Tag: new academic year

Aerial view of MSU campus in the fall, featuring Beaumont Tower at the center.

From the Interim AVP of HR: Welcome to a New Academic Year!

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Dear Spartan Colleagues,

As the fall semester begins, I want to take a moment to welcome you and thank you. The start of a new academic year is always a time of renewed purpose and energy—and this year, that sense of renewal feels especially important.

The past several months have been especially challenging for all of us. The financial adjustments shared by President Guskiewicz have deeply impacted many across our community. In HR, we recognize the weight of these changes and the emotions they carry. I want to acknowledge the care, compassion, and professionalism so many of you have shown as we navigated this difficult period together.

At the same time, this moment gives us space to look ahead—with optimism and determination—to how we continue supporting one another moving forward. At MSU Human Resources, our focus remains on creating an exceptional employee experience and a strong, supportive workplace culture.

In that spirit, I’m proud to share several recent milestones:

  • Our Tuition Assistance Benefit has been enhanced to offer access upon hire and expanded credit coverage, helping employees—and their families—pursue full undergraduate degrees with fewer barriers.
  • We’ve also relaunched the Spartan Experience program, empowering more employees to create service-centered interactions that reflect MSU’s mission, vision and values.
  • Finally, we reached a new agreement with the Coalition of Labor Organizations, reinforcing our commitment to competitive, meaningful benefits and the vital partnership between HR and our union leaders.

These efforts are just a few examples of how we continue working to make MSU a place where people feel supported and inspired to grow.

Thank you for all you do to make our campus community stronger—through challenging times and promising new beginnings. I wish you a smooth and fulfilling start to the semester.

Go Green!

Donna Donovan, J.D.
Interim Associate Vice President
MSU Human Resources

HR Welcomes Colleagues and Students Back to Campus

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Dear Spartan Colleagues,  

As your new Chief Human Resources Officer, I am pleased to welcome faculty and staff to a new academic year. We spent the last two years facing unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic and being vigilant in our efforts toward employee wellbeing, health, and safety. Spartans met these challenges with great care, resilience, and Spartan will. Let’s continue to work through this together and be sure to utilize available resources. The Wellbeing at Work guide, the Employee Assistance Program, vaccine verification, exemption forms, and more information can be found on the Together We Will site. 

In preparation for our largest student enrollment, we look forward to seeing you back on campus while employing flexible work options. Herein lies our next challenge of navigating paradox and competing priorities. The future of work involves innovation, agility, and commitment to excellence. We strive to balance instructional imperatives, business operations, and new work modalities including hybrid and remote schedules. We prioritize employee and student engagement and promote equity and fairness while addressing individual needs. I have every confidence in our campus community to tackle this challenge. Take some time and read our mission, values, and strategic plan for inspiration and guidance: 

By 2030, we envision a Michigan State University that has significantly expanded opportunity and advanced equity, elevated its excellence in ways that attract vital talent and support, and has a vibrant, caring community. – MSU 2030 Strategic Plan

I look forward to my first fall as a Spartan—enjoying Michigan State’s gorgeous campus as the colors set in and students arrive with renewed energy and excitement for everything it means to be part of the Spartan community.

Thank you for your continued work and dedication to the University, our students, and our land-grant mission. These are challenging times, but Together We Will. We wish you a safe, healthy, and successful academic year. 

Go Green!

Christina K. Brogdon, PHR
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Michigan State University