“If you think about the growth of knowledge, … simply adding more and more things to catch up on to that knowledge curve may not be the best way,” Simon said. “We need to prepare students for their first job, but we also need to prepare them for their third, fourth and fifth.”

Simon also reflected on some aspects of Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2012-13, in which MSU would see an increase of roughly 1.4 percent in the operating budget through state appropriations.

“We also are struggling, as everyone is, with what will happen at the federal level given the knowledge of the budget,” Simon said.

A report on research later was given by Martin Hawley, director of the Office of Sponsored Programs. Hawley outlined a number of recommendations to help grow research activities for the university, including increasing funding for research from about $500 million to $1 billion by 2020.

Hawley said research funds today have nearly doubled since 2001.

“I think we need to think about … how do we get better (research) proposals so we can get even more competitive,” he said.

The next step toward creating a faculty research track also is moving forward after Faculty Senate members approved the recommended proposal to Simon at their Tuesday meeting.

The proposal would create a new category of fixed-term faculty who primarily would focus on research endeavors, said Terry Curry, associate provost and associate vice president for academic human resources.

“It helps to both fund and fuel the research enterprise of the university with a core of faculty that are focused on external funding for their research,” Curry said. “At the same time, (it) creates a system to attract and motivate those faculty members.”

Provost Kim Wilcox said if Simon approves the proposal, it then will go to the MSU Board of Trustees to potentially be voted into action.

A moratorium extension also was approved for the master of science in zoo and aquarium management program, now effective from spring 2012 to spring 2013.