The process will be a national search, open to all who meet the standards needed to be a tenured professor at MSU. Simon said she expects a committee to be chosen and begin recruiting this summer, selecting a provost by early spring 2014.

“If we can name a person early in the spring semester, we’ll be able to have that person in and they can talk about strategic directions in ways that shape some the edges of the (fiscal year) 2014 budget, but they’re not accountable for all the details of that budget,” Simon said during the meeting.

Student name policy
A student name policy, which would allow students to choose the name they would like to appear on their diploma, class list or student directory, was unanimously approved. Emily Bank, ASMSU’s vice president for academic affairs, chaired the policy, which was first proposed about two years ago by ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government.

Banks said she expects the policy will be in place by fall 2013.

St. Patrick’s Day
At the meeting, Simon expressed concern about excessive drinking at MSU on St. Patrick’s Day. Simon is worried about the amount of alcohol students will consume throughout
the weekend.

This Sunday also is the day of the Big Ten Championship final — a double-drinking whammy for students — if the MSU basketball team gets to that point, Simon said. She said the unsafe St. Patrick’s Day festivities are a problem at college campuses around the country.

“A good omen is that the finals of the Big Ten Tournament is on the day that is designated as green,” Simon said during the meeting. “(But, what) remains very concerning about St. Patrick’s Day is the amount of partying that turns into destructive drinking around the day and
the weekend.”