Latest news with #Guskiewicz
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan State Makes Tom Izzo Decision on Thursday
At 70 years old, Tom Izzo has accomplished just about everything in his legendary career as head basketball coach at Michigan State. A member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Izzo has taken the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament Final Four eight times and racked up 737 career wins — 59 of those coming in March Madness. He has been the face of the program in East Lansing since taking over in 1995. And now, he's about to take on a new role. Advertisement For the first time in his illustrious career, Izzo will step into the front office. He's been named one of the co-interim athletic directors at Michigan State, alongside current deputy athletic director Jennifer Smith. They'll be taking over for Alan Haller, who is stepping down. Haller's final day will be May 11. Michigan State President Kevin M. Guskiewicz released a statement on the transition. 'I'm grateful for Alan's leadership since I joined the university and appreciate the success our programs have seen under his leadership," Guskiewicz wrote. "He is deeply committed to this university and has led with honesty and integrity.' Guskiewicz added more on the future of the school's athletic department: 'This is a pivotal time for college athletics, where innovation, effective communications and community engagement are more important than ever. Our next athletic director will lead one of the nation's more storied athletic programs — home to 23 varsity sports, a passionate fan base, a long legacy of academic and athletic excellence, and, most importantly, an ambitious future.' Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK Michigan State is coming off another strong season on the hardwood. The Spartans finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 30-7 record, including a 17-3 mark in Big Ten play. They were one win away from another Final Four appearance under Izzo. Advertisement During the season, Izzo passed former Indiana Hoosiers coach Bob Knight for most career Big Ten wins. And even with a new title on the way, Izzo isn't slowing down on the basketball side. He has already hit the transfer portal hard, landing Kalen Glenn from the Florida Atlantic Owls and Trey Fort from the Samford Bulldogs. It's going to be a busy offseason in East Lansing, and Izzo will be right in the middle of all of it. Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit is Turning Heads With New Post Related: UConn Reacts to Big Announcement on Five-Star College Basketball Recruit
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MSU president warns 'hard decisions' will need to be made to fix school finances
EAST LANSING — Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz warned the university would be making "hard decisions" to stabilize its budget as federal directives and policies have exacerbated existing financial challenges. "After careful deliberation, we have reached the difficult conclusion that we must adjust our financial path," Guskiewicz wrote in an email to faculty and staff. "The next few months of financial planning will be demanding and difficult for some in our community, and we will need to make hard decisions that will impact people we care about. Our goal has been — and will be — to do our best to support our people while making the necessary strategic decisions for the long-term success of Michigan State University." This isn't a MSU-only issue. Universities nationwide are reacting to President Donald Trump's executive orders and threats to higher education institutions that don't comply with his directives. Even universities that fully comply are facing billions of dollars of cuts to agencies that fund their research, like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, Inside Higher Ed reported. It's not clear what's at risk of being cut at MSU. Guskiewicz said in the email that Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Lisa Frace and her staff will communicate changes to department heads in the coming days. Guskiewicz said college and department budgets, vacant positions, non-personnel expenses and enrollment trends and projections have all been carefully reviewed in determining where the university could save money. Guskiewicz said MSU is looking at immediate cuts ahead of the new budget year that begins July 1 and "larger, longer-term savings." MSU spokesperson Amber McCann did not immediately respond to a message left from the State Journal. Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz claps before the Spartans game against Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The university is up against a tight deadline to make its decisions. Any changes likely need to be made by the June Board of Trustees meeting, when the trustees typically approve the university's annual budget. It's not immediately clear how this would impact some of MSU's long-term projects that are now underway. The Spartan Gateway District, which includes an Olympic sports arena, was approved in April by the board. The sports arena is expected to cost the university at least $150 million, with background information provided to the board stating it will be partially paid for out of the university's general fund, along with funding from its ticket sales and rental fees, along with donations and sponsorship. It's also not clear if the recently announced "Uncommon Will, Far Better World," fundraising campaign will alleviate the university's financial stress. The campaign has a goal of $4 billion, which Guskiewicz said will be split into three categories: $2 billion for "scholarships and programmatic support," $1 billion for "research and endowed professorships," and $1 billion for "capital projects and new programs." The campaign is scheduled to last until 2032. "I know this letter may raise questions and concerns," Guskiewicz wrote. "Please know that you will hear more from your college and unit leaders in the weeks ahead as we work to provide timely information to our university community and forge a stronger MSU." Here's Guskiewicz's full letter to faculty and staff: "Dear faculty and staff members, "Last week, we wrapped up an eventful academic year topped off with the graduation of more than 10,000 Spartans into the world to make their mark. This was a true team effort, with every one of you contributing to make it possible. Thank you. "I'm proud of what we've accomplished together over my first full academic year at Michigan State. We have, for example, launched several initiatives to make MSU an even greater talent activator, including forming the Green and White Council to help us better prepare our students to meet workforce needs. We continue to make Michigan State more accessible and welcoming, from strengthening our partnership with Lansing Community College to working to create our First-Gen Center. We have also bolstered our commitment to outreach, deepening our engagement in the communities we serve. "And yet, it has also been a challenging year, especially these last four months, as we navigated federal policies and directives that undercut our ability to advance our land-grant mission and continue essential research projects that make life better. I want to acknowledge the continued dedication, resilience and excellence you all bring to your work every day. Your contributions drive our mission forward — in classrooms, labs and student support offices; in our administrative units in every building; and by those who keep our campus safe, clean and beautiful. "Unfortunately, federal changes are compounding our existing financial challenges, including our ongoing efforts to balance the university's budget. Over the past few years, we — like other peer universities, companies and organizations — have faced some difficult financial headwinds, with rising health care costs being of particular concern. As I shared at the beginning of my tenure, I have made it a top priority to comprehensively assess our challenges and ensure our financial health. I have looked closely at our budget model and the state's appropriations formula and have examined stress points, available reserves and forecasted operating budget trends. "With federal impacts exacerbating our financial situation, and as shared this spring, I have also worked with university leaders to examine our finances through a three-horizon timeframe, looking for potential short-, medium- and long-term efficiencies and savings. For the first horizon, we have carefully reviewed college and unit budgets, vacant positions, nonpersonnel expenses and enrollment trends/projections. For the second horizon, we have been evaluating our options for setting our annual budget this June. And for the third horizon, we have considered larger, longer-term savings. "After careful deliberation, we have reached the difficult conclusion that we must adjust our financial path. In the coming days, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Lisa Frace and her team will share with unit leaders needed action steps and appropriate measures to put the university back on a healthy financial track. The next few months of financial planning will be demanding and difficult for some in our community, and we will need to make hard decisions that will impact people we care about. Our goal has been — and will be — to do our best to support our people while making the necessary strategic decisions for the long-term success of Michigan State University. "I know this letter may raise questions and concerns. Please know that you will hear more from your college and unit leaders in the weeks ahead as we work to provide timely information to our university community and forge a stronger MSU." Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@ Follow her on X @sarahmatwood. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 'Hard decisions' coming to MSU to stabilize finances, Guskiewicz warns
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Hard choices' ahead as MSU President says ‘we must adjust our financial path'
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The president of Michigan State University says, 'We will need to make hard decisions that will impact people we care about' as the school adjusts its budget in the wake of federal changes. Kevin Guskiewicz made the statement in a letter to the faculty and staff on Monday, the first business day following most of MSU's graduation ceremonies. MSU approves Spartan Stadium upgrades Guskiewicz says he's proud of what he school has accomplished in his first full year as leader of the university, but he also calls it 'a challenging year, especially these last four months' as he says changes at the federal level 'undercut our ability to advance our land-grant mission and continue essential research projects that make life better.' He says those changes, along with the rising cost of health care, are making it harder for the Big Ten university to balance its budget. After exploring short, medium, and long-term savings, Guskiewicz said, 'After careful deliberation, we have reached the difficult conclusion that we must adjust our financial path.' He says university officials will share 'action steps and appropriate measures' to tackle the budget 'in the coming days.' It did not specify whether there will be cuts to staffing or programs. The next few months of financial planning will be demanding and difficult for some in our community, and we will need to make hard decisions that will impact people we care about. MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz Guskiewicz acknowledges that his letter will 'raise questions and concerns' – but says that more information will come out 'in the weeks ahead.' The letter to the campus community comes out less than two months after MSU announced the launch of a $4 billion fundraising campaign, of which it has already raised $1 billion. The campaign, which the school says kicked off in 2022, is expected to run through 2032. The school sent the message out a few hours after Guskiewicz left East Lansing for the Detroit Spartan Bus Tour – a two-day trip to the Detroit area with some 50 faculty members and administrators to show how the school is working to improve life in the city and the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
01-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller leaving, Tom Izzo will be co-interim AD
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller is leaving the school and deputy athletic director Jennifer Smith and men's basketball coach Tom Izzo will serve as co-interim ADs, university president Kevin Guskiewicz announced Thursday. Haller's last day will be May 11. Guskiewicz did not disclose the reason for Haller's exit. 'I'm grateful for Alan's leadership since I joined the university and appreciate the success our programs have seen under his leadership,' Guskiewicz said in a statement. 'He is deeply committed to this university and has led with honesty and integrity.' Guskiewicz said a national search would begin to find a successor to Haller, who was promoted from deputy athletic director in 2021. Haller played football and ran track at Michigan State and later worked 13 years in the school's Department of Police and Public Safety. He joined the athletic department in 2010 and had a number of roles. Under Haller, the Spartans won Big Ten championships in men's basketball, women's soccer, women's gymnastics, men's hockey and women's cross country, as well as postseason appearances for several programs. 'This is a pivotal time for college athletics, where innovation, effective communications and community engagement are more important than ever,' Guskiewicz said. 'Our next athletic director will lead one of the nation's more storied athletic programs, home to 23 varsity sports, a passionate fan base, a long legacy of academic and athletic excellence and, most importantly, an ambitious future.' Haller's exit comes as Division I programs prepare for major changes in college athletics. Schools will be allowed to share up to $20.5 million in revenue with athletes beginning July 1, pending final approval of a multibillion-dollar antitrust settlement. The direct payments to athletes will be in addition to third-party name, image and likeness deals facilitated by school-affiliated collectives. Men's basketball has continued to be the Spartans' most successful revenue sport under Haller, with Izzo's team winning the 2025 Big Ten regular-season championship and reaching the NCAA Elite Eight. Football is in a three-year down cycle. The Spartans were 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten last season, Jonathan Smith's first, and they are projected to finish in the bottom half of the conference again this year. Haller earned high marks for his hiring of women's basketball coach Robyn Fralick, who has led the Spartans to back-to-back 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances, and men's hockey coach Adam Nightingale, whose program has swept Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles two straight years. It has been a tumultuous decade for Michigan State athletics off the field of play. Haller was an associate athletic director when a female Michigan State graduate filed a complaint about disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar's sexual abuse in 2014. MSU agreed to pay $500 million to settle claims from more than 300 women and girls who said they were assaulted by Nassar, who is serving a life sentence in a federal prison. Three months into his tenure in 2021, Haller signed off on a $95 million, 10-year contract for football coach Mel Tucker. Two years later Tucker was fired after he was said to have sexually harassed activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy during a phone call in April 2022.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MSU police arrest 19 after refusing to vacate administration building during pro-Palestinian sit-in
MSU police place a student protestor in handcuffs after they refused to vacate the Hannah Administration Building. April 10, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz 17 MSU students and two community members were arrested Thursday evening by Michigan State University police officers inside the Hannah Administration Building during a pro-Palestinian sit-in protest held inside the building's lobby. The arrests came around 8 p.m. after MSU Police Lieutenant Kim Parviainen gave the third and final warning for the demonstrators to leave the building. The confrontation occurred after a rally organized by various student organizations, including the Hurriya Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine, or SJP, among others, and a subsequent meeting between MSU officials and members of these student organizations inside the administration building. During the rally, at least 50 people, including students, MSU faculty, and community members, gathered at 4 p.m. at the doors of the MSU administration building to demand answers and future actions regarding the revoked visas of MSU students, the university's stance on divestment from Israel, and its position toward Trump administration policies. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'The point of education is to come to understand more about the world, more about history, and our relationship to the time we live in right now', said Zadok Miller, 20, pre-law, political science, and English student. 'So, for our institutions to remain neutral and not provide active support for students who are affected by fascism is very hypocritical.' On April 7, the visas of several international MSU students were revoked by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security without any explanation. They were among the hundreds of visas revoked for international students across the country and dozens more across the state of Michigan. It's part of an effort by the Trump administration to revoke visas of foreign students who may have been involved in pro-Palestinian activism or protests, as well as those determined to have engaged in antisemitism through social media. The Office for International Students and Scholars recommends that international students should have a plan B in case they need to complete their studies remotely and if they are unable to access their Student & Exchange Visitor Information System to verify their status. As a result, on Wednesday, April 9, MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz issued a campus letter to MSU students, expressing his concern about the current situation and his commitment to ensuring a safe space for international students and scholars. 'I am in Washington, D.C. today, meeting with congressional leaders and speaking about these concerns and the anxiety our students and university community are experiencing', wrote Guskiewicz in his letter. Although Guskiewicz's words somewhat pleased the rally attendees, they did not convince them about his stand. 'It was better than some other things he released in the past, but it lacks a clear plan of action to actually protect international students,' said Jesse Estrada White, 21, a Comparative Cultures and Policies student and member of the Hurriya coalition movement. 'We are glad he was in Washington, but we want to see policy changes that will protect our international classmates.' Chants such as 'Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes' and 'This is what democracy looks like' were heard during the rally, which continued without incident, along with some speeches by students and the general public. Around 5 p.m., a group of 14 students and members of the organizations engaged in a pre-arranged dialogue with the MSU Board of Trustees to clarify and address the demands these students brought to the table. Among their demands, the students highlighted divestment from Israel, Saudi Arabia, and weapons manufacturers, adding social conscience back into investment policy, the creation of a Middle East North Africa/Arab Studies Institute, and protections for international students. Before the demands were presented, the Board of Trustees was informed by the students that, while the conversation was taking place, some students were peacefully occupying the building and that the occupation would be lifted if an agreement was reached on the demands. 'No one in this room, and no one downstairs, wants to be in this position, but the reason for this meeting is not confrontation; it is by resolution. The occupation is the way to raise urgency and concern among our students', said Nasim Barghouti, 21, President of SJP. Trustee Dennis Denno stated that it is was if the trustees started with a gun to their heads After clarifying the actions taken up to that point and the disagreements on the part of the board, Trustee Mike Balow stated, 'The fact that we're here is something, so let's get started.' The meeting lasted a little over an hour, with back-and-forth between both sides over the demands, but in the end, they did not reach an agreement. Regarding international student protection, the demands from student organizations included: providing legal assistance for students in immigration or visa-related cases; ensuring that the Department of Public Safety does not cooperate with ICE; guaranteeing that all international students have the opportunity to complete their degree online if deported; and committing to join the Rutgers Faculty Bill, an official resolution proposed by the Rutgers University Senate to create a mutual academic defense compact among the universities that are part of the Big Ten academic alliance. Regarding ICE cooperation, the executive director of public safety, Mike Yankowski, stated that the Department of Public Safety does not cooperate with federal agents unless there is a court order or a process involving crimes. President Guskiewicz stated that any support for international students facing deportation would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and that, so far, no student has been deported. He also acknowledged by answering the demands that there is currently no program in place to guarantee the completion of their studies in such situations and that no efforts have yet been made to develop one. In addition, Trustee Brianna Scott explained that there are multiple factors, such as internship credits, in-person lab requirements, and housing location, that justify evaluating each deported student's case individually. At the end of the meeting, David Hogan, 20, a social relations and policy student and member of the Hurriya Coalition, stated that no agreement was actually reached and that the board was constantly making quick excuses for their demands. At 6:30 p.m., two police officers were at the doors of the administrative building, and in front of them, in the lobby, were dozens of students and the general public chanting and haranguing anti-genocide chants while marching around the first floor. From time to time, those inside the building would sit in circles, hold hands, and sing or give speeches. Only 17 people stayed after the three warnings given by the police. They were singing, giving each other emotional support. One by one, they were handcuffed and taken to the east wing of the building while students outside protested against the arrests. By the minute, more students were arriving at the protest, reaching more than 50 people outside the building, waiting for the transport of those arrested to the police station. However, it wasn't until nearly 10 p.m. that everyone was released through the south door of the building. They had been processed inside the building and charged with trespassing. This is the second time pro-Palestinian student activists have been arrested and charged with trespassing in less than a year for a sit-in demonstration inside the MSU administrative building. In October, five student protestors were arrested for trespassing after also refusing to leave the Hannah Administration Building. 'They handcuffed us and processed us inside; they didn't take us somewhere else, and we were charged with trespassing,' said Laura Sager, 72, who was arrested at the administration building. MSU police place a student protestor in handcuffs after they refused to vacate the Hannah Administration Building. April 10, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz MSU police place a student protestor in handcuffs after they refused to vacate the Hannah Administration Building. April 10, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators at a rally organized by various MSU student organizations, including the Hurriya Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators at a rally organized by various MSU student organizations, including the Hurriya Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrator at a rally organized by various MSU student organizations, including the Hurriya Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators at a rally organized by various MSU student organizations, including the Hurriya Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators at a rally organized by various MSU student organizations, including the Hurriya Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators at a rally organized by various MSU student organizations, including the Hurriya Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz and MSU trustees talk with students demanding protections for international students and divestment from Israel, among other things. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz MSU Trustee Dennis Denno speaks with students demanding protections for international students and divestment from Israel, among other things. April 10, 2025. | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Student protestors, holding hands in solidarity, refuse to vacate the Hannah Administration Building. April 10, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Student protestors, holding hands in solidarity, refuse to vacate the Hannah Administration Building. April 10, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz
