The heart of MSU is our people, who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. While we may have individual values and beliefs, we can work together to build a positive campus culture where everyone feels respected and valued. Based on this principle, MSU Foundations: Our Spartan Community, an online introductory education program focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, was introduced in 2020 as a common foundation of knowledge and expectations regarding DEI initiatives.
Initially, the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, or IDI, outsourced the curriculum to a subscription-based service. To better reflect community needs and interests, IDI appointed Mina Shin as the inaugural training and learning development specialist and project manager for MSU Foundations, tasked with developing a new, customized e-learning experience.
Since its launch in March 2024, MSU Foundations has been made available to incoming students and new employees. To date, over 18,537 first-year and second-year students and 1,824 employees have successfully completed the course.
“Many students, staff and faculty members participated in the development of this program and raised diverse voices and perspectives,” said Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D. “Mina engaged dozens of groups, units and many stakeholders in envisioning, creating and piloting the current version. Our hope is that everyone approaches this learning opportunity with curiosity and an open mind.”
As anticipated, the new online course has received overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback from the community, as demonstrated by over 300 evaluation forms submitted by students, staff and faculty within one month of its release in the 2024 fall semester.
The course has been widely praised for its comprehensive, educational and informative content. Many participants appreciated the wide range of topics covered and the clear explanations of key concepts, informative examples and scenarios that effectively illustrate real-life situations.
Survey respondents also highly regarded the course’s format and structure, noting that it is engaging, interactive, well-designed and easy to navigate, ensuring the material is presented in an easy-to-digest format. Participants particularly valued the MSU-specific information, such as its Land Acknowledgement, related policies and Spartan stories.
The Broad College of Business's mural artwork by Mila Lynn is featured in the module as a reflection on MSU's campus diversity.
Anonymous student comments revealed an appreciation for how the course addresses a variety of underrepresented identities at MSU. According to one participant, “It helped me become a more understanding individual,” and “I liked the opportunity for personal reflection.”
The qualitative feedback clearly reflects this course's positive impact on students and employees alike. Shin has been encouraged by these responses.
“One feedback that stands out to me is that it’s described as ‘good storytelling.’ This aligns perfectly with my initial vision," said Shin. "As I embarked on this project, I envisioned a diverse range of learners on campus and aimed to approach the course through a narrative lens, using accessible and simple language. I incorporated various elements, including text readings, videos, images, interactive quizzes and reflective questions, so learners across the spectrum find the course engaging, enjoyable, relatable and relevant.”
Watch this video excerpt from the program, featuring recordings from community members sharing their perspectives.
Among those new faculty and staff who completed the course since its release is President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
During a visit to the IDI office, he expressed how the course clearly articulates MSU’s values, commitment and community expectations to foster more welcoming and inclusive learning and working environments. “This shared learning experience will enhance our collective sense of belonging, regardless of one’s role at MSU,” he said.
While the online format offers flexibility for completion and self-paced learning, in-person training options also may be available for those interested in the future.
“IDI and other units on campus offer many learning opportunities to continue your educational journey,” said Bennett. “Creating an inclusive community is everyone’s responsibility and a continuous effort. This is our institutional commitment and promise to ourselves and future generations of Spartans.”
This story was updated in spring 2025 to reflect the new course name: MSU Foundations: Our Spartan Community.
