Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz touted the success of the “Uncommon Will, Far Better World” campaign at the annual State of the University address.
Over the past school year, nearly 64,000 donors contributed $736 million to MSU’s “Uncommon Will, Far Better World” campaign, bringing the total to $1.94 billion. The campaign has over 137,000 donors with an overall goal of $4 billion — the largest campaign in university history.
The campaign aims to solidify MSU as a "global beacon of collaboration, partnership and opportunity," Guskiewicz said.
In his Tuesday address, Guskiewicz also announced the “long-overdue” modernization of MSU’s general curriculum in hopes of attracting more talent for the state of Michigan.
MSU secured a $60 million dollar investment from the state of Michigan and a private gift of $50 million from the Leinweber Foundation for the construction of the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation.
“The Leinweber Center is the manifestation of a bold vision encompassing multiple disciplines and colleges to train … technologists fit for dynamic careers of the 21st century," Guskiewicz said.
Amid uncertainty around federal funding, Guskiewicz said MSU is “closing-in” on its 2030 goal of $1 billion in annual research expenditures three years earlier than expected.
The MSU Research Foundation Postdoctoral Scholars Program is a new program at MSU which provides recent PhD graduates the opportunity to receive training in research areas covered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency.
MSU will also make an additional $5 million available for the second year through the Jenison Fund Career and Research Continuity Support, an initiative that grants assistance to graduate students and faculty who are experiencing research funding disruptions due to federal setbacks.
Guskiewicz acknowledged AI at MSU, saying "we must always keep it human and people-centered."
