November 26, 2003

TO: The Students of Michigan State University Community

FROM: Lou Anna K. Simon, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

SUBJECT: Vision for the Liberal Arts and Sciences at MSU

As you probably have heard, the liberal arts and sciences at Michigan State University are currently under discussion in two parallel, but complementary, conversations going on across campus.

Individual colleges are engaged in annual planning discussions that are a regular part of the university’s ongoing self-evaluation process. In response to continuing cuts in state support we also have begun, at the same time, a campus-wide discussion that will consider, in ways that the dialogues within individual colleges alone cannot, how we might better use our limited assets and resources to strengthen programs across the university.

While consolidation, reorganization, repositioning, and/or elimination of programs are all possibilities, no one should assume that because we are having these conversations, we have decided to target specific programs or that decisions already have been made.

I can’t promise you that there won’t be changes. In fact, I expect that if we are forward-thinking and diligent, there will be. But they won’t be arbitrary, nor will specific changes be made without full discussion of the underlying rationale and their potential impact. Recommendations will strive to realign and reallocate our assets and resources to make this a better, if somewhat different, place.

I encourage you to join in both conversations. The Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) and other student groups will participate in discussion groups facilitated by Dr. Marcie Williams. You also can e-mail me or Dr. Williams with your ideas about how we can strengthen and prepare our programs for the 21st century or join the "Vision2004" e-mail discussion list to exchange ideas and discuss them with other students, faculty and staff. And please continue to be actively involved in discussions with your college, as part of the ongoing planning process.

A summary of all of the input we receive will be posted on my web site after the first of the year. That will be the basis for a framework to strengthen the liberal arts and sciences at Michigan State. Those recommendations will be widely-publicized, with ample opportunity to respond to and comment on them before any actions are taken.

Be assured that when that occurs, enrolled students will be protected. As has always been the case, any student who is in a program that is affected will have the opportunity to finish it, or to move to a new and perhaps more exciting program area without academic consequences.

Considering our academic future is a regular part of the ongoing discussions here at MSU. However, the current budget situation demands that we deal with it in a more compressed timeframe and with a greater sense of urgency than we, as an academic community, may find comfortable. Your willingness both to participate in this process and to think creatively about it is vital to MSU’s future.