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.
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.
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.
The College will facilitate and recognize collaborations within and across fields.
The College will ensure that each unit defines, communicates, implements and supports high scholarship standards to increase our national and international reputation.
The College will prioritize and support successful and effective doctoral fields.
to the top half of the AAU*
as principal investigator on external grants
with excellent placements
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.
Our faculty will enhance our students’ educational and career success by developing their practical and adaptive skills.
The College will facilitate and recognize collaborations within and across fields.
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.
for underrepresented minority undergrads
meeting or exceeding the MSU target
in full-time employment or graduate or professional programs
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.
The College will ensure an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, faculty, and staff.
The College will increase the proportion of tenure-system under-represented faculty utilizing aggressive recruitment, outreach and retention strategies.
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.
Our identity establishes us as a destination and a source of expertise. We will further connect with alumni and communities.
In coordination with MSU’s central communications team, the College will leverage MSU’s brand to create a unified College identity.
The College will engage alumni and friends to increase support for our mission.
Our faculty will engage and include academic and external communities to co-create a more visible societal impact.
of faculty research or quotes by faculty as experts
You can download the PDF version of our Strategic Plan by clicking the button below.
Our science transforms the human experience and inspires leaders.
We will be global leaders in top-tier research while advancing engaged learning and societal well-being.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards to achieve lasting influence.
We foster a culture in which all individuals are valued, respected and engaged so that diverse voices can enrich our work.
We link with campus and external communities to leverage our strengths and collectively realize our shared goals.
We are honest, transparent and courageous in our discovery and dissemination of knowledge.
We imagine innovative approaches to understand and improve the world.
We equip individuals and communities to make informed and just decisions.