MSU president discusses higher ed challenges

Public disinvestment, big data research and changing enrollment are just a few challenges faced by institutions of higher education, said Lou Anna Simon, president of Michigan State University. 

Simon was the speaker for the Peter F. Secchia Breakfast Lecture Series October 31 at the L. William Seidman Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

Simon said understanding technology and big data are necessary for success in the 21st century. "We need people who understand and can see patterns in big data, not just crunch algorithms," said Simon. She said the "Einstein advantage" is needed moving toward the future, using his quote, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

With the declining number of high school graduates in Michigan, Simon said Grand Valley and MSU have moved against the trend, attracting more students and being value-centered. She said the cost of higher education is too expensive and the solution is more investment from the state. She also said universities have a "clock dilemma" and need to work more aggressively to offer new programs faster while maintaining quality.

The MSU Grand Rapids Research Center will open next year in downtown Grand Rapids; Simon said it will be extraordinary for the community. 

"We wanted to complement the research and work being done in the area with Van Andel Institute and Grand Valley," she said. "Five years from now, you'll look at this moment in time, with what Grand Valley will do with the development of engineering, bioengineering and health sciences; I see this moment as a huge inflection point for the community."

The event was sponsored by the Seidman College of Business Alumni Association. For more information, contact the Seidman College of Business at (616) 331-7100 or email [email protected].