Engler said in the letter that 5,618 undergraduate Spartans graduated with their degrees in the past week’s commencement ceremonies. 2,207 advanced degrees were achieved by students, as well.

Engler also said that MSU will also be anticipating the largest incoming freshman class in its history for the 2018-2019 academic year. According to a press release from MSU Today, the class is "predicted to be the largest and most diverse in the school’s history, with more than 8,400 anticipated students.” 

MSU currently has the largest African-American population of students in the Big Ten, with enrollment up almost 24 percent. Hispanic domestic enrollment has also made a 25 percent increase and Asian domestic enrollment has reached a 36 percent increase, respectively. 

Final paragraphs of Engler’s letter addressed a year marked by revelations concerning ex-MSU doctor and convicted child predator Larry Nassar. MSU continues to face the repercussions of Nassar’s extensive criminal behavior while he was employed at the university, where he assaulted hundreds of young patients. Engler said that he hopes mediation with the Nassar survivors will come to a conclusion. 

“Next week, we will resume mediation with attorneys for the 312 plaintiffs who were abused by Larry Nassar,” Engler said in the letter. “We remain hopeful that a settlement can be reached.”

He also said that MSU will continue in its attempt to foster a safer campus environment after Nassar. 

“In the meantime, MSU continues to make progress in our work to prevent or respond to sexual misconduct by any member of the MSU community,” Engler said. “Our compilation of this ongoing work, “Taking Action to Foster a Safer Campus,” is updated periodically and can be accessed from MSU’s “Our Commitment” website."

Engler ended the letter by saying that “a difficult academic year of disappointing revelations and headlines” was improved by the work of dedicated MSU community members. 

Read Engler's letter in full below.