Most of the e-mails MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon has received from students are on two subjects — tensions with the East Lansing community and the football coach.
She hasn't ignored them.
Last Friday, Simon had lunch with students in the Case Hall cafeteria and then climbed the stairs to the third floor for MSU football head coach John L. Smith's season-ending press conference. She drew headlines and broadcast sound bytes across the state when she stepped to the microphone and voiced her support for Smith, but added that she expects the program "to go to bowl games."
That move was indicative of Simon's management style, said Terry Denbow, MSU's vice president for University Relations.
"She has set more benchmarks on more issues ... than most," Denbow said. "This isn't somebody you can B.S. with results."
Simon said continuing to work on relationships between students and permanent residents is one of her top priorities. But her list of priorities isn't a short one.
Since taking over as MSU's 20th president in January — after a hiring process some faculty considered too narrow — Simon has helped push through a proposal to start a new MSU medical school in Grand Rapids, unveiled a plan for the university's future, worked with officials around the state on economic development projects and seen MSU's capital campaign surpass $1 billion.
In the past two weeks, she's made stops in Grand Rapids, Detroit, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Frankenmuth.
"I don't think I've ever in my life gone to so many dinners and not eaten," Simon said Thursday, back in her fourth-floor office in the Administration Building. "Getting used to the publicness of the role has been a challenge."
She hasn't shied away from meeting with students, faculty, city and regional government, state legislators or national leaders.
But has all the activity paid off?
To-do list
Capital campaign — The $1.2 billion campaign needs to be done by 2007, and is almost finished.
Boldness by Design — Simon's looking to Provost Kim Wilcox to implement the plans she laid out this September.
Sustaining international development — MSU became a leader in international engagement under former MSU President M. Peter McPherson. Simon wants to keep the effort up.
Biomass initiatives — Simon has been stumping hard lately state for the alternative energy source.
Student and community relationships — Strained ties with the Lansing and East Lansing communities are a top concern.
What you said
Visitors to The State News' Web site were asked to rate MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon's performance during her first year using the university grading scale. During the course of four days, there were more than 850 responses to the unscientific web poll, which solicited evaluations in one of four categories each day.
Communication: As a student, faculty or community member, how well has Simon communicated with your peers? Has she spoken to the issues that concern you?
2.00
Leadership: How effective has she been as a spokeswoman for the university?
2.12
Vision: Simon has brought ideas such as making MSU the nation's premier land-grant university by 2012, and completing a $1.2 billion campaign for the university. How successful has she been in seeing her initiatives implemented?
2.14
Management: How has Simon overseen the university's resources? Has she attracted strong faculty and administrators, and been responsible with the budget and tuition dollars? Has she made campus safe, accessible and inviting for students and visitors?
1.94
Source: www.statenews.com
