The Office of Undergraduate Education is one of the most integral parts of Michigan State University. The office oversees all undergraduate academic policies and advances learning with institutional-wide initiatives. Within the Office of Undergraduate Education is the Student Success Strategic Ecosystem, a set of meetings, events and activities that are designed to work together to advance student success initiatives.
The ultimate aim of the Student Success Strategic Ecosystem is to fulfill the goals of the strategic plan which are to increase MSU’s graduation and retention rates and close opportunity gaps.
To commemorate the new school year and promote their learning initiatives, the Office of Undergraduate Education held their annual Student Success Launch on Monday, Sept. 15 at the Kellogg Center.
“This event really helps us kick off the year,” said the Associate Dean for Student Success Strategic Initiatives, Amy Martin. “It brings together everybody who is working on student success and to think about where we're going and what we're trying to achieve this year.”
The Student Success Launch is different every year. For the 2025-26 school year, new initiatives were presented at the launch to showcase their importance to the MSU community.
“This year we are having different initiatives present their work to engage the whole community, get feedback and really tap into the expertise here on campus,” Martin said.
The initiatives are designed to support the strategic plan. This year these initiatives included the modernization of general education, learning goals, academic standing, transfers, retention and on the opening of the First-Generation Student Center.
“Student Success is everyone’s role,” said Maria O’Connell, the Undergraduate Student Success Strategic Initiatives manager. “This is about increasing the collaborations and uplifting people's work because there is amazing work being done across campus.”
One of the highlights of the Student Success Launch was a presentation by MSU President Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz. At the core of Guskiewicz's speech was his “Greenprint for Next.” This greenprint had three main aspects: core ideas, cross-cutting themes and strategic priorities. These concepts are MSU’s framework for the future and student success is a major part of it.
“With the priorities across the bottom, student success is the only one that touches each of the five cross-cutting themes that we felt best defined Michigan State University’s future successes,” Guskiewicz said.
Student Success is a part of MSU that continues to grow, evolve and better the community. With the hard work of the staff at the Office of Undergraduate Education, students will preserve and prolong their success for many years to come.