The search for the university's next Provost has been in the works since June Youatt resigned on September 5, 2019. The search committee for the new Provost was announced in late October. 

Stanley said there are currently about 30 people being looked at in the search who have expressed interest, and another 50 who are interested in the position. The Provost search team contacted around 400 people from around the country who are in a variety of positions at different institutions.

“One of the things you can learn from these kinds of searches is it’s not usually the people who actually apply themselves who are the best candidates,” Stanley said. “It’s the people who are good at their job and doing well, who may not be looking at this time, will often tend to be the best candidate.”

As this is an open search, once the committee lowers the number of candidates, the finalists will be brought on campus. 

“It’s really important that the (candidates) who come to Michigan State University, I was them to see what kind of people we are, what we stand for. But I also want them to very much feel welcomed by the community,” Stanley said.

Stanley said the pool of candidates is moving in the right direction in gender diversity and representing minorities. 

Vice President for Student Allocations Dylan Catalano addressed the lack of undergraduate representation on search committees, such as the search that ended with Stanley himself becoming President, as well as the current search for a Provost, whose only undergraduate member is ASMSU President Mario Kakos.

Stanley said it would be difficult to find the people with the time and commitment for these searches. He said he wasn't looking at changing that at this point, but he acknowledged the underrepresentation in comparison to the nearly 40,000 undergraduates at MSU.

Stanley announced a search for the new position of chief diversity officer vice president, who will be taking over for Paulette Granberry Russell’s position of senior advisor to the president for diversity.

The responsibilities that fell under Russell's position will now be under the chief diversity officer.

The position is expected to have a large part in the university's diversity, equity and inclusion planning.

James Madison College representative Abii-Tah Chungong Bih asked Stanley about fall break at MSU for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Stanley did not confirm fall break, as there are administrators who need to be contacted.

"I'm committed to doing fall break," Stanley said. He said he is looking into a pilot this year. There is still uncertainty of the date of the break. One possibility is a break on election day. Stanley also mentioned that they are looking into dates in October.

Stanley said the university is hoping for this pilot year to come with feedback from students on whether or not this break was helpful and should be done again.