Mission and Strategic Plan

Mission

To provide the highest quality professional instruction and programmatic excellence; to instill in students a dedication and desire to achieve excellence and understanding in all aspects of their diverse and multi-genre musical education; to develop their abilities to the highest professional standards; expand cultural awareness and awareness of broader societal issues impacting the creation and performance of music including social justice, inequity, and inclusiveness; to provide access for comprehensive non-degree instruction; to participate in community, state, regional, national and international arenas through service, teaching, and research and creative endeavors with impact; and to accelerate stewardship and fundraising to support an excellent faculty and student body vitally engaged in significant research, scholarly and creative endeavors.

MSU Music 2030 Strategic Plan

(Updated 9/10/2025)

INTERSECTING THEMES

GROWTH TO A COLLEGE OF MUSIC WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DISTINCTION

Our 5-year plan and capital campaign prioritizes an investment in endowed scholarships, fellowships, and graduate assistants, to give the College a competitive edge in recruiting and reduce barriers to access for prospective students.

INVEST IN STUDENT AND FACULTY EXCELLENCE

Develop exceptional musicians, scholars, and music educators who use their talents to make a difference through the power of music. This includes fostering a healthy learning community by focusing on vocal, neuromuscular, hearing, and mental health; creating equitable learning environments and comprehensive curricula that honor the full spectrum of musical traditions and their creators; and advancing musical entrepreneurship to create adaptive leaders and prepare students for portfolio careers in ever-changing workplaces.

PROVIDE AND EXPAND DIVERSE AND MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES

In the classroom, rehearsal hall, and stage, develop multi-genre musical learning opportunities, including those through MSU general education and across campus, with participation in the campus Strategic Arts Plan and collaboration with other colleges, WKAR-TV, Wharton Center, Broad Art Museum, and University Arts & Collections.

INVEST IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PLACEMAKING

In collaboration with numerous partners and investors, increase the impact of outreach from campus, internationally and through intergenerational learning at the Community Music Schools in East Lansing and Detroit.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

CLIMATE AND CULTURE

At the College of Music, we believe in the value of focusing on actions and programs that enhance the success of our people. Building community requires our efforts to increase awareness and promote a culture of health and wellness, to deepen co-curricular opportunities and collaborative and interdisciplinary performances and research, and to bring our community together through engagement on and off campus through performance and lifelong learning opportunities.

PROGRAMMATIC EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

Looking toward the future, creatively channeling passions, honoring tradition while promoting artistic expression, and enhancing musicianship with aural and analytical skills are pillars of our planning and action at the College of Music. Through our development of ambisonics and focus on technology, our forward-thinking chamber program, and our exceptional success in areas such as music education and theory, jazz, percussion, and more, we strive for innovation, global impact, and faculty, student and staff success. With an entrepreneurial spirit, we expand students’ knowledge base to include marketing, finance, and non-profit management.

CURRICULAR

The growth of College of Music student interest in chamber music is rapid, an indicator of the quality of instruction and mindset of students influenced by our programs. With a focus on portfolio careers, we guide, teach, and prepare our students for a changing workforce, from their first year on campus through graduation and beyond. Our Bachelor of Arts in Music Culture and Industry allows for non-traditional specialization and greater cross-unit collaboration. International experiences and multi-genre instruction are now routine.

Accreditation

The Michigan State University College of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190-5248; Telephone: 703-437-0700