovation Park. Photograph courtesy of the MSU College of Human Medicine.

In January 2024, Flint pregnant people and newborns began enrolling in Rx Kids. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was joined by MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., MSU College of Human Medicine Dean Aron Sousa, Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation President Ridgway White for the historic launch at Hurley Children’s Hospital. The program, which provides money to pregnant people and families during a baby’s first 12 months, holds the promise to eradicate deep poverty among families with infants in Flint. Photograph by Jill Vondrasek.

MSU is committed to Michigan’s next generation of innovators and creators. In 2023, the university launched a new financial aid program, Spartan Tuition Advantage, which automatically covers the full cost of tuition for all Pell Grant-eligible Michigan high school graduates who have a family income of $65,000 or less, starting with the fall 2024 class. The program is expected to cover tuition for more than 6,000 students annually. Photograph by Derrick L. Turner.