I love cranes in the air.
Yes, cranes in the air! Both the avian kind that made their way northward over our E. Lansing skies this month and the terrestrial kind that are enabling the transformation of our physical landscape. As envisioned in our 2030 strategic plan, MSU is engaged in an inspiring example of placemaking on our East Lansing campus and university sites across Michigan.
During graduation weekend, I had the opportunity to ask seniors about their favorite places on campus, and their answers included a wide range of built and natural environments. This feedback reinforces the importance of our University Facilities and Land Use Plan, which centers on enhancing our quality of life and work while nurturing a sense of community and belonging. This is something many felt strongly about as we reclaimed the physical campus after the tragedy of Feb. 13.
The plan’s four overlapping strategies include enhancing and expanding academic and research facilities, providing efficient access to resources and collaborative amenities, prioritizing pedestrian safety, and embracing the natural environment’s ability to teach and heal. These strategies all combine to support student, faculty, and staff success while nurturing individual well-being.
We’ve already made great progress with the STEM Teaching and Learning Facility, which is our first academic facility built with state support in nearly 50 years. It’s a brilliant showcase of inviting spaces for collaboration and creativity. We’re also constructing a multicultural center, exemplifying our commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming community.
There are several new facilities in the planning stages, including an engineering and digital innovation center, a health education building, a plant and environmental sciences building, and a student recreation and wellness center. We’re also working with our partners in Detroit and Flint to further embed our research and educational programs within these communities, a cornerstone of our land-grant mission. And, we’re planning upgrades to the dairy facility and greenhouses to continue our partnerships with agricultural communities around Michigan.
This summer there will be detours on campus due to work around the Farm Lane bridge and on Service Road. But I promise, it will be worth the wait!
Overall, I’m thrilled about the cranes above and on campus and the expectant future of MSU’s placemaking initiatives. I invite you to join me in celebrating, visiting and enjoying the spaces that create a sense of belonging on the banks of the Red Cedar and beyond.
Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.
INTERIM PRESIDENT, MSU
MSU FOUNDATION PROFESSOR