The East Lansing mayor and MSU's president spoke Tuesday to clear up a miscommunication about an agreement concerning the possible relocation of MSU's College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids.
The "framework of understanding," released without MSU officials present at a press conference Monday, outlines several requirements community leaders hope MSU will adhere to if the university decides to expand the school. The plan includes retaining an East Lansing campus in the event of a move.
"The university was well aware that we were having a press conference," East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said. "We stand by our position."
MSU President M. Peter McPherson said that although he agrees with 19 out of the 20 points on the framework, he does not agree with the one stating that MSU will retain at least a few first- and second-year medical students if the school moves to the state's western side.
Meadows said he and McPherson had "a nice conversation" late Tuesday morning and the confusion was cleared up. McPherson said he only agreed informally on parts of the document, but Meadows perceived it as an open-ended commitment from McPherson on a general idea.
"We understood that there are a number of blank spaces in that agreement," Meadows said. "Now, I understand today that the president didn't feel like he committed to that process."
The group of leaders and the university aren't alone in the agreement, Meadows said.
"Every stakeholder in the region has indicated their agreement," he said.
Meadows said he still views it as an agreement from the president.
"Mayor Meadows and the other community leaders have worked hard on these issues," McPherson said. "We've all been seeking a common ground that would maintain and strengthen medical care in this community, and it is true this question about first- and second-year students is out there and that's something I'm confident we'll continue to discuss."
McPherson declined to comment further on the misunderstanding, but university spokesman Terry Denbow said MSU officials never called the proposal an agreement and that "We're committed to clear communication."
"We have to give benefit of the doubt to a misunderstanding," he said. "We're continuing to work. It's not a major issue at all."
But state Sen. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, said other hospital leaders, such as Dennis Litos, president and CEO of Ingham Regional Medical Center, have not expressed their support.
"It's a proposal; it's not an agreement," Bernero said, adding that it was unusual that no MSU officials appeared for the document's unveiling Tuesday. "They held a news conference, and the university was not there.
"Normally, if you announce an agreement, you'd have both parties there."
Litos could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Although Bernero said MSU might not have had representation because of the dissension on the proposal, Denbow said it wasn't unusual for university officials not to appear.
"That was that group's press conference," he said.
MSU is expected to release a public announcement next week and make a formal decision about the fate of the medical school in May.
The other regulations highlighted in the document include increasing the number of third- and fourth-year students in East Lansing, depending on the interest at the two campuses. The proposal also suggests keeping the dean of the school located in East Lansing and that the MSU school maintain most of the same medical practices and faculty.
Bernero said the local and state leaders have worked for the past six weeks to create nothing more than a wish list for MSU to keep a medical school presence in the capital area.
"This framework of understanding is a speedbump on the road to Grand Rapids," Bernero said.
Amy Bartner can be reached at bartnera@msu.edu.
