Michigan State Board of Trustees Chairperson Brianna Scott addresses the Board at the first meeting of 2026 at Hannah Administration Building in East Lansing, Michigan on Friday, Feb. 6. Trustees Vassar, Jefferson, and Pierce used Zoom to be present at the Feb. 6 Board meeting while other trustees were there in person.
In the wake of immigration crackdowns on a national scale, Michigan State University’s first Board of Trustees meeting of the semester spent its opening minutes addressing students and faculty concerns, which dotted the public comment period.
The meeting marked the turnover of several key MSU administrators, including a new board chair. Also approved at the meeting were renovations to an MSU dormitory, adding laboratories for an engineering program.
Several trustees were physically absent from the meeting, with one not appearing virtually until over an hour-and-a-half into the proceedings.
Addressing immigration
In his opening comments, President Kevin Guskiewicz addressed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s presence in Minneapolis, where fellow Big Ten institution, the University of Minnesota is located. This follows multiple protests held on campus against the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration.
“I've been spending a lot of time over the past several weeks meeting with students and faculty who are concerned about the aggressive turn of immigration enforcement across the country, particularly what we've seen unfold in Minneapolis,” Guskiewicz said.
Yesterday, the Associated Students of MSU passed a bill to release a statement in support of immigrant students, staff and faculty affected by the ICE mass deportation orders, signed by President Donald Trump. ASMSU president Kathryn Harding said the statement will be released later today.
Faculty Senate Chair John Aeni-Flessner reminded the board of the number of students and faculty who have visas, saying the faculty senate has asked the board to ensure faculty records, physical and digital, are kept safe in this “nerve-racking time.”
“We need MSU to say that we stand with students,” Scott Farver, an Associate Professor in the College of Education, said during public comment. “To say that we protect all individual rights. We need MSU to say unequivocally that ICE is absolutely not allowed on our campus.”
In closing board comments, Trustee Dennis Denno voiced his support for members of law enforcement who are “doing [their] jobs the right way.”
Spotty attendance
When the meeting began, only half of the trustees sat in front of their placards. Trustees Renee Knake Jefferson, Kelly Tebay and Sandy Pierce were present virtually over Zoom. Trustee Rema Vassar was not present either virtually or in-person.
MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz acknowledged the contingent of trustees present over Zoom, adding that Tebay was “en route” to the board meeting and Vassar would be “joining a bit later this morning.”
Tebay arrived at the board room around ten minutes after the meeting commenced. Vassar joined virtually almost two hours in. By the time she joined, the board had already voted on all the items present on the agenda.
All trustees on Zoom did not speak during their allotted trustees comment section of the meeting.
University Spokesperson Amber McCann said Jefferson, Vassar and Pierce informed the board secretary prior to the meeting that they had conflicts that they could not move for the meeting.
Wilson Hall renovations
The board voted to move forward with renovating a former dining hall and kitchen located on the second floor of Wilson Hall for the College of Engineering’s technology engineering program.
The board first approved these plans in April 2024.
The roughly 20,000-square-foot renovation would include instructional laboratory space, two single-occupant accessible restrooms, a wellness room and storage areas.
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The board’s recommendation also includes life safety upgrades to the residence hall. Proposed upgrades include installing a new fire suppression system and replacing the building’s fire alarm system.
The project totals $34.8 million. Of that, $27 million for the academic renovations would be debt financed and repaid by central sources, while $7.8 million for life safety improvements would be cash funded by the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services.
New faces
February’s board meeting marks the start of Trustee Brianna Scott’s tenure as Board chair. She will serve a one-year term as chair.
In her closing remarks, Scott commended the retirement of Vice President for Research and Innovation, Doug Gage. Gage was appointed into his VP role in 2021 and has worked at MSU for 35 years.
Shashank Priya was appointed to replace Gage, overseeing millions in university research endeavors.
In mid-January, AVP for Student Development and Leadership, Allan Shaw retired and, within the same week, Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Engagement, Gene Royal resigned from MSU.
ASMSU President Kathryn Harding thanked both the former AVP and VP for “all of the years they've dedicated to our campus.”
Suchitra Webster was appointed as the Interim Dean of Students, Division of Student Affairs by the board.
