The Land-Grant Tradition Today
Michigan State University has held true to its land-grant ideals over the years.
MSU is a university focused on the values of quality, inclusiveness, and connectivity, reframing the values of 1855 to address the challenges of today. The land-grant college of 1855 focused on farming in an agrarian economy. The land-grant university of the 21st century is a university engaged with the myriad problems of society both here in Michigan and around the world.
Adapted from "What It Means To Be A Land-Grant University" by Bill R. Beekman, '89. Beekman is a former senior consultant to MSU's vice president for finance and operations and secretary to the Board of Trustees, executive assistant to the president, and consultant to MSU's vice president. MSU Alumni Magazine 2005 S-150.