MSU needs to make long-term decisions that will help future students, rather than patching up small holes with short-term fixes, MSU President M. Peter McPherson said in his Founders' Day speech Tuesday.
"We must remind ourselves that the future generations will stand on our shoulders," he said to a less than half-full Pasant Theatre in Wharton Center. "We are crafting the future of Michigan State as we manage through these difficult times."
Despite being faced with a possible $5-million cut in funding from the state, the restructuring of programs and a possible tuition increase, McPherson said MSU will continue to move forward.
"Indeed the nation and the state have major challenges ahead," he said. "As we make reductions, we are not going to stop driving the quality of the university."
In his speech, McPherson told the faculty, students, administrators and parents there are several touchstones MSU needs to maintain during the next year, such as making responsible decisions for the university, meeting the obligations to future students, properly restructuring programs and allocating resources for growth.
"Our years of prudence planning will help us to negotiate the times that lie ahead," he said. "Although it's seductive, this is not the time to become cautious and only plan for today.
"Make no mistake, it's going to be a challenge."
McPherson said even though the future will be rough, there are major aspects of the university that are constantly expanding and will continue to expand even after cuts, like technology, research and the study abroad program.
"Our goal is to do more," he said. "We have the potential for even greater successes."
Philip Strong, assistant director of Lyman Briggs School, said McPherson's speech, although broad, helped him see things more clearly.
"I was impressed by his overall statement," he said. "I also liked that he did recognize that, yes, it was a tight budget year. He did what he needed to do as a leader of this community."
But Strong said some questions were left unanswered.
"One of the things that's on most people's minds is, 'What are the cuts going to be?'" he said, adding McPherson gave general statements to cover a wide variety of things, and not get too specific.
"He's deferring that to the experts he has on staff," Strong said.
MSU Board of Trustees Chairman David Porteous said during the ceremony, McPherson has worked hard with other administrators and deans in the university to plan for the harsh budget times ahead.
"President McPherson has developed the support to move us forward," he said.
