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MSU president talks curriculum changes, prep for Trump, and death of swim and dive

In an interview with The State News, Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz said he plans to reshape the undergraduate curriculum, will form a task force to prepare for President-Elect Donald Trump’s higher education plans and that he sees no chance of resurrection for the controversially-cut swim and dive teams.

Starting with curriculum changes,

Guskiewicz said he’s planning to announce a review of MSU’s general education curriculum, which would start a possibly lengthy process to modify the required courses for students in all majors.

Their challenge will be balancing two priorities. On the one hand, he’s “a big believer in liberal arts education” and wants to see requirements that push students into subject areas unlike their majors. But, Guskiewicz said he also wants the new curriculum to offer flexibility, so as to support his goal of making it easier to study abroad, complete internships and participate in research.

Changing that could require both new course offerings from the faculty and a new system by which students select courses, he said.

Guskiewicz cautioned students against expecting these changes anytime soon. He said a similar review he led at the University of North Carolina spent eight months just examining the current curriculum before the committee started designing and implementing new offerings.

Guskiewicz said he’s also been talking to administrators about how MSU can prepare for new federal education policies, as Trump and his allies talk up sweeping reforms.

Specifically, he said they are worried about changes to federal funding of research and student aid, the status of undocumented students and threats to the Department of Education and major accreditors.

Guskiewicz said these teams will conduct “tabletop exercises” to prepare for federal actions that would affect MSU.

Finally, Guskiewicz also offered a discouraging reading for those hoping MSU will reinstate its swim and dive teams.

In some ways, the last year has been a good one for supporters of the controversially cut program. After taking office in March, Guskiewicz said he met with advocates who hoped the university would resurrect the teams. Mike Balow, parent of an MSU swimmer turned advocate for the teams, was elected to the university’s board in November. And, the university is currently constructing a new recreation center with a large pool that advocates had said could accommodate the team, potentially lessening the facilities issues that prompted the cut.

Still, Guskiewicz said the chances of bringing the program back were lower now than ever, thanks to national changes to the college sports landscape.

‘Shucked’ comes to MSU Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Starting yesterday through Sunday, “Shucked,” a Tony Award-winning musical comedy, has officially arrived at Michigan State University’s campus. Featuring a book written by Robert Horn, a Tony Award winner, “Shucked” will be shown at the Cobb Great Hall at the Wharton Center of Performing Arts.

“Shucked” is a musical comedy set in the fictional town of Corn Cob County and follows Maizy, who travels to a big city in search of a hero to save the county’s dying corn. The musical has unique characteristics that make it stand out in the theater scene, said ensemble cast member Chani Wereley, who plays the character Cricket.

For Wereley, her favorite part about being involved in this musical is their ability to connect with their on-stage character.

“Shucked” originally played on Broadway from March 8, 2023 to Jan. 14, 2024. Environmental engineering junior Ruby Todd, a self-proclaimed “theater kid,” said she is excited to witness a fresh new musical.

Wereley attested to the musical’s ability to share joy through humor and comedy, and to provide an escape from the difficulties of the real world.

As for the main takeaway after seeing “Shucked,” Wereley said she hopes the audience will leave the theater feeling uplifted.

More information on showtimes and tickets can be found at the Wharton Center’s website.

Based on original reporting by Alex Walters and Amy Cho.