Future State

With the New Year fast-approaching, we are already well on our way to forming our Future State. We know where we want to go and we’re forging a path to get there. Guided by a clear strategic direction, we’re developing a First-Year Spartan Experience and an Integrated Dining model that will take our service and the value we provide our customers to a whole new level. We’ve examined our existing organizational structure and are working through a realignment effort that will allow us to operate at our fullest potential and serve our customers in the best possible ways.

With our Future State Transition Teams in place to help facilitate the strategic realignment, we’re relying on each and every one of our staff to help us in our efforts. It’s time for us all to roll up our sleeves, participate and lead.

There’s no question that we’ve got our future in mind, yet we must remain driven by a commitment to Delivering Outstanding Spartan Experiences in the here and now. We’re working hard to go above and beyond for our many customers, guests and the greater-University community.

Throughout this last semester, you've seen how H&FS helped give new hope to a struggling local family through an Extreme Home Makeover, how we’re representing the leading-edge of hospitality industry trends at the Kellogg Center, and what our Human Resources department is doing to foster inclusivity and equal opportunity for all employees. We’re providing local, organic produce in our Dining Services through the new Yakeley Hoophouse at the Student Organic Farm, and we’re partnering with academics and embracing living-learning programs to enrich student experiences. We also shined as hosts to the next President of the United States.

Our customers are experiencing MSU through H&FS in outstanding ways, every day. You can see it for yourself at the renovated Sparty’s in Holmes Hall, where students are enjoying a latté, watching a movie at the space’s home-theatre, setting a new record at its gaming station and studying in groups using the space’s SMART board technology. You can see it on the MSU Tennis Center courts in a game of Cardio Tennis. You can see it in the hallways of any of our residence halls, where our Facilities staff are hard at work to keep us looking our best.

As a Division, we will continue to excel and constantly strive to get better. Will it be easy? Probably not, but when is it ever? We’ll need to work together, remain flexible and above all, step up to lead. It has been said that 70 percent of strategic plans fail, for numerous reasons. I need your commitment to ensure we are part of the other 30 percent.

We’ve come a long way and admittedly, we have a long way yet to go. I hope you’ll join me in ushering in the New Year with our Future State in mind.