Former governor and now interim president of Michigan State University, John Engler has come under fire for his forceful style since the moment in early February when he was hired to lead his alma mater in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal.
But after the June Board of Trustees’ (BOT) retreat, Engler showed a more conciliatory side. He issued a public apology for remarks he made in an email—leaked to the media—about a Nassar survivor.
In his statement, he wrote “my email created a major distraction from the important work we’re doing to make our campus safer.”
Last month, Engler sat down with staffer Russ White, an MSU broadcaster, to discuss some of the policies and programs he’s authorized during his first five months on the job.
Here are edited excerpts from that interview, followed by a summary of some of the most recent new policies, and what are expected to be transformative changes Engler and his team are rolling out.
Q. What do you feel are the most significant accomplishments in your time here?
A. Well, I think two things really stand out. We were able to come into a situation where a man who committed heinous crimes against many young women, young girls, had been sent off to prison. But we had over 300 lawsuits pending against the university, and we had a great deal of uncertainty about the university’s path going forward.
People were worried. People were scared. People were in denial that bad things had happened here. People were terrified about what the future held for the campus and the school they loved. Our alumni were upset. Nobody could understand how this could have happened, how it could have gone undetected for so long, how one man could have hurt so many people. And we had investigations at the federal and the state level that were being conducted. Everywhere you looked, there was a problem to be dealt with.
In our first three months, we were able to get the litigation resolved through a very effective mediation process led on behalf of the university by our new general counsel, Robert Young, a former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. That was important.
Second is the operating budget the board approved on June 22.
Q. Where will the money come from to satisfy the $500 million in settlements?
A. (Because the BOT approved our recommendation to issue bonds)we’re really able to manage the settlement. We still have financial issues to work out with the insurance companies. We are fully insured and expect that will be a significant contribution, which ultimately will reduce that indebtedness. So I think fiscally the university’s in a good position.
Q. What else is in the MSU budget?
A. I’m proud to say…we went to the BOT with a two-year budget…I felt it was important at a time of transition…(because) we’re going to go into a presidential search this fall. We want to recruit an outstanding leader to come to campus. I wanted that leader to have the security that the budget for this year is done, and it’s solid, but also that the budget for next year is done… and it’s a really strong budget.
Multiyear (budgets allow) us to not only set tuition this year (but to freeze it in year two).. After that, we’ll move to a block-tuition strategy.
That means in the 2020 school year ...somebody who wants to take 16 or 17 credits (will only pay for 15). They’ll be able to actually reduce the cost of going to Michigan State. So that’s pretty exciting.
In addition, beginning this fall there will be a freeze on all administrative salaries and the deans’ salaries. There will also be a reduction from 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent in average faculty pay increases. And there will be a reduction of about one-and-a-half percent that will impact each of the colleges. Those are important, but necessary, moves we had to make.
However, we will not reduce staff salaries. And you will not see a widespread, university-wide layoff policy. (All of this) puts the university in a stronger position to compete for students…while completing projects that are very important to our research and teaching missions.
Q. What do you want alumni to know that they may not be hearing?
A. I think they need to know that this university, which faced its most difficult challenge (ever) has emerged and is going to be stronger, safer, and more competitive than ever before.
We’re builders here. We always have been. Let’s get back to doing that...I think you’ll see…greater respect for Michigan State as we conduct ourselves the way a leading global university should.
Q. You’ve been meeting with faculty, students, and alumni. What do you hear most often from them?
A. They’re very proud of Michigan State University. They’re proud to be here. By the time this new school year starts, we’ll be introducing four new college deans—they will join the major leaders of the university. And when I talked to them as candidates, they were excited about coming here.
They thought, as I do, that Michigan State’s best days are ahead, and they want to be part of that success story. They recognize that for the first time in a long time we’re getting new leadership.
They understand that MSU receives more than $700 million in research awards every year. We’re one of the strong members of the American Association of Universities, a binational group of research institutions.
And they see things we’re doing here literally are not being done anywhere else in America. MSU is second to none.
Paula Davenport