EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University for the past several months has been engaged in a comprehensive process that acknowledges constrained state support and emerging challenges to society. Units from every quarter of the university have submitted restructuring plans to the provost, and those plans now are undergoing review. This is part of our Shaping the Future program, which we document online at www.shapingthefuture.msu.edu.

MSU Extension has conducted a vigorous internal discussion focused on resculpting itself into a 21st-century organization, while continuing its dedication to furthering the quality of life and prosperity of Michigan citizens. The program now will carry that conversation to its external stakeholders, starting with partners in state government.

“We at MSU have been engaged in the reshaping of MSU Extension to best meet the prosperity needs of Michigan in the 21st century,” said MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon.

“We have been grateful for the broad coalition of statewide support in explaining and advocating for that vision. As we work with our stakeholders and the executive and legislative branches to optimize alignment of MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station system to promote Michigan’s green economy, we sincerely appreciate our partners’ support. I am especially grateful for the mutual commitments, understandings and collaborations that can serve as the bases for further support that have come out of our meetings and conversations with the executive branch.”

“The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and Michigan State University Cooperative Extension have historically provided relevant, responsive services that were tailored to our rural communities," said Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm. "As Michigan moves from rust to green, these programs will be focused on enhancing our local communities’ efforts to collaborate and innovate in the new clean energy economy. I support continued funding for this restructuring, with its emphasis on growing Michigan's new green economy.”

“This effort is aimed at building capacity in communities across the state to succeed in the new green economy,” said Tom Coon, MSU Extension director. “It also positions us to be responsive as those needs change and grow.”

“MSU Extension for the 21st century” is aimed at directing the 95-year-old organization to even more closely support Michigan’s burgeoning green economy, support its knowledge base and extend the university’s broad research base toward building a brighter future. Such an economy must be built on a robust agriculture and natural resources foundation. Focus areas will include:

• Supporting urban farming that builds regional food systems
• Fostering innovation that positions agriculture to succeed in the new economy
• Enhancing community practices for energy efficiency and use of renewable energy
• Providing expertise to restructured state and local agencies
• Urban revitalization for stronger businesses and communities
• Facilitating interjurisdictional cooperation for regional prosperity

“The keys to our success will include enriching and broadening our partnerships – which have always been a hallmark of our work – plus leveraging new technologies to reach broader audiences and engaging the public more thoroughly in our priority setting,” said Jeffrey D. Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The plan is strongly endorsed by Simon, Granholm and MSU Provost Kim Wilcox. Structural changes in MSU Extension will be announced in the months ahead.

The organization will build on some established programs, such as the Food System Economic Partnership in southeastern Michigan, and on its interaction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources through the Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management.

It also will strengthen efforts toward supporting growth, production, processing and planning for biomass-based businesses such as Mascoma, a company that has announced plans for a cellulosic ethanol processing plant in the Upper Peninsula. 

MSU Extension will build on its traditional strengths in agriculture and will continue to contribute to the success of this important industry. It will maintain its strong ties to MSU entities such as the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, in efforts such as those exploring use of animal waste to generate energy as well as carbon credit income for land owners – while protecting groundwater resources with cutting edge science.

“As it has always been, our organization will be aimed at helping move the state forward,” Coon added. “We’re supporting regional prosperity and guiding initiatives such as urban agriculture and providing expertise to restructured state agencies.”

###

Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for more than 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 17 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.