Chris Holman welcomes back Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., President, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

Watch Kevin and Chris discuss new scholarships, transfer programs, the Native American Tuition Advantage, and MSU’s community impact in the YouTube video shared below:

Chris had several things he wanted to cover in the conversation with the Michigan State University President:

Welcome back you just had your Investiture on Sunday, share what that is, with the Michigan business community?

During that you had a speech covering several things; tell us about a New merit based scholarship ?

Share about Expanding transfer student programs for those transferring from community colleges to MSU?

What is the Native American Tuition Advantage program?

Tell us about Creation of a Green and White Council ?

We hear you will have a Spartan Bus Tour going around Michigan for 3 days, what's that all about? 

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Michigan State University students, faculty, staff, alumni and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the investiture of MSU’s 22nd president, Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., at 2 p.m. on Sept. 29 at Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall.

Presidential investitures are typically held in a leader’s first year in office to publicly and formally “vest” them with the authority of the office and acknowledge, introduce and celebrate the new leader.

Investitures also represent continuity, connecting a university’s present with its past and allowing new leaders an opportunity to express their vision for the institution’s future.

Guskiewicz, a noted academic leader and neuroscientist, embarked on a 52-stop listening and learning tour of MSU’s colleges and major administrative units during the first several months of his presidency. These visits underscored for the president the student-focused, passionately public work that happens at MSU every day.

Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., with nearly seven months at the helm of the presidency, is helping to write the next chapter of MSU’s storied history — one that continues to be student-centered, with a focus on inclusivity, accessibility and global impact as a leading public research university.

Guskiewicz highlighted several initiatives during September 29th's investiture ceremony he and university leadership plan to roll out in the coming weeks and months, including efforts to increase accessibility to an MSU degree, meeting the needs of a 21st-century workforce, and the second iteration of the university’s Global Impact Initiative that was approved by the Board of Trustees in June.

To increase access and reduce financial barriers to a quality, accessible, world-class education, Guskiewicz announced a new merit-based scholarship named after MSU’s first president and first lady, Joseph R. and Sarah L. Williams. The scholarship will fund tuition, food and housing, and an education abroad or other experiential education opportunity for undergraduates.

Guskiewicz also announced the establishment of the Native American Tuition Advantage program, an expansion of the current Spartan Tuition Advantage program. Students from anywhere in the United States or Canada who meet tribal affiliation criteria will qualify for in-state tuition levels and potentially the Spartan Tuition Advantage program.

A nearly $1 million grant from the state of Michigan, as part of its Sixty by 30 initiative, will allow for MSU to improve credit evaluation, grow opportunities for the Credit for Prior Learning program and create partnerships with Michigan community colleges that will increase access to an MSU degree for students across the state. Envision Green, the university’s current partnership with Lansing Community College that provides LCC students a smooth transition to MSU, will also expand and will include a new transfer student success center.

“These new programs and initiatives will expand opportunities for student success in significant ways across the university,” said MSU Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko. “We opened our doors widely from day one, and we continue to work hard to provide opportunities for the broadest range of students to pursue their studies here at MSU.”

Also, from Oct. 21-23, Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., and a group of faculty and administrators are set to go out on the inaugural Spartan Bus Tour. Intending to visit locations throughout the western Lower Peninsula of Michigan to build community connections and strengthen MSU’s commitment to education, research, outreach and extension.

Below is more information on the process of transferring from community college.

Gov. Whitmer, MiLEAP Announce First Round of College Success Grants, Including Nearly $1M to MSU to Expand Support, Opportunities for Students Transferring from Community College

Grants Also Awarded to Diploma Equity Project, Schoolcraft College and Others to Enhance Capacity, Empower Student Success; Funding Still Available

LANSING, Mich. – In a significant step toward enhancing education accessibility and degree attainment for Michiganders, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) are announcing the first round of awards from the new College Success Grant program. The first awards total nearly $3 million, including a near $1 million investment to Michigan State University (MSU) to support thousands more Michiganders in transferring from community college to complete their bachelor’s degree. Alongside MSU, the Diploma Equity Project and Schoolcraft College have also been awarded funding to implement innovative practices that empower student success.

“Ensuring Michiganders have access to quality, affordable education is a top priority for my administration,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Today’s investment to help incoming community college transfers at MSU will open the door for them to earn their bachelor’s degrees, go on to earn higher incomes, and build rewarding careers right here in Michigan. These college success grants build on other strategic investments we have made including wraparound supports for community college students for things like child care. Let’s keep working together to put more people on a path to prosperity.” 

This investment aligns with Michigan’s ambitious Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a college degree or skill certificate to 60% by 2030. It also builds on MiLEAP’s charge to improve education outcomes for Michigan students. These competitive, student success-focused grants are part of a broader state strategy to lower costs and increase attainment, including the Community College Guarantee, which offers a tuition-free pathway for recent high school graduates to earn a skill certificate or degree at their local community college.

“We are excited to partner with the Governor on another important initiative to expand access to postsecondary education for more Michiganders,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “The College Success Grants make strategic short-term investments that will yield long-standing benefits by creating a more supportive system for students as they strive to earn a skill certificate or college degree.”

As an example of the impact of these grants, MSU will use the funding to improve processes and support for students transferring from a community college. Currently, around 1,800 students transfer from a community college to the university each year. With the $996,000 in College Success Grant funding, the university plans to expand its ongoing efforts to become a transfer-friendly institution, helping more students see community college as an accessible and affordable path to a bachelor’s degree.

“As the university with the largest number of students who choose to remain in Michigan to pursue their college education, we have a responsibility to ensure that all students have the opportunity to complete their degrees,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “This investment goes beyond just increasing enrollment – it’s about creating equitable pathways for every student to thrive and ensuring that every person can feel a sense of belonging from their very first interaction with MSU.”

Key initiatives supported by the grant will include:

• Working with other community colleges in the state to expand the Envision Green Program, a current partnership with Lansing Community College aimed at enhancing supports for students transferring to the university.
• Building a Transfer Student Success Center to support the unique needs of transfer students as they navigate their academic journey at MSU.
• Establishing a Transfer Advocacy Council to reform policies and practices, reduce credit loss and create equitable pathways to bachelor's degree completion for transfer students.

In addition to the investment at MSU, the state recently awarded a $942,000 College Success Grant to the Diploma Equity Project to redesign student support systems at Oakland University (OU) and Mott Community College (MCC), with a goal of increasing degree completion rates among students. MCC aims to grow adult four-year associate and certificate complete rates from 23% to 45%, while OU aims to boost six-year bachelor’s degree completion for first-generation students from 47% to 65%. The funding will support a construction manager to implement systems based the respective designs at each college, with a goal of having the systems operational in 18-24 months.

Additionally, $200,000 has been awarded to Schoolcraft College to expand and enhance its Early Action program, which will address academic support and basic needs for students. Schoolcraft will develop a student inventory survey to deploy early in each semester to help identify intervention needs, promote the use of academic resources and develop early support-seeking while strengthening case management.

Quick Start Grants were also awarded to 10 colleges and universities across the state to support research and strategic planning focused on removing institutional barriers to student success, preparing them to apply for a larger College Success Grant. Awardees received between $50,000 and $75,000 and include:

• Central Michigan University
• Delta College
• Eastern Michigan University
• Ferris State University
• Grand Rapids Community College
• Grand Valley State University
• Kalamazoo Valley Community College
• Lake Superior State University
• Muskegon Community College
• University of Michigan-Flint

The next application deadline for the College Success Grants is Oct. 18. 2024. Applications are also open for institutions to apply for Barrier Removal Grants through Nov. 8, 2024.

For more information on these programs and other Office of Higher Education related initiatives, visit the MiLEAP website.

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