'Passionately public, proudly accessible:' New MSU president shares his vision for university
Jul. 27—TRAVERSE CITY — Changes are coming to Michigan State University as it adapts to the demographic and economic challenges of the 21st century, but it will remain a "passionately public" institution serving all of the state's 83 counties.
That's the overarching vision guiding MSU's new president, Kevin Guskiewicz, pronounced "GUSK-uh-witz," who met with Record-Eagle staff this week to discuss his plans, hopes and challenges.
"So many of our programs are ranked in the top 10 nationally," he said. "Now we need to amplify the excellence and expertise of the university by continuing our recruitment of top faculty and researchers."
As one of the nation's largest universities, MSU offers more than 400 undergraduate, graduate and certificate areas of study across 17 degree-granting colleges. Its annual budget is about $3.3 billion, including about $844 million in 2023 for research.
Today, about 51,000 students are enrolled at MSU, split between about 41,000 undergraduates and 11,000 graduate students. That mix may change in the future as the "enrollment cliff" affects not only MSU, but most colleges and universities across the nation.
"We know from census data that fewer young people will be enrolling in higher education, and we're taking a close look at it," Guskiewicz, 58, said.
"Do we need to be a university of 51,000? Could we be more effective by increasing graduate enrollment? How do we best serve the people and taxpayers of Michigan?"
The term "enrollment cliff" refers to a dramatic drop in the college-age population starting in 2025 because of lower birthrates during the Great Recession era. From 2025 to 2028, the number of U.S. 18-year-olds is expected to drop by about 15 percent, according to a study by CUPA-HR.
Other factors also are at play.
College enrollments have been declining steadily since 2012, particularly during the COVID epidemic (2019-2022) when undergraduate enrollment dropped by about 7 percent. Rising tuition costs, high employment levels and a changing job market also pushed down enrollment numbers.
Guskiewicz said MSU officials aren't worried about competing against other colleges based on metrics — such low rates of admission compared to applicants.(Think Harvard, Yale, MIT and Stanford.)
Instead, the university strives to serve the people and taxpayers of Michigan by being "proudly inclusive and accessible," he said. "Our goal is for our (undergraduate) students to be successful and graduate in four years."
Keeping tuition affordable is a key priority going forward, Guskiewicz said. That means keeping costs in line while also offering students a mix of financial aid options, including grants, loans, scholarships and work-study opportunities.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the annual cost to attend MSU for 2021 — before financial aid is considered — is $30,999, split between $15,372 for tuition and $15,618 for other costs, such as books, on-campus room and board.
When the average financial aid package is factored in, the total annual cost drops to $19,449. Other costs, such as travel and health insurance, vary by student.
A neuroscientist
The MSU Board of Trustees appointed Guskiewicz president-elect in early December 2023 after an extensive search process. He took the helm on March 4 and recently concluded a 52-stop "listening-and-learning tour."
Trained as a neuroscientist, Guskiewicz joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995 and was appointed chancellor in 2019.
He was born and raised in the small industrial town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania — birthplace of Arnold Palmer and Rolling Rock beer. He earned a bachelor's degree in athletic training from West Chester University, a master's in exercise physiology/athletic training from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate in sports medicine from the University of Virginia.
Preventing traumatic brain injuries in sports is one of his greatest passions.
A study of brains by the National Institutes of Health found that more than 40 percent of contact sport players who died before reaching 30 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. But progress is being made.
Working closely with the NCAA and NFL, Guskiewicz helped create the new kick-off rule designed to reduce brain injuries on the playing field, which resulted in a 50-percent reduction in concussions on kickoffs, according to NFL officials.
Guskiewicz also is the founding director of the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center and the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes. At MSU, he will continue his neuroscience work, devoting about 5 percent of his time to research and 95 percent to university administration.
In 2011, Guskiewicz received the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship for his innovative work on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sport-related concussions.
"Contact sports are safer today than ever, and I'm proud of that," he said. "Of course, I'm meeting with our athletic trainers and coaches here at MSU to continue that progress."
Asked what NFL teams he'll be rooting for this fall, he said both the Lions and the Steelers — his childhood favorite.
Guskiewicz and his wife, Amy, have four children: Jacob, Nathan, Adam and Tessa. Maintaining a health work-life balance is important, he said.
"If you have health and a strong family, you're going to do the job much better," he said. "I try to lead by example. And I exercise every day — it's a form of therapy for me."
Learning from the past
When asked about recent scandals at MSU, including criminal sexual conduct by convicted Dr. Larry Nassar and last year's firing of head football coach Mel Tucker, Guskiewicz said: "We will learn from our own past. Out of tragic situations, we become more accountable and stronger."
Today, MSU has one of the best teams in the nation that is focused on violence and sexual assault, he noted. "Many people from other universities come to us to learn how we've changed and improved. We are focused on the future."
Looking ahead
MSU is joining forces with the University of Michigan and Wayne State in a new "University Research Corridor" which is designed to foster talent, academic research and economic revitalization in the state.
"We are bringing together three great universities to solve some of the greatest challenges of our state," Guskiewicz said. "When you think of research, most people think of bench science and engineering, but we're also including social science and the humanities work."
Asked what MSU research initiatives and degree programs he's most proud of today, Guskiewicz mentioned cancer research, agri-science, veterinary science, women's health, the Broad School of Business and the college of education, among others.
Outreach beyond East Lansing also is critical, he added.
MSU is active in all of Michigan's 83 counties, "not only through our wonderful extension programs, but also in research stations and outreach programs."
For example, he said, helping Michigan cherry farms, wineries and orchards maximize output in a sustainable way is one of many ways the university is active in northern Michigan today.
MSU agriculturalists are also working with the Mammoth Distillery to cultivate a special breed of "rosen rye" on South Manitou Island.
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