The Board of Trustees held its second meeting of the 2018-19 academic year Friday morning. The meeting began with public comments, included a research presentation and committee reports and concluded with trustees' comments.
The board approved many new projects, changes and requests made by the university including MSU's 2019-20 state appropriation request, which calls for legislators to provide additional funding to universities that freeze undergraduate tuition.
Calling for more state investment in higher education
In June, the board approved the university's first two-year budget, which included tuition freezes for undergraduates in 2019-20.
The approval of the appropriation request was backed by the idea that state lawmakers should acknowledge and reward universities "who are trying to be sensitive to the rising costs of a college education" with greater state funding.
"This is the first time in the history of Michigan State University where you have approved a two-year budget," Assistant Vice President for Planning & Budget Dave Byleck said. "That two-year budget has been important to us — not simply for saying that it's two years, but to allow us to begin to implement some significant changes."
The request asks the Legislature to create a "balanced approach to encouraging lower tuition and fee rates at state universities."
"Students and families today bear an increasingly heavy burden with the cost of public higher education," Interim President John Engler said in a press release. "One shifted to them by the state at a time when post-high school training or education is more important than ever."
Fully integrating MSU College of Law into the university
The board approved a proposal to fully integrate the College of Law into the university. The MSU College of Law, a private law school, is currently only affiliated with MSU.
Engler said this was a discussion that began years ago at the university, when an agreement to affiliate with the law school was first made.
“I think it’s going to open up a lot of interesting possibilities as we leverage the strengths of the university into the law school,” Trustee Dianne Byrum said. "I think we can be real creative and we can enhance the presence of this institution with a law school."
Naming the $60 million business facility and more
At the meeting, the board officially named three new campus pavilions, including the future business facility under construction north of the Business College Complex. This $60 million facility, expected to be completed in the fall of 2019, received a $30 million gift from MSU alumnus Edward J. Minskoff earlier this semester.
The Board of Trustees officially named the former Eli Broad College of Business Pavilion the "Edward J. Minskoff Business Pavilion." The other two projects named at the meeting were the Billman Music Pavilion and the LeBlanc Clinical Skills Laboratory.
The Board of Trustees also approved the appointment of Dr. Philip Strong as the Interim Dean of Students, a newly created position. He will oversee student behavior and conduct, revise policies and processes and be a resource for students, faculty and staff.
The Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, called for the creation of this new position.
"The whole effort is being changed here to try to get at how we bring students in, how we get them comfortable and supported," Engler said.
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Installing lights and other renovations
The board approved the authorization of $2.5 million to install field lighting at Secchia Softball Stadium and McLane Baseball Stadium.
Deputy Athletics Director Greg Ianni said MSU is the only school in the Big Ten without field lighting in its baseball and softball stadiums.
"We need to comply with our contract with the Big Ten Network," Ianni said. "A number of these events are becoming more and more televised, and they need the flexibility to broadcast at night."
The Board of Trustees also authorized a plan for renovations to the fourth floor of the Hannah Administration Building, where Board of Trustees meetings are held.
The plan calls for giving the "dated" fourth floor of the Hannah Administration Building a more "functional design" to create a collaborative and resourceful space, Engler said.
"This is a recommendation I made to the board relative to the recruitment of the next president," he said.
Returning mummified remains from the MSU Museum
The Board of Trustees approved a decision to give up ownership of a mummy donated to the MSU Museum. It will be sent back to Bolivia, its country of origin.
The next and final meeting of the semester will be held Dec. 14.
