Strategic Plan
Our science transforms the human experience and inspires leaders. Whether at the cellular scale via brain scans or at the global scale like climate change, our science is aimed at people.
Our scholars and students seek to understand and predict behavior and to develop effective policy and real-world solutions given those understandings.
This strategic plan advances our land-grant and world-grant legacy, and guides our investments to ensure that we lead in discovering and disseminating essential patterns of social interactions and decisions.
This plan was developed via an extremely participatory process. Our Strategic Planning Steering Committee was chaired by Department Chair Walter Hawthorne (History) and School Director Mary Finn (Criminal Justice). This group included one tenure-system faculty from each Department and School, many of whom are also affiliated with Centers/Programs/Institutes, as well as two fixed-term faculty, one staff member, three alumni, one undergraduate student, one graduate student, and two representatives from MSU as a whole.
The committee met monthly to debate, disagree, and eventually fight for consensus. The discussions were directly informed by a College-wide survey, ably synthesized by the Faculty Advisory Committee, regular consultation with Chairs and Directors, and a series of strategic questions explored by the Associate Chairs. In addition, we held two College-wide retreats, together drawing over 450 participants, to solicit feedback and guidance.
I especially want to thank our facilitator, Dr. Alan Glassman. Dr. Glassman planned the meetings, kept the group on track, and continually challenged us to work together for the improvement of the College.
Developing this plan involved making choices. Implementing it will involve even more choices. Our Vision, Values and Mission will guide us in these choices. Equally importantly, we commit to preserving the spirit of the Steering Committee in working together to realize our College-wide identity and to advance the common good.
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Our scholars engage in sustained research excellence that demonstrates thought leadership. We will increase national and international recognition for top-tier and impactful research that addresses societal challenges.
- GOAL AREAS
THEMATIC AREAS
The College will support 3-5 thematic areas of research that advance our ability to address societal issues and will achieve national and international recognition.
COLLABORATIONS
The College will facilitate and recognize collaborations within and across fields.
FACULTY EXPECTATIONS
The College will ensure that each unit defines, communicates, implements and supports high scholarship standards to increase our national and international reputation.
PHD SUPPORT
The College will prioritize and support successful and effective doctoral fields.
- MEASURING OUTCOMES
FACULTY RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY
to the top half of the AAU*
FACULTY WITH NATIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
PERCENTAGE OF FACULTY
as principal investigator on external grants
PERCENTAGE OF PHD STUDENTS
with excellent placements
* Association of American Universities
LEARNING
Our students acquire the communication and analytical skills needed to excel in complex and changing environments. We will enhance opportunities to develop these skills through engaged and experiential learning.
- GOAL AREAS
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
Our faculty will enhance our students’ educational and career success by developing their practical and adaptive skills.
EXPERIENTIAL AND ENGAGED LEARNING
The College will facilitate and recognize collaborations within and across fields.
OPPORTUNITY GAPS
In order to reduce differential persistence, graduation and rates of academic good standing the College will develop and improve mechanisms to support at-risk students in our ISS and largeenrollment courses.
- MEASURING OUTCOMES
DECREASE OPPORTUNITY GAPS
for underrepresented minority undergrads
IMPROVE SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
meeting or exceeding the MSU target
PLACEMENT RATES OF STUDENTS
in full-time employment or graduate or professional programs
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Our college is open and welcoming, deriving strength from a plurality of identities and lived experiences. We will build a more diverse and inclusive environment to fulfill our mission, consistent with University policies and state and federal law.
- GOAL AREAS
INCLUSIVE CLIMATE
The College will ensure an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, faculty, and staff.
FACULTY HIRING AND RETENTION
The College will increase the proportion of tenure-system under-represented faculty utilizing aggressive recruitment, outreach and retention strategies.
DEVELOP FUTURE FACULTY
The College and its units will develop programs to increase the proportion of under-represented individuals in the academic pipeline utilizing aggressive recruitment, outreach and retention strategies.
- MEASURING OUTCOMES
PROPORTION OF UNDER-REPRESENTED TENURE-SYSTEM FACULTY
PROPORTION OF UNDER-REPRESENTED PHD STUDENTS
EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT
Our identity establishes us as a destination and a source of expertise. We will further connect with alumni and communities.
- GOAL AREAS
IDENTITY
In coordination with MSU’s central communications team, the College will leverage MSU’s brand to create a unified College identity.
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
The College will engage alumni and friends to increase support for our mission.
OUTREACH
Our faculty will engage and include academic and external communities to co-create a more visible societal impact.
- MEASURING OUTCOMES
GIFTS TO THE COLLEGE
EXTERNAL PRESS MENTIONS
of faculty research or quotes by faculty as experts
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Vision
Our science transforms the human experience and inspires leaders.
Mission
We will be global leaders in top-tier research while advancing engaged learning and societal well-being.
Values
QUALITY
We hold ourselves to the highest standards to achieve lasting influence.
INCLUSIVENESS
We foster a culture in which all individuals are valued, respected and engaged so that diverse voices can enrich our work.
CONNECTIVITY
We link with campus and external communities to leverage our strengths and collectively realize our shared goals.
INTEGRITY
We are honest, transparent and courageous in our discovery and dissemination of knowledge.
CREATIVITY
We imagine innovative approaches to understand and improve the world.
EMPOWERMENT
We equip individuals and communities to make informed and just decisions.