EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University’s newest residential program, Spartan Engineering – The Residential Experience, will offer students a living and learning option that delivers cutting-edge education and hands-on experience.  

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon discussed the program today at “The Role of Engaged Universities in Economic Transformation,” a regional conference in Ann Arbor inspired by the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) study “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.” The conference was sponsored by the University Research Corridor (URC), an alliance of Michigan’s largest research universities: MSU, University of Michigan and Wayne State University. 

The NAS study calls for improvements in science and technology education and research opportunities to keep the United States competitive and prosperous in the global economy. Spartan Engineering will enhance the educational experience for engineering students by integrating learning and living in a dynamic way that will create an academic environment attractive to the best and brightest from around the world. 

“This new option will immerse students in an integrated and intensive academic environment so they will be better prepared to adapt to constantly changing engineering work force needs,” Simon said. “Today's students will be both tomorrow’s leaders and tomorrow’s strongest competitors in the global economy, and Michigan State’s powerful history in global engagement will continue to position Michigan for these roles.” 

The residential setting will provide first-year design project labs and computer labs, where MSU will teach key early-engineering classes.  

“Senior-level engineering students will be peer mentors in first-year design and modeling courses,” said Tom Wolff, associate dean for undergraduate studies in MSU’s College of Engineering. 

In addition to the engineering design and computer labs, classrooms, areas for tutoring and study, and offices for advisers, faculty and student organizations will be located within the residential setting and close to the Engineering Building to strengthen the sense of community. The setting also will give employers visiting campus a place to interact with freshmen. 

“We can connect students in Spartan Engineering with the College of Engineering, the larger university, employers and each other from the moment they come to campus, throughout their college careers and beyond,” Wolff said. “Given a strong sense of community and interaction centered on design projects with communications expectations, our graduates will reap the benefit of long, strong and integrated technical education and social and professional development.” 

The National Academy of Engineering report “The Engineer of 2020” identified the knowledge and skills needed for American engineers to retain a competitive edge in a global work force where engineering work can be outsourced overseas to competent engineers for a fraction of domestic costs.  

The report notes that technical skills remain the firm base of an engineering education, but also called for substantial increased attention to teamwork, early experiences with hands-on projects, communication skills and experiential education components in corporate or research settings. 

All of these aspects are core to Spartan Engineering. Spartan Engineering joins other living and learning options at MSU including Lyman Briggs College for natural sciences, James Madison College for public affairs, and the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, which opened this fall. MSU’s residential colleges were named earlier this year by U.S. News & World Report as “stellar examples” of programs “linked to student success.” 

Core classes, in the pilot phase now, will be launched by Fall 2008 as the college makes arrangements for residential facilities. 

“Launching this program and committing a residence hall demonstrates MSU’s commitment to Michigan’s technical future,” Wolff said.  

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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.