Yesterday, the Board of Trustees held their annual Stakeholder Engagement Forum, allowing for university administration to meet with students and faculty to discuss predetermined topics: artificial intelligence, work culture and the student experience. 

The meeting, which ran for nearly four hours behind closed doors, was praised by multiple attendees, including the trustees, for being a place for open conversation without publicity. 

Last year, the stakeholder meeting generated scrutiny over its closed-door policy, with critics saying it shrouds a core tenet of university governance in secrecy. As part of the policy, the university handpicks stakeholders to meet at a private location on campus and media is barred from the room. 

Michigan’s Open Meetings Act requires that all gatherings of a public body be open to the public. However, a 1999 state Supreme Court decision excludes public universities from the law’s requirements, due to their unique constitutional status.  

Following the meeting on Thursday, attendees told The State News they had minimal confidence that the board act on what stakeholders discussed. As Vice President of the Union of Non-Tenure Track Faculty Hannah Grisham put it: "We'll see, prove it." 

"The stakeholder forum yesterday was a good first step, but I hope it'll be the first step in reengaging with MSU community and students to build trust and belief in our leadership," Associated Students of MSU President Maddie Hanes said at the board meeting Friday. 

University projects

The Packaging building will be getting a $42.5 million expansion to the southern end of the facility to house new lab and office spaces. The expansion will be paid for with a mix of donor gifts and long-term debt paid by the School of Packaging and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 

The board also approved a $24.2 million transportation services building, which is a small step toward the university’s "Spartan Stadium Modernization" project, a university initiative focused on upgrading the school’s football venue through the FOR SPARTA fundraising campaign.

The transportation services building will house vehicles currently placed in Spartan Stadium and will be largely funded through long-term debt. 

The board approved an expansion of the current Williams Scholar program, which awards full merit scholarships to around 30 students each year. The $6.5 million project will help establish an endowment for the project.  

Appointments

After former Athletic Director J. Batt left the university in June, the university was out of a right-hand man for President Kevin Guskiewicz. 

In late August, MSU plucked Western Michigan’s Athletic Director Dan Bartholomae. Today, the board approved his contract to run through June 2031. 

The board approved the former Associate Vice President of State Relations Katie John for the Vice President of Government Relations after Rebecca DeVought, who formerly held the position, left the university in August.