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35 East Holmes Hall
East Lansing, MI 48825-1107
Telephone (517) 353-6480

For more information about Lyman Briggs College, call 517-353-6480 or email lecato@msu.edu to request a brochure.

Lyman Briggs College Approved by Trustees

On June 15, 2007, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the return of Lyman Briggs to college status after 26 years as Lyman Briggs School. More details to come...

Elizabeth Simmons named Dean of Lyman Briggs College

Lyman Briggs College Status Proposal

Lyman Briggs and James Madison were founded as MSU Colleges in the late 1960's. Madison has remained so. Briggs became a School in the College of Natural Science in 1981. Given the renewed University emphasis on residential academic communities, the imminent founding of a New Residential College in arts and humanities, and the expectation that the Lyman Briggs School collaborate with James Madison College, Honors College, and the New Residential College on student recruitment, academic programs, and faculty development, it is time to consider whether Lyman Briggs should return to College status.

The proposal presented below argues in the affirmative: the University’s ongoing generous investment in its residential academic programs, particularly in the expansion of the Lyman Briggs program, will have a far greater impact if Lyman Briggs returns to College status as soon as possible. The argument draws, in part, on the reasoning used in the Summer Task Force 2005 Report to support College status for the New Residential College in the arts and humanities. It also reflects the fact that, by comparison to the living-learning programs at other U.S. universities, Lyman Briggs and James Madison appear to be unique as true academic units with their own curricula and faculty.

It should be noted that a new Lyman Briggs College and the College of Natural Science must maintain a strong relationship. Many Briggs students undertake coordinate majors with a CNS department, a large cohort of Briggs alumni are also CNS graduates, and a number of our faculty benefit from having joint appointments in CNS departments. Lyman Briggs anticipates that a continuing collaboration will benefit the students of both units.

TIMELINE

JULY 2, 2007: Lyman Briggs Party Celebrating College Status. See: pictures

JUNE 18, 2007: Dr. Elizabeth Simmons is appointed the Dean of Lyman Briggs College. See: http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=41391

JUNE 15, 2007: The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the return of Lyman Briggs to college status after 26 years as Lyman Briggs School.

JUNE 14, 2007: MSU Board of Trustees to appoint two deans

APRIL 2007: College status was passed at Faculty Council on April 10 and will be considered at Academic Council on April 17.

APRIL 2007: Lyman Briggs may go back to college status.

MARCH 2007: Presentation to University governance.

FEBRUARY 2007: By fall, Lyman Briggs School could become a college. just in time for its 40th anniversary.http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=40034

FEBRUARY 2007: MSU Provost Kim Wilcox brings the Lyman Briggs College proposal to the Executive Committee of Academic Council (ECAC) for consultation. See http://www.msu.edu/unit/acadgov/executive/ECACAgenda2-27-07.html

SEPTEMBER 2006: MSU Provost Kim Wilcox meets with CNS Associate Dean Estelle McGroarty and LBS Director Elizabeth Simmons to discuss a range of issues related to resources and operations that must be addressed as the proposal goes forward.

MARCH 2006:   MSU Provost Kim Wilcox meets with CNS Dean George Leroi and LBS Director Elizabeth Simmons to discuss the proposal.   Following the meeting, Provost Wilcox endorses the proposal and prepares to send it forward to MSU Academic Governance for further consideration.

JANUARY 2006:  The CNS Faculty Advisory Committee to the Dean endorses the proposal without dissent.  CNS Dean George Leroi and LBS Director Elizabeth Simmons jointly send the LBS College proposal to Provost Kim Wilcox for his consideration.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005:  The CNS Faculty Advisory Committee to the Dean discusses the Lyman Briggs College proposal.   LBS Director Elizabeth Simmons provides written feedback to their questions.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2005:  LBS Director Elizabeth Simmons drafts a proposal to return Lyman Briggs to its original status as a College of MSU.  The proposal is discussed and endorsed at meetings of the Lyman Briggs Director's Advisory Council, the Briggs Community Council, the Lyman Briggs Student Advisory Council, and the Lyman Briggs Alummni Association Executive Board.