MSU Engagement Council

The MSU Engagement Council (EC) – this university standing council provides integrated, institution-wide guidance on issues relative to engagement across the teaching, research, and service missions of MSU. The members advise and support the MSU administration on the university’s engagement strategy, plan, priorities, goals, policies, operational procedures, infrastructure needs, and awards and recognition for the shared benefit of faculty, staff, students, communities and business and industry. 

This council leads the institutional initiatives for transformative and systematic impact that collectively aligns community engagement with engaged scholarship priorities to include:

• recommending policies and procedures related to engagement to the upper administration across teaching, research and service.
• providing ongoing input into the goals and priorities of MSU’s Engagement Plan.
• providing input into the support and engagement of the faculty and staff regarding best practices, developing partnerships and securing resources.
• providing guidance and support for recognition for excellence in engagement.
• raising awareness of opportunities for engagement with colleagues, community, and business partners.
• providing guidance and support for external funding opportunities for engagement.
• identifying and addressing systemic barriers to doing engagement scholarship.
• highlighting and celebrating stellar engagement scholarship of MSU faculty, staff, students, and community and business partners. 

The Council has 22 members appointed by the Provost and Executive Vice President. The council is led and facilitated by the Associate Vice President for Outreach and Engagement. The council typically meets monthly on the third Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m., or as called by the Associate Vice President. Meetings are held monthly from September through May. Meeting frequency and duration, along with council membership, is assessed and modified as appropriate. 

Members contribute to the council and take back information for further discussion and consideration among the university community. This council provide members with an opportunity to share perspectives, navigate issues, and work collaboratively to support and increase the scholarship of engagement. 

Recommendations from the council are forwarded and shared appropriately with the MSU Executive Council, the Deans and Associate Deans Councils, the Holland Faculty Senate, the Faculty Research Advisory Council, and other outreach and engagement groups, as determined by the Provost and Executive Vice President and Associate Vice President for Outreach and Engagement. The following units are represented on this council: