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During their regularly scheduled October Board of Trustees meeting, trustees approved the university’s plan to construct the new Engineering and Digital Innovation Center, or EDI Center. The center will be located at the southwest corner of Red Cedar Road and West Shaw Lane near the College of Engineering Building and the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility.
The EDI Center will serve as an academic and research powerhouse for advanced manufacturing, materials science, microelectronics, artificial intelligence and other emerging workforce and research needs. The center will also serve as a catalyst for attracting and retaining top talent in the state and accommodating approximately 65 researchers and their respective teams.
“Fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other new technologies are constantly evolving, and it is our responsibility to ensure we are helping to prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers for the demands of an increasingly digital and interconnected economy,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “This investment underscores the university’s commitment to advancing research, innovation and talent development that will continue shaping Michigan’s future.”
In addition, the Board of Trustees, for the fourth consecutive year, approved a $70 million capital outlay request to the state of Michigan that would further support the development of the project. In 2023, the State of Michigan contributed $30 million toward the EDI Center as part of the state’s fiscal year 2023–24 budget process.
A recent generous contribution from MSU alums Mary and Michael Lamach will help to kick-start fundraising efforts to build out the center. Trustees also approved the naming of the EDI Center’s auditorium and lobby to the Mary and Mike Lamach Auditorium and Mary and Mike Lamach Auditorium Lobby.
During Friday’s meeting, trustees approved a resolution allowing the university to move forward with a phased redesign of the Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum. The garden’s history spans over 150 years and has continuously evolved. A land use plan to align the goals of the gardens with strategic university arts collection plan goals was recently created. Pillars of the land use plan include:
Maintain and activate a world-class plant collection to enable teaching and research across disciplines.
Facilitate opportunities for transformative learning experiences for campus and the community.
Support biodiversity and sustainability.
Foster community building, place awareness and well-being on campus.
Maintain and strengthen organizational integrity for a sustainable future.
“As the oldest continuously operated university botanical garden in the United States, and one that has garnered numerous accolades, it is a point of pride for the board to support the evolving needs of this campus treasure,” said Board Chair Kelly Tebay. “The Beal Botanical Garden is an example of a multifaceted space that supports learning, research and sustainability all in a setting that invites reflection and supports community well-being.”
Trustees approved a resolution authorizing an affiliation agreement initiating Spartan Ventures, a new nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation designed to advance, promote and support MSU’s Department of Athletics.
The establishment of Spartan Ventures modernizes Athletics and demonstrates the department’s commitment to operating on the leading edge of innovation in the evolving landscape of college sports. It will strengthen long-term competitiveness for MSU Athletics, expand opportunities for student-athletes and increase innovation in how the university engages with fans, partners and communities.
Trustees reaffirmed their commitment to the development of the Spartan Gateway District during Friday’s meeting, allowing the university to restart the project’s planning process. The board had previously approved planning and construction for the district at Trowbridge and Harrison Roads, which included an Olympic arena.
The new resolution provides an opportunity to explore alternative campus locations with the goal of positioning the district more centrally on campus. The proposed development could include a hotel, conference center, dining, office, parking and other spaces. The resolution also implores the university to use existing athletic facilities to support Olympic sports, in alignment with current athletic and university strategic priorities.
Trustees received a research presentation titled “Securing Planet and People Resilience Through Innovative Plant Resilience Research” from Sue Rhee, director of MSU’s Plant Resilience Institute. Rhee’s research focuses on working to make plants more climate resilient. Many College of Natural Science plant researchers, including Rhee, are dedicating their careers to making sure our planet has enough food for the nearly 10 billion people it is expected to house by 2050. Faculty are scrutinizing plant processes like photosynthesis, looking for ways to make them resistant to heat, drought and pathogens. They’re creating natural fungicides and biostimulants as a stopgap to keep crops growing as new varieties are engineered.
The board approved several other requests during the meeting, including:
Adoption of the university’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
Authorization to plan for the Library North Plaza revitalization.
Authorization to plan for construction of a new transportation services garage.
The next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting is Dec. 12.
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