Michigan State University plans to raise upwards of $3 billion in its upcoming fundraising push, a goal that dwarfs that of any previous capital campaign in the university’s history.
The goal — which doubles that of the MSU's most recent 2014 capital campaign — signals an ambitious signature initiative early in the tenure of President Kevin Guskiewicz, and comes at a pivotal point in the university's history, following a largely tumultuous past decade.
The revelation is one small detail included in a resolution to be voted on by the Board of Trustees during its meeting this Friday. That resolution authorizes renovations to the second and third floor spaces in the Spartan Stadium tower used by "University Advancement" — MSU’s fundraising arm.
"MSU is currently in the leadership phase of a $3 billion campaign," the resolution said. "These renovations are necessary prior to the public launch of the campaign to build out space to host alumni and donors and to better support the current and future advancement workforce."
The State News, in November, first reported on the university’s plans for an upcoming capital campaign, though university officials did not announce a fundraising goal at that time, and provided scant details about what the money would be put toward.
However, a report from controversial consulting giant Mckinsey and Company commissioned by Guskiewicz last spring for advice on his administration’s priorities offered some potential insight into how capital campaign funds would be used. Namely, the report recommended the university launch a fundraising push to fund "retention efforts" aimed at ensuring underrepresented students don’t continue leaving the university before graduation at disproportionate rates, as well as a "major financial aid push" so that "no Michigan student leaves MSU for financial reasons."
Then, in an interview with The State News the next month, Guskiewicz more or less confirmed that the aims of MSU’s capital campaign would track with Mckinsey and Company’s recommendations. Specifically, Guskiewicz said the campaign would center around "student success initiatives," which would include a "first-gen center" for students who are the first in their family to attend college, as well as scholarships and support programs aimed at making MSU more affordable.
"We’re raising money so we can attract top, talented students, and so they will thrive once they’re here," said Guskiewicz, whose previous institution concluded a record breaking capital campaign of its own in his final year as president there.
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